Senate Passes Larkin Bill To Suspend Pay Of Any Teacher Convicted Of A Sex Crime

The New York State Senate today passed legislation sponsored by Senator Bill Larkin (R-C, Cornwall-on-Hudson) that would suspend the pay of tenured teachers and administrators upon that individual’s conviction of a felony for the possession of child pornography or related offenses.

The legislation (S.61-A) broadens the scope for suspending a tenured teacher convicted of:

- possessing material depicting an obscene sexual performance by a child.

- possessing material depicting a sexual performance by a child.

- use of a child in a sexual performance.

- promoting an obscene sexual performance of a child, or

- promoting a sexual performance of a child.

"Under current law, tenured teachers and administrators convicted of these crimes are suspended with pay until a school district holds a hearing to determine whether that person remains employed or is fired," said Senator Larkin. "This bill would suspend convicted felons without pay. It also adds more crimes specific to sexual abuse to the list of reasons for dismissing a teacher or administrator. School employees should possess the utmost moral character. Anyone convicted of a crime, especially a sex crime, should be nowhere near a classroom."

The bill was sent to the Assembly.

Last week, Senator Larkin also introduced legislation that would protect the jobs of public employees who report suspected sex abuse and any other incident that could endanger a minor.