Enrolled Bill Summary

            Senate Bill 1488 amends the Education Code to require the superintendent or director of a school district, regional education service center, shared services arrangement, or open-enrollment charter school to notify the State Board for Educator Certification if that person reasonably believes that (1) an educator employed by or applying to the district, center, arrangement, or charter school has a criminal record; (2) an educator was fired based on a finding that the educator engaged in certain forms of misconduct; or (3) the educator resigned and reasonable evidence supports a recommendation by the superintendent or director to fire the educator because of such misconduct. The bill requires the superintendent or director to notify the board in writing not later than seven days after the date that person first learns about the alleged misconduct and also to notify both the governing body of the district, center, or arrangement, and the educator of the filing of the report. The bill provides immunity from civil liability for a person filing a report in good faith and requires the board to determine whether to sanction a person who fails to file a report as required.

            The bill also amends the Family Code to require the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services to orally notify a school district superintendent if the department finds that a case of abuse or neglect of a student in the district involves a district employee at the same school.