SB412: SB412 Education; accumulated sick leave days teachers and other school personnel may take each school year for personal or professional reasons; increase

26 LC 49 2493 Senate Bill 412 By: Senators Hickman of the 4th, Payne of the 54th, Halpern of the 39th, Kemp of the 38th, Still of the 48th and others A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Part 4 of Article 17 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the O fficial Code of Georgia1 Annotated, relating to sick, personal, and maternity leave for teachers and other school2 personnel, so as to increase from three to five the number of a ccumulated sick leave days3 teachers and other school personnel may take each school year for personal or professional4 reasons; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:6 SECTION 1.7 Part 4 of Article 17 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official C ode of Georgia Annotated,8 relating to sick, personal, and maternity leave for teachers an d other school personnel, is9 amended by revising Code Section 20-2-851, relating to use of accumulated sick leave for10 personal or professional reasons, as follows:11 "20-2-851.12 During any school year, personnel may utilize up to a maximum of three five days of any13 accumulated sick leave for the purpose of absenting themselves from their duties for14 personal or professional reasons if prior approval of their abs ence is given by the local15 school superintendent or his or her authorized representative; provided, however, that the16 absence is not in conflict with a local board of education policy concerning school days on17 S. B. 412 - 1 - 26 LC 49 2493 which the presence of the personnel requesting absence is essen tial for effective school18 operation. No grant of approval for an absence permitted under this Code section shall be19 conditioned upon disclosure of the specific purpose for which such absence is sought, nor20 shall any such grant of approval be withheld or denied because of the failure or refusal of21 personnel to disclose the specific purpose for which such an absence is sought; provided,22 however, that personnel may be requested to state whether the absence is sought under the23 category of 'personal' or 'professional' absence."24 SECTION 2.25 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.26 S. B. 412 - 2 -