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An Act To Amend Teacher Confidentiality Laws
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §13004, sub-§2-A, as enacted by PL 1983, c. 470, §11 and amended by PL 1999, c. 547, Pt. B, §78 and affected by §80, is further amended to read:
 
2-A. Complaints confidential. Complaints, charges or accusations made and investigated pursuant to section 1300113020, replies to those complaints, charges or accusations, and any other information or materials that may result in action to deny, revoke or suspend certification shall beare confidential. Any charges or information filed by the commissioner with the District Court in support of a petition to revoke or suspend certification and any decision of the court shall beare public records. The department shall report all denials, revocations, suspensions, surrenders and reinstatements of certification that are not under appeal or still subject to appeal to a national association of state directors of teacher education and certification within 30 days of the action. In reports to the national association of state directors of teacher education and certification, the department may not disclose any information designated in this subsection as confidential.
Sec. 2. Study by Office of Policy and Legal Analysis. Upon approval of the Legislative Council, the Office of Policy and Legal Analysis shall review and summarize the extent to which laws in other states and jurisdictions permit the dissemination of confidential information pertaining to denials, revocations, suspensions, surrenders and reinstatements of teaching certificates to applicants for teacher certification or recertification and for professional licenses or credentials for other comparable professions. In conducting this analysis, the Office of Policy and Legal Analysis shall review the apparent conflict between the confidentiality requirements placed on information received by the Commissioner of Education as set forth in the criminal history record check provisions of the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 6103 and the provisions set forth in Title 22, section 4011-A that require persons, when acting in a professional capacity, to report their knowledge or reasonable suspicions of the abuse or neglect of a child to the Department of Health and Human Services. The Office of Policy and Legal Analysis shall submit a report with findings to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs by November 5, 2008.
 
Effective July 18, 2008