MN SF2748

Expands grounds for teacher license revocation, suspension, or denial to include intentional and inappropriate patting, touching, pinching, or other physical contact with a student that is unwelcome and sexually motivated, and adds new grounds related to sexual penetration with students and convictions for domestic violence, embezzlement, or felonies involving minors.

Requires the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board to conduct criminal history background checks on teachers renewing licenses who have not had one within five years, with costs potentially charged to the teacher.

Expands grounds for immediate teacher discharge to include qualified domestic violence offenses, embezzlement of public funds, and felonies involving minors, with automatic discharge upon license revocation for specified crimes.

Requires criminal background checks on all school employees every three years and mandates school boards contact the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board to verify license status.

Adds members of the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board to mandatory reporters of child maltreatment and requires law enforcement to report investigations involving licensed teachers to the board.