SB161 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Trip Pittman

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Tom ButlerGeorge M. “Marc” KeaheyMyron PennWendell MitchellBobby D. SingletonPriscilla DunnKim BenefieldLowell BarronT.D. “Ted” LittleHinton MitchemRoger Bedford, Jr.Zeb LittleRodger SmithermanPhil Poole

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Teachers, principals, and education employees, State Superintendent of Education, revocation of education certificate or termination of employment required for conviction of felony or sex offense involving a child, regarding Teacher Tenure Law, Teacher Accountability Act, and Fair Dismissal Act, Secs. 16-24-8.1, 16-24B-3.1, 36-26-102.1 added; Sec. 16-23-5 am'd.

Summary

The bill would require revoking teaching certificates and immediately canceling or terminating educators' jobs if they are convicted of a felony or a sex offense involving a child.

What This Bill Does

It expands the State Superintendent of Education's power to revoke certificates for felonies or child sex offenses and to immediately cancel employment for teachers, principals, and nonprobationary staff who are convicted. It adds new sections that require immediate action and establish rules for reinstatement if the conviction is overturned on appeal, with back pay and benefits paid from the cancellation date to the overturn date. It also sets up processes for reinstating certificates and contracts with local boards and superintendents involved in the decision.

Who It Affects

• Educators on continuing service status (teachers): their employment contracts would be cancelled immediately if convicted of a felony or a sex offense involving a child.
• Principals or contract principals: their certificates would be revoked and their contracts terminated immediately if convicted of such offenses.
• Nonprobationary education employees (including teachers not on continuing service and other nonprobationary staff): their employment would be terminated immediately upon conviction, with potential reinstatement and back-pay if the conviction is overturned.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 16-23-5 to authorize immediate revocation of teaching certificates for felony or child sex offense convictions and adds a detailed list of offenses (e.g., rape, sodomy, sexual abuse, enticing a child, child pornography, etc.).
• Adds new Sections 16-24-8.1, 16-24B-3.1, and 36-26-102.1 to require immediate cancellation of employment for teachers on continuing service, principals/contract principals, and nonprobationary employees upon conviction, and immediate revocation of their certificates where applicable.
• If a conviction is overturned on appeal, allows reinstatement of the certificate or contract and requires reimbursement of back pay and benefits from the cancellation date through the overturn date.
• Allows the local board of education and the State Superintendent of Education to pursue other legal action based on the underlying circumstances of the conviction.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education