SB278 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Sam GivhanSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Public education employees, providing compensation to full-time public education employees, on the job injury program, trust fund, and board created

Summary

A new Public Education Injury Compensation Program, funded by a dedicated Trust Fund and overseen by a new Board, would compensate full-time public education employees for on-the-job injuries and coordinate related benefits.

What This Bill Does

Creates the Public Education Injury Compensation Program, the Public Education Injury Compensation Trust Fund, and the Public Education Injury Compensation Board to handle injuries to full-time public education employees. Establishes minimum benefits no less than the Alabama Workers’ Compensation Act, including wage replacement, medical benefits not covered by PEEHIP, vocational rehabilitation, and durable medical equipment, plus coverage for temporary or permanent disability. Requires notice and uniform injury reporting, provides up to 90 working days of paid injury leave with salary continuation, and allows extensions; provides reimbursement mechanisms for employers’ costs (like substitutes) and integrates with retirement and health insurance provisions. Non-full-time staff would follow the existing Board of Adjustment process, and local boards statewide would participate in the program with funding and governance outlined.

Who It Affects

• Full-time public education employees would receive compensation and benefits for on-the-job injuries, including wage replacement, medical care, rehab, and potential disability benefits, along with up to 90 days of paid injury leave and extensions as needed.
• Public education employers and related state and local boards/agencies would administer and fund the program, provide substitute employee coverage, report injuries with uniform forms, and coordinate with the Board and Trust Fund.

Key Provisions

• Creates the Public Education Injury Compensation Program, Public Education Injury Compensation Trust Fund, and Public Education Injury Compensation Board.
• Benefits shall be at least as generous as the Workers' Compensation Act, including wage replacement, medical benefits not paid by PEEHIP, vocational rehabilitation, and durable equipment; covers temporary total/partial and permanent disability and certain injuries; excludes purely mental injuries.
• Provides up to 90 working days of paid injury leave with salary continuation; allows extensions and employer-approved enhanced policies for on-the-job injuries.
• Employers may be reimbursed for on-the-job injury costs (e.g., substitutes) from the Fund, with state funding and legislative approval for up to 90 working days; requires budgetary process.
• Requires notice of injury within 10 working days; adopts uniform injury reporting forms; first report of injury signed by employee and forwarded to the Board.
• Establishes a separate Public Education Injury Compensation Trust Fund in the State Treasury; funds carry forward and may be invested; used to pay claims, benefits, and administration.
• Board powers include administering the program, contracting with a TPA, managing the fund, paying hearing officers, employing staff, and coordinating with PEEHIP; hearings follow workers’ comp-like dispute resolution with neutrals and strict evidentiary rules.
• Permanent disability and retirement considerations, including coordination with PEEHIP and retirement systems; PEEHIP-related protections and non-subrogation provisions.
• Part-time, substitute, and non-full-time injuries follow the Board of Adjustment process; the act becomes effective October 1, 2024.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education; Labor & Employment