TEACHERS/LEAVE: Provides relative to personal leave days for teachers (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Beau Beaullieu and 1 co-sponsor

HB 196 increases eligible teachers’ annual personal leave from two to four days, deducted from current or accumulated sick leave with 24-hour notice.

Effective date: 08/01/2026.

Summary of HB 196 (Louisiana 2026 Regular Session)

Main purpose

HB 196 amends existing law to increase the number of personal leave days available to certain teachers without loss of pay. Specifically, it raises the annual personal leave allotment from two days to four days for teachers who are covered under the personal leave provisions.

Key provisions and changes

Personal leave cap increased: The bill changes R.S. 17:1208 to allow eligible teachers to use up to four personal leave days per school year, up from the current two days.

Eligibility and interaction with sick leave:

The personal leave days continue to be used without loss of pay.
Personal leave is deducted from the teacher’s sick leave for the current year or from sick leave accumulated as provided in R.S. 17:1201.

Notice requirement: A teacher must give the principal at least 24 hours’ notice prior to taking personal leave.

Non-cumulative and non-compensable: Personal leave days do not accumulate from year to year and are not payable upon death or retirement or in any other manner beyond what is specified in the statute.

Sick leave baseline retained: HB 196 retains the existing framework that teachers receive 10 days of sick leave per school year for personal illness or other emergencies or special circumstances.

Who is affected

Targeted group: Teachers employed by parish or city school boards who are covered by the personal leave provisions (i.e., those who do not already receive annual leave).

Impact on leave usage: These teachers can utilize up to four personal leave days per school year without pay reduction, as opposed to the prior limit of two days.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Effective framing: The bill is framed as an amendment and reenactment of R.S. 17:1208.

Notice and utilization procedure: Teachers must provide at least 24 hours’ notice to the principal before taking personal leave.

Financial mechanics: Personal leave is charged against the teacher’s available sick leave for the current year or accumulated sick leave; it does not create a separate, separately funded pool of leave.

Non-accumulation: Personal leave does not roll over year to year and does not carry a monetary payout at termination or retirement beyond what the statute already prescribes.

Legislative status (as of the provided text)

Sponsor(s): Rep. Beaullieu, with co-sponsors including Tehmi Chassion.

Actions: Reported favorably (House) and moved through the legislative process with engagement in Senate rules and readings noted in the actions section.

Overall impact

HB 196 provides teachers with greater flexibility to address personal matters by increasing the annual personal leave allotment from two to four days, while preserving the overall sick-leave framework and related conditions. It does not alter the total sick leave entitlement (still 10 days) and keeps the deduction of personal leave from sick leave.