This bill establishes a new process for individuals to petition for removal from the educator misconduct registry maintained by the Department of Education. Specifically, it allows any individual whose educator credential was revoked or surrendered—provided that the revocation was not linked to a criminal investigation, conviction, or adjudication—to submit a written petition for removal. The petition must include a statement of grounds for removal, documentation of rehabilitation if applicable, and evidence that the revocation was not related to criminal conduct. The Department is required to review the petition within 90 days and may grant removal if it finds that the revocation was not based on criminal conduct, the individual poses no current risk to students, and removal aligns with the public interest.

Additionally, the bill mandates that the Department conduct a review of the educator misconduct registry at least every two years to identify deceased individuals, ensure the registry's accuracy, and report findings to the state board of education. It emphasizes transparency and due process by requiring written notice of decisions to petitioners, allowing appeals for denials, and publishing anonymized data on registry removals annually. The state board of education is tasked with adopting rules to implement these provisions, including procedures for petition submission and review, criteria for removal, and standards for periodic review. The bill will take effect 60 days after its passage.