Upon request of the State Superintendent of Education, the Department of Public Safety shall request and obtain nationwide criminal history background information reports from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and statewide criminal history background information reports from the Alabama Bureau of Investigation for each current public certified employee and current public noncertified employee within a reasonable time after receipt of the request. Within a reasonable time after receipt of the reports, the Department of Public Safety shall submit both the nationwide and statewide criminal history background information reports directly to the State Department of Education.

1. (1) If the criminal history background information reports pertain to a current public certified employee, the State Superintendent of Education shall review the criminal history record information reports and make a diligent effort to determine the final disposition of any arrests. The State Superintendent of Education shall review the convictions which would bear on the fitness of the employee to teach or to have responsibility for the safety and well-being of children, or both. Based only upon confirmed convictions contained in the report, the State Superintendent of Education shall determine whether the current public certified employee satisfies the suitability criteria for public employment pursuant to this chapter.

   1. a. If the current public certified employee satisfies the suitability criteria for public employment, the State Superintendent of Education shall issue a suitability determination letter to both the current public certified employee and the local employing board.

   2. b. If the current public certified employee does not satisfy the suitability criteria for public employment, the State Superintendent of Education shall send notice in writing of a proposed revocation of certification to the current public certified employee. The notice shall state the reasons in detail for the proposed revocation of certification and shall inform the public certified employee of his or her rights to challenge the proposed revocation of certification pursuant to an administrative hearing conducted by the State Department of Education in accordance with the Alabama Administrative Procedure Act. The hearing may be open or closed at the option of the current public certified employee, and the current public certified employee shall have the same rights as established in certificate revocation proceedings in accordance with the Alabama Administrative Procedure Act.

      1. 1. Pending final agency determination of the State Department of Education in accordance with the Alabama Administrative Procedure Act:

         1. (i) The State Superintendent of Education may take no further action regarding the suitability determination.
         2. (ii) The suitability determination regarding the current public certified employee is stayed.
         3. (iii) The local employing board is prohibited from taking any adverse action against the current public certified employee that pertains to the pending proceeding of the State Department of Education.
      2. 2. Upon final determination of suitability by the State Department of Education in accordance with the Alabama Administrative Procedure Act, the State Department of Education shall send the results of any hearing, and any accompanying findings or order, and the final suitability determination to both the current public certified employee and the local employing board.

2. (2) If the criminal history background information reports pertain to a current public noncertified employee, the State Superintendent of Education shall review the criminal history record information reports and make a diligent effort to determine the final disposition of any arrests. The State Superintendent of Education shall review the convictions which would bear on the fitness of the employee to teach or to have responsibility for the safety and well-being of children, or both. Based only upon confirmed convictions contained in the report, the State Superintendent of Education shall determine whether the current public noncertified employee satisfies the suitability criteria for public employment pursuant to this chapter.

   1. a. If the current public noncertified employee satisfies the suitability criteria for public employment, the State Superintendent of Education shall issue a suitability determination letter to both the current public noncertified employee and the local employing board.

   2. b. If the current public noncertified employee does not satisfy the suitability criteria, the State Superintendent of Education shall send notice in writing of a proposed determination of unsuitability to the current public noncertified employee. The notice shall state the reasons in detail for the proposed determination of unsuitability and shall inform the public noncertified employee of his or her rights to challenge the determination of unsuitability pursuant to a due process administrative hearing conducted by an administrative law judge in accordance with the hearing procedures of the Alabama Administrative Procedure Act. The State Department of Education is responsible for the cost of providing the administrative hearing, and the current public noncertified employee may be represented by counsel at his or her own expense. The administrative law judge shall hear the case, make findings of fact, and enter a final determination as to suitability.

      1. 1. Pending final resolution of the administrative hearing:

         1. (i) The State Superintendent of Education may take no further action regarding the suitability determination.
         2. (ii) The suitability determination regarding the current public noncertified employee is stayed.
         3. (iii) The local employing board is prohibited from taking any adverse action against the current public noncertified employee that pertains to the pending proceeding by the State Department of Education.
      2. 2. Upon final resolution of the administrative hearing conducted by the administrative law judge, the administrative law judge shall issue a written suitability determination with findings of fact. The decision of the administrative law judge is final and not subject to appeal. The State Department of Education shall send the final suitability determination of the administrative law judge to the current public noncertified employee and the local employing board by certified mail.

(Act 2002-457, p. 1171, §2.)