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Committee advances bill to let education employees donate sick leave to colleagues

Senate Judiciary Committee · February 18, 2026

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Summary

The Senate Judiciary Committee gave a favorable report to SB 211, a substitute sponsored by Senator Allen that would require a model sick-leave policy for schools, remove caps on donated days, allow direct donations between employees and require local authorities to implement sick-leave banks. The substitute passed the committee by a recorded voice vote (6–0).

The Senate Judiciary Committee on an unspecified date advanced SB 211, a bill presented by Senator Allen to make it easier for education employees to share sick leave.

Senator Allen told the committee the measure grew from a family incident involving a teacher in Bibb County who ran out of sick leave. He said the substitute would require the State Board of Education to adopt a model sick-leave policy, remove the cap limiting how many sick days could be donated, allow employees to donate sick leave directly to another employee and require each educational authority to implement a sick-leave bank policy. "The bill would require the State Board of Education to adopt a model sick leave policy," Allen said during his remarks.

The committee discussed whether state employees should be included. Senator Figures asked whether the scope could be expanded; Allen said inclusion of state employees had been considered during drafting but was removed from the current substitute and could be revisited on the floor. "If they are, then I'd like to add an amendment on the floor," Senator Figures said. The discussion did not produce a committee amendment to include state employees.

Senator Figures moved a favorable report on the substitute; Senator Hatcher seconded the motion. The clerk conducted a roll call and the committee chair announced the substitute and bill were given a favorable report, recorded as 6–0 in favor.

The committee did not record further amendments or an explicit effective date in committee discussion. The bill was reported favorably from the Judiciary Committee for further consideration by the Legislature.