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HB 124
TEACHER CERTIFICATION REMOVAL
1996 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Sponsor: Shirley V. Jensen
AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC EDUCATION; PROVIDING THAT A PREPONDERANCE
OF EVIDENCE STANDARD SHALL BE USED IN PROFESSIONAL PRACTICES
ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS RELATED TO RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
REVOCATION OR SUSPENSION OF A CERTIFICATE OR RESTRICTION OR
PROHIBITION OF RECERTIFICATION.
This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
AMENDS:
53A-7-110 , as last amended by Chapter 116, Laws of Utah 1993
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1.
Section
53A-7-110
is amended to read:
53A-7-110. Powers and duties.
(1) The commission:
(a) shall make recommendations to the State Board of Education and professional
organizations of educators:
(i) concerning standards of professional performance, competence, and ethical conduct for
persons holding certificates issued by the board; and
(ii) for the improvement of the education profession;
(b) shall adopt rules to carry out the purposes of this chapter;
(c) shall establish procedures for receiving and acting upon charges and recommendations
regarding immoral, unprofessional, or incompetent conduct, unfitness for duty, or other violations
of standards of ethical conduct, performance, and professional competence;
(d) shall establish the manner in which hearings are conducted and reported, and
recommendations are submitted to the State Board of Education for its action;
(e) may:
(i) warn or reprimand a certificate holder;
(ii) recommend that the State Board of Education revoke or suspend a certificate, or restrict
or prohibit recertification;
(iii) enter into a written agreement requiring a current or former educator who has been the
subject of a commission action to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the commission that the
individual is rehabilitated and will conform to standards of professional performance, competence,
and ethical conduct; or
(iv) take other appropriate action; and
(f) may administer oaths, issue subpoenas, and make investigations relating to any matter
before the commission.
(2) (a) In fulfilling its duty under Subsection (1) (c), the commission shall investigate any
allegation of sexual abuse of a student or a minor by an educator whether or not the educator has
surrendered his certificate without a hearing.
(b) The investigation shall be independent of and separate from any criminal investigation.
(c) The commission may receive any evidence related to the allegation of sexual abuse,
including sealed or expunged records released to the board under Section [
77-18-2
]
77-18-15
.
(3) (a) In making recommendations under Subsection (1)(e)(ii), the commission shall use
a preponderance of evidence standard in its hearings as the basis for recommending revocation or
suspension of a certificate or restriction or prohibition of recertification.
- 2 -

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