Senate Bill 247
By: Senators Still of the 48th, Gooch of the 51st, Kennedy of the 18th, Hickman of the 4th,
Dolezal of the 27th and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Part 4 of Article 17 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, relating to sick, personal, and maternity leave for teachers and other school
personnel, so as to increase from three to five the number of accumulated sick leave days
teachers and other school personnel may take each school year for personal or professional
reasons; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Part 4 of Article 17 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
relating to sick, personal, and maternity leave for teachers and other school personnel, is
amended by revising Code Section 20-2-851, relating to use of accumulated sick leave for
personal or professional reasons, as follows:
"20-2-851.
During any school year, personnel may utilize up to a maximum of <del>three</del> <ins>five</ins> days of any
accumulated sick leave for the purpose of absenting themselves from their duties for
personal or professional reasons if prior approval of their absence is given by the local
school superintendent or his <ins>or her</ins> authorized representative; provided, however, that the
absence is not in conflict with a local board of education policy concerning school days on
which the presence of the personnel requesting absence is essential for effective school
operation. No grant of approval for an absence permitted under this Code section shall be
conditioned upon disclosure of the specific purpose for which such absence is sought, nor
shall any such grant of approval be withheld or denied because of the failure or refusal of
personnel to disclose the specific purpose for which such an absence is sought; provided,
however, that personnel may be requested to state whether the absence is sought under the
category of 'personal' or 'professional' absence."
SECTION 2.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.