FRANKFORT, Ky. — Bills related to how Kentucky schools should handle teacher misconduct and student discipline passed a House committee Tuesday. 

Rep. James Tipton (R-Taylorsville) said the goal of House Bill 288 is to protect students and the due process rights of teachers. 

Among other things, it bans school districts from entering nondisclosure agreements on misconduct involving a student. 

It also requires job applicants to share if they have been the subject of any allegation or investigation in the last year. 

“We are requiring that all school districts come to a conclusion,” said Tipton. “If evidence is found that that teacher did something inappropriate, it needs to be recorded. For the sake of the teachers who might have been falsely accused, that investigation needs to be completed if they are exonerated.” 

University of Kentucky student Kotomi Yokokura shared with lawmakers that a high school teacher sexually abused her. 

“The teacher who abused me did not stop grooming other students after his actions were first questioned,” she said. “This bill is important because it can help prevent these teachers from being able to continue abusing students.”

The bill passed the Education committee unanimously.

Lawmakers also advanced House Bill 538, which includes changes like letting a teacher decide to remove a disruptive student from the classroom for the rest of the day.

The bill also states that under certain conditions, a superintendent could place a student in an alternative program, including a virtual one, instead of expelling them. 

“The constant disruptions that are happening in classrooms have enormously and negatively impacted our students to learn and it’s a reflection of what’s going on in our society today,” said Rep. Steve Riley (R-Glasgow). “The status quo cannot continue.”

Some raised concerns about unintended consequences, like furthering disparities in student discipline. 

“We know that we have very disproportionate outcomes in discipline by race, by poverty, by disability, by these other concerns,” said Rep. Lisa Willner (D-Louisville), who voted against the bill. “This is the kind of thing that keeps me awake nights.”

The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Timmy Truett (R-McKee), said the goal is not to have more students expelled, but to improve classroom safety and teacher retention. 

Both bills head next to the House floor for consideration.