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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | October 7, 2013 02:41 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Will Tallman |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Restitution for costs of dismissal for school employees |
| When a teacher or other employee of a school district is charged with a crime involving sexual conduct with a student, the school district will usually terminate the individual’s employment. For certain offenses, termination is mandated by the Public School Code if the individual is convicted but school districts frequently order dismissal before the criminal case is resolved when there is sufficient evidence to do so. The costs of dismissing an employee who fights it while the case is pending can be significant. If a conviction results from the criminal case, those costs are not includable in a restitution order. I intend to introduce legislation to correct this. My bill will require the court to order restitution for costs of dismissal against an employee of a school district who has been convicted of a crime against a student which would require registration under Meghan’s Law. Allowable costs would include, but not be limited to, attorney’s fees, investigative costs and court costs. These costs are a drain on school districts and a waste of taxpayer money if the employee is guilty but fights the school district while the criminal case is pending. If convicted, the defendant, not the taxpayer, should be responsible for them. If you have any questions, please contact Carol Hoffman at (717) 783-8875 or e-mail her at choffman@pahousegop.com. Thank you for your consideration of this proposal. |
Introduced as HB1832