DAR File No. 39385

Education, Administration

Rule R277-203

Request for Licensure Reinstatement and Reinstatement Procedures

Notice of Proposed Rule

(New Rule)

DAR File No.: 39385
Filed: 05/15/2015 08:54:04 AM

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

H.B. 345, Education Abuse Policy, 2015 General Session, changed the rulemaking authority from the Utah Professional Practices Advisory Commission (UPPAC) to the Utah State Board of Education. Rule R277-203 is created in response to the legislation and because UPPAC rules (Title R686) are being repealed. (DAR NOTE: The proposed repeal of Rule R686-100 under DAR No. 39389, Rule R686-101 under DAR No. 39390, Rule R686-102 under DAR No. 39391, Rule R686-103 under DAR No. 39392, Rule R686-104 under DAR No. 39393, and Rule R686-105 under DAR No. 39394 are in this issue, June 1, 2015, of the Bulletin.)

Summary of the rule or change:

Rule R277-203 establishes procedures regarding educator license reinstatement.

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

• Art X Sec 3
• Section 53A-6-306
• Subsection 53A-1-401(3)

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

It is anticipated that there is likely no cost or savings to the state budget. Procedures in this rule are similar to procedures in Rule R686-102.

local governments:

It is anticipated that there is likely no cost or savings to local government. Procedures in this rule are similar to procedures in Rule R686-102.

small businesses:

It is anticipated that there is likely no cost or savings to small businesses. Procedures in this rule are similar to procedures in Rule R686-102.

persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local governmental entities:

It is anticipated that there is likely no cost or savings to persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local government entities. Procedures in this rule are similar to procedures in Rule R686-102.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

There are likely no compliance costs for affected persons. Procedures in this rule are similar to procedures in Rule R686-102.

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

I have reviewed this rule and I believe that there is likely no fiscal impact on businesses.

Brad C. Smith, State Superintendent

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at:

Education
Administration
250 E 500 S
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84111-3272

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

• Benjamin Rasmussen at the above address, by phone at 801-538-7835, by FAX at 801-538-7768, or by Internet E-mail at benjamin.rasmussen@schools.utah.gov

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

07/01/2015

This rule may become effective on:

07/08/2015

Authorized by:

Angela Stallings, Associate Superintendent, Policy and Communication

R277. Education, Administration.

R277-203. Request for Licensure Reinstatement and Reinstatement Procedures.

R277-203-1. Authority and Purpose.

A. This rule is authorized under Utah Constitution Article X, Section 3 which vests general control and supervision over public education in the Board, by Section 53A-6-306 which directs the Board to adopt rules regarding UPPAC duties and procedures, and by Section 53A-1-401(3) which allows the Board to adopt rules in accordance with its responsibilities.

B. The purpose of this rule is to establish procedures regarding educator license reinstatement.

C. The standards and procedures of the Utah Administrative Procedures Act do not apply to this rule under the exemption of Section 63G-4-102(2)(d).

 

R277-203-2. Application for Licensing Following Denial or Loss of License.

A(1) An individual who has been denied a license or lost the individual's license through suspension, or through surrender of a license or allowing a license to lapse in the face of an allegation of misconduct, may request a review to consider reinstatement of a license.

(2) A request for review described in R277-203-2A(1)shall:

(a) be in writing;

(b) be transmitted to the UPPAC Executive Secretary; and

(c) have the following information:

(i) name and address of the individual requesting review;

(ii) the action being requested;

(iii) specific evidence and documentation of compliance with terms and conditions of any remedial or disciplinary requirements or recommendations from UPPAC or the Board;

(iv) reason(s) that the individual seeks reinstatement; and

(v) signature of the individual requesting review.

B(1) The Executive Secretary shall review the request with UPPAC.

(2) If UPPAC determines that the request is incomplete or invalid:

(a) the Executive Secretary shall deny the request; and

(b) notify the individual requesting reinstatement of the denial.

(3) If UPPAC determines that the request of an individual described in R277-203-2A is complete, timely, and appropriate, UPPAC shall schedule and hold a hearing as provided under R277-203-3.

C(1) Burden of Persuasion: The burden of persuasion at a reinstatement hearing shall fall on the individual seeking the reinstatement.

(2) An individual requesting reinstatement of a suspended license shall:

(a) show sufficient evidence of compliance with any conditions imposed in the past disciplinary action;

(b) provide sufficient evidence to the reinstatement hearing panel that the educator will not engage in recurrences of the actions that gave rise to the suspension and that reinstatement is appropriate;

(c) undergo a criminal background check consistent with Utah law and R277-517; and

(d) provide materials for review by the hearing panel that demonstrate the individual's compliance with directives from UPPAC or the Board found in petitioner's original stipulated agreement or hearing report.

(3) An individual requesting licensing following a denial shall show sufficient evidence of completion of a rehabilitation or remediation program, if applicable, when requesting reinstatement.

D. An individual whose license has been suspended or revoked in another state shall seek reinstatement of the individual's license in the other state before a request for a reinstatement hearing may be approved.

 

R277-203-3. Reinstatement Hearing Procedures.

A. A hearing officer shall:

(1) preside over a reinstatement hearing; and

(2) rule on all procedural issues during the reinstatement hearing as they arise.

B. A hearing panel, comprising individuals as set forth in R277-202-3(B), shall:

(1) hear the evidence; and

(2) along with the prosecutor and hearing officer, question the individual seeking reinstatement regarding the appropriateness of reinstatement.

C. An individual seeking reinstatement may:

(a) be represented by counsel; and

(b) may present evidence and witnesses.

D. A party may present evidence and witnesses consistent with R277-202.

E. A hearing officer of a reinstatement hearing shall direct one or both parties to explain the background of a case to panel members at the beginning of the hearing to provide necessary information about the initial misconduct and subsequent UPPAC and Board action.

F. An individual seeking reinstatement shall present documentation or evidence that supports reinstatement.

G. The USOE, represented by the UPPAC prosecutor, shall present any evidence or documentation that explains and supports USOE's recommendation in the matter.

H. Other evidence or witnesses may be presented by either party and shall be presented consistent with R277-202.

I. The individual seeking reinstatement shall:

(1) focus on the individual's actions, rehabilitative efforts, and performance following license denial or suspension;

(2) explain item by item how each condition of the hearing report or stipulated agreement was satisfied;

(3) provide documentation in the form of evaluations, reports, or plans, as directed by the hearing report or stipulated agreement, of satisfaction of all required and outlined conditions;

(4) be prepared to completely and candidly respond to the questions of the UPPAC prosecutor and hearing panel regarding:

(a) the misconduct that caused the license suspension;

(b) subsequent rehabilitation activities;

(c) counseling or therapy received by the individual related to the original misconduct; and

(d) work, professional actions, and behavior between the suspension and reinstatement request;

(5) present witnesses and be prepared to question witnesses (including counselors, current employers, support group members) at the hearing who can provide substantive corroboration of rehabilitation or current professional fitness to be an educator;

(6) provide copies of all reports and documents to the UPPAC prosecutor and hearing officer at least five days before a reinstatement hearing; and

(7) bring eight copies of all documents or materials that an individual seeking reinstatement plans to introduce at the hearing.

J. The UPPAC prosecutor, the hearing panel, and hearing officer shall thoroughly question the individual seeking reinstatement as to the individual's:

(1) underlying misconduct which is the basis of the sanction on the educator's license;

(2) specific and exact compliance with reinstatement requirements;

(3) counseling, if required for reinstatement;

(4) specific plans for avoiding previous misconduct; and

(5) demeanor and changed understanding of petitioner's professional integrity and actions consistent with R277-515.

K. If the individual seeking reinstatement sought counseling as described n R277-203-3J(3), the individual shall state, under oath, that he provided all relevant information and background to his counselor or therapist.

L. A hearing officer shall rule on procedural issues in a reinstatement hearing in a timely manner as they arise.

M. No more than 20 days following a reinstatement hearing, a hearing officer, with the assistance of the hearing panel, shall:

(1) prepare a hearing report in accordance with the requirements set forth in R277-203-5; and

(2) provide the hearing report to the UPPAC Executive Secretary.

N. The Executive Secretary shall submit the hearing report to UPPAC at the next meeting following receipt of the hearing report by the Executive Secretary.

O. UPPAC may do the following upon receipt of the hearing report:

(1) accept the hearing panel's recommendation as prepared in the hearing report;

(2) amend the hearing panel's recommendation with conditions or modifications to the hearing panel's recommendation which shall be:

(a) directed by UPPAC;

(b) prepared by the UPPAC Executive Secretary; and

(c) attached to the hearing report; or

(3) reject the hearing panel's recommendation.

P. After UPPAC makes a recommendation on the hearing panel report, the UPPAC recommendation will be forwarded to the Board for final action on the individual's reinstatement request.

Q. If the Board denies an individual's request for reinstatement, the individual shall wait at least twenty four (24) months prior to filing a request for reinstatement again, unless a different time is provided in the hearing panel recommendation or in the Board's motion to deny.

 

R277-203-4. Rights of a Victim at a Reinstatement Hearing.

A. If the allegations that gave rise to the underlying suspension involve abuse of a sexual or physical nature, UPPAC shall make reasonable efforts to notify the victim or the victim's family of the reinstatement request.

B. UPPAC's notification shall:

(1) advise the victim that a reinstatement hearing has been scheduled;

(2) notify the victim of the date, time, and location of the hearing;

(3) advise the victim of the victim's right to be heard at the reinstatement hearing; and

(4) provide the victim with a form upon which the victim can submit a statement for consideration by the hearing panel.

C. A victim entitled to notification of the reinstatement proceedings shall be permitted:

(1) to attend the hearing; and

(2) to offer the victim's position on the educator's reinstatement request, either by testifying in person or by submitting a written statement.

D. A victim choosing to testify at a reinstatement hearing shall be subject to reasonable cross examination in the hearing officer's discretion.

E. A victim choosing not to respond in writing or appear at the reinstatement hearing waives the victim's right to participate in the reinstatement process.

 

R277-203-5. Reinstatement Hearing Report.

A. A hearing officer shall provide the following in a reinstatement hearing report:

(1) provide a summary of the background of the original disciplinary action;

(2) provide adequate information, including summary statements of evidence presented, documents provided, and petitioner's testimony and demeanor for both UPPAC and the Board to evaluate petitioner's progress and rehabilitation since petitioner's original disciplinary action;

(3) specifically address petitioner's appropriateness and fitness to be a public school educator again; and

(4) provide a statement that the hearing panel's recommendation to UPPAC was unanimous or provide the panel's vote concerning reinstatement.

B(1) The hearing panel report is a public document under GRAMA following the conclusion of the reinstatement process unless specific information or evidence contained therein is protected by a specific provision of GRAMA, or another provision of state or federal law.

(2) The Executive Secretary shall add the hearing panel report to the UPPAC case file.

C. If a license is reinstated, an educator's CACTUS file shall be updated to:

(1) remove the flag;

(2) show that the educator's license was reinstated; and

(3) show the date of formal Board action reinstating the license.

D. The Board decision as to whether to accept the recommendation of the reinstatement hearing report is within the Board's sole discretion.

 

KEY: licensure, reinstatement, hearings; license reinstatement

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: 2015

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: Art X Sec 3; 53A-6-306; 53A-1-401(3)