California Senate approves bill forcing schools to vet teachers for past misconduct

California lawmakers voted unanimously to enact legislation that compels school administrators to investigate any prior state-level misconduct reports on prospective teachers, strengthening background-check mandates that have existed since 2025. Drafted by Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, the bill requires district officials to contact former employers and the state licensing agency to determine whether credible or substantiated complaints of egregious misconduct exist, and empowers the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to impose penalties such as public reprimands or suspension of credentials for non-compliance.

The action follows a KQED-one outlet probe that uncovered at least 14 cases where teachers with sexual-harassment allegations secured new positions. Governor Gavin Newsom has until Sept. 30 to sign or veto, with his office declining comment. The original proposal included a searchable database for public-school teachers, but that component was removed after pushback from teachers’ unions and the licensing commission. Superintendent Chris Calabrese of Benicia Unified warned that the new requirement adds administrative strain and advocated for a more efficient database system.