Assemblyman William Magnarelli (D-Syracuse) announced that the Assembly passed a bill he sponsored that provides for the immediate termination of any teacher – including classroom teachers, teaching assistants, school counselors, social workers and psychologists, school administrators, supervisors or superintendents of schools – guilty of committing a registrable sex offense (A.11500-A) and the automatic revocation of their teaching certificate or license. The Senate and governor back the measure.

“As a father, grandfather and as a legislator, I take the responsibility of ensuring our children’s safety very seriously. This measure protects our children from dangerous individuals,” Magnarelli said. “Parents should feel confident when they send their children off to school they are safe from the threat of sexual predators.”

Currently, there is no mechanism to immediately terminate the employment or revoke the teaching credentials of teachers convicted of sex crimes that place them on the sex offender registry. The law requires the state Education Department to conduct a moral character hearing before revoking a teacher’s certification and requires a school district to complete a disciplinary proceeding prior to firing a tenured teacher.

This legislation eliminates these hearing requirements for registered sex offenders by giving the Commissioner of Education the authority to immediately revoke their certification and allowing a school district to automatically terminate their employment.

Magnarelli said the bill would expedite the revocation of a teacher’s certification or school professional’s license following a conviction or plea involving a registrable sex offense.

“We entrust teachers to educate, mentor, and protect our children,” Magnarelli said. “Those who betray that trust should be dealt with immediately. This legislation ensures just that.”

Under the bill, licenses that are improperly revoked can be retained if a mistaken identity claim is made within 25 days of receipt of notice that the license has been revoked. The state Education Department would have 5 business days to respond to mistaken identity claims. Licenses and employment would also be reinstated if the conviction is reversed and following a moral character hearing conducted by the state Education Department.

“This legislation will streamline the process for getting dangerous sex offenders out of our schools and away from our children as quickly as possible and is part of my continuing efforts to ensure the safety and security of central New York’s children,” Magnarelli said. “I stand steadfast and pledge to remain vigilant in my efforts to protect Central New York Families.”