Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 161.135
ARTICLE 1 Purpose
It is the purpose of this compact to facilitate the mobility of teachers across the member states, with the goal of supporting teachers through a new pathway to licensure. Through this compact, the member states seek to establish a collective regulatory framework that expedites and enhances the ability of teachers to move across state lines. This compact is intended to achieve the following objectives: A. Create a streamlined pathway to licensure mobility for teachers; B. Support the relocation of eligible military spouses; C. Facilitate and enhance the exchange of teacher licensure, investigative, and
disciplinary information between the member states;
D. Enhance the power of state and district level education officials to hire qualified, competent teachers by removing barriers to the employment of out-of-state teachers; Support the retention of teachers in the profession by removing barriers to re- licensure in a new state; and
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F. Maintain state sovereignty in the regulation of the teaching profession. The member states hereby ratify the same intentions by subscribing hereto.
ARTICLE II Definitions
As used in this compact, and except as otherwise provided, the following definitions shall govern the terms herein: A.
"Active military member" means any person with full-time duty status in the uniformed service of the United States, including members of the National Guard and Reserve; "Adverse action" means any limitation or restriction imposed by a member state's licensing authority on the licensee's ability to work as a teacher, such as revocation, suspension, reprimand, or probation; "Bylaws" means those bylaws established by the commission; "Career and technical education license" means a current, valid authorization issued by a member state's licensing authority allowing an individual to serve as a teacher in preschool through twelfth grade public educational settings in a specific career and technical education area; "Charter member states" means a member state that has enacted legislation to adopt this compact where such legislation predates the initial meeting of the commission after the effective date of the compact; "Commission" means the interstate administrative body whose membership consists of delegates of all states that have enacted this compact and which is known as the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact Commission; "Commissioner" means the delegate of a member state;
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"Eligible license" means a license to engage in the teaching profession, which requires at least a bachelor's degree and the completion of a state-approved program for teacher licensure; "Eligible military spouse" means the spouse of an active military member who is relocating as a result of a military mission, military career progression requirement, or a terminal move due to separation, retirement, or death of the member; "Executive committee" means a group of commissioners elected or appointed to act on behalf of, and within the powers granted to them by, the commission as provided for herein; "Licensing authority" means an official, agency, board, or other entity of a state that is responsible for the licensing and regulation of teachers authorized to teach in preschool through twelfth grade public educational settings; "Member state" means any state that has adopted this compact, including all agencies and officials of such a state; "Receiving state" means any state that a teacher has applied for licensure under this compact; "Rule" means any regulation promulgated by the commission under this compact, which shall have the force of law in each member state; "State" means a state, territory, or possession of the United States and the District of Columbia; "State practice laws" means a member state's law, rules, and regulations that govern the teaching profession, define the scope of such profession, and create the methods and grounds for imposing discipline; "State specific requirements" means a requirement for licensure covered in coursework or examination that includes content of unique interest to the state; "Teacher" means an individual who currently holds an authorization from a member state that forms the basis for employment in the preschool through twelfth grade public schools of the state to provide instruction in a specific subject area, grade level, or student population; and "Unencumbered license" means a current, valid eligible license that is not a restricted, probationary, provisional, substitute, or temporary credential.
ARTICLE III Licensure Under the Compact
A. Licensure under this compact pertains only to the initial grant of a license by the receiving state. Nothing herein applies to any subsequent or ongoing compliance requirements that a receiving state might require for teachers.
B. Each member state shall, in accordance with the rules of the commission, define, compile, and update as necessary, a list of eligible licenses and career and technical education licenses that the member state is willing to consider for equivalency under this compact and provide the list to the commission. The list shall include those licenses that a receiving state is willing to grant to teachers from other member states, pending a determination of equivalency by the receiving state's licensing authority.
C. Upon the receipt of an application for licensure by a teacher holding an unencumbered license, the receiving state shall determine which of the receiving state's eligible licenses the teacher is qualified to hold and shall grant such a license or licenses to the applicant. Such a determination shall be made in the sole discretion of the receiving state's licensing authority and may include a determination that the applicant is not eligible for any of the receiving state's eligible licenses. For all teachers who hold an unencumbered license, the receiving state shall grant one (1) or more unencumbered licenses that, in the receiving state's sole discretion, are equivalent to the license or licenses held by the teacher in any other member state.
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D. For active military members and eligible military spouses who hold a license that is not unencumbered, the receiving state shall grant an equivalent license or licenses that, in the receiving state's sole discretion, is equivalent to the license or licenses held by the active military member or eligible military spouse, except where the receiving state does not have an equivalent license. For a teacher holding an unencumbered career and technical education license, the receiving state shall grant an unencumbered license equivalent to the career and technical education license held by the applying teacher and issued by another member state, as determined by the receiving state in its sole discretion, except when a career and technical education teacher does not hold a bachelor's degree and the receiving state requires a bachelor's degree for licenses to teach career and technical education. A receiving state may require career and technical education teachers to meet state industry-recognized requirements, if required by law in the receiving state.
ARTICLE IV Licensure Not Under the Compact
A. Except as provided in Article III above, nothing in this compact shall be construed to limit or inhibit the power of a member state to regulate licensure or endorsements overseen by the member state’s licensing authority.
B. When a teacher is required to renew a license received pursuant to this compact, the state granting such a license may require the teacher to complete state specific requirements as a condition of licensure renewal or advancement in that state. C. For the purposes of determining compensation, a receiving state may require additional information from teachers receiving a license under the provisions of this compact.
D. Nothing in this compact shall be construed to limit the power of a member state to control and maintain ownership of its information pertaining to teachers, or limit the application of a member state’s laws or regulations governing the ownership, use, or dissemination of information pertaining to teachers.
E. Nothing in this compact shall be construed to invalidate or alter any existing agreement or other cooperative arrangement which a member state may already be a party to or limit the ability of a member state to participate in any future agreement or other cooperative arrangement to: 1. Award teaching licenses or other benefits based on additional professional
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credentials, including but not limited to National Board Certification; Participate in the exchange of names of teachers whose licenses have been subject to an adverse action by a member state; or Participate in any agreement or cooperative arrangement with a non-member state.
ARTICLE V Teacher Qualifications and Requirements for Licensure Under the Compact
A. Except as provided for active military members or eligible military spouses in Article III. D. of this compact, a teacher may only be eligible to receive a license under this compact when that teacher holds an unencumbered license in a member state.
B. A teacher eligible to receive a license under this compact, unless otherwise
provided for herein, shall: 1. Upon their application to receive a license under this compact, undergo a criminal background check in the receiving state in accordance with the laws and regulations of the receiving state; and Provide the receiving state with information in addition to the information required for licensure for the purposes of determining compensation, if applicable.
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ARTICLE VI Discipline/Adverse Actions
A. Nothing in this compact shall be deemed or construed to limit the authority of a member state to investigate or impose disciplinary measures on teachers according to the state practice laws thereof.
B. Member states shall be authorized to receive and shall provide files and information regarding the investigation and discipline, if any, of teachers in other member states upon request. Any member state receiving such information or files shall protect and maintain the security and confidentiality thereof, in at least the same manner that it maintains its own investigatory or disciplinary files and information. Prior to disclosing any disciplinary or investigatory information received from another member state, the disclosing state shall communicate its intention and purpose for such disclosure to the member state that originally provided that information.
ARTICLE VII Establishment of the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact Commission
A. The interstate compact member states hereby create and establish a joint public agency known as the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact Commission. The commission is a joint interstate governmental agency composed of states that have enacted the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact. Nothing in this interstate compact shall be construed to be a waiver of sovereign immunity.
B. The membership, voting, and meetings provisions are as follows:
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Each member state shall have and be limited to one (1) delegate to the commission, who shall be given the title of commissioner. The commissioner shall be the primary administrative officer of the state
licensing authority or their designee.
3. Any commissioner may be removed or suspended from office as provided by
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the law of the state from which the commissioner is appointed. The member state shall fill any vacancy occurring in the commission within ninety (90) days. Each commissioner shall be entitled to one (1) vote about the promulgation of rules and creation of bylaws and shall otherwise have an opportunity to participate in the business and affairs of the commission. A commissioner shall vote in person or by such other means as provided in the bylaws. The bylaws may provide for commissioners’ participation in meetings by telephone or other means of communication. The commission shall meet at least once during each calendar year. Additional meetings shall be held as set forth in the bylaws.
C. The commission shall have the following powers and duties: Establish a code of ethics for the commission; Establish the fiscal year of the commission; Establish bylaws for the commission;
1. 2. 3. 4. Maintain financial records in accordance with the bylaws of the commission; 5. Meet and take such actions as are consistent with the provisions of this
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interstate compact, the bylaws, and the rules of the commission; Promulgate uniform rules to implement and administer this interstate compact. The rules shall have the force and effect of law and shall be binding in all member states. In the event the commission exercises its rulemaking authority in a manner that is beyond the scope of the purposes of the compact, or the powers granted hereunder, then such an action by the commission shall be invalid and have no force and effect of law;
7. Bring and prosecute legal proceedings or actions in the name of the commission, provided that the standing of any member state licensing authority to sue or be sued under applicable law shall not be affected; Purchase and maintain insurance and bonds;
8. 9. Borrow, accept, or contract for services of personnel, including but not limited to employees of a member state or an associated nongovernmental organization that is open to membership by all states;
10. Hire employees, elect or appoint officers, fix compensation, define duties, grant such individuals appropriate authority to carry out the purposes of the compact, and establish the commission’s personnel policies and programs relating to conflicts of interest, qualifications of personnel, and other related personnel matters;
11. Lease, purchase, accept appropriate gifts or donations of, or otherwise own, hold, improve, or use any property, whether real, personal, or mixed, provided that at all times the commission shall avoid any appearance of impropriety; 12. Sell, convey, mortgage, pledge, lease, exchange, abandon, or otherwise
dispose of any property, whether real, personal, or mixed;
13. Establish a budget and make expenditures; 14. Borrow money; 15. Appoint committees including standing committees composed of members and such other interested persons as may be designated in this interstate compact, rules, or bylaws;
16. Provide and receive information from, and cooperate with, law enforcement
agencies;
17. Establish and elect an executive committee; 18. Establish and develop a charter for an executive information governance committee to advise on facilitating exchange of information, use of information, data privacy, and technical support needs, and provide reports as needed;
19. Perform such other functions as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this interstate compact consistent with the state regulation of teacher licensure; and
20. Determine whether a state’s adopted language is materially different from the model compact language such that the state would not qualify for participation in the compact.
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D. The Executive Committee of the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact Commission: Shall have the power to act on behalf of the commission according to the terms of this interstate compact and the bylaws of the commission; Shall be composed of eight (8) voting members as follows: The commission chair, vice chair, and treasurer; and a. Five (5) members who are elected by the commission from the current b. membership composed of four (4) voting members representing geographic regions and one (1) at-large voting member in accordance with commission bylaws;
3. May have its members added or removed by the commission as provided in
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commission bylaws; Shall meet at least once annually; and Shall have the following duties and responsibilities: a. Make recommendations to the entire commission regarding changes to the rules or bylaws, changes to the compact legislation, fees paid by interstate compact member states such as annual dues, and any compact fee charged by the member states on behalf of the commission; Ensure commission administration services are appropriately provided, contractual or otherwise; Prepare and recommend the budget;
c. d. Maintain financial records on behalf of the commission; e. Monitor compliance of member states and provide reports to the
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commission; and Perform other duties as provided in the rules or bylaws.
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E. Meetings of the Commission:
1. All meetings shall be open to the public, and public notice of meetings shall
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be given in accordance with commission bylaws. The commission, the executive committee, or other committees of the commission may convene in a closed, nonpublic meeting if the commission, executive committee, or other committees of the commission must discuss: a. Noncompliance of a member state with its obligations under the
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compact; The employment, compensation, discipline, or other matters, practices, or procedures related to specific employees or other matters related to the commission’s internal personnel practices and procedures; Current, threatened, or reasonably anticipated litigation;
c. d. Negotiation of contracts for the purchase, lease, or sale of goods,
services, or real estate;
e. Accusing any person of a crime or formally censuring any person; f.
Disclosure of trade secrets or commercial or financial information that is privileged or confidential;
g. Disclosure of information of a personal nature where disclosure would
constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy;
h. Disclosure of investigative records compiled for law enforcement
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purposes; Disclosure of information related to any investigative reports prepared by or on behalf of or for use of the commission or other committee charged with responsibility of investigation or determination of compliance issues pursuant to the compact;
j. Matters specifically exempted from disclosure by federal or member
state statute; and
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k. Other matters as set forth by commission bylaws and rules. If a meeting, or portion of a meeting, is closed pursuant to this section, the commission’s legal counsel or designee shall certify that the meeting may be closed and shall reference each relevant exempting provision. The commission shall keep minutes of meetings of the executive committee, commission, and other committees of the commission and shall provide a full and accurate summary of actions taken, and the reasons therefor, including a description of the views expressed. All documents considered in connection with an action shall be identified in such minutes. All minutes and documents of a closed meeting shall remain under seal, subject to release by a majority vote of the commission or order of a court of competent jurisdiction.
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Financing of the Commission: 1.
The commission shall pay, or provide for the payment of, the reasonable expenses of its establishment, organization, and ongoing activities. The commission may accept all appropriate donations and grants of money, equipment, supplies, materials, and services, and receive, utilize, and dispose
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of the same, provided that at all times the commission shall avoid any appearance of impropriety or conflict of interest. The commission may levy on and collect an annual assessment from each member state or impose fees on other parties to cover the cost of the operations and activities of the commission, in accordance with the commission rules. The commission shall not incur obligations of any kind prior to securing the funds adequate to meet the same; nor shall the commission pledge the credit of any of the member states, except by and with the authority of the member state. The commission shall keep accurate accounts of all receipts and disbursements. The receipts and disbursements of the commission shall be subject to accounting procedures established under commission bylaws. All receipts and disbursements of commission funds shall be reviewed annually in accordance with commission bylaws, and a report of the review shall be included in and become part of the annual report of the commission.
G. Qualified Immunity, Defense, and Indemnification:
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The members, officers, executive director, employees, and representatives of the commission shall be immune from suit and liability, either personally or in their official capacity, for any claim for damage to or loss of property or personal injury or other civil liability caused by or arising out of any actual or alleged act, error, or omission that occurred, or that the person against whom the claim is made had a reasonable basis for believing occurred, within the scope of commission employment, duties, or responsibilities; provided that nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to protect any such person from suit or liability for any damage, loss, injury, or liability caused by the intentional, willful, or wanton misconduct of that person. The commission shall defend any member, officer, executive director, employee, or representative of the commission in any civil action seeking to impose liability arising out of any actual or alleged act, error, or omission that occurred within the scope of commission employment, duties, or responsibilities, or that the person against whom the claim is made had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of commission employment, duties, or responsibilities; provided that nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit that person from retaining his or her own counsel; and provided further, that the actual or alleged act, error, or omission did not result from that person’s intentional or willful or wanton misconduct. The commission shall indemnify and hold harmless any member, officer, executive director, employee, or representative of the commission for the amount of any settlement or judgment obtained against that person arising out of any actual or alleged act, error, or omission that occurred within the scope of commission employment, duties, or responsibilities, or that such person had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of commission employment, duties, or responsibilities, provided that the actual or alleged act, error, or omission did not result from the intentional or willful or wanton
misconduct of that person.
ARTICLE VIII Rulemaking
A. The commission shall exercise its rulemaking powers pursuant to the criteria set forth in this interstate compact and the rules adopted thereunder. Rules and amendments shall become binding as of the date specified in each rule or amendment.
B. The commission shall promulgate reasonable rules to achieve the intent and purpose of this interstate compact. In the event the commission exercises its rulemaking authority in a manner that is beyond purpose and intent of this interstate compact, or the powers granted hereunder, then such an action by the commission shall be invalid and have no force and effect of law in the member states. If a majority of the legislatures of the member states rejects a rule by enactment of a statute or resolution in the same manner used to adopt the compact within four (4) years of the date of adoption of the rule, then such rule shall have no further force and effect in any member state.
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D. Rules or amendments to the rules shall be adopted or ratified at a regular or special meeting of the commission in accordance with commission rules and bylaws. E. Upon determination that an emergency exists, the commission may consider and adopt an emergency rule with forty-eight (48) hours' notice, with opportunity to comment, provided that the usual rulemaking procedures shall be retroactively applied to the rule as soon as reasonably possible, and in no event later than ninety
Effective: June 29, 2023
History: Created 2023 Ky. Acts ch. 164, sec. 1, effective June 29, 2023.