Effective 01 Jan 2017, see footnote

168.071. Revocation, suspension or refusal of certificate or license, grounds — procedure — appeal. — 1. The state board of education may refuse to issue or renew a certificate, or may, upon hearing, discipline the holder of a certificate of license to teach for the following causes:

(1) A certificate holder or applicant for a certificate has pleaded to or been found guilty of a felony or crime involving moral turpitude under the laws of this state, any other state, of the United States, or any other country, whether or not sentence is imposed;

(2) The certification was obtained through use of fraud, deception, misrepresentation or bribery;

(3) There is evidence of incompetence, immorality, or neglect of duty by the certificate holder;

(4) A certificate holder has been subject to disciplinary action relating to certification issued by another state, territory, federal agency, or country upon grounds for which discipline is authorized in this section; or

(5) If charges are filed by the local board of education, based upon the annulling of a written contract with the local board of education, for reasons other than election to the general assembly, without the consent of the majority of the members of the board that is a party to the contract.

2. A public school district may file charges seeking the discipline of a holder of a certificate of license to teach based upon any cause or combination of causes outlined in subsection 1 of this section, including annulment of a written contract. Charges shall be in writing, specify the basis for the charges, and be signed by the chief administrative officer of the district, or by the president of the board of education as authorized by a majority of the board of education. The board of education may also petition the office of the attorney general to file charges on behalf of the school district for any cause other than annulment of contract, with acceptance of the petition at the discretion of the attorney general.

3. The department of elementary and secondary education may file charges seeking the discipline of a holder of a certificate of license to teach based upon any cause or combination of causes outlined in subsection 1 of this section, other than annulment of contract. Charges shall be in writing, specify the basis for the charges, and be signed by legal counsel representing the department of elementary and secondary education.

4. If the underlying conduct or actions which are the basis for charges filed pursuant to this section are also the subject of a pending criminal charge against the person holding such certificate, the certificate holder may request, in writing, a delayed hearing on advice of counsel under the fifth amendment of the Constitution of the United States. Based upon such a request, no hearing shall be held until after a trial has been completed on this criminal charge.

5. The certificate holder shall be given not less than thirty days' notice of any hearing held pursuant to this section.

6. Other provisions of this section notwithstanding, the certificate of license to teach shall be revoked or, in the case of an applicant, a certificate shall not be issued, if the certificate holder or applicant has been found guilty of any of the following offenses established pursuant to Missouri law or offenses of a similar nature established under the laws of Missouri prior to January 1, 2017, any other state or of the United States, or any other country, whether or not the sentence is imposed:

(1) Any dangerous felony as defined in section 556.061, or murder in the first degree under section 565.020;

(2) Any of the following sexual offenses: rape in the first degree under section 566.030; forcible rape; rape; statutory rape in the first degree under section 566.032; statutory rape in the second degree under section 566.034; rape in the second degree under section 566.031; sexual assault under section 566.040* as it existed prior to August 28, 2013; sodomy in the first degree under section 566.060; forcible sodomy under section 566.060 as it existed prior to August 28, 2013; sodomy as it existed prior to January 1, 1995; statutory sodomy in the first degree under section 566.062; statutory sodomy in the second degree under section 566.064; child molestation in the first degree; child molestation in the second degree; child molestation in the third degree under section 566.069; child molestation in the fourth degree under section 566.071; sodomy in the second degree under section 566.061; deviate sexual assault under section 566.070** as it existed prior to August 28, 2013; sexual misconduct involving a child under section 566.083; sexual contact with a student under section 566.086; sexual misconduct in the first degree under section 566.093; sexual misconduct in the first degree under section 566.090*** as it existed prior to August 28, 2013; sexual misconduct in the second degree under section 566.095; sexual misconduct in the second degree under section 566.093 as it existed prior to August 28, 2013; sexual misconduct in the third degree under section 566.095 as it existed prior to August 28, 2013; sexual abuse in the first degree under section 566.100; sexual abuse under section 566.100 as it existed prior to August 28, 2013; sexual abuse in the second degree under section 566.101; enticement of a child under section 566.151; or attempting to entice a child;

(3) Any of the following offenses against the family and related offenses: incest under section 568.020; abandonment of child in the first degree under section 568.030; abandonment of child in the second degree under section 568.032; endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree under section 568.045; abuse of a child under section 568.060; child used in a sexual performance; promoting sexual performance by a child; or trafficking in children under section 568.175; and

(4) Any of the following offenses involving child pornography and related offenses: promoting obscenity in the first degree under section 573.020; promoting pornography for minors or obscenity in the second degree when the penalty is enhanced to a class E felony under section 573.030; promoting child pornography in the first degree under section 573.025; promoting child pornography in the second degree under section 573.035; possession of child pornography under section 573.037; furnishing pornographic materials to minors under section 573.040; or coercing acceptance of obscene material under section 573.065.

7. When a certificate holder is found guilty of any offense that would authorize the state board of education to seek discipline against that holder's certificate of license to teach, the local board of education or the department of elementary and secondary education shall immediately provide written notice to the state board of education and the attorney general regarding the finding of guilt.

8. The certificate holder whose certificate was revoked pursuant to subsection 6 of this section may appeal such revocation to the state board of education. Notice of this appeal must be received by the commissioner of education within ninety days of notice of revocation pursuant to this subsection. Failure of the certificate holder to notify the commissioner of the intent to appeal waives all rights to appeal the revocation. Upon notice of the certificate holder's intent to appeal, an appeal hearing shall be held by a hearing officer designated by the commissioner of education, with the final decision made by the state board of education, based upon the record of that hearing. The certificate holder shall be given not less than thirty days' notice of the hearing, and an opportunity to be heard by the hearing officer, together with witnesses.

9. In the case of any certificate holder who has surrendered or failed to renew his or her certificate of license to teach, the state board of education may refuse to issue or renew, or may suspend or revoke, such certificate for any of the reasons contained in this section.

10. In those cases where the charges filed pursuant to this section are based upon an allegation of misconduct involving a minor child, the hearing officer may accept into the record the sworn testimony of the minor child relating to the misconduct received in any court or administrative hearing.

11. Hearings, appeals or other matters involving certificate holders, licensees or applicants pursuant to this section may be informally resolved by consent agreement or agreed settlement or voluntary surrender of the certificate of license pursuant to the rules promulgated by the state board of education.

12. The final decision of the state board of education is subject to judicial review pursuant to sections 536.100 to 536.140.

13. A certificate of license to teach to an individual who has been convicted of a felony or crime involving moral turpitude, whether or not sentence is imposed, shall be issued only upon motion of the state board of education adopted by a unanimous affirmative vote of those members present and voting.

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(L. 1963 p. 200 § 9-7, A.L. 1973 H.B. 158, A.L. 1978 H.B. 1634, A.L. 1984 H.B. 1457 & 1501, A.L. 1988 S.B. 797, A.L. 1993 S.B. 202, A.L. 1998 H.B. 1469, A.L. 2002 S.B. 722, A.L. 2003 S.B. 296, A.L. 2011 S.B. 54, A.L. 2013 H.B. 215, A.L. 2014 S.B. 491)

(Source: RSMo 1959 § 168.090)

Effective 1-01-17

*Section 566.040 was transferred to 566.031, H.B. 215, 2013

**Section 566.070 was transferred to 566.061, H.B. 215, 2013

***Section 566.090 was transferred to 566.101, H.B. 215, 2013