LINCOLN - A bill that would put into law that teachers and other school personnel may use reasonable physical intervention to safely manage the behavior of students got about three hours of debate Tuesday afternoon but no vote.

The bill (LB147), introduced by Sen. Mike Groene of North Platte, is the answer for teachers, parents and students to protect them from physical injury, he said. “Education cannot occur without a safe and focused learning environment where all children can maximize their learning experience," he said. The bill also would allow physical intervention to take property in a student's possession if it poses a threat of physical injury to another person.

Sen. Justin Wayne, who opposed the bill, said it will destroy the relationship between parents and teachers, students and teachers, schools and their communities. And giving immunity to teachers creates a distrust, he said.

No teacher or personnel could be subject to professional or administrative discipline for the use of physical intervention if it was reasonable, according to the bill. The immunity would begin as soon as the bill is in effect, but the training would take place over four to five years, Wayne said.

There is a disparity in our education system, Wayne said.

The bill will return to debate for another three hours if Groene can show he has the 33 votes to get the bill from filibuster to a vote.

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