SB 601 - This act allows teachers in the St. Louis City School District who have a permanent appointment to be removed based on incompetency. This act repeals the requirement that a notification of written charges seeking dismissal received during a vacation period be considered as received on the first day of the following school term. Currently, to be dismissed for inefficiency in the line of duty, a teacher must be notified in writing at least one semester prior to the presentment of charges. This waiting period is shortened to thirty days and will also apply to incompetency. Upon receipt of the charges, the superintendent, or his or her representative, and the teacher must meet and confer in an effort to resolve the matter. This act removes the prohibition on new teachers being hired while available teachers have been placed on leave of absence due to a reduction in force because of insufficient funds or a decrease in student enrollment. A leave of absence because of a reduction in force will not impair the tenure of a teacher and may continue for up to three years, unless extended by the school board. This act repeals a provision governing how a reduction in force based on insufficient funds or a decrease in student enrollment would be conducted for non-certified employees in the St. Louis City School District. This act is identical to HB 1893 (2012) and provisions contained in HCS/HB 1526 (2012). MICHAEL RUFF