HB 2942 Allows criminals in K-12 classrooms

HB 2942 VOTE: NO
Died In Committee on 06/26/21
Status (overview) of bill: https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2021R1/Measures/Overview/HB2942
Committee assigned to bill: https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2021R1/Committees/HED/Overview

Chief Sponsors of this bill are Reps. Bynum (D, HD-51), Hernandez (D, HD-47) and Sen. Dembrow (D, SD-23) Why are they in favor of putting our children in harms way?

[Rep. Diego Hernandez was forced to resign from his position following sexual harassment complaints in Feb, 2021]

This bill allows individuals convicted of drug dealing, sex crimes into K-12 settings, and open the door to convicted criminals working and volunteering in K-12 educational settings.

Personal Choice and Responsibility
It’s completely unacceptable that the Salem supermajority is intentionally putting felons inside the classroom and on the playground with our kids, even when their crimes included making and selling hard drugs next door to a school. Oregon’s youngest students could be in the care of criminal role models who will guide their social and emotional development and stand at the head of a classroom.

Limited Government
HB 2942 would create a pathway for individuals charged and convicted of crimes such as manufacturing and/or delivering hard drugs like cocaine, heroin and meth or prostitution—including crimes targeting children within 1,000 feet of a school—to be eligible to work in school settings. Lets the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission, the state agency in charge of licensing teachers, allow individuals convicted of certain crimes to work in a classroom setting. Convictions that includes: Unlawful manufacturing within 1,000 feet of a school of: hydrocodone, methadone, oxycodone, heroin, methylenedioxymethamphetamine, cocaine, methamphetamine, and other controlled substances. Unlawful delivery within 1,000 feet of a school of: hydrocodone, methadone, oxycodone, heroin, methylenedioxymethamphetamine, cocaine, methamphetamine, and other controlled substances. Unlawful delivery of hydrocodone, methadone, oxycodone, cocaine and methamphetamine. Prostitution.

Local Control
This says to parents that the very best people we can put in front of your children are convicted drug dealers, manufactures and prostitutes is not the answer. Creating another state mandated layering of the hiring process also does not help school districts attract and retain the very best teachers to serve our children.