SB1437

Previously, the permanent-ineligibility provision concerned people terminated from employment with the state juvenile justice department for conduct showing they were unsuitable for certification. The new law no longer requires that termination and adds the other workers and organizations described above. Subject to the hearing provision, the department may designate a covered person permanently ineligible if conduct while serving a covered organization violated Chapter 222 or a department rule, or demonstrated unsuitability for certification. A separate ground is a three-member board panel’s determination that certification would threaten juveniles. Certification here includes provisional certification. Final law; Prior Section 222.054.

The emergency panel procedure remains limited to an imminent danger. If the panel finds that eligibility threatens juveniles, the department must impose temporary ineligibility until an administrative hearing, held as soon as possible. A person facing proposed permanent ineligibility is entitled to a hearing before the State Office of Administrative Hearings. Telephone meetings require immediate action and inconvenience in assembling the panel in one place. The existing judicial-appeal provision is unchanged. This is not an automatic permanent ban based solely on an accusation. Final law; Existing hearing and appeal framework.

The introduced, Senate committee, Senate-passed and House committee texts covered individuals regardless of whether they already held certification. The sole listed floor amendment, by Noble, replaced that phrase with the requirement that the individual does not hold certification. The House adopted it April 28 and the Senate concurred May 5; the limitation appears in the enacted law. Introduced; Senate committee; Senate-passed; House committee; Noble amendment; Amendment index; Version index; Final law.

Compare the published text versions in the official text index. A change is not attributed to a specific amendment here without a verified record.

The expanded process can help prevent an unsuitable uncertified worker from later obtaining certification, including someone who worked outside the state department or was not fired. Affected workers face potentially permanent limits on their future certification, with administrative-hearing and appeal protections. The House amendment means this particular section is not a procedure for taking away an existing certification; it does not establish immunity from other applicable rules. These are the law’s mechanisms, not measured proof of improved safety or a count of people who will be barred. Final law; Section 222.054 safeguards.

The April 30 final-stage fiscal note anticipates no significant state or local fiscal impact. The juvenile justice department and hearing office expected to absorb costs with existing resources. That estimate does not mean hearings require no work or that affected individuals incur no costs. The act makes no appropriation. Final-stage fiscal note.