HB355 - ericsundberg/legwiki GitHub Wiki
| House | Senate | Conference | Governor | ||||||||||||
| Committee | Floor | Committee | Floor | ||||||||||||
| Referred to Committee | Referred to Subcommittee | Subcommittee | Committee | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Referred to Committee | Referred to Subcommittee | Subcommittee | Committee | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | ||
| Education | K-12 | Reported to full (Y-9, N-1) | Reported to floor (Y-18, N-0) | ✓ | ✓ | Block Vote (100-Y 0-N) | |||||||||
Employment verification of school employees.
- Joshua G. Cole (chief patron)
- None
01/05/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24104888D PDF
- 01/05/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24104888D
- 01/05/24 House: Referred to Committee on Education
- 01/19/24 House: Assigned Education sub: K-12 Subcommittee
A fiscal impact statement is available for this bill.
The language of HB355 can be viewed here.
HOUSE BILL NO. 355
Offered January 10, 2024
Prefiled January 5, 2024
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 22.1-296.5, relating to employment verification of school employees.
Patron-- Cole
Referred to Committee on Education
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 22.1-296.5 as follows:
§ 22.1-296.5. Employment verification of school employees.
A school board shall provide a written verification of employment within 10 days of receipt of the request from a former employee.
Thank you Madam Chair,
This bill comes as a request from one of my localities, Stafford County.
HB355 would require a school board to provide a written verification of employment within 10 days of receipt of the request from a former employee.
The intent of this change is largely clerical.
The county wants to ensure the best educators are being hired — that goal can be slowed if necessary employment history is not transferred in a timely-fashion.
The hiring process requires thorough background checks, which includes verification of prior employment, to determine suitability for employment.
Currently, the Code does not define a required time period in which verification must be provided. This bill sets that time period to 10 days.
This change intends to reduce hiring delays of job candidates.
As many of you are well aware, Stafford county, and many other localities are currently experiencing a teacher shortage. This alleviates on protentional stalling point in the process.
Enacting this 10 day verification process will:
1. Ensure the quality staff for our school systems
2. Streamline the process of onboarding the candidates
3. Set an expectation to receive verified records in a timely manner
I hope it is the will of the subcommittee to report the bill to full committee.
Thank you.
n/a
Thank you Mr. Speaker, I move the committee substitute.
Thank you Mr. Speaker,
House Bill 355 would require a school board to provide a written verification of employment within 10 working days of receipt of the request from a former employee.
This simple clerical fix would ensure school divisions across the commonwealth are able to hire and onboard well qualified and able educators in a quicker manner.
I hope it would be the pleasure of the body to engross and pass the bill on to it’s third reading.
n/a
Thank you Madam Chair,
HB355 would require a school board to provide a written verification of employment within 10 working days of receipt of the request from a former employee.
The intent of this change is largely clerical.
The county wants to ensure the best educators are being hired — that goal can be slowed if necessary employment history is not transferred in a timely-fashion.
The hiring process requires thorough background checks, which includes verification of prior employment, to determine suitability for employment.
Currently, the Code does not define a required time period in which verification must be provided. This bill sets that time period to 10 working days.
This change intends to reduce hiring delays of job candidates.
As many of you are well aware, Stafford county, and many other localities are currently experiencing a teacher shortage. This alleviates on protentional stalling point in the process.
Enacting this 10 day verification process will:
1. Ensure the quality staff for our school systems
2. Streamline the process of onboarding the candidates
3. Set an expectation to receive verified records in a timely manner
I hope it is the will of the subcommittee to report the bill to full committee.
This bill passed the House unanimously—so I hope it would be the will of the body to report this bill; thank you.
SB441, cognate to my HB355, mandates school boards to provide employment verification within 10 business days.
This ensures timely hiring processes, crucial amidst teacher shortages.
The only difference between the Senator's bill and mine is SB441 uses "business" versus "working" days.
I would ask the House engross and pass SB441.
No support or opposition is currently noted.
Q: Why should we pass this legislation if it changes nothing?
R: Because it enshrines the right and gives those whose rights are infringed a path for which to see their rights.
Q: This bill creates requirements for school boards that are unwieldy and set new impossible standards. Why?
R: We have worked with stakeholders to eliminate any unwieldy requirements. This bill does not create new requirements, just codifies the first amendment right to freedom of speech for students.
Q: How does this bill balance the need for public participation in school board meetings with the potential disruption that allowing all enrolled students to submit oral comments may cause?
R: This bill recognizes the importance of public participation in school board meetings, which is a fundamental aspect of our democratic process. However, it is essential to balance this with the need to maintain order and efficiency during these meetings. We believe that responsible public participation can be achieved through clear procedures and guidelines.
Q: What safeguards are in place to ensure that the proof of identification provided by students is accurate and prevents non-students or individuals with malicious intent from participating in school board meetings?
R: Ensuring the accuracy of proof of identification is a valid concern. The bill should include provisions to verify the authenticity of identification documents to prevent misuse. Protecting the integrity of school board meetings is crucial.
Q: How will the 12-hour advance sign-up requirement impact the ability of students to participate in school board meetings, especially for those who may have last-minute concerns or issues they wish to address?
R: The 12-hour advance sign-up requirement is intended to allow for proper planning and organization of school board meetings. We believe this reasonable timeframe strikes a balance between allowing students to participate and ensuring meetings run smoothly.
Q: How does this bill address concerns about potential misuse or abuse of the opportunity for oral comments by students, including the possibility of political or partisan statements being made during school board meetings?
R: We are concerned about the potential for misuse of the opportunity for oral comments. It is essential that the bill includes provisions to maintain decorum and prevent the meetings from becoming platforms for political or partisan statements that may not be relevant to the school board's agenda.
Q: Does the bill provide any guidance or limitations on the content of oral comments that students can submit during school board meetings, or is it entirely open to any topic or issue?
R: The bill should provide some guidance on the content of oral comments, ensuring that they relate to the school board's responsibilities and agenda items. This will help keep meetings focused and productive.
Q: How will the bill ensure that school board meetings remain efficient and productive, given the potential increase in the number of oral comments from students?
R: Maintaining efficiency in school board meetings is crucial. We should consider whether there are limits on the number of oral comments allowed or time constraints to ensure that meetings remain productive.
Q: What is the Republican perspective on the role of school boards in decision-making, and how does this bill align with that perspective regarding public participation in school board meetings?
R: Republicans believe in local control and parental involvement in education decisions. This bill aligns with our perspective by allowing students, who are an integral part of the education system, to have a voice in school board meetings.
Q: Are there any concerns about potential legal challenges or conflicts arising from the amendments made to the bill, particularly regarding the addition of "if requested" language and changes to sign-up procedures?
R: The inclusion of "if requested" language and changes to sign-up procedures can be seen as measures to accommodate flexibility while still adhering to the bill's core objectives. We believe these changes can enhance the bill's effectiveness.
Q: How does this bill address the privacy and security of students' personal information, especially in cases where personal school email addresses are used as proof of identification?
R: The bill should include provisions to safeguard students' personal information and ensure its responsible handling. Privacy and security are important considerations, especially when personal school email addresses are involved.
Q: Are there any specific recommendations or amendments that Republicans would like to propose to further refine the language and objectives of this bill to better align with their party's principles and priorities?
R: Republicans may consider proposing amendments to provide clearer definitions of acceptable proof of identification, establish guidelines for the conduct of oral comments, and address any potential unintended consequences that could arise from the bill's implementation. Our goal is to refine the legislation to better serve the interests of students and the community.