Chapter 093
2015 -- S 0201 SUBSTITUTE A
Enacted 06/19/2015

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

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 school committee or school 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. Any decisions rendered
must be approved by a majority of the full board. Members voting on a decision must have been
in attendance at the hearing.
      (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 ยงยง 16-13-2, 16-13-3, and/or
16-13-5.
     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC001048/SUB A
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