2021 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 243
BY SENATOR JACKSON
A RESOLUTION
To urge and request the state Department of Education to conduct a study regarding the
number of public school systems that provide duty-free lunch periods to teachers
who are actively engaged in the instruction and supervision of students and the
method by which the systems provide the duty-free lunch periods.
WHEREAS, R.S. 17:434 requires each public school system to provide each teacher
who is actively engaged in the instruction and supervision of students a duty-free lunch
period and a duty-free planning period; and
WHEREAS, R.S. 17:434 predicates the requirement to provide duty-free lunch and
planning periods on the appropriation of state funds; and
WHEREAS, since the enactment of the law in 1988, state funding has not been
appropriated for the duty-free lunch and planning periods; and
WHEREAS, the vast majority of our teachers work an eight-hour day without an
uninterrupted break to eat or use the restroom; and
WHEREAS, these working conditions may place a toll on the health of our teachers;
and
WHEREAS, some school districts have prioritized the health and well-being of their
teachers by granting duty-free lunch and planning periods, even without specific state
funding being provided; and
WHEREAS, information relative to the number of school systems that offer duty-free
lunch periods, the method by which those districts utilize personnel to provide the duty-free
lunch periods, and the costs borne by the systems for offering the lunch periods may assist
other systems in providing duty-free lunch periods for their teachers.
Page 1 of 2 SR NO. 243 ENROLLED
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby urge and request the state Department of Education to conduct a study regarding
the number of public school systems that provide duty-free lunch periods to teachers who
are actively engaged in the instruction and supervision of students and the method by which
the systems provide the duty-free lunch periods.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department shall submit a report of any
findings and conclusions to the Senate Committee on Education not later than sixty days
prior to the beginning of the 2022 Regular Session of the Legislature.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
state superintendent of education.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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