Bill would allow swift action against teachers

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Local school boards would have the authority to fire teachers accused of violent, sex or drug offenses involving children under a bill that has passed a legislative committee.

Sen. Alex Padilla's SB1530 responds to the case of a Los Angeles Unified School District teacher accused of blindfolding his students and spoon-feeding them semen, along with other recent teacher misconduct cases.

Padilla, a Democrat from Los Angeles, won unanimous approval for his bill Wednesday from the Senate Education Committee despite opposition from teachers unions. The Legislation would let school boards dismiss teachers, rather than leaving the decision to a three-member disciplinary commission.

The same committee rejected a broader measure by Senate Minority Leader Bob Huff, who wanted disciplinary procedures instituted in Los Angeles after the misconduct case to be applied statewide.