HB 18-1269

HB 18-1269, also known as the Parent Notice For Student Safety And Protection bill, requires schools in Colorado to inform parents if a teacher or staff member who had contact with their child is charged with certain felonies within one year of employment. Schools must notify parents by mail or email within two school days after an arrest or preliminary hearing unless law enforcement requests a delay. The bill ensures that parents are also updated on the outcome of these charges. Signed into law, this means schools now have to follow these notification rules when dealing with serious criminal charges against their staff who interact with students.

Official Summary

The bill requires school districts, district charter schools, institute charter schools, and boards of cooperative services (local education providers) to notify parents of students enrolled in a local education provider of charges brought against an employee or former employee, if the employee was employed at any time within 12 months before an offense is charged, who has or had contact with students, if the charges are for one of the felony offenses that requires the denial, suspension, or revocation of a teacher license if the employee were a teacher. The bill specifies the students whose parents must receive notification and the information that a local education provider shall include in the parent notification. The local education provider shall notify parents by mail or electronic means within 2 school days after the employee has had or has waived a preliminary hearing, if available, on the charge unless the appropriate law enforcement agency requests a delay in notification. If notice is sent to parents, the local education provider shall also send notice within 2 school days to the same parents in the same manner regarding the disposition of the charges. Each local education provider shall monitor employee arrest information received from the Colorado bureau of investigation to determine whether charges are filed and the status of the preliminary hearing. The bill prohibits the state board of education from waiving the requirements of the bill relating to parent notification for school districts or for charter schools authorized by a school district or by the state charter school institute. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More

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