After a verrrry long day, two things are for sure:  common core curriculum and guns really, really get people cranked up. 

 

HB 512, an omnibus guns bill, was dropped Friday afternoon and voted out of the House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee tonight after at least a three hour hearing.  The bill is not hyperlinked because the version online now is already two versions behind.  The original bill made few changes related to K-12, but the Committee substitute added the contents of HB 35,the bill allowing local boards to designate personnel to be armed.  The portion of the bill creating the most controversy was allowing those with concealed weapon permits to carry on college campuses except at athletic events, in the dorms, and in the fraternity/sorority houses.  HB 512 now goes to the House Rules Committee -- and House Rules Chair John Meadows is the second signer on the bill. 

 

A revised version of SB 203, the curriculum advisory council bill, was heard today in Senate Education & Youth.  This time it included parts of SB 167, getting us out of the common core curriculum and other perceived federal involvement.  Opponents of common core again spoke.  The topic of common core has been a big one in this Committee as far as discussion goes, but the bill was again held at sponsor Sen. William Ligon's request. 

 

Groups that have never agreed on much of anything found themselves in general agreement with a revised SB 243, relating to student scholarship organizations/tuition tax credits.  Some, including GSBA, thought it was a good start on addressing issues with the program.  Others, including the Georgia Family Council, the Center for an Educated Georgia, and Americans for Prosperity, were much more strongly supportive.  Some of the latter group expressed the hope that the House would amend the bill to raise the $50 million cap on the program.  If the House has revenue it is willing to give up for education, we know plenty of ways to use it and none of them include this program.

 

Kudos to the Southern Education Foundation for relentlessly spotlighting how this program works and the issues with it.  Their work was picked up by the New York Times and other national publications.  Their research and the work of other members of the general public helped tremendously in getting to this point.  The bill is now in the Senate Rules Committee. 

 

In the Chambers

 

'Tis the season for long calendars, and bills bouncing back and forth between chambers.  Here's today's action:

HB 337, allowing schools to stockpile auto-injectable epinephrine (see also SB 195 below)

HB 131, dual credit courses to be treated the same as advanced placemnt and international baccalaureate course for HOPE calculation

HB 310, notice of fees due for filing ethics reports late to be sent same way report is filed

These bills passed and go to the Senate. 

 

Rather than disagreeing with the Senate version of HB 266, which now has the changes to the motor vehicle title tax, the House amended it and sent it back to the Senate.  The Senate disagreed with the House amendment, so it's back in the House.  It looks like this one is headed to a conference committee.  The revenue from the title tax is a sizable portion of local revenue, and exempting groups from the tax or requiring some groups to pay less than others will only increase the likelihood that local governments will not be made whole in this change from ad valorem and sales taxes.

 

SB 160, streamlining requirements for public employers filing annual reports, got bogged down in amendments and was moved to the bottom of the calendar -- which means not heard from again today

SB 168, contracting and bidding requirements of public contracts

SB 179, also on public contracts and the bidding process

SB 195, allowing schools to stockpile auto-injectable epinephrine

The last three bills passed go to the House.

 

The General Government Subcommittee of House Governmental Affairs heard HB 436, allowing local legislation to set a residency requirement for local offices.  Testimony cited an issue in Cherokee County as the reason for the bill.  The county commission there was redistricted into individual districts with a residency requirement.  That was challenged and deemed unenforceable.  Thus the bill which was given a "Do Pass."  It goes to the full Committee in the morning.

 

The House Ways and Means Committee had a quick meeting during a break and voted out HB 211, exempting school buses from motor vehicle excise taxes.  It went on to the Rules Committee.

 

The House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee heard two brand new bills.  HB 512 was discussed above.  #HB 518 requires school bus drivers to activate the amber lights at least 200 ft. from both sides of a designated bus stop and requires drivers to stop. After discussing the logistics of that, the bill was held for further work. 

 

HR 550 is a constitutional amendment to allow local legislation requiring that the superintendent be elected rather than appointed in a particular district.  HB 519 is the enabling legislation.  If it passed by a 2/3 vote in both chambers, it would be on the 2014 ballot.

 

The General Assembly will convene at 10 AM

8 AM House Governmental Affairs Committee will meet in 606 CLOB

2 PM House Education Committee will meet in 506 CLOB, agenda TBA