Democrats Kill Huff Amendments to Streamline Teacher Reviews

 Senate Republicans today offered floor amendments to SB 1530 (Padilla D- Pacoima) that would have provided greater protection for students abused by bad teachers. The amendments were killed when majority Democrats voted against these common-sense student protections.

Senator Bob Huff (R-Diamond Bar) offered amendments to SB 1530 that would have streamlined the review, and if warranted, it would remove teachers from the classroom who bully students by name calling, physical restraints, or public humiliation. Immediately after the amendments were introduced, Democrats moved to “lay them on the table,” and voted against including them in the final bill. 

The amendments targeted unprofessional, immoral, or criminal conduct in the classroom by teachers. 

“These amendments were intended to offer students throughout the state the protections specifically sought by the Los Angeles Unified School District following reports of teacher misbehavior and probable sexual abuse at Miramonte Elementary,” said Senator Huff.

“Although Senator Padilla’s bill addresses that one outrageous case, Senate Republicans urged their fellow Senators to adopt the amendments that would have given schools the ability to quickly review the behavior of all teachers accused of behaviors that can cause long-term physical and emotional damage to children,” Huff said.

“There is no place for a teacher who hurls racial slurs at a student, or one who makes fun of a student’s speech impediment, or one who humiliates a young girl by making her urinate in a bucket in front of her classroom,” Huff added, citing recent examples of actual classroom cases in California.

According to the Los Angeles Unified School District, it costs about $300,000, and several years, to successfully remove a single teacher who engages in egregious classroom behavior.  Many districts simply can’t afford that expense, and are forced to forgo responsible teacher reviews and discipline.

 “It’s appalling that Democrats choose to support union representatives at the expense of our children and the honorable teachers serving them.”

Senator Huff serves as the Senate Republican Leader and represents the 29th Senate District covering portions of Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino Counties.