(a) (1) Before issuing a temporary certificate pursuant to Section 44332, a county board of education or city and county board of education shall obtain proof that the applicant has obtained a credential, certificate, or permit authorizing the performance of services in the public schools from the commission and shall not issue a temporary certificate if the applicant has been convicted of a violent or serious felony.

(2) Before issuing a temporary certificate of clearance pursuant to Section 44332.5, a school district shall obtain proof that the applicant has obtained a credential, certificate, or permit authorizing the performance of services in the public schools from the commission and shall not issue a temporary certificate of clearance if the applicant has been convicted of a violent or serious felony.

(b) This section applies to any violent or serious offense that, if committed in this state, would have been punishable as a violent or serious felony.

(c) For purposes of this section, a violent felony is any felony listed in subdivision (c) of Section 667.5 of the Penal Code and a serious felony is any felony listed in subdivision (c) of Section 1192.7 of the Penal Code.

(d) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a person shall not be denied a temporary certificate or a temporary certificate of clearance solely on the basis that he or she has been convicted of a violent or serious felony if the person has obtained a certificate of rehabilitation and pardon pursuant to Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 4852.01) of Title 6 of Part 3 of the Penal Code.

(e) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a person shall not be denied a temporary certificate or a temporary certificate of clearance solely on the basis that the person has been convicted of a serious felony that is not also a violent felony, if that person can prove to the sentencing court of the offense in question, by clear and convincing evidence, that he or she has been rehabilitated for the purposes of school employment for at least one year. If the offense in question occurred outside this state, then the person may seek a finding of rehabilitation from the court in the school district in which he or she is a resident.

(f) (1) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of subdivision (a), a county board of education or city and county board of education may issue a temporary certificate to an employee currently and continuously employed by a school district within the county who is serving under a valid credential and has applied for a renewal of that credential or for an additional credential without obtaining a certificate of clearance from the commission for that employee.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (2) of subdivision (a), a county board of education or city and county board of education may issue a temporary certificate of clearance to an employee currently and continuously employed by a school district within the county who is serving under a valid credential and has applied for a renewal of that credential or for an additional credential without obtaining a certificate of clearance from the commission for that employee.

(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 199, Sec. 4. (AB 681) Effective January 1, 2018.)