2015 -- S 0155

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LC000856

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CERTIFICATION OF TEACHERS

     Introduced By: Senators Picard, Sheehan, Satchell, and Gallo

     Date Introduced: February 05, 2015

     Referred To: Senate Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 16-11-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-11 entitled

"Certification of Teachers [See Title 16 Chapter 97 - The Rhode Island Board Of Education Act]"

is hereby amended to read as follows:

     16-11-4. Annulment of certificates Annulment, renewal, recertification, or repeal of

certificates. – (a) The commissioner of elementary and secondary education shall promulgate

rules and regulations under which a certificate may be annulled for cause. The holder shall be

entitled to notice and a hearing before the commissioner of elementary and secondary education

prior to the annulment of the certificate. The holder shall have an opportunity to appeal the

decision of the commissioner to the board of regents for elementary and secondary education

council on elementary and secondary education, if desired.

     (b) In the event the license of any person licensed pursuant to the provisions of this

chapter is subject to renewal, recertification, or repeal, for any reason, including, but not limited

to, the payment of licensing fees, the department of elementary and secondary education shall

send notice to such person of the need for such renewal, recertification, or repeal, by electronic

mail or "e-mail." Said notice shall be issued at least twenty (20) calendar days prior to the

proposed action. Such notice shall include:

     (1) The action proposed by the department;

     (2) The date such action proposed is to be taken; and

     (3) A statement as to what actions the person needs to perform to retain the license, if

applicable. The e-mail notice required by subsection (b) of this section shall be in addition to and

not in place of any other notice required by law. The department shall obtain e-mail addresses

from all persons licensed under this chapter. Provided, that a person so licensed may, at his or her

own election, opt out of the provisions of subsection (b) of this section. Such opting out shall be

accomplished by the filing of a written opt-out notice on a form prepared by the department and

signed by the person holding the license. The opt-out notice form shall be maintained on file with

the department for three (3) years from the date of signature.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CERTIFICATION OF TEACHERS

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     This act would require the department of elementary and secondary education to provide

e-mail notice to teachers and other licensed public school personnel when any action of

recertification, revocation, or repeal of their license is proposed and pending.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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