25 LC 49 2315S
The Senate Committee on Education and Youth offered the following
substitute to SB 148:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Article 11 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,1
relating to public school property and facilities, so as to provide for an outdoor learning2
spaces pilot program; to provide for a pilot program evaluation and report; to amend Part 43
of Article 17 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to4
sick, personal, and maternity leave for teachers and other school personnel, so as to increase5
from three to five the number of accumulated sick leave days teachers and other school6
personnel may take each school year for personal or professional reasons; to provide for7
related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.8
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:9
SECTION 1.10
Article 11 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to11
public school property and facilities, is amended by adding a new part to read as follows:12
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"Part 413
20-2-590.14
(a) The Department of Education is authorized to establish a pilot program, beginning in15
the 2025-2026 school year, to provide for the development and study of outdoor learning16
spaces on elementary and secondary school property. The purpose of the pilot program17
shall be to determine whether and how to implement best practices and design standards18
for outdoor learning spaces.19
(b) The Department of Education is authorized to select elementary or secondary schools20
with sufficient existing or potential outdoor learning spaces for participation in the pilot21
program as pilot schools. Private, nonprofit, and local school system funding may be22
utilized by such pilot schools for community engagement, school grounds design support,23
and capital construction costs. The local board of education for each pilot school shall24
agree to implement a program to incorporate outdoor learning spaces into the existing25
curriculum and to continue to provide such program for a period no shorter than three26
years.27
(c) The Department of Education shall provide for an evaluation regarding the success and28
impact of the pilot program upon completion of the third year of the pilot program and29
shall report the results of such evaluation to the House Committee on Education and the30
Senate Education and Youth Committee."31
SECTION 2.32
Part 4 of Article 17 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,33
relating to sick, personal, and maternity leave for teachers and other school personnel, is34
amended by revising Code Section 20-2-851, relating to use of accumulated sick leave for35
personal or professional reasons, as follows:36
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"20-2-851.37
During any school year, personnel may utilize up to a maximum of three five days of any38
accumulated sick leave for the purpose of absenting themselves from their duties for39
personal or professional reasons if prior approval of their absence is given by the local40
school superintendent or his or her authorized representative; provided, however, that the41
absence is not in conflict with a local board of education policy concerning school days on42
which the presence of the personnel requesting absence is essential for effective school43
operation. No grant of approval for an absence permitted under this Code section shall be44
conditioned upon disclosure of the specific purpose for which such absence is sought, nor45
shall any such grant of approval be withheld or denied because of the failure or refusal of46
personnel to disclose the specific purpose for which such an absence is sought; provided,47
however, that personnel may be requested to state whether the absence is sought under the48
category of 'personal' or 'professional' absence."49
SECTION 3.50
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.51
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