MONTGOMERY — The Alabama House of Representatives approved legislation on Tuesday granting Alabama's school workers access to compensation for on-the-job injuries.
Senate Bill 1 (SB1) by State Rep. Sam Givhan (R-Huntsville) would give Alabama's school workers access to compensation for on-the-job injuries.
Under current law, public education employees injured on the job must pay out-of-pocket expenses and seek reimbursement from the Board of Adjustment. Givhan's bill would give public education employees the same compensation benefits as other state employees. The bill would also create the Public Education Employee Injury Compensation Program, the Public Education Employee Injury Compensation Trust Fund, and the Public Education Employee Injury Compensation Board to distribute benefits.
The compensation would apply only to teachers, community college employees and bus drivers.
SB1's fiscal note lists an estimated minimum of $15.6 million for startup and other first-year costs.
The bill is backed by the Alabama Education Association (AEA).
SEE: AEA pushes school employee workers comp bill; House Republicans delay vote
The bill was amended during the committee process, most of which were technical in nature and related to proper language within the code. One amendment granted the Public Education Employee Injury Compensation Program Review Board authority to deploy a third-party physician to independently examine a worker claiming injury.
State Rep. Cynthia Almond (R-Tuscaloosa) presented the bill to the House and praised it as a step forward for the state.
The bill passed the House unanimously, without a single “nay” vote. However, lawmakers discussed the bill at length before the eventual vote, often telling stories of friends, families, and constituents who suffered due to the lack of workers' compensation.
“A lot of times, I find myself not in favor of some of the things that come from different groups in this state,” said State Rep. Arnold Mooney (R-Indian Springs). “But, in this situation with these people and the work they do, and realizing that I grew up with my dad who was a master carpenter, and there were occasions when things didn’t go the way you wanted them to go, and someone got hurt. We didn’t have workers comp back in that day. But, for us to have everyone else with workers comp available, and these people not to have it, just not right.”
State Rep. Barbara Drummond (D-Mobile), who frequently takes interest in education legislation, also applauded the bill and lawmakers’ work on it.
“These are the people that are touching our children’s lives, and they’re like anybody else on a job: they have injuries and so forth,” Drummond said. “So, I apologize that we’ve not done this sooner, but I want to thank you for doing it now."
The bill passed the House with a vote of 102-0. Despite passing the Senate previously, the House’s amendments require the Senate body to concur with any changes before it goes to Gov. Kay Ivey for her signature.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email [email protected].
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning
