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(Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com)

The sponsor of a bill that would require teachers to receive an hour of training a year on sexual relations and other inappropriate relations with students said Tuesday night he will not push the bill.

The Education Policy Committee had approved the bill by Sen. Cam Ward, R-Alabaster, the Decatur Daily previously reported.

The Educator-Student Interaction Training Act would require training on sexual or romantic contact, social media interactions, interactions outside the classroom and the use of corporal punishment and physical restraints in classrooms.

Ward received a backlash on social media from educators about the bill and tweeted he would not move it forward.

"I've never tried to make my teachers look bad. My child in public school & support my teachers," Ward tweeted.

The bill cites increasing reports of inappropriate relations between teachers and students, both in person and through social media.

The bill would require the state superintendent, the School Superintendents of Alabama and the Alabama Education Association to develop the training program.