Special education teachers; provide annual salary supplement to those exposed to bodily fluids of students.

HB 1179 would add a $2,000 annual salary supplement to Mississippi special education teachers in self-contained classrooms who are regularly exposed to students' bodily fluids. This provision amends the state's teacher salary schedule to provide this direct supplement on top of base pay for qualifying teachers. The bill specifically targets educators working with students with significant needs in dedicated classroom settings where bodily fluid exposure is a known occupational hazard. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.