Committee approves requirement for duty-to-report training and annual attestations for school employees

The Senate Education Committee advanced Senate Bill 553, a multi-part bill that adds several protections and obligations related to reporting suspected child abuse and neglect by school employees.

Sponsor Senator Pugh described changes that include giving the State Board of Education authority to act on allegations, requiring criminal background checks and a letter from prior employing districts addressing whether a teacher was the subject of allegations, and adding knowingly failing to report suspected child abuse or neglect to grounds for dismissal. The bill also requires school employees to annually sign an attestation acknowledging their duty to report and incorporates professional-development references to Title 10A and Title 70 for training content on proper reporting.

Ryan Stevenson, deputy director of the District Attorney’s Council, told the committee that many educators are unaware they must report to both the Department of Human Services and law enforcement; the attestation and training aim to clarify those responsibilities. Committee members voiced concerns about allegations versus substantiated disciplinary actions and urged careful drafting so allegations that did not lead to findings not unfairly penalize employees. The sponsor said he would work with stakeholders to refine language; the committee passed the bill unanimously on the roll call recorded as 10 ayes and 0 nays.

Supporters said the measure is intended to close gaps in reporting knowledge among school personnel and to provide clearer administrative pathways for addressing misconduct; some members asked for guardrails to avoid unfair outcomes for employees facing unproven allegations.