Bill > S00312

This bill establishes a new process for handling complaints about the moral character of teachers and teaching certificate applicants in New York State. The New York State Education Department will now maintain an internal registry exclusively for active investigations involving boundary violations between certificate holders and students, sex-related offenses, or sexually-related complaints. The registry will include detailed information about the investigated individual, such as their name, position, workplace, complaint date, and investigation status. Complaints can only be added to the registry by a superintendent or chief school administrator, and the department must notify the individual in writing when they are added to or removed from the registry. When a school district requests a background check, the department will disclose if the individual is under investigation, but only to the superintendent. The bill provides a 30-day window for individuals to appeal their inclusion in the registry, during which the commissioner will review the appeal and render a decision. The information in the registry is confidential and not subject to public disclosure. The overall goal is to ensure prompt investigation of serious moral character complaints while protecting the rights of the individuals under investigation.

Budget and Finance, Education

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S312