Senate Education and Youth Committee, January 27, 2026

Transcript

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1. 0:19:58

   I know it's cold outside. I know that, uh, by this time most people have kind of checked out, but, um, uh, we as the Education and Youth Committee really appreciate your patience and appreciate you being here. Um, this is obviously a very, very important day for, this is our beginning of our, um, committees, a hope of, of, of a lot of committees. I know we have a, we will have a lot of education bills coming forward. Um, House is working on a good many and we're working on a good many. And so probably a lot of bills tied to literacy.

2. 0:20:31

   So, um, at this time we'll, um, ask, um, Senator Payne, will you in- open us up with prayer?

3. 0:20:37

   Yes. Y'all pray with me? Dear and Father Way, Lord, we just thank you for this opportunity you, you provide and, and all your abundance. Lord, we just ask you to lead us and guide us in the proceedings here today. And let all that we do reflect you and your will, and that your will be done. Of course, in Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

4. 0:20:59

   Thank you, sir. And we do have three people to sign, signed up. Um, so, um, call the meeting to order. I was like, I already have, but I'll do it again. Call the meeting to order. Um, we only have one bill today, and that's Senate Bill 412. And, um, the sponsors on the bill are Senator Hickman from the 4th, Senator Payne from the 54th, Senator Halpern from the 39th, Senator Kemp from 38, and Senator Still from 48. So Mr. Chairman, if you, Vice Chairman, if you would s-

5. 0:21:30

   I'll be glad to.

6. 0:21:31

   Okay. Thank you.

7. 0:21:42

   Do I hear a motion?

8. 0:21:48

   Table was on my mind.

9. 0:21:57

   Go ahead and present your bill. And, and just for the record, um, we are operating off of LC492493. Is that what everyone has?

10. 0:22:08

    Yes, sir. That, that is correct.

11. 0:22:10

    All right. Go ahead. You may present your bill.

12. 0:22:11

    Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you for committee for, um, hearing this bill. Um, this, this bill, as, as several people told me today, is something that's been going on for several years and, uh, it's, uh, took a while to get there. But we, this, this, um, this bill will, uh, uh, or the three to five days will definitely be passed, I, I can just, uh, about assure you during this se- legislative session, at least by the Senate, and I'm sure the House will pick it up. Um, I first of all would like to say we had a great, um, um, study committee meeting this summer that was headed up by, um, Jody Barrow, head of Professional Standards Commission, Senate Resolution 237.

13. 0:22:50

    And this bill actually was something that came as a recommendation out of that, out of that study committee. And so this will be the first bill that come out of that study committee. So thank you all again. Um, I'm very proud that all 14 members of Education and Youth signed this bill, along with the Pro Tem and the Majority Leader. Teachers and most school per- uh, personnel in Georgia public schools are entitled to sick leave with full pay. They earn one to one and a quarter days of sick leave for each completed contract month.

14. 0:23:24

    Unused sick leave can be accumulated and carried forward. Each school year, personnel may use up to three days of sick leave for personal or professional reasons with prior approval. You know, so many times, I, I, I'm, I don't know about the committee members, but so many times, um, I hear things, but until it really, until, sometimes when it, when it sinks into me is when it relates to me. And this is how this bill is, probably is related to me more than, um, more, more than, than, hopefully more than some of y'all have.

15. 0:23:56

    Um, we've got a daughter-in-law that teaches, um, sixth grade science in Metter school system. Um, my brother passed away, uh, three years ago this past November. Uh, so whenever I was talking to Rebecca about this bill, um, she said, um, "Mr. Billy, when, when, uh, Uncle Andy passed away, um, I didn't have any leave day bills to go to his celebration of life. I had to take off time without pay." So I tell you, when, when I heard that, it really kind of hit home to me how important this is to these...

16. 0:24:31

    I said, "Well, Rebecca, you could have taken sick leave." "Oh, no, I would never take sick leave and say, you know, that I wasn't sick." So, so that's how this bill just kind of relates more and more to me in that sit- personal situation. So Senate Bill 412 does not provide teachers or school staff with additional vacation or sick leave. It just gives them more flexibility on the u- use of sick leave days. One way in which educators use this leave is to attend professional enrichment activities that interest them.

17. 0:25:05

    Educators may also utilize this, the leave to take care of non-health related personal needs during the school year, like celebrations of life, like graduations, and significant family events which don't always oc- occur in the summer. Providing flexibility on leave days at no cost, at no cost recommendations as outlined in Senate Resolution 237 strategic plan moves Georgia forward in addressing teacher morale and pipeline challenges.

18. 0:25:36

    We have a long way to go, but Senate 412 is a good start. We did a survey of, um, well, I asked, um, Richard Smith, who's the director of First District RESA, to do a survey of the RESA, of the school superintendents in our district, First District RESA, and 9 out of 14 of the superintendents, or 65%, supported this bill As, as we all kn- also know, PAGE, who is represented here today and will speak in a few minutes, Professional Association of Georgia Educators, strongly support this bill.

19. 0:26:07

    So Senate committee members, I would urge you to vote yes on this bill when it's asked to be voted on, and then so we can move it on to Rules and to the Senate floor. If you got any questions, I'd be glad to take them.

20. 0:26:19

    Any questions from the committee?

21. 0:26:24

    I'm seeing no questions.

22. 0:26:25

    Thank you.

23. 0:26:28

    Oh.

24. 0:26:28

    Oh, I'm sorry. What number are you? 14?

25. 0:26:32

    14.

26. 0:26:35

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for bringing this very important, um, bill forward for our wonderful educators across the state. The only question I have is on line 16 of the bill. It says that, um, authorization should be given by the school superintendent, superintendent or his or her authorized representative. Now,

27. 0:27:08

    uh, would that be, like, an assistant superintendent, the principal of the school, um, or some other person in leadership that the superintendent designates?

28. 0:27:26

    And is-

29. 0:27:26

    Yes, ma'am, I would definitely think so. And I think it would also probably move on down to the principal level of the school. I mean, I, I would think the principal would be, would be the one to make that decision.

30. 0:27:34

    Okay. So that it would not cause conflict within the hier- realm of hierarchy in the school, like the principal.

31. 0:27:44

    Yes, ma'am.

32. 0:27:45

    I'm just... I guess I'm a little worried about that piece, but maybe it'll work out. I'm not, I'm not certain.

33. 0:27:51

    Yeah. Yes, ma'am. Thank you, ma'am.

34. 0:27:52

    Thank you.

35. 0:27:53

    Thank you for the question.

36. 0:27:57

    Well, I think that that would also come in where the-

37. 0:27:59

    That part's correct

38. 0:28:00

    ... in his or her authorized-

39. 0:28:03

    Yeah

40. 0:28:04

    ... representative, someone who would have the authority, or already has the authority with their current position.

41. 0:28:09

    Correct, sir.

42. 0:28:11

    All right. Any other questions from the committee? All right, Mr. Chairman, you'll come back up here. We have three questions. No, we have, we have with, we have three people who'd like to speak to it, but you can-

43. 0:28:21

    Well, let me sit here until they do.

44. 0:28:22

    Okay.

45. 0:28:24

    You ensure us.

46. 0:28:24

    Okay. Yes, sir. Uh, first we have, um, Margaret Ciccarelli from PAGE. If you'd like to come forward.

47. 0:28:37

    Thank you for the opportunity to testify in support of this legislation. I'm Margaret Ciccarelli from PAGE, representing about 94,000 educators statewide, um, most of whom are classroom teachers, but also many administrators and support staff as well belong to our association, and they strongly support this legislation. We appreciate that so many of you signed it and that the senator is bringing it forward, um, for your consideration. As he emphasized, it does not give additional leave. It allows for already accrued leave to be used, two additional days to be used, um, for personal reasons.

48. 0:29:13

    Um, and as, uh, Senator Sims just articulated, that has to be approved. Um, usually that happens by the principal, um, at the local school. And, um, with, um, our members, we do have questions from time to time, um, that come to our legal department about whether or not administrators can, um, uh, deny use of personal leave, and that can and does happen. Um, often it happens if that leave is requested during things like during special times in the school calendar like assessment, like the assessment window.

49. 0:29:45

    Um, but we think allowing for flexible use of two additional days, um, if it works with the school calendar, is a great way, um, to boost teacher morale, um, and, um, uh, to acknowledge the fact that teachers do have celebrations of life, um, and family life outside of school, and that we want them to be honest and transparent about using personal leave instead of sick leave, um, when they encounter, um, those important family events that they need to attend.

50. 0:30:17

    So I appreciate, um, y'all, um, uh, bringing this forward and so do our members. I'm here to answer any questions you might have.

51. 0:30:24

    Any questions from the committee? Senator Berry, do you have any questions? Thank you.

52. 0:30:32

    Thank you.

53. 0:30:34

    Next we have Justin Pawley from GSBA.

54. 0:30:43

    Chairman, committee members, thank you for the opportunity to speak. I'm Justin Pawley with the Georgia School Boards Association, and just wanted to share, I'll be very brief, I know, um, Ms. Ciccarelli, um, shared a lot of information that, that we're supportive. Um, GSBA has a member position on supporting teacher recruitment and retention. Um, we were also involved in the Senate Resolution 237 work and for teacher pipeline, and see this as a good step in that direction. And, uh, we see this as a positive and, uh, appreciate your focus and attention to it.

55. 0:31:16

    So thank you very much.

56. 0:31:17

    All right. Thank you. Any questions? I see none.

57. 0:31:23

    Thank you.

58. 0:31:25

    Thanks. Matt.

59. 0:31:28

    Kind of walk up to the podium.

60. 0:31:31

    No,

61. 0:31:36

    uh...

62. 0:31:36

    How are you doing today, sir?

63. 0:31:37

    Thank you. Thank you, thank you. I'm good, thank you. I'm Matt Cordero, the Department of Education. Thank you so much, um, Chairman Hickman, um, for bringing the bill. Um, I want to point out, um, Senator Still for, uh, adding some of the language last year. Um, appreciate that. Um, this is something that's been a priority of the department for a number of years. We look back to 2023. Um, having that there, um, simply professionalizes, um, the profession, making teachers, um, feel more professional. They can take those days, as, as Chairman Hickman, uh, mentioned, for things like, you know, death and family and, and things of that nature instead of, you know, having to, um, o- only use those and calling in sick if s- you know, something happens, um, when they really need that time.

64. 0:32:21

    So just really appreciate y'all's, uh, y'all's support.

65. 0:32:24

    All right. Thank you.

66. 0:32:29

    All right. Mr. Chairman, would you come back to the table?

67. 0:32:39

    Yes, sir.

68. 0:32:39

    Would you like to add anything?

69. 0:32:41

    No, sir. I think, uh, we've, we've said it. You've, uh, um, this is not a, it's a no-cost bill. It's, it's a bill that was identified in Senate Resolution 237. It's very, very important for teachers, and I think the pe- the speakers have ar- are, uh, articulated the importance of it. And, and, and those of you, I think several of you are married to teachers or have teachers in your family. You do understand how important this, uh, just add these extra leave days, whether it be for personal leave or whether, uh, training and education.

70. 0:33:12

    Uh, it apparently is a big deal for them. So, thank you, sir.

71. 0:33:16

    All right. What is the will of the committee? I make a motion to pass. I have a motion to pass. Who was the second? Senator James. Okay. Senator James was the second. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by raising your right hand. I'll let you count them, dear.

72. 0:33:38

    Your fail- bill pass... Uh, any opposed? Just to verify. Your pass- bill passes unanimous.

73. 0:33:44

    Thank you.

74. 0:33:45

    Having... Do you want me to close it out?

75. 0:33:47

    Yeah, you can do that.

76. 0:33:48

    Having no other-

77. 0:33:49

    I think we need-

78. 0:33:50

    Oh, okay. You want to come back up here?

79. 0:33:57

    Yeah.

80. 0:33:57

    I saw his little chairman agenda, and I thought, uh, there's things on there we didn't do yet.

81. 0:34:02

    Yes, sir. That may not look like we're organized, but we are very organized. Um, I just want to make an announcement that we will not have a committee meeting this Thursday. You know, we're scheduled on Tuesday and Thursday, and because of the work that Hannah put together along with the secretary's office, all of our meetings will be over here in this, in this room, in this room. Um, so, uh, but we will be s- we will have a meet- meetings beginning next Tuesday.

82. 0:34:34

    So, thank y'all again for attending. Got any questions, uh, please let us know. But thank y'all. Be safe. Stay warm. God bless y'all. Thank you.

83. 0:34:43

    You're welcome.

84. 0:35:19

    Good job.