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House subcommittee advances bill to raise indemnification payout for public school employees
Summary
The House Education Curriculum Subcommittee voted to send HB105 (LC481370EC) to full committee. The bill would raise the statutory indemnification payment for public school employees who die in the line of duty from $75,000 to $150,000 to match a prior increase for public safety officers.
Representative Wade presented House Bill 105 (LC481370EC) to the House Education Curriculum Subcommittee, asking the panel to raise the public school indemnification payment from $75,000 to $150,000.
Wade said the statute recognizes “unique hazards that are inherent in just public service” and noted the change would align public school employees’ payments with the $150,000 statutory payout adopted for public safety officers under the 2017 Back the Badge Act. “This is the public school indemnification fund benefit increase bill,” Wade said.
The bill drew a brief question-and-answer exchange about cost and funding. Autumn (last name not specified), general counsel for the Georgia Department of Administrative Services, told the committee the department’s “existing funds are sufficient to cover this increase” and that she did not anticipate a need for additional appropriations. Margaret Ciccarelli of the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) urged support, saying PAGE represents about 93,000 educators and that families who suffer such losses need the updated benefit.
Vice Chairman Chokas moved the bill for a due-pass recommendation; a second was made, and the committee approved HB105 by voice vote and sent it to the full committee.
Why it matters: The bill seeks to make the statutory indemnification for educators equal to the higher amount provided to public safety officers, changing a long-standing disparity supporters said is overdue.
What’s next: HB105 proceeds to the full committee for further consideration.
