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Rep. Kelly Murphy moves to require immediate DOE reporting of covered school investigations, bar nondisclosure agreements
Summary
A work-session amendment to LD 2192 would require superintendents to report investigations to the Department of Education, prohibit nondisclosure agreements after covered investigations, extend coverage to students up to age 22, and create a DOE-led working group with a January report-back; the committee approved the motion unanimously of members present.
Rep. Kelly Murphy moved a strike-and-replace amendment to LD 2192 that would add an emergency preamble and require immediate reports to the Department of Education when investigations into covered matters are begun. "Superintendents will do the preliminary investigation to see if they are warranted and immediately will inform the DOE," Murphy said.
The amendment would require investigations to be completed regardless of changes in an employee's employment status and directs that, "At the conclusion of an investigation, findings must be reported to the Department of Ed immediately." Murphy added that "there will be no nondisclosure agreements" arising from covered investigations. The amendment would extend coverage beyond minors so that a student up to age 22 could be covered.
Murphy also proposed a DOE-led working group, including the MEA, MSSA, MSBA, an employment attorney and other stakeholders identified by DOE, with an advisory update before the school year and a final report to the Legislature in January. Rep. Kim Hagan seconded the motion.
Rep. Sheila Lyman asked for and received confirmation that individuals not found to have violated standards would not have adverse records disclosed by DOE: "anyone not found... that information does not is not disclosed from DOE or follows them in any way," Lyman said; Murphy agreed that nondisclosure protections for unfounded findings would remain intact.
The committee approved the motion by voice/hand vote and the clerk reported the result as unanimous of those present (10–0, with 3 members absent). The motion includes a direction to form the working group and a report-back timeline to the Legislature in January.
The committee did not adopt final printed language during this session; members noted they will continue language review by email or in follow-up meetings if substantive changes are required. The chair said staff will circulate the revised draft for members to review.
