PRESS RELEASES

Thursday, May 29, 2008
Assemblywoman Paulin Introduces Legislation to Remove Felons from Schools

Assemblywoman Amy Paulin has introduced legislation to ensure that school employees who are convicted of sex crimes or financial felonies are terminated immediately. Additionally under this legislation, certification or licensing of these school officials would be automatically revoked (A11273).

“This bill eliminates the unnecessary and costly redundancy inherent in the current process and most importantly protects school children,” Paulin said.

Present law provides that even after being convicted of a felony which renders the employee unfit to work in a school, employees who hold state certifications are entitled to what is known as a Part 83 hearing to determine whether they should keep their certification. Additionally, the law provides that tenured employees convicted of these crimes are also entitled to a 3020-A hearing by the school district to determine whether they should keep their job.

According to a 2004 survey, it was estimated that over $25 million is spent annually by schools on 3020-A hearings to determine if tenured teachers convicted of such crimes should be allowed to stay employed.

“If a school employee has already been convicted of a heinous crime, no more proof is needed that he or she should be immediately terminated,” Paulin stated. “Holding additional hearings, at the school’s expense, and keeping the employee on the payroll is redundant and a complete waste of taxpayers’ dollars.”

“It is ridiculous that the conviction or guilty plea is not sufficient and in fact does not absolutely require the Superintendent to terminate employment,” said Richard Organisciak, Superintendent of New Rochelle Schools. “Even worse, is the burden a second or sometimes a third hearing places on the school district, the taxpayer, and even the victim who may be called to testify. I am so pleased that Assemblywoman Paulin is sponsoring this important legislation.”

Senator Stephen Saland has introduced this legislation in the Senate.