It's day four of emergency session as lawmakers continue to discuss Bill 317, a measure seeking to allow 19 public schools to operate this upcoming school year, as they await sanitary inspections by Public Health.

But are senators any closer to deciding on the bill?

For Committee Chair on Education Senator Chris Barnett, he said, “Let GDOE off the hook for another year,” but not before introducing an amendment to legislation.

The author of Public Law 37-4 pushed for the requirement of an ADHOC task force to walk through schools, observe conditions, and report their findings to the school community.

“These schools have been awaiting inspections since the start of the school year 2023. So, if this bill passes, these schools will be going on their second year with no engagement other than these self-inspection reports,” said Sen. Barnett.

And while his proposed amendment didn’t garner enough support to pass, Speaker Therese Terlaje introduced another safeguard with her amendment to ensure schools aren’t sitting idle waiting for inspections.

“They have to be ready enough to ask for an inspection, and while they’re waiting for that after having asked for one, then they can operate. But if they're just awaiting, they can wait for five years. This, according to public health, will put a little bit more fire underneath them,” said Spkr. Terlaje.

To note, Public Health’s Division of Environmental Health inspectors carried inspections out based on GDOE’s readiness and request.

The body passed the amendment after it previously failed.

The Speaker also made another attempt to delete the section of Bill 317 that seeks to give GDOE’s Superintendent the discretion to decide if schools that failed inspections can operate.

Author of 317, Senator Dwayne San Nicolas, spoke out in opposition to the amendment.

“I realized that some people are going to put stuff in the bill to kill the bill…You know what’s gonna happen if I withdraw this bill? The schools are gonna close,” said Sen. San Nicolas.

The body took an hours-long recess.