2015 -- S 0201

========

LC001048

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- TEACHERS' TENURE -- HEARINGS

     Introduced By: Senators DiPalma, Lombardi, E O`Neill, Morgan, and Pearson

     Date Introduced: February 11, 2015

     Referred To: Senate Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 16-13-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-13 entitled "Teachers'

Tenure" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     16-13-4. Statement of cause for dismissal -- Hearing -- Appeals -- Arbitration. -- (a)

The statement of cause for dismissal shall be given to the teacher, in writing, by the governing

body of the schools. The teacher may, within fifteen (15) days of the notification, request, in

writing, a hearing before the full board. The hearing shall be public or private, in the discretion of

the teacher. Both teacher and school board shall be entitled to be represented by counsel and to

present witnesses. The board shall keep a complete record of the hearing and shall furnish the

teacher with a copy. Any teacher aggrieved by the decision of the school board shall have the

right of appeal to the department of elementary and secondary education and shall have the right

of further appeal to the superior court.

      (b) Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to prohibit, or at any time to have

prohibited, a school committee in a municipality or regional school district with an elected school

committee, or the chief executive officer in a municipality with an appointed school committee

from agreeing, in a collective bargaining agreement, to the arbitration of disputes arising out of

the nonrenewal, dismissal, and/or suspension of a teacher pursuant to §§ 16-13-2, 16-13-3, and/or

16-13-5.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

========

LC001048

========

LC001048 - Page 2 of 3

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- TEACHERS' TENURE -- HEARINGS

***

     This act would provide that teacher dismissal cases may be heard by less than an entire

school board.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

========

LC001048

========

LC001048 - Page 3 of 3