S.B. No. 571 aims to strengthen the reporting and investigation processes related to misconduct, child abuse, and neglect in Texas educational settings. The bill amends Article 42.018(a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure to clarify the types of offenses that must be reported, including those requiring sex offender registration and certain felony offenses. It introduces Chapter 22A to the Education Code, which defines employee and service provider misconduct and establishes a registry for individuals ineligible for employment in educational entities. The bill mandates that superintendents or directors report any educator's criminal record or evidence of misconduct involving students to the State Board for Educator Certification, while also ensuring confidentiality of complaints and investigations.

Additionally, the bill enhances accountability by granting immunity to those who report misconduct in good faith and imposing penalties on educators who fail to report such incidents. It requires educational entities to notify parents or guardians about alleged misconduct involving their children and emphasizes timely reporting within 48 hours. The bill also includes provisions for the temporary suspension of certifications for educators arrested for specific offenses and mandates criminal history checks for employees and applicants. Overall, S.B. No. 571 seeks to improve the regulatory framework surrounding educator misconduct, ensuring that individuals with serious criminal backgrounds are not placed in positions of trust within educational institutions, thereby enhancing student safety and welfare.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 22.0834, Education Code 22.092 (Education Code 22)
Senate Committee Report: Subtitle D, Title , Education Code 43.24, Education Code 39.003, Family Code 261.001, Family Code 261.101, Family Code 261.103, Family Code 261.104, Family Code 261.105, Family Code 261.301, Family Code 261.304, Family Code 261.308, Family Code 261.402, Family Code 261.406, Education Code 7.028, Education Code 12.0271, Education Code 12.0631, Education Code 12.104, Education Code 12.1059, Education Code 12.1151, Education Code 12.252, Education Code 21.054, Education Code 21.0585, Education Code 22.0815, Education Code 22.0825, Education Code 22.0833, Education Code 22.0834, Education Code 22.0836, Education Code 33.913, Education Code 39.0302, Health and Safety Code 810.003, Health and Safety Code 810.004, The following provisions of the Education Code 33.913 (Education Code 39, Education Code 21, Education Code 7, Family Code 261, Education Code 33, The following provisions of the Education Code 33, Education Code 12, Education Code 22, Health and Safety Code 810, Subtitle D, Title , Education Code 43)
Engrossed: Subtitle D, Title , Education Code 43.24, Education Code 39.003, Family Code 261.001, Family Code 261.101, Family Code 261.103, Family Code 261.104, Family Code 261.105, Family Code 261.301, Family Code 261.304, Family Code 261.308, Family Code 261.402, Family Code 261.406, Education Code 7.028, Education Code 12.0271, Education Code 12.0631, Education Code 12.104, Education Code 12.1059, Education Code 12.1151, Education Code 12.252, Education Code 21.054, Education Code 21.0585, Education Code 22.0815, Education Code 22.0825, Education Code 22.0833, Education Code 22.0834, Education Code 22.0836, Education Code 33.913, Education Code 39.0302, Health and Safety Code 810.003, Health and Safety Code 810.004, The following provisions of the Education Code 33.913 (Education Code 39, Education Code 21, Education Code 7, Family Code 261, Education Code 33, The following provisions of the Education Code 33, Education Code 12, Education Code 22, Health and Safety Code 810, Subtitle D, Title , Education Code 43)
House Committee Report: Subtitle D, Title , Education Code 43.24, Education Code 39.003, Family Code 261.001, Family Code 261.101, Family Code 261.103, Family Code 261.104, Family Code 261.105, Family Code 261.301, Family Code 261.304, Family Code 261.308, Family Code 261.402, Family Code 261.406, Education Code 7.028, Education Code 12.0271, Education Code 12.0631, Education Code 12.104, Education Code 12.1059, Education Code 12.1151, Education Code 12.252, Education Code 21.054, Education Code 21.0585, Education Code 22.0815, Education Code 22.0825, Education Code 22.0833, Education Code 22.0834, Education Code 22.0836, Education Code 33.913, Education Code 39.0302, Health and Safety Code 810.003, Health and Safety Code 810.004, The following provisions of the Education Code 33.913 (Education Code 39, Education Code 21, Education Code 7, Family Code 261, Education Code 33, The following provisions of the Education Code 33, Education Code 12, Education Code 22, Health and Safety Code 810, Subtitle D, Title , Education Code 43)
Enrolled: Subtitle D, Title , Education Code 43.24, Education Code 39.003, Family Code 261.001, Family Code 261.101, Family Code 261.103, Family Code 261.104, Family Code 261.105, Family Code 261.301, Family Code 261.304, Family Code 261.308, Family Code 261.402, Family Code 261.406, Education Code 7.028, Education Code 12.0271, Education Code 12.0631, Education Code 12.104, Education Code 12.1059, Education Code 12.1151, Education Code 12.252, Education Code 21.054, Education Code 21.0585, Education Code 22.0815, Education Code 22.0825, Education Code 22.0833, Education Code 22.0834, Education Code 22.0836, Education Code 33.913, Education Code 39.0302, Health and Safety Code 810.003, Health and Safety Code 810.004, The following provisions of the Education Code 33.913 (Education Code 39, Education Code 21, Education Code 7, Family Code 261, Education Code 33, The following provisions of the Education Code 33, Education Code 12, Education Code 22, Health and Safety Code 810, Subtitle D, Title , Education Code 43)