SB274 Alabama 2016 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Cam Ward

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2016

Title

Educator-Student Interaction Training Act, State Superintendent of Education, School Superintendent of Alabama, and AEA required to develop and disseminate one hour of training at annual institute on appropriate and inappropriate interaction between educators and students

Summary

SB274 would require state and local education leaders and the Alabama Education Association to provide a mandatory one-hour annual training for public school educators on appropriate and inappropriate educator-student interactions.

What This Bill Does

SB274 creates the Educator-Student Interaction Training Act and requires the State Superintendent of Education, the School Superintendents of Alabama, and the Alabama Education Association to develop and disseminate one-hour training for public school educators. The training must be delivered at an annual institute attended by educators and start in the 2016-2017 school year as part of existing required institutes, with a minimum length of one hour. Topics include sexual or romantic contact, social media interactions, interactions outside school, corporal punishment and other disciplinary measures, and the use of physical restraints. The act also provides liability protections, stating no one can sue over acts related to the training or its implementation, and that the training does not waive immunity or change duties; it is not subject to waiver under the Alabama Accountability Act.

Who It Affects

• Public school educators in Alabama, who would be required to participate in at least one hour of training annually.
• State Superintendent of Education, the School Superintendents of Alabama, and the Alabama Education Association, who must develop and disseminate the training.
• Public school students in Alabama, who should benefit from reduced inappropriate interactions and safer school environments.

Key Provisions

• Establishes the Educator-Student Interaction Training Act and requires annual one-hour training for public school educators.
• Requires development and dissemination of the training by the State Superintendent of Education, the School Superintendents of Alabama, and the Alabama Education Association.
• Training must cover state law, policies, and best practices, including sexual/romantic contact, social media interactions, off-campus interactions, corporal punishment, and use of physical restraints, and must be delivered during the annual institute beginning in the 2016-2017 year as part of Section 16-23-7.
• The training is at least one hour long, and there are liability protections: no action for damages related to training or its implementation, and the training does not waive immunity or alter duties; not waiver under Alabama Accountability Act.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education