CHAPTER 215
FORMERLY
SENATE BILL NO. 238
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE PROVIDING FOR LEAVES OF ABSENCE AND TEACHING PARTNERS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE :
Section 1. Amend Title 14, Section 1318(k) of the Delaware Code by deleting said section in its entirety and substituting in lieu thereof the following:
“(k) A duly-elected president of the Delaware State Education Association as defined in Chapter 40 of this Title who requests a leave of absence without pay from a school board shall be granted a leave of absence by said school board from service for the duration of the elected term. Said employee shall be eligible to purchase health insurance for him/herself and eligible dependents and other state benefits at his/her cost during said leave of absence. Other duly elected officers of the Delaware State Education Association shall be granted 30 release days by the employing board to represent the Association for education-related business. The Association shall be responsible for the costs of substitute teachers when utilized to provide coverage for the elected officer. In addition, when the Association determines the need and makes a request for the hiring of a Teaching Partner, the duly elected officer shall be granted no less than 60 or more than 100 release days by the employing school board to represent the Association for education-related business. The Teaching Partner will be hired on a full time and annual basis to ensure continuity of instruction during periods of time when the Association officer is engaging in education-related business as a representative of the Association. Release time granted pursuant to this section shall be in addition to other leaves granted the employee by this section. The Association shall be responsible for the cost incurred related to the hiring of the teaching partner.”