public schools; teachers; lunch breaks

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide information on enforcement mechanisms, penalties, or what happens if a teacher chooses to work during their lunch break.

Teachers' Lunch Breaks in Public Schools

This bill requires public schools in Arizona to provide full-time teachers with a daily lunch break of at least thirty minutes that is not part of their workday and cannot be used for official duties, except in emergencies.

What This Bill Does

• Requires each public school to provide full-time certificated teachers with a daily lunch break of at least thirty consecutive minutes.
• Ensures the lunch break does not count as part of the teacher's regular work hours or planning time.
• Prohibits schools from assigning any official duties, including supervision or instruction, during the lunch break.
• Allows exceptions for emergencies where teachers may be temporarily assigned duties during their lunch break, but no more than one day per week.

Who It Names or Affects

• Full-time certificated teachers in public schools across Arizona
• Public school administrators and staff who manage teacher schedules

Terms To Know

Certificated Teacher

A teacher who holds a valid teaching certificate or license.

Emergency Personnel Shortage

A situation where there is not enough staff to cover all necessary duties in the school.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what happens if a teacher chooses to work during their lunch break.
• It is unclear how schools will enforce compliance with these requirements.
• There are no penalties or consequences outlined for schools that do not follow this law.

Official Summary Text

SB1595 - public schools; teachers; lunch breaks

Current Bill Text

SB1595 - 572R - I Ver

REFERENCE TITLE:
public schools; teachers; lunch breaks

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

SB 1595

Introduced by

Senator
Alston: Representatives Connolly, Sandoval

AN
ACT

amending title 15, chapter 5, article 1,
Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 15-501.02; relating to school
employees.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Title 15, chapter 5, article 1,
Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 15-501.02, to read:

START_STATUTE
15-501.02.

Teachers; lunch break; requirements; exception

A. Each public school in this state
shall provide each certificated teacher who is a full-time employee of
the public school, including indirect employment through a third-party
contractor, with a daily lunch break that meets all of the following
requirements:

1. Is at least thirty consecutive
minutes.

2. Is not included in any daily
planning period or noninstructional time.

3. Is scheduled during the teacher's
regular workday.

B. A public school may not:

1. Increase the hours of work for a
teacher's regular workday because the public school provides lunch breaks
pursuant to this section.

2. Assign, request or otherwise
require that a teacher perform any official duties, including any supervisory
or instructional duty, during the lunch break that the public school provides
to the teacher pursuant to this section.

C. Notwithstanding subsection B,
paragraph 2 of this section, if a public school has an emergency personnel
shortage, the public school may assign official duties to a certificated
teacher during the teacher's lunch break for not more than one day per week.�
An assignment pursuant to this subsection must be temporary.
END_STATUTE