BATON ROUGE — Survivors of Louisiana teachers or school employees "killed in the line of duty" would receive a $250,000 payment from the state in a bill proposed by Sen. Neil Riser.
"I use that phrase correctly because when somebody is killed defending the life of our children that's falling in the line of duty," said Riser, R-Columbia, in an interview with USA Today Network.
Senate Bill 423 had been set to be debated in the Senate Finance Committee late Monday, but the committee adjourned without hearing the measure and will take it up at the next meeting.
Riser's legislation was prompted by a growing number of school shootings, the latest in Parkland, Fla., where 17 died.
"Who would have thought that teaching would become a high-risk occupation?" said Riser, R-Columbia. "But at different times it has. We're living in an unfortunate world."
Riser's bill would basically add teachers and school employees to an existing law that covers first responders like police officers and firefighters.
It's backed by the Louisiana Federation of Teachers.
"Let's hope we never have to use it, but I think it's appropriate that these teachers know we recognize that they have become first responders and our kids' first line of defense in some cases," he said.
Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1