Montgomery, AL – An Alabama senator has introduced a bill he hopes will resolve the question of whether students can give gifts to their teachers under Alabama's ethics law.
The state's new law says gifts to public employees, including teachers, must be ``de minimus,'' or of nominal value.
The law caused confusion last year for school officials who had to decide what students could and couldn't give their teachers as Christmas gifts.
Republican Sen. Cam Ward of Alabaster introduced a bill Thursday that defines ``de minimus'' as gifts valued at under $25. Ward said this will eliminate disputes about why some gifts, like fruit baskets are OK, while others like gift cards are not.
Ward said adding that language would resolve all confusion and ``kids can give gifts to their teachers again.''
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