SB 531

Bill Subjects

Abstract

(1) Existing law prohibits a permanent school employee from being dismissed except for one or more specified causes. This bill would prohibit a collective bargaining agreement entered into or renewed on or after January 1, 2014, from requiring the removal, after a specified time period, from an employee's record of records pertaining to discipline, complaints, reprimands, or investigations relating to the employee's commission, or potential commission, of one of those specified causes for dismissal. (2) Existing law authorizes a governing board of a school district to give notice to a permanent employee of its intention to dismiss or suspend him or her for specified causes at the expiration of 30 days from the date of service of the notice, unless the employee demands a hearing. Existing law prohibits that notice from being given between May 15th and September 15th in any year. This bill would remove that prohibition. (3) Existing law prohibits the governing board of a school district from acting upon any charges of unprofessional conduct, or unsatisfactory performance, unless at least 45, or 90, calendar days, respectively, prior to the date of the filing of the charges the governing board, or its authorized representative, has given the employee written notice, as specified. This bill would remove those 45-day and 90-day requirements of written notice to the charged employee. (4) Existing law establishes a Commission on Professional Competence for each dismissal or suspension hearing requested by an employee, consisting of specified members, and requires the proceeding to be conducted in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act. Existing law deems the decision of the Commission on Professional Competence to be the final decision of the governing board of the school district. This bill would delete the provisions providing for the establishment of a Commission on Professional Competence, and would instead require the proceedings to be conducted pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act by an administrative law judge. The bill would require that the administrative law judge or, for a dismissal proceeding where the charges against the employee do not involve sex, drugs, or violence against children, a panel composed of the judge and 2 certificated employees, acting by a majority vote, propose a decision. The bill would provide that the decision of the administrative law judge or panel would be advisory, and the final decision regarding the discipline of the employee would be determined by action of the governing board of the school district. The bill would provide that an employee requesting a hearing may be placed on administrative leave without pay, and that an employee who is placed on administrative leave would be required to be paid his or her regular salary if he or she furnishes to the school district acceptable security, as specified. By increasing the duties of a governing board in this regard, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (5) Existing law prohibits testimony from being given or evidence being introduced at the hearing relating to matters that occurred more than 4 years prior to the date of the filing of the notice of dismissal or suspension. This bill would remove that 4-year limitation. (6) This bill would make additional changes that are nonsubstantive and conforming. (7) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.