SB 54 -- the Amy Hestir Protection Act

NEWS RELEASE    ---     From the Office of Representative Shelley Keeney - 156^th District

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:	CONTACT:    Rep. Shelley Keeney
August 18, 2011	(573) 751-5912

SB 54 -- the Amy Hestir Protection Act

SB 54 -- known as the Amy Hestir Protection Act, is named after a student who was repeatedly sexually abused by her teacher.  The teacher was subsequently hired by numerous school districts before retiring.  School districts may fear being sued for sharing information about former employees, and as a result, teachers are able to transfer districts without having information disclosed about misconduct records.

To put an end to this practice, this new law requires criminal background checks for teacher applicants, allows school districts to share information with other districts regarding known sexual misconduct by their employees and makes districts liable if they fail to disclose information regarding misconduct upon request by another district. 

There are also provisions regarding student-teacher online communications.  Some of the key points from that section are: SB 54 requires all school districts to adopt policies relating to proper student-teacher Internet communication no later than January of 2012.

The law requires school districts to adopt policies which prohibit “exclusive communication” between teachers and students on websites.  In other words, all communication between teachers and students on the Internet must be “accessible” to parents and administrators. These policies do not prohibit online communication between teachers and students unless the communication is not accessible to parents and administrators.

It also limits communication with certain “former” students who, by statute, are defined as: any person who was at one time a student at the school at which the teacher is employed and who is eighteen years of age or less and who has not graduated.  Perhaps another way to say this is: after a student has graduated, this law doesn’t apply.

This past session the bill passed the House by a vote of 154-0 and the Senate by a vote of 34-0.  It is also important to note that this bill has been under consideration in the legislature during the past four years, and this year it was supported by the following groups:  Missouri State Teachers’ Association, Missouri National Education Association, Missouri School Boards Association and American Federation of Teachers of Missouri.

I enjoyed visiting with those who dropped by during my August office hour times. I hope all of the local students are enjoying being back in school; especially since the weather isn’t as hot as it could be. 

Please let me know if you would like to receive my weekly updates via electronic E-Mail, by sending an email with your name to: Shelley.Keeney@house.mo.gov.

As always, I appreciate hearing your comments, opinions and concerns about state government.  Please feel free to contact me in Jefferson City at (573) 751-5912.  You may write me at: Shelley Keeney; Missouri House of Representatives; State Capitol -- Room 313; Jefferson City, MO 65101-6806 or email me.