AR HB1596

School districts must provide a minimum of 5 and up to 10 legislative days per school year for licensed teachers to attend meetings of the House Committee on Education or Senate Committee on Education during legislative sessions or interim periods.

Licensed teachers may request to use a legislative day by submitting a request to the school district's personnel policy committee, or directly to the school principal if the district has no personnel policy committee.

The personnel policy committee must submit its recommendation for approval or denial of the request to the school principal for final decision.

Approved teachers shall be compensated for mileage and meals at a rate adopted by the school district board of directors.

School districts may fund legislative days using budget allocations for school business days or other available funds, and teachers must report on their legislative day experience to the school principal upon return.