This bill amends the existing law regarding school ethics complaints by establishing a mediation process aimed at resolving issues before they escalate to formal proceedings. It mandates that the School Ethics Commission provide an opportunity for both the complainant and the school official named in the complaint to engage in mediation. If both parties agree to mediation, a mediator will be assigned, and they must sign a confidentiality pledge to ensure discussions remain private. Should the mediation lead to the complainant dismissing the complaint, a written agreement will be required to document this dismissal.

If mediation does not resolve the issue, the commission will follow the established procedures to determine if there is probable cause to credit the allegations. The bill also clarifies that the commission can impose sanctions, including reprimand or removal, on school officials found to have violated the law or the Code of Ethics for School Board Members. Additionally, it requires the State Board of Education to promulgate regulations to implement these changes effectively.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 18A:12-29, 18A:12-34