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House gives final approval to measure expanding Professional Practices Commission authority on educator abuse cases
Summary
House Bill 160 passed unanimously after amendments, directing the Professional Practices Commission to investigate allegations of abuse by educators even if a certificate was voluntarily surrendered before a hearing.
The House approved House Bill 160 by voice vote after adopting amendments recommended under Representative Bishop’s pink sheet. The bill expands the Professional Practices Commission’s authority to investigate allegations of abuse of a student or minor by an educator even if the educator surrendered a certificate before a hearing.
Representative Oskarsen said the change addresses gaps exposed by recent incidents—where voluntary surrender or certificate expungement left no administrative record—and would allow the commission to pursue civil‑standard investigations separate from criminal proceedings. Representative Bishop moved and the House adopted amendments to refine the bill; proponents characterized the bill as a profession‑led attempt to clean up practices and protect children.
The House recorded the final passage: House Bill 160 passed as amended with a recorded tally of 71 affirmative votes and zero negative votes and will be transmitted to the Senate for consideration.
What happens next: HB160 will be sent to the Senate for further consideration and may take effect statewide if the Senate concurs and the governor signs it.
