House Bill 651 Summary

• Establishes procedures for the Professional Standards Commission to investigate allegations of unethical practice by teachers, including initial investigation by the chief certification officer, probable cause determination, and formal hearing procedures with a three-member panel.

• Authorizes the Professional Standards Commission to impose a fee not exceeding $1,000 to be paid by the appellant to defray actual appeal and investigation costs when the panel upholds the complaint or imposes a greater sanction.

• Requires applicants for school district employment to sign a release authorizing disclosure of prior personnel files and job performance information from current and past employers, including out-of-state employers.

• Provides immunity from civil liability for employers and employees who disclose job performance information in good faith, with exceptions for knowingly false, misleading, or recklessly disregarded information or disclosures prohibited by state or federal statute.

• Prohibits school districts from entering into agreements that suppress or expunge information about negative job performance or misconduct from personnel files, with this prohibition effective September 1, 2010; directs the State Board of Education to adopt rules defining job performance standards and types of abuse by the same date.