HB235: HB235 Georgia Supporting Living Donor Educators Act; enact

25 LC 49 2305S/AP House Bill 235 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE) By: Representatives Townsend of the 179th, Powell of the 33rd, Jones of the 25th, Newton of the 127th, Heffner of the 130th, and others A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Article 1 of Chapter 1 of Title 20 of the Official Cod e of Georgia Annotated,1 relating to general provisions relative to education, so as to require employers of public2 school teachers and employees and postsecondary employees to provide leaves of absence3 for the donation of bone marrow and organs; to provide for stan dards and conditions for4 granting such leaves of absence; to prohibit waivers of such leaves of absence; to provide for5 definitions; to provide for a short title; to provide for relat ed matters; to repeal conflicting6 laws; and for other purposes.7 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:8 SECTION 1.9 This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Georgia Suppor ting Living Donor10 Educators Act."11 SECTION 2.12 Article 1 of Chapter 1 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Geor gia Annotated, relating to13 general provisions relative to education, is amended by adding a new Code section to read14 as follows:15 H. B. 235 - 1 - 25 LC 49 2305S/AP "20-1-12.16 (a) As used in this Code section, the term:17 (1) 'Organ' means a human organ, including the eye, that is capable of being transferred18 from the body of a person to the body of another person.19 (2) 'Public school employee' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section20 20-2-910.21 (3) 'Public school teacher' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section22 20-2-880.23 (4) 'Postsecondary employee' shall include any person employed not less than half time24 by the University System of Georgia or any institution thereof or the Technical College25 System of Georgia or any unit thereof; provided, however, that such term shall not be26 deemed to include any emergency or temporary employee.27 (b) Each public school teacher and public school employee shall be entitled to receive the28 following leaves of absence, without loss of pay:29 (1) Not more than seven days for the purpose of bone marrow do nation for30 transplantation, which shall not be charged against or deducted from any annual or sick31 leave and shall be included as service in computing any retirement or pension benefits;32 and33 (2) Not more than 30 days for the purpose of organ donation for transplantation, which34 shall not be charged against or deducted from any annual or sic k leave and shall be35 included as service in computing any retirement or pension benefits.36 (c) Each postsecondary employee shall be entitled to receive t he following leaves of37 absence, without loss of pay:38 (1) Not more than seven days for the purpose of bone marrow do nation for39 transplantation, which shall not be charged against or deducted from any annual or sick40 leave; and41 H. B. 235 - 2 - 25 LC 49 2305S/AP (2) Not more than 30 days for the purpose of organ donation for transplantation, which42 shall not be charged against or deducted from any annual or sick leave.43 (d) No individual shall be entitled to a leave of absence provided for in this Code section44 unless he or she furnishes a statement from a medical practitioner who is to perform such45 transplantation procedure or from a hospital administrator where such procedure is to be46 performed that such individual is making a bone marrow or organ donation. Such47 statement shall be furnished to such individual's employer no less than seven days prior to48 any leave of absence to be scheduled.49 (e) This Code section shall not be subject to waiver pursuant to Code Section 20-2-82 for50 a strategic waivers school system, Code Section 20-2-244 for a local board of education,51 or Code Section 20-2-2063.2 for a charter system."52 SECTION 3.53 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.54 H. B. 235 - 3 -