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Conference panel deadlocks on SB 96 after debate over parent notification, abuse standard and educator penalties
Summary
A committee of conference on SB 96 failed to reach agreement after senators and representatives clashed over whether the bill should let educators withhold information from parents, how psychological or emotional harm is defined, and what disciplinary penalties the State Board of Education may impose.
A committee of conference on Senate Bill 96 recessed without agreement after House and Senate negotiators failed to reach consensus on how the measure would treat parental notification, the definition of abuse, and penalties for educators.
Senator (prime sponsor of SB 96) said the bill’s original purpose was narrow: to prevent situations like an incident in Manchester and to ensure “teachers and administrators do not lie to parents.” The senator objected to language in the House-amended draft that, in the senator’s view, carved out “actual psychological and emotional injury” so broadly that it would mean such harms “does not constitute a compelling [state] interest.” The senator said, “there’s no way in the world I’m gonna accept that language,” and offered an amended draft meant to combine House and Senate language while keeping the bill focused on credentialed educators and administrators.
Representatives and senators debated whether…
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