GAIC Legislative Update

March 9, 2009
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General Assembly Adjusts Calendar

The pace of the session seemed to quicken last week as the House and Senate adjusted their calendar to adjourn Sine Die on April 3rd. Legislators had been scheduled to meet through March and take a break until the end of June in order to make necessary adjustments to the state budget. But with a better understanding of how the federal stimulus package will impact Georgia, legislators felt comfortable moving forward with a more condensed schedule to finish their work. "Crossover day," the day by which a bill must have passed in one chamber and crossed over to the other to remain alive for the session, is still this coming Thursday, March 12th.
Senate Supports Afterschool in FY09 Budget

The Senate's Amended Fiscal Year 2009 (AFY09) budget maintains funding levels for the Department of Human Resources' Afterschool Services program as well as subsidies for low-income working families to access child care and afterschool programs. GAIC is pleased the legislature recognized the importance of these programs not only for the participating children, but also for parents to attain and maintain employment.

One twist to the AFY09 budget is the Governor's reluctance to use federal stimulus dollars to offset cuts this year. While the House and Senate have included a portion of stimulus funds for AFY09, the Governor has voiced his plan to only use these dollars in FY10 and FY11. We expect this to be a hot topic as House and Senate members of the Conference Committee meet this week to hash out the final AFY09 budget.
GAIC Legislative Tracking
GAIC tracks bills of interest to afterschool advocates throughout the legislative process. The following list includes status updates of relevant bills filed or moving this past week.

Children, Youth and Families

HB 228 (Rep. Mark Butler, R - Carrollton) would reorganize the Department of Human Resources and Department of Community Health. The version that passed the House Appropriations Committee establishes a Department of Human Services and a Department of Public and Behavioral Health (unlike the original bill filed which established two separate agencies for physical and behavioral health). Status: Passed House Appropriations

Education

HB 229 (Rep. Brooks Coleman, R - Duluth) would require school systems to conduct annual fitness assessments for 1st through 12th grade students during physical education class. Aggregate results would be reported to the State Board of Education; individual results would be provided to parents. Status: Passed the House; Passed Senate Education and Youth

HB 280 (Rep. Brooks Coleman, R-Duluth) filed this bill on behalf of the Governor to provide higher pay for math and science teachers. Status: Passed the House

HB 400 (Rep. Fran Millar, R - Dunwoody) is a new version of the "Building Resourceful Individuals to Develop Georgia's Economy" bill that passed the House last session but did not prevail in the Senate. The BRIDGE bill would require all students to have an individual graduation plan and provide grants for public schools to implement focused programs of study in high-demand career fields. The bill is an effort to reduce the dropout rate in Georgia and prepare students for college or careers. Status: Passed House Education

HB 634 Rep. Rashad Taylor (D - Atlanta) filed the "Dropout Deterrent Act" to raise the mandatory school attendance age from 16 to 17. Status: House Education
 
HB 680 (Rep. Randal Mangham, D - Decatur) would require the Department of Education to develop a model program for providing instruction and training in the performing arts, including music, dance and drama. Also, each local board of education would be required to include a performing arts program in the curriculum. Status: 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 Senate Education and Youth
 
Revenue and Taxes
 
HB 100 (Rep. Earl Ehrhart, R - Powder Springs) would increase the tax credit for contributions made to Student Scholarship Organizations (SSOs), which provide funding for public school students to attend private schools. If passed, the tax credit would equal actual expenses up to 75% of income tax liability (up from $1000 for single filers and $2500 for joint filers). Status: Passed the House; Passed Senate Finance

HB 481 (Rep. Tom Graves, R - Ranger) would establish a number of business tax breaks and eliminate the corporate income tax. Expected revenue loss to the state totals $1 billion annually in the long term. Status: Passed House Ways and Means

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. The bill requires a statewide referendum. Status: Passed the Senate; Failed in the House; House will Reconsider

SB 206 (Rep. Greg Goggans, R - Douglas) would require a tax expenditure report to be included in the Governor's budget each year. The report would calculate the cost of all tax exemptions that year. Status: Passed the Senate

SR 453 (Sen. Eric Johnson, R - Savannah) would create the Georgia Tax Reform Commission to study Georgia's tax structure. Status: Passed Senate Finance
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

 
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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