House Bill 406 Summary

• Requires the Professional Standards Commission to notify the complainant, teacher, and school administrator within 14 days when deciding to conduct an investigation of alleged unethical conduct or misconduct.

• Establishes that a hearing panel must submit findings of fact and decisions within 21 days of concluding a hearing, and requires the commission to notify the employing school of decisions placing conditions on a certificate, suspending, or revoking it.

• Requires school districts to request applicants sign a statement authorizing release of job performance information from current and past employers, including out-of-state employers, before hiring.

• Permits conditional employment of applicants pending review of prior employment information, with a 30-day review period before issuing a standard teacher contract to certificated employees.

• Voids any collective bargaining agreements, employment contracts, or other agreements that suppress or expunge information about negative job performance, except for unsubstantiated allegations of verbal abuse, physical abuse, or sexual misconduct.