Bill
HF 585
HF 585 requires severance payments for school administrators to be forfeitable if the administrator is convicted of a crime related to official duties, excluding misdemeanors and p
HF 585 – Summary
Overview
- Bill number: HF 585
- Title: A bill for an act relating to severance payments provided for in school administrator employment contracts and including applicability provisions
- Primary sponsor: Vondran
- Status and referral: Introduced February 25, 2025; referred to Education
- Purpose: Require a forfeiture provision for severance payments in school administrator employment contracts in certain criminal-justice circumstances, and specify when the bill applies
What the bill would do
- Create a new requirement for contracts with severance payments for school administrators.
- Specifically, if a contract provides one or more severance payments, the contract must include a statement that the administrator shall not receive those payments if the contract is terminated because the administrator was found guilty in a criminal proceeding related to the administrator’s official duties or a dereliction thereof, with the appeal period having passed.
- This forfeiture rule does not apply to simple misdemeanors or parking violations (as defined by the statute cited in the bill).
Key provisions (substantive details)
- New paragraph added: Section 279.23, subsection 1, creates a “0e” paragraph stating the forfeiture condition for severance payments.
- If severance is provided and the administrator is terminated due to a criminal conviction related to official duties or dereliction, the administrator shall not receive severance payments after the appeal period has passed.
- The applicable crimes are limited by excluding simple misdemeanors and parking violations (per section 321.210).
- The bill clarifies that the severance-forfeiture clause must be included in the contract for it to be enforceable under this act.
Applicability and timeline
- Applicability: The act applies to contracts entered into under section 279.23 or continued under section 279.24 on or after the act’s effective date.
- Effective date: Not specified in the introduced text; would be the date stated in the enacted version.
- Contracts created or renewed before the effective date are not described as covered by the new forfeiture requirement, per the stated applicability language.
Who is affected
- School boards and districts that enter into or renew employment contracts for school administrators (ensuring severance clauses include the new forfeiture language).
- Administrators with severance provisions in their contracts.
Notes
- The “explanation” accompanying the bill reiterates the forfeiture condition and its applicability to contracts entered into or continued after the effective date.
- This summary reflects the introduced text and is subject to change through the legislative process.
Status and sponsorship
- Status: Introduced and referred to Education
- Primary sponsor: Vondran
This summary captures the bill’s main intent, key provisions, affected parties, and procedural aspects based on the introduced language.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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