GAIC Legislative Update

March 30, 2009
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Legislators Prepare for Final Week 
 
Last week was a busy one for members of both the House and Senate. With only three legislative days and seven calendar days left to complete the 2009 session (as currently scheduled), legislators were eager to keep bills moving with the hopes of securing final passage by April 3rd.

A number of education bills were either sent to the Governor for signature or passed an additional legislative hurdle this week. The most controversial of these is Rep. Alisha Thomas Morgan's HB 251, which passed the House as a limited public school choice bill for students seeking to move to a different school within their own district. Senator Eric Johnson, whose universal voucher bill did not make it to the Senate floor before Crossover Day, used HB 251 to gain some ground on the issue. He amended and the Senate Education and Youth Committee passed, a new version of HB 251, which will not only allow public school choice outside of a student's resident district but will send the local tax dollars from the resident district to the receiving district. A heated debate will surely occur on the floor of both the Senate and the House this week.

Other bills of interest moving last week include HB 228 to reorganize the Department of Human Resources (House and Senate versions are in Conference Committee); HB 193 to allow school districts to meet instruction requirements by providing an hours equivalent to 180 days (passed Senate Education and Youth); HB 280 to provide higher pay for math and science teachers (passed the Senate and will be sent back to House for agreement); and SB 84 on school board governance (passed House Education). See below for a full list of relevant bills that received action last week..
Tracking Georgia's Stimulus Funds

In an effort to provide transparency and ensure accountability, the State has created a website to allow the public to track where Georgia's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) dollars are being invested. In addition to Georgia's website, you can track the flow of dollars across the country at the federal ARRA website.
 
GAIC Legislative Tracking

The following list includes status updates of relevant bills that moved this past week.
 
Children, Youth and Families

HB 228 (Rep. Mark Butler, R - Carrollton) would reorganize the state's health and human services agencies. The House and Senate passed different versions of the bill so a conference comittee will negotiate the differences.  Status: Conference Committee
 
Education

HB 149 (Rep. Jan Jones, R - Alpharetta), entitled "The Move on When Ready Act," would allow 11th and 12th grade students to attend postsecondary schools for high school credit. Status: Passed the House, Passed the Senate; Sent to Governor
 
HB 193 (Rep. Tom Graves, R - Granger) would allow the State Board of Education to define an "equivalent" requirement for days of instruction (currently set at 180 days) thus allowing schools to move to a four-day school week or other configurations. Status: Passed the House; Passed Senate Education and Youth
 
HB 243 (Rep. Jimmy Pruett, R-Eastman) would limit National Board Certification bonuses to current National Board Certified teachers and those in the pipeline to receive certification. Status: Passed the House; Passed Senate Education and Youth

HB 251 (Rep. Alisha Morgan, D - Austell) would allow a student to attend any public school within his/her school system if the school has space available. The Senate Education and Youth Committee amended the bill to allow interdistrict choice as well. Status: Passed the House; Passed Senate Education and Youth
 
HB 278 Rep. Matt Ramsey (R-Peachtree City) filed this bill on behalf of the Governor to relax certain expenditure restrictions for school systems for fiscal years 2008 to 2010. The Senate Education and Youth Committee added two amendments related to funding for middle schools and dual enrollment programs. Status: Passed the House; Passed Senate Education and Youth

HB 280 (Rep. Brooks Coleman, R-Duluth) would provide higher pay for math and science teachers. Status: Passed the House; Passed the Senate as Amended; Back to House

SB 84 (Sen. Bill Heath, R-Bremen) would require local school boards to have at most seven members and abide by an ethics policy. The bill gives the Governor the power to remove board members if a school system is placed on probation by an accrediting agency and board members can remove fellow board members by a 2/3 vote. House Education Committee amended the Senate's version. Status: Passed the Senate; Passed House Education

SB 239 (Sen. Ron Ramsey, D - Decatur) is modeled after anti-truancy practices currently being used in Dekalb County. The bill would require parents or guardians to enroll their child in a public, private or home school within 10 days of moving into a new district. Status: Passed the Senate; Passed House Education

Revenue and Taxes

HB 233 (Rep. Ed Lindsey, R - Atlanta) would freeze property assessment growth for the next two years.  Status: Passed the House; Passed the Senate; Sent to Governor
 
HB 481 (Rep. Tom Graves, R - Ranger) passed the Senate last week. It would establish a number of business tax breaks and phase out the corporate income tax. The House and Senate have different versions so it must now go back to the House. See GBPI's brief for more information. Status: Passed the House; Passed the Senate; Back to House
 
SB 83 (Rep. Chip Rogers, R - Woodstock) would increase the state homestead exemption from $2000 of assessed value to $4000 and index it to the Consumer Price Index annually. Status: Passed the Senate; Failed in the House; House Reconsidered; Failed in the House and Cannot be Reconsidered
 
SR 453 (Sen. Eric Johnson, R - Savannah) would create the Georgia Tax Reform Commission to study Georgia's tax structure. Status: Passed the Senate; Passed House Ways and Means
Federal Budget Increases Afterschool Dollars!
 
Congress included a $50 million increase in 21st Century Community Learning Centers in the federal FY09 budget. More info here.
 
Track Georgia's ARRA Funds
 
The State has created a website to track where Georgia's stimulus dollars are being invested.
 
Afterschool and the Economic Stimulus Bill

See the Afterschool Alliance's wiki to read about how stimulus dollars can support afterschool, tips on accessing stimulus funds, and much more.


Track the Stimulus Funds Across the Country

 
Find out where the American Recovery and Reinvesment Act money is going at Recovery.gov.

 
 
Quick Links


Contact Information
Korynn M. Schooley
Policy and Advocacy Manager
404.527.7280
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