HB 3504
Appropriates moneys to the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission to fund nine additional full-time staff positions to support student safety and adult accountability in the education system.
Take action
Record your position on this measure.
Sign in to record your position, submit testimony, or contact your legislator.
Sign in to take actionPublic sentiment
Support
50%
Oppose
50%
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill allocates funds to the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TPSC) to hire nine new full-time staff members. These new positions are intended to improve student safety and hold adults accountable within the Oregon education system. The bill also declares an emergency, allowing the funding to take effect quickly.
Key provisions
- Allocates $2,054,491 to the TPSC.
- Funds nine additional full-time staff positions.
- The positions are designed to enhance student safety.
- The positions are designed to improve adult accountability.
- The funding is for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025.
Who is affected
- Teacher Standards and Practices Commission
- Oregon educators
- Students in Oregon schools
- Parents of students in Oregon schools
Notable changes
- Creates new positions within the TPSC.
- Expands the TPSC's capacity to address student safety and accountability.
Fiscal impact
The bill appropriates $2,054,491 from the General Fund for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsors
Rep Neron
Cosponsor
Arguments in favor
Reasons to support this legislation.
Supporters of House Bill 3504 agree that allocating $2.05 million to fund nine full-time investigators at the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission is crucial for addressing the current backlog of investigations into educator misconduct. They emphasize the importance of ensuring timely investigations, which in turn maintains student safety and upholds the integrity of Oregon's education system. Proponents argue that this funding will enable the commission to efficiently address cases of educator misconduct, ultimately protecting students from harm and promoting a safe learning environment.
Source: Testimony Summaries
Arguments opposed
Reasons to oppose this legislation.
Opponents of the current process argue that it is inefficient, expensive, and fails to provide adequate due process for educators. They contend that the existing system's lengthy processing times for TSPC investigations can hinder educators' ability to effectively teach, citing concerns about lag times in application processing and correspondence. Furthermore, they suggest that an overhaul of the process is necessary, including the implementation of a background check through the courts process, which would help streamline the system. Additionally, some that the growth of bureaucracy under HB 3504 has resulted in unnecessary waste of resources, recommending a reduction in the size and scope of the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission to improve its effectiveness.