Assembly Approves Bills To Automatically Revoke Licenses Of Any
Teacher Convicted Of Registrable Sex Offenses And Administrators
Convicted Of Defrauding The Government

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Assembly Education Committee Chair Catherine T. Nolan announced today the passage of bills that would revoke the licenses of educators convicted of sex offenses and rescind the certification of school administrators and supervisors found guilty of defrauding the government.

The legislation (A.11500-A/Nolan) would require the state Education Department (SED) to revoke the applicable license or certification of any teacher, teaching assistant, school counselor, psychologist, social worker, school administrator or supervisor convicted of offenses requiring registration with the state Sex Offender Registry. The bill also includes protections allowing a license to be reinstated in the case of mistaken identity or, in the instance where a sex offense conviction is overturned, only after an SED moral character hearing is conducted.

The Assembly also approved a bill (A.11513-A/Nolan) requiring SED to revoke any relevant certification or licenses when a school administrator has been convicted of a crime involving fraud relating to theft of government funds. The legislation also includes safeguards to ensure against instances of mistaken identity or an overturned conviction.

"It is entirely unacceptable that sex offenders-a class of criminal that poses a high risk of re-offense-should have any access to young people in our classrooms. The sex offender registry serves the purpose of notifying communities of an offender's risk," said Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. "Those who are in this registry have no place teaching in our schools and potentially threatening the safe environment in which our students learn and grow, free from victimization. While the majority of school superintendents and administrators in New York work diligently to ensure the day-to-day success of our schools, it is nevertheless necessary that we have a mechanism in place to remove those among us who violate the public trust by defrauding their employer. The stakes are too high for students and taxpayers not to have this statute, which demands accountability and protects our crucial investment in education. "

"Parents need the assurance that their children's schools will be safe learning environments," said Nolan (D-Queens). "Today's legislation ensures that any teacher subject to mandatory sex offender registration will have no place in our classrooms and schools. The Assembly, with the leadership of Speaker Silver, also remains committed to accountability and the protection of taxpayers' investment in education by revoking the licenses of administrators convicted of defrauding the government."

Both bills are the result of three-way agreements with the Governor and the Senate.