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:

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

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

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is hereby amended to read as follows:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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council on elementary and secondary education, if desired.

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

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

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

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

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

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proposed action. Such notice shall include:

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     (1) The action proposed by the department;

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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     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

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

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

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC000856

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