House Ways and Means Education Committee Chairman Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, delayed a vote on Senate Bill 1, which would provide educators with workers’ compensation benefits. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Sam Givhan, R-Huntsville, aims to create a Public Education Employee Injury Compensation Board to oversee the program. The delay in the vote was met with objections from House Democratic lawmakers who argued that the bill should be moved forward without delay.
Despite concerns from some Republican lawmakers about specific aspects of the bill, Garrett assured that it would be addressed when lawmakers return from spring break on April 1. The bill, which passed unanimously in the Senate in February, is estimated to cost $15.6 million.
Democratic lawmakers, including Reps. Kelvin Lawrence, Barbara Drummond, and Minority Leader Anthony Daniels, expressed frustration at the delay and urged the committee to move forward with a vote. However, Garrett defended the decision to postpone the vote, stating that there is still enough time to discuss and properly vet the bill during this legislative session.
Sen. Givhan expressed optimism about the bill’s passage, especially with the support of House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter. He emphasized that the concerns raised by some representatives were simply part of the policy decision process and not a delay tactic. Givhan highlighted the importance of providing workers’ compensation to educators, who currently bear the burden of paying for medical expenses related to work injuries.
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