The proposed bill, sSB351, introduces significant changes to the process of teacher terminations by establishing a new standard of review and mandating that termination hearings be conducted by a neutral hearing officer. It repeals and replaces subsections (c) to (e) of section 10-151 of the general statutes, effective July 1, 2026. Key provisions include aligning the standard of review for termination reasons with those applied in other disciplinary actions under the teacher's collective bargaining agreement, ensuring that teachers who receive notice of nonrenewal or termination are entitled to a hearing. The bill also clarifies that the hearing shall be public if requested by the teacher and outlines the sharing of costs associated with the hearing.

Additionally, the bill modifies the authority of Boards of Education (BOE) regarding nonrenewal decisions, removing the previous limitation that allowed rescission only if the decision was deemed arbitrary and capricious. It allows either party to appeal a hearing officer's decision to the Superior Court based on arbitration award standards, rather than the Uniform Administrative Procedure Act (UAPA) standards. The bill also changes the court review process, requiring courts to confirm arbitration awards unless specific grounds for vacating or modifying them are found. Furthermore, it eliminates the prohibition on awarding costs to teachers appealing their termination unless the BOE acted with gross negligence, bad faith, or malice. Overall, the legislation aims to enhance fairness and efficiency in the teacher termination process while protecting the rights of both teachers and school boards.