UtahSchools would restrict educator work after serious misconduct
Starting May 6, 2026, public schools would follow specific rules for restricting educators’ work after license discipline and for hiring substitute teachers.
What it does
Public schools would automatically bar educators from working or volunteering after suspensions or revocations tied to serious misconduct. Other cases require written safety findings.
When a hearing could suspend or revoke a license, school boards would warn educators about possible work and volunteer limits and give them enough information to prepare.
School districts would favor licensed substitutes, require background checks, and keep certain ineligible educators out of substitute teaching. Unlicensed substitutes face a 20-day limit unless no licensed teacher is available.
Argument forClearer safety rules could help schools keep people with serious misconduct findings away from students while allowing narrower responses to technical mistakes.
Argument againstEducators with lesser violations could lose school work if the state board makes written risk findings, even when they remain eligible for some licensed work.
More detail
Public schools would bar an educator from paid, unpaid, or volunteer work when the educator’s license is revoked or suspended for qualifying serious misconduct. The rule covers educators whose licenses are revoked or suspended for child harm, credible risk of harm, sexual misconduct, grooming, boundary violations, abuse, exploitation, violence, serious endangerment, or an ongoing threat to student safety. For a revocation based on other conduct, the restriction applies only if the state board gives written findings identifying a specific risk and explaining why a lesser restriction would not protect students. For a suspension based on other conduct, the same written findings are required to bar work or volunteering during the suspension. Technical violations generally do not trigger the restriction unless repeated violations show disregard for licensing standards and the board makes additional written findings. Public schools may adopt stricter employment or volunteer policies, and no one may work in a position that requires a license without holding one. The rules apply to cases opened on or after May 6, 2026. Automatic restrictions begin when the license revocation or suspension takes effect; suspension restrictions last during the suspension.
School boards would give accused educators at least 15 days’ notice before a hearing and explain possible work and volunteer restrictions. The added explanations apply when a proceeding could suspend or revoke an educator’s license. The notice would explain when work or volunteer restrictions apply automatically and when the state board must make written findings. The notice must also identify the alleged violation and provide enough information about the evidence for the accused person to prepare a defense. The notice must be provided at least 15 days before the hearing.
School districts would prioritize licensed substitutes, require background checks, and bar certain ineligible educators from serving as substitutes. The rules cover licensed and unlicensed people hired to fill in for regular classroom teachers. An unlicensed substitute could fill a position for no more than 20 total days in a school year unless no licensed educator is available. A person must complete the required background check before working as a substitute. A person ineligible for an educator license may not substitute if the ineligibility is under the license-denial rules or if license suspension or revocation restrictions apply. The bill’s provisions take effect May 6, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 26Governor Spencer Cox SignedBecame Law
- Mar 11Senate/ to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 11Senate/ received enrolled bill from PrintingMinor
- Mar 10Senate/ enrolled bill to Printing
- Mar 10Enrolled Bill Returned to House or SenateMinor
- Mar 6Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
- Mar 6Bill Received from Senate for EnrollingMinor
- Mar 6Senate/ signed by President/ sent for enrollingMajor
- Mar 6Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Mar 5House/ to Senate
- Vote recorded Senate/ concurs with House amendment. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded House/ passed 3rd reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 5House/ signed by Speaker/ returned to SenateMajor
- Mar 5House/ received from SenateMinor
- Mar 5Senate/ to House
- Mar 5Senate/ concurs with House amendmentMajor
- Mar 5Senate/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
- Mar 5Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Mar 5House/ to Senate
- Mar 5House/ passed 3rd readingPassed House
- Mar 5House/ uncircled
- Mar 5LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0312S01
- Mar 5House/ circled
- Mar 5House/ 3rd readingMinor
- Mar 5LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0312S01
- Mar 5House/ 2nd readingMinor
- Mar 5House/ Rules to 3rd Reading Calendar
- Mar 5House/ return to Rules due to fiscal impact [House Rules Committee]
- Mar 5House/ comm rpt/ substituted [House Education Committee]
- Mar 4House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Education Committee]Minor
- Mar 4House Comm - Substitute Recommendation [House Education Committee]Major
- Mar 4LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0312S01
- Mar 4LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0312S01
- Mar 4House Comm - Held [House Education Committee]
- Mar 4House/ to standing committee [House Education Committee]Minor
- Mar 4House/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Mar 3House/ received from SenateMinor
- Vote recorded Senate/ passed 3rd reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 3Senate/ to House
- Mar 3Senate/ passed 3rd readingPassed Senate
- Mar 3Senate/ 3rd readingMinor
- Mar 2Senate/ passed 2nd readingMinor
- Vote recorded Senate/ passed 2nd reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 2Senate/ 2nd readingMinor
- Feb 26Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- Feb 26Senate/ committee report favorable [Senate Education Committee]Minor
- Feb 26Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Education Committee]Minor
- Feb 25Senate/ received fiscal note from Fiscal AnalystMinor
- Feb 25LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0312
- Feb 24LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0312
- Feb 20Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Education Committee]Minor
- Feb 19Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Feb 19Senate/ received bill from Legislative ResearchMinor
- Feb 19LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0312
- Feb 19LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0312
- Feb 19Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Feb 19Bill Numbered but not DistributedIntroduced
EducationPublic SafetyCivil Rights & Voting