This bill amends the existing law regarding school ethics complaints by establishing a mediation process. It requires the School Ethics Commission to offer mediation to both the complainant and the school official named in the complaint, allowing them to potentially resolve the issue without further proceedings. If both parties agree to mediation, a mediator will be assigned, and they must sign a confidentiality pledge to keep discussions private. Should the mediation lead to the complainant dismissing the complaint, a written agreement must be signed to document this dismissal.

If mediation does not result in a resolution, the commission will proceed with the established process to determine if there is probable cause to believe a violation has occurred. The bill also clarifies that the commission can impose sanctions, including reprimand or removal, on school officials found to have violated the law. Additionally, it mandates that the State Board of Education promulgate regulations to implement the new provisions effectively.

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