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Ala. House OKs Bill To Stop Pay To Convicted Teachers

Montgomery, AL – The Alabama House has passed a bill that would stop public schools from continuing to pay the salary of a teacher convicted of a felony or a sex offense involving a child.

The House voted 101-0 to pass the bill by Republican Rep. Chad Fincher of Semmes. The bill now goes to the Senate for debate.

The bill was filed because of the case of Washington County teacher Charlene Schmitz. Schmitz was convicted of child enticement and continued to receive pay while serving a 10-year federal prison sentence.

She was paid $164,429 before the pay was stopped in November.

Fincher's bill would terminate employment and immediately stop pay upon conviction.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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