Sub. S.B. No. 34 - Summary

• Establishes procedures for individuals with criminal convictions to petition for a certificate of qualification for employment, which lifts automatic employment barriers while allowing case-by-case consideration by employers and licensing agencies.

• Requires school employees arrested or indicted for certain offenses involving children to be suspended from child-care duties and their licenses inactivated pending criminal proceedings; licenses reactivate if charges are dismissed.

• Creates mandatory reporting requirements for school districts, educational service centers, and nonpublic schools to notify the superintendent of public instruction when employees commit or are accused of crimes involving children or "conduct unbecoming to the teaching profession."

• Establishes the "educator profile" database to allow school districts and nonpublic schools to review employment and disciplinary records of applicants, including consulting with the department of education's office of professional conduct.

• Provides criminal penalties (misdemeanor charges) for individuals who fail to report required information, make false statements on employment applications, or knowingly make false reports of educator misconduct.