Louisiana House Bill HCR25

Louisiana 2020 2nd Special Session

• Introduced: 10/6/20
• Refer: 10/6/20
• Report Pass: 10/12/20
• Engrossed: 10/13/20
• Refer: 10/14/20
• Report Pass: 10/21/20

Caption

Requests that the State Civil Service Commission establish the same or substantially similar sick leave benefits for classified employees serving as teaching staff within the Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections, office of juvenile justice, as those provided for public school teachers injured or disabled while acting in their official capacity

Impact

This resolution requests the State Civil Service Commission to implement sick leave policies that mirror those of public school teachers, which currently provide sick leave without pay reduction for teachers injured during their official duties. By potentially extending this same protection to juvenile correctional educators, HCR25 aims to align the benefits of these classified employees with their public school counterparts, thereby impacting the statutes concerning benefits for state employees in educational roles.

Summary

HCR25, introduced by Representative Gadberry, seeks to ensure that classified employees serving as teaching staff within the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office of juvenile justice, receive sick leave benefits equivalent to those afforded to public school teachers who are injured or disabled while performing their official duties. The intention behind this resolution is to provide equitable treatment for all educators, regardless of their employment sector, especially recognizing the unique challenges faced by those working with juvenile offenders.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding HCR25 appears to be positive, with a unanimous vote in favor, indicating broad support for the measure. The bill addresses a gap in employee benefit legislation by advocating for the rights of teachers in the juvenile justice system, reflecting a growing acknowledgment of their critical role and the difficulties they face in an environment that may not always prioritize their safety and well-being.

Contention

While the resolution passed without opposition, the underlying need for equitable sick leave benefits may raise broader discussions about how other states treat their correctional education staff. Ensuring such benefits could lead to debates over the allocation of resources and protections for employees across disparate educational environments, including the potential for similar resolutions for other state or local employees who may also lack adequate benefits.