The Alabama Senate approved SB1 on Tuesday, a bill that will establish a workers’ compensation program for public education employees.

Sponsored by State Sen. Sam Givhan (R-Huntsville), the bill aims to establish a workers’ compensation program specifically for K-12 and higher education employees, ensuring they receive financial and medical support in the event of a work-related injury.

Under SB1, injured educators would be entitled to receive their full salary for up to 90 days without having to use their accumulated sick leave, with the possibility of extensions under certain circumstances.

Additionally, the bill designates the Public Education Employees Health Insurance Program (PEEHIP) as the entity responsible for managing medical expenses, providing coverage for treatment and rehabilitation related to workplace injuries.

Currently, Alabama’s public education employees do not have access to workers’ compensation benefits, unlike employees in most other sectors.

If a teacher or other school employee sustains an injury while performing their job, they must pay their medical expenses out of pocket. To seek reimbursement, they must file a claim with the state’s Board of Adjustment, a process that can be slow and unpredictable.

Many educators have voiced concerns that delays in reimbursement force them into financial hardship, and the push for a workers’ compensation program is partly driven by the growing recognition of the risks educators face on the job.

Givhan has been a strong proponent of establishing these protections, having introduced a similar bill in the 2024 legislative session. Although that proposal successfully passed the Senate, it ultimately stalled in the House Ways and Means Education Committee at the end of last session.

“I appreciate the kind words that people have come and shared with me about this bill and the cooperative spirit we’ve gotten” said Givhan. “But this is one of those situations where we’ve all got, public education employees in our district. They’re critical to how we do business, and this is a great way to take care of them.”

With Senate approval secured, SB1 now moves to the House for further consideration. If enacted, the bill would introduce a new workers’ compensation program for educators, aligning their benefits more closely with those available in other professions.

Grace Heim is a state and political reporter for Yellowhammer News. You can follow her on X @graceeheim or email her at [email protected].