Bill > SB134

This bill establishes a comprehensive process for school districts to request and share employment files of teacher applicants, requiring teachers to sign a written waiver authorizing the release of their employment records when applying for a new teaching position. Under the bill, when a school district wants to hire a teacher who has previously worked in another district, the hiring district must obtain a signed waiver from the applicant explicitly allowing the disclosure of their employment files. The original school district must then provide these files within 21 days, either by sending copies or allowing the hiring district to review them in person. The bill defines "files" broadly to include performance reviews, disciplinary actions, personnel applications, and investigation-related documents, but explicitly excludes medical records and administrative information like pay details. Importantly, the bill protects school districts from civil liability when disclosing files in good faith and restricts the hiring district from further sharing these files, designating the original school district as the official custodian of the records under the Kansas Open Records Act. The legislation aims to help school districts make more informed hiring decisions by providing comprehensive access to a teacher's professional history while maintaining certain privacy protections for the applicant.

Education

Education (Senate)

https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb134/