Committee amends and advances bill to protect teachers' planning time, strips hourly‑pay clause

The committee moved and approved HB1244, a bill designed to make teacher planning periods unwaivable except in declared extreme emergencies and to specify alternate protocols for situations such as severe weather or safety threats.

The sponsor presented the bill as an effort to reduce burnout and protect planning time. Members asked detailed logistical and fiscal questions about who would supervise lunch periods, how hourly compensation would be handled and whether payments would come from local or state accounts.

A committee member proposed a friendly amendment to remove lines 67–68, which would have required hourly compensation for teachers who supervise students after agreeing to such requests. The sponsor accepted the amendment; Legislative Counsel confirmed that the amendment required conforming changes to paragraph and title references. The committee voted to adopt the amendment and then voted to approve the bill as amended.

Members flagged concerns about reporting and payment logistics and suggested follow‑up with appropriations or local administration as the bill moves forward. The amended bill will be forwarded under committee rules.