HF532 Summary

• Codifies teacher code of ethics into statute (section 122A.051) with 11 professional conduct standards, including nondiscrimination, student safety, confidentiality, and prohibition on sexual contact with students; repeals prior administrative rule version.

• Requires criminal history background checks for all first-time teaching license applicants and renewal applicants who have not had a background check within the preceding five years, with applicant fingerprinting and fee payment required.

• Expands mandatory reporting requirements by requiring licensing boards to immediately report to law enforcement agencies when receiving information that a child has been abused by a licensed educator, and expands the definition of conduct grounds for license revocation to include inappropriate sexual contact with students.

• Mandates school boards report to licensing boards within ten days when a teacher is discharged or resigns after charges are filed for immoral conduct, conviction of certain offenses, or during a pending investigation under child maltreatment or ethics violations.

• Requires stays of adjudication for certain offenses to be reported to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension within 24 hours and disclosed to background check applicants; modifies court reporting requirements and school bus driver notification procedures.