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HB0073

HB0073: Teacher Discipline for Deferred Felony Cases

Last scannedOct 19, 2026, 2:19 AM

In one sentence

This bill would allow school boards to suspend or fire teachers if a court delays their felony prosecution under specific state laws.

What it does

  • Amends Wyoming law to include deferred felony prosecutions as a reason for teacher discipline.
  • Allows school boards to suspend or dismiss a teacher for a deferred felony prosecution.
  • Allows school boards to terminate a continuing contract teacher for a deferred felony prosecution.
  • Limits the new rule to deferrals granted under specific state laws (W.S. 7-13-301 or 35-7-1037).
  • Sets an effective date of July 1, 2016, for the changes.

Who it affects

  • Teachers in Wyoming.
  • School boards that employ teachers.

Limits and unknowns

  • The bill did not pass in the 2016 session.
  • The bill only applies to deferrals granted after its effective date.

Plain language

Terms to know

Deferral of felony prosecution
A legal process where a court delays or pauses criminal charges against a person.
Suspension
A temporary removal from a job or position.
Dismissal
The permanent ending of a teacher's employment.

Official record

Sources

Source checked
Official bill pageIntroduced textOfficial digestCurrent bill text

Public statements

Why lawmakers voted

Last checked Aug 7, 12:53 AM

Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker argues the bill closes a loophole that currently prevents school districts from disciplining teachers who have entered deferred prosecution agreements for felonies, citing a specific case where a teacher convicted of felony larceny remained in front of students.

Public statementFloor statement at 1:49:20 Watch the statement
Voted No

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker opposes the bill because deferred prosecution means no guilty plea has been entered into the system, and he believes punishing someone for a crime that has not been fully adjudicated is inappropriate.

Public statementFloor statement at 1:50:39 Watch the statement
Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker supports the bill by distinguishing between those who fight charges in court versus those who accept probation, arguing that districts currently lack authority to address teachers who have accepted a five-year probation period.

Public statementFloor statement at 1:51:19 Watch the statement

If a lawmaker is not listed, we couldn't find a published reason.

Wyoming roll calls

Recorded votes

2 roll calls

H:DO PASS FAILED in Accordance with House Rule 5-4: 0-9-0-0-02016-02-29 · House0 yes 9 no
Yes
0
No
9
Absent
0
Excused
0
Conflict
0

No 9

Albert P Sommers Jr.H20Allen M JaggiH19David E NorthrupH50Garry C PiiparinenH49Hans HuntH02Jerry D PaxtonH47John L FreemanH60Mark S KinnerH29Mary A ThroneH11
H Introduced and Referred to H04 - Education 45-13-2-0-02016-02-09 · House45 yes 13 no
Yes
45
No
13
Absent
0
Excused
2
Conflict
0

Yes 45

Albert P Sommers Jr.H20Allen M JaggiH19Carl R LoucksH59Cheri SteinmetzR · H05Clifford M JenningsH30Dan R KirkbrideH04David E NorthrupH50David R MillerH55Donald E Burkhart JrH15Elaine HarveyH26Fred A BaldwinH18Garry C PiiparinenH49Glenn W MonizH46Hans HuntH02Harlan J EdmondsH12James R AllenH33Jerry D PaxtonH47John C EklundH10Kendell R KroekerH35LARSEN LLOYDLAURSEN DANMark S KinnerH29Martha D HalversonH22Michael D GreearH27Michael K MaddenH40Nathan A WintersH28Norine A KasperikH32Richard L CannadyH06Rita CampbellH34Robert M McKimH21Rosie M BergerH51Roy H EdwardsH53Ruth A PetroffH16Samuel P KroneH24Scott M ClemH31Steve HarshmanR · H37Susan S WilsonH07Theodore J BlackburnH42Thomas A LockhartH57Thomas F ReederH58Thomas J WaltersH38Timothy M StubsonH56Tyler E LindholmH01William H PownallH52ZWONITZER, DV

No 13

Andrew W SchwartzH23Bob NicholasR · H08Catherine R ConnollyH13Charles F PelkeyH45Eric BarlowR · H03James W ByrdH44JoAnn R DaytonH17John L FreemanH60Ken A EsquibelH41Mark H BakerH48Mary A ThroneH11Stanley L BlakeH39ZWONITZER, DN

Excused 2

BROWN SPEAKERGerald GayH36

Official activity

Bill history

  1. H:DO PASS FAILED in Accordance with House Rule 5-4: 0-9-0-0-0House
  2. H No report prior to CoW CutoffHouse
  3. H Introduced and Referred to H04 - Education 45-13-2-0-0House
  4. H Received for IntroductionHouse
  5. Bill Number AssignedLSO