Vetoed by Governor Jerry Brown, Jr.

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that amends the procedure for teacher dismissal.

Highlights:

• Requires the governing board of a school district to immediately place a school employee on a mandatory leave of absence for certain allegations including, but not limited to, the following indictments (Sec. 6):
• The school employee is charged with any sex offense; or
• The school employee is charged with the unlawful sale, use, or exchange of controlled substances with minors.

• Authorizes a governing board to issue a notice of suspension or dismissal at any time of the year, except for charges of unsatisfactory performance (Sec. 4).

• Limits the number of witnesses of whom an employee may take depositions to 5, whereas existing law does not limit the number of witnesses (Sec. 9).

• Limits the amount of time allowed for each witness deposition to 7 hours (Sec. 9).

• Requires a dismissal hearing requested by a school employee charged with violations to commence within 6 months of the request and end within 7 months of the request (Sec. 8).

• Prohibits a motion to amend the charges from being granted within 90 days of the hearing if the motion would extend an employee’s dismissal hearing beyond the 7-month deadline (Sec. 3).

• Authorizes the individuals involved in a dismissal hearing to make disclosures to the governing board in lieu of written discovery that contain the following information (Sec. 9):
• The name, telephone number, and address of any individual likely to have discoverable information relevant to the hearing along with the subject of that information; and
• Any documents, electronic or physical, that may support the individual’s claims or defense.

• Requires each individual to make available his or her disclosure with the other individuals involved in the dismissal hearing within 45 days of the date of the employee’s demand for a hearing (Sec. 9).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends the procedure for teacher dismissal.

Highlights:

• Requires the governing board of a school district to immediately place a school employee on a mandatory leave of absence for certain allegations including, but not limited to, the following indictments (Sec. 6):
• The school employee is charged with any sex offense; or
• The school employee is charged with the unlawful sale, use, or exchange of controlled substances with minors.

• Authorizes a governing board to issue a notice of suspension or dismissal at any time of the year, except for charges of unsatisfactory performance (Sec. 4).

• Limits the number of witnesses of whom an employee may take depositions to 5, whereas existing law does not limit the number of witnesses (Sec. 9).

• Limits the amount of time allowed for each witness deposition to 7 hours (Sec. 9).

• Requires a dismissal hearing requested by a school employee charged with violations to commence within 6 months of the request and end within 7 months of the request (Sec. 8).

• Prohibits a motion to amend the charges from being granted within 90 days of the hearing if the motion would extend an employee’s dismissal hearing beyond the 7-month deadline (Sec. 3).

• Authorizes the individuals involved in a dismissal hearing to make disclosures to the governing board in lieu of written discovery that contain the following information (Sec. 9):
• The name, telephone number, and address of any individual likely to have discoverable information relevant to the hearing along with the subject of that information; and
• Any documents, electronic or physical, that may support the individual’s claims or defense.

• Requires each individual to make available his or her disclosure with the other individuals involved in the dismissal hearing within 45 days of the date of the employee’s demand for a hearing (Sec. 9).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends the procedure for teacher dismissal.

Highlights:

• Requires a teacher to take a mandatory leave of absence for certain allegations including, but not limited to, the following indictments (Sec. 6):
• The teacher is charged with any sex offense; or
• The teacher is charged with the sale, use, or exchange of controlled substances with minors.

•  Authorizes a governing board to issue a notice of suspension or dismissal at any time of the year, except for charges of unsatisfactory performance (Sec. 4).

•  Requires a dismissal hearing requested by a school employee charged with violations to commence within 6 months of the request and end within 7 months of the request (Sec. 8).

•  Authorizes the individuals involved in a dismissal hearing to make disclosures to the governing board in lieu of written discovery that contain the following information (Sec. 9):
• The name, telephone number, and address of any individual likely to have discoverable information relevant to the hearing along with the subject of that information; and
• Any documents, electronic or physical, that may support the individual’s claims or defense.

Full Bill Text