Report Title:
Education
Description:
Prohibits the department of education from hiring persons who pled nolo contendere to or were convicted of sex offenses against a child.
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
1517 |
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TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to teachers.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Section 302A-601.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"[§302A-601.5] Employees of the department of education and teacher trainees in any public school; criminal history record checks. (a) The department of education, including the Hawaii state public library system, shall develop procedures for obtaining verifiable information regarding the criminal history of persons who are employed or seeking employment in any position, including teacher trainees, that places them in close proximity to children. These procedures shall include criminal history record checks in accordance with section 846-2.7.
Information obtained pursuant to this subsection shall be used exclusively by the employer or prospective employer for the purpose of determining whether a person is suitable for working in close proximity to children. All such decisions shall be subject to applicable federal laws and regulations currently or hereafter in effect.
(b) The employer or prospective employer may refuse to employ, and may:
(1) Refuse to issue a teaching or other educational certificate;
(2) Revoke the teaching or other educational certificate;
(3) Refuse to allow or continue to allow teacher training; or
(4) Terminate the employment of any employee or deny employment to an applicant,
if the person has been convicted of a crime, and if the employer or prospective employer finds by reason of the nature and circumstances of the crime that the person poses a risk to the health, safety, or well-being of children. Refusal, revocation, or termination may occur only after appropriate investigation and notification to the employee or applicant for employment of results and planned action, and after the employee or applicant for employment is given an opportunity to meet and rebut the finding. Nothing in this subsection shall abrogate any applicable appeal rights under chapters 76 or 89, or administrative regulation of the department of education.
(c) The employer or prospective employer shall refuse to employ, and shall:
(1) Refuse to issue a teaching or other educational certificate;
(2) Revoke the teaching or other educational certificate;
(3) Refuse to allow or continue to allow teacher training; and
(4) Terminate the employment of any employee or deny employment to an applicant,
if the person has pled nolo contendre to a charge under or been convicted of a charge under the following sections of the Hawaii Penal Code: 707-730(1)(b), 707-730(1)(c), 707-732(1)(b), 707-732(1)(c), 707-733.5, or any offense listed under Part VI of chapter 707. Refusal, revocation, or termination may occur only after appropriate investigation and notification to the employee or applicant for employment of results and planned action, and after the employee or applicant for employment is given an opportunity to meet and rebut the finding.
[(c)] (d) This section shall not be used by the department to secure criminal history record checks on persons who have been employed continuously by the department, including the state public library system, on a salaried basis prior to July 1, 1990.
[(d)] (e) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, for purposes of this section, the department of education, including the Hawaii state public library system, shall be exempt from section 831-3.1 and need not conduct investigations, notifications, or hearings under this section in accordance with chapter 91."
SECTION 2. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2005.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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