ANNAPOLIS, MD – March 12, 2020 – House Republicans are praising the passage of House Bill 802, the Good Teacher Protection Act, which received a final vote in the House of Delegates yesterday.

“The Good Teacher Protection Act is a key piece of the Minority Caucus’ Education Package,” said House Minority Whip Kathy Szeliga. “This bill provides the necessary protections for teachers taking reasonable actions to keep their classrooms and their students safe. I applaud Delegate Dan Cox’s hard work bringing this bill forward and garnering the bipartisan support to get the bill passed.”

The bill provides civil immunity for teachers taking reasonable actions to stop violence in their classrooms.

“I am very glad to see the Maryland House support our bill to protect teachers and local boards of education from frivolous lawsuits when they simply seek to return order to the classroom”, said Delegate Cox. “Without a peaceful learning environment our kids will not be able to compete in the growing economy and lead prosperous lives.”

The Good Teacher Protection Act is one of a five-part package of bills the Minority Caucus offered providing immediate relief to classrooms across the state. The Right to Teach Act, legislation that will allow teachers to remove chronically disruptive students from their classrooms, has had a hearing in the Ways and Means Committee, but has not yet received a vote. The Predator-Free Schools Act prohibiting sex offenders from attending school with minor children is still stuck in the House Rules Committee. The Rules Committee still holds the Accountability in Education Act which expands the role of the Inspector General for Education and the Right to Learn Act that frees children from chronically-failing schools.

“These bills will bring immediate and meaningful change to our classrooms allowing teachers to teach and our children to learn,” said Delegate Szeliga. “With important legislative deadlines approaching I hope the remaining bills in our education package get the consideration they deserve.”

The Good Teacher Protection Act now moves to the Maryland Senate.