2015 -- S 0155 SUBSTITUTE A

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LC000856/SUB A

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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 a method as

requested by the licensee. Said notice shall be issued at least ninety (90) 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.

     (c) The 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 the necessary information

only from persons licensed under this chapter who wish to receive the notice described in

subsection (b) of this section.

     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

notice to teachers and other licensed public school personnel through a method as requested by

the licensee, when any action of recertification, revocation, or repeal of their license is proposed

and pending. Such notice would be issued at least ninety (90) days prior to the proposed action.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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