04/29/2004 09:10 AM House RLS

HB 551-DRUG FELONY DISQUALIFIES TEACHER                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR ROKEBERG  announced that the  next order of  business would                                                               
be  HOUSE BILL  NO.  551, "An  Act relating  to  the issuance  of                                                               
teacher certificates  to and  revocation of  teacher certificates                                                               
of persons convicted of felony  drug offenses and to the issuance                                                               
of limited  teacher certificates to persons  convicted of certain                                                               
crimes involving a minor and felony drug offenses."                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Number 208                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  McGUIRE,  speaking  as  the chair  of  the  House                                                               
Judiciary Standing  Committee, sponsor of HB  551, explained that                                                               
HB 551 doesn't  allow one to obtain a teaching  certificate if he                                                               
or she  has a felony drug  conviction.  The legislation  has been                                                               
narrowed  in CSHB  551(JUD) [such  that it  doesn't allow  one to                                                               
obtain a teaching  certificate if he or she has]  has felony drug                                                               
convictions  in the  first degree.   This  [legislation is  being                                                               
taken up] to  zero out the fiscal note, she  explained.  Although                                                               
Teaching and Learning Support, Department  of Education and Early                                                               
Development  (EED),  offered a  fiscal  note,  she recalled  that                                                               
testimony  that licenses  have been  revoked for  these types  of                                                               
convictions,    even   lower-level    convictions,   for    moral                                                               
[perpetuity].  Therefore, a zero fiscal note is being offered.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Number 225                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE McGUIRE  moved that  the committee adopt  the zero                                                               
fiscal [by the House Rules  Committee].  [This motion was treated                                                               
as adopted.]                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  BERKOWITZ  inquired  as   to  how  many  teachers                                                               
currently  employed  in  the  state would  be  impacted  by  this                                                               
statute.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR McGUIRE replied that she didn't know.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  BERKOWITZ inquired  as  to what  would happen  to                                                               
those holding licenses under this statute.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  McGUIRE stated  that the  legislation allows  for                                                               
revocation  or suspension.   She  related that  the [Professional                                                               
Teaching  Practices]  Commission  assured  [the  House  Judiciary                                                               
Standing  Committee] that  there isn't  a single  teacher in  the                                                               
state  who  has a  felony  drug  conviction,  as it  is  narrowly                                                               
defined in the legislation.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Number 242                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KOTT  moved  to   report  CSHB  551(JUD)  out  of                                                               
committee with  individual recommendations  and the  adopted zero                                                               
fiscal note.  There being no objection, it was so ordered.