Press Release: Major piece of student protection legislation clears last legislative vote
May 7th, 2009
HB 2062 updates standards for reporting, prevention of sexual misconduct in schools
SALEM – A bill that significantly safeguards Oregon children from sexual misconduct by school employees passed the Senate this morning. House Bill 2062 requires school boards to adopt more stringent policies, firmer reporting guidelines, and requires annual training to help educators spot and prevent sexual misconduct.
“This is another major step towards keeping Oregon students safe in the classroom,” said Senator Vicki Walker (D-Eugene), who carried the bill on the floor and worked on the legislation during the 2008 interim. “The progress we’ve made in the last year is remarkable. The system was broken, and the Oregon Legislative Assembly has now passed some of the toughest laws in the country that ferret out and quickly remove any educator who violates the sacred trust of a child.”
HB 2062 also ramps up background checks, requiring teachers to provide a list of previous schools they’ve worked at and allowing new employers to contact those schools for background records. Former employers will be required to issue a statement as to whether applicant has been or is the subject of a report or investigation related to child abuse or sexual misconduct.
“This legislation strikes a balance between the need to protect educators from false accusations and the necessity of protecting our children’s safety,” said Senator Mark Hass (D-Beaverton), chair of the Senate Committee on Education and General Government. “The package of legislation we’ve passed this session goes a long way towards meeting this goal.”
HB 2062 compliments several other bills passed this session that protect Oregon students in the classroom. Senate Bills 46, 47, 48, and 123 have all passed out of the Senate and have been sent to the House. Today’s legislation now goes to the Governor for his signature.
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