By MICHAEL GORMLEY
Associated Press

ALBANY - A Senate bill would immediately revoke the certification of a teacher or administrator convicted of felonies including sexual misconduct and embezzlement, ending a hearing process that can cost taxpayers $150,000 per case.

The measure seeks to end the long-criticized practice in which educators convicted of crimes are still entitled to try to keep their state certifications even when the hearings are held in prison, after the educator was sentenced.

Senate Education Committee Chairman Stephen Saland of Poughkeepsie says the bill has the support of the state School Boards Association and school administrators' association. The powerful New York State United Teachers union says it supports the concept.

"Basically it will put an equal sign for a teacher who is convicted of a sex offense with revocation of his or her certification," Saland said. The bill also addresses recent cases of administrators convicted of stealing from school districts.

"The intention is to rid the system of redundancy and save taxpayers money by not requiring these types of protracted hearings or disciplinary actions when they were already convicted at the highest level of proof in court - beyond a reasonable doubt," Saland said.

State Education Department records reviewed by The Associated Press included hundreds of cases in which state investigators and attorneys convened hearings for educators who already were convicted or pleaded to crimes. Several hearings were held in prisons.

The records were used in 2007 AP stories that showed the number of "moral conduct" accusations against teachers, administrators and aides had doubled in five years. In all, 485 misconduct cases were reported over five years, most involving sexual misconduct.

In April, the Legislature restored funding to hire eight more investigators and attorneys to dig into more than 800 pending cases of "moral misconduct" against teachers, administrators and applicants for certification. Most cases involve sex with students.

Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, a Westchester County Democrat, says she plans to sponsor the bill in her Democrat-led chamber.

Paulin says the bill will fix inefficiency in the system and protect children.

Senate Education Committee Chairman Stephen Saland, a Poughkeepsie Republican, says the current hearing process can cost taxpayers $150,000 per case, even after an educator is convicted of a crime.

Saland says the measure is also backed by state Education Commissioner Richard Mills.

Both chambers must pass the same bill for it to become law.