In the near future, Rep. Friel and I plan to introduce legislation to ensure that public school employees who are harmed while educating our children—specifically those who are injured as a result of violence or assault by a student, parent, or guardian—are fully protected while they recover.

Our teachers, social workers, aides, and staff come to work each day to educate and support Pennsylvania’s students. Unfortunately, they sometimes face dangerous situations, including physical attacks, that render them unable to return to work for a period. When these injuries occur, the dedicated professionals who serve our schools should not suffer the added burden of lost pay, diminished benefits, or the depletion of their earned leave time.

This legislation will:
 

• Guarantee that a public school employee injured under these circumstances continues to receive their full pay and benefits for up to one year from the date of injury.
• Ensure that the employee suffers no loss of accumulated sick leave or other paid leave.
• Provide that the employee continues to receive full pension credit for the entire duration of their recovery.

By enacting this proposal, we affirm our commitment to supporting the school employees who sacrifice daily for the safety, growth, and success of our children. No educator or support professional should be forced to choose between their health and their livelihood after being injured while serving our students and schools.

Please join Paul and me in cosponsoring this legislation to support our public school employees when they need us most.