NC teachers pay $50 to take a personal day. This bill would change that.

Teachers wouldn't have to pay $50 a day any more to take a personal leave under a bill that moved forward Tuesday at the statehouse.

Right now, teachers pay to help hire a substitute when they take personal days. They don't have to pay to take a sick day or a regular vacation day.

House Bill 362 would change the system, dropping the $50 payment as long as teachers give their supervisor a reason for taking the day. If they don't give a reason, they'd have to cover the full cost of hiring a substitute for the day, which sponsoring Rep. Jeffrey Elmore, R-Wilkes, said varies but is close to $100.

Teachers get two personal days a year, according to Elmore, who is a teacher himself. They can carry some of these days forward, year to year, but there's a limit.

Elmore's bill cleared the House Education committee but has several more stops before it can become law.