A bill to restore sick time for fully vaccinated teachers who used their time off because of a COVID diagnosis or exposure is one step closer to final approval.
The revised measure was negotiated by Governor JB Pritzker and the state’s largest teachers unions after Pritzker vetoed a bill that would have restored sick time benefits to all teachers impacted by COVID, regardless of vaccination status. Some lawmakers objected to treating unvaccinated teachers differently, but a teachers’ union official says the spike in omicron cases last fall made it clear that it was important to use incentives to encourage vaccination.
The measure cleared a Senate committee Wednesday. If approved by the full Senate, it will go to Pritzker’s desk.
