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House Bill 1783 |
House Author: Moody et al. |
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Effective: 9-1-15 |
Senate Sponsor: Menéndez |
House Bill 1783 amends the Education Code and Penal Code to authorize an employee of a school district or open-enrollment charter school to report a crime witnessed at the school to any peace officer with authority to investigate the crime. The bill includes the director of an open-enrollment charter school among those required to notify the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) in the event of certain educator misconduct and includes among such misconduct an educator's employment being terminated based on evidence that the educator was involved in a romantic relationship with or solicited or engaged in sexual contact with a student or minor. The bill includes the latter misconduct among that which prompts an investigation of the educator and includes the director of an open-enrollment charter school among those required to conduct such an investigation. The bill conditions the requirement that a school district superintendent or the director of an open-enrollment charter school, private school, regional education service center, or shared services arrangement notify SBEC if the person obtains or has knowledge of information showing that an applicant for or holder of a teaching certificate has a reported criminal history on the person obtaining the information by a means other than the criminal history clearinghouse.