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SB 0220 - "The Georgia Civics Renewal Act"; enact

Tracking Level: Passed
Sponsor: Chuck Payne
Last Action: 4/28/2022 - Effective Date 2022-04-28
Senate Committee: Education and Youth
House Committee: Education

Staff Analysis of the Legislation

GSBA-CWO Header 

SUMMARY: LC 49 0440   LC 49 0463S (SCS)  LC 49 0508S  LC 49 0551S AM 49 0066

This bill was caught in a back and forth at the end of the 2021 session. On sine die 2022, it passed with a requirement for a financial literacy course and the Civics Commission.

The State Board would be required to adopt content standards for a minimum course in financial literacy for students to complete by the 11th or 12th grade.  Beginning in the 2024-25 school year, each local board shall require all students, as a condition of graduation, during their 11th or 12th grade years to complete at least a half-credit course in financial literacy which implements those state standards.  It may be provided within an existing course and shall be eligible to count toward a math, social studies, or elective unit of credit requirement for graduation.

No later than January 1. 2023, the Professional Standards Commission shall establish appropriate requirements and procedures to ensure educators shall be appropriately licensed to teach the course. No later than December 30, 2023, the Professional Standards Commission shall create a financial literacy endorsement for teachers trained in the content standards. The Commission shall also establish measures to assess the fidelity of teacher training and implementation for teachers who receive the endorsement.

 

Georgia Civics Renewal Act

"It is the intent of the General Assembly that the commission shall promote and enhance the education of students on the importance of civic involvement in a constitutional republic, the study of state and local government among the state's citizenry, the importance of civic engagement and public service, and communication and collaboration among organizations in the state that conduct civics education."

A Georgia Commission on Civics Education, consisting of 17 members, is created.  The members would be:

  • three members from the Senate appointed by the Lt. Governor, with at least one from the majority party and one from the minority
  • three members from the House appointed by the Speaker with at least one from the majority and one from the minority party
  • one Justice of the Supreme Court
  • Attorney General or his/her designee
  • State School Superintendent or designee
  • one designee from Georgia Chamber of Commerce
  • one designee from the Metro Chamber of Commerce
  • one from the Association County Commissioners of Georgia
  • one from the Georgia Municipal Association
  • four members appointed by the Governor, with one representative from the Georgia Center for Civic Engagement, two former or current government or civics teachers, and one other individual 

The Governor would designate the chair.  Terms would be two years concurrent with the legislative terms.

The Commission shall periodically review the conditions needs, issues, and problems related to civics education in GA schools, including, but not limited to, career, technical, and agricultural education instruction for government and public administration and the law, public safety, corrections, and security pathways, and shall issue an annual report to the General Assembly, and recommend any action or legislation which the commission sees as necessary or appropriate.

The head of the Social Studies program of the Department of Education shall report annually to the Commission regarding the conditions, needs, issues, and problems of the program. The report shall include a statement of efforts the Department has made to inform and encourage local school systems to recruit and utilize supplemental resources from appropriate local and community organizations which promote civics and civics education as among their primary purpose.

The statute creating the Commission would be repealed December 31, 2028 

EFFECTIVE DATE:

July 1, 2022 


Bill Summary from the State Site - Click for the State Summary Page / Click for Current Full Text