The Alabama Daily News reports that a bill to provide workers' compensation benefits to the state's teachers has stalled in a House of Representatives committee.

Currently, teachers in Alabama must cover their own medical expenses for an on-the-job injury and seek reimbursement from the state.

Senate Bill 1, by Sen. Sam Givhan, R-Huntsville, would create the Public Education Employee Injury Compensation Program, the Public Education Employee Injury Compensation Trust Fund and the Public Education Employee Injury Compensation Board to provide workers' compensation benefits instead.

The Senate unanimously passed the bill in February, and the Alabama Daily News reports that the House Ways and Means Education Committee on Wednesday delayed a vote on the bill.

According to the report, one lawmaker said he wanted to talk to the bill's author about the need to create a separate work comp system just for teachers instead of working them into the existing work comp plan for state employees.

Givhan told the Alabama Daily News that he feels confident about the bill’s chance of passage. The author of the bill reportedly said other lawmakers agree with the concept but want to talk more about specific policy aspects.