Committee approves School Employee Bill of Rights to compile protections for non-teacher staff

Senate Bill 178, which would establish a School Employee Bill of Rights to compile statutory protections and clarify training and procedural protections for non‑teacher school employees, was reported favorably by the House Education Committee after members adopted targeted clarifying language.

Sponsor Senator Jenkins said the measure does not expand disciplinary authority for non‑teacher school employees but places statutory protections and procedural language for those employees in one section so their responsibilities and existing legal safeguards are easier for administrators, staff and the public to find. The bill mirrors language already in the Teacher Bill of Rights in several places and addresses items such as discipline-related protections, required training for medical or safety procedures and other statutory safeguards that affect paraprofessionals, custodial staff, bus operators, cafeteria workers and other school employees.

Why it matters: Witnesses including representatives of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers and school employees said that a consolidated School Employee Bill of Rights would improve clarity and help ensure non‑instructional staff receive required training and statutory protections when they carry out assigned duties. Committee members and witnesses discussed narrowing the bill’s scope to avoid unintended implication that school employees have expanded powers over student discipline; the committee adopted clarifying amendments that limited the bill’s cross-references to specific statutory sections and inserted technical citations.

Representatives of noninstructional staff and advocates testified in support, describing day‑to‑day roles such as running detention spaces, administering first aid and supervising students, and they urged formal recognition of protections and access to training. Committee members moved the bill favorably as amended.