Day 6
3410 on 1/26/2010

After taking last week off to allow committees to review the Governor's budget proposals, both the House and Senate met in short sessions on this sixth day.  Neither body took action on education legislation, but committee work continued.  Of interest to educators was the work of two committees that met this afternoon.

The House Ways and Means Committee met to assign bills to subcommittee for later action and debate.  Among the bills assigned were:

  • HB 951, HB 952, and HB 953.  Singly or in combination, the bills extend the state sales tax holidays on school supplies and energy purchases.
  • HR 1105  Calls for a Constitutional amendment requiring that SPLOST funds be distributed between county and city school districts on a FTE basis.
  • HR 1109 Calls for a Constitutional amendment that would levy a 4% state sales tax on lottery sales, the proceeds to be used for K-12 education.
  • HR 1110  Would provide for a Constitutional amendment that would allow a local option sales tax on lottery sales, the proceeds to be used for K-12 education.

The Senate Education and Youth Committee discussed four bills, with no vote taken on either:

  • SB 60 Extends the mandatory attendance age to either 16, 17, 0r 18 as determined by each local school district.
  • SB 132 Extends the mandatory attendance age to age 17 state-wide.  Each of the two bills carries a large tab for implementation.
  • SB 298 Requires a one-time course of instruction leading to certification in basic first aid as a requirement for graduation.  Concerns were raised about an additional requirement for graduation and the author agreed to bring a substitute bill removing the student certification language.
  • SB 307 (SB 320 was provided as an updated substitute for SB 307)  The "Teacher Bill of Rights" legislation including stronger authority for teachers to remove students from the classroom; allow teachers to evaluate administrators; add significant requirements to current grievance law; allow a representative to be included when administrators and teachers discuss possible disciplinary action; require teachers to vote on Teacher of the Year selections.  GSBA and others raised serious concerns about several provisions of the bill.

Schedule of Events

Wednesday, January 27

  • 1:30 p.m. Judiciary Non-civil subcommittee  (132 Capitol)
        HB615  Carrying of concealed weapons

Thursday, January 28

  • 8:00 a.m. Senate Education and Youth (310 CLOB)
        Expected to vote on bills listed above.
  • 11:30 a.m or upon adjournment: House Non-civil Judiciary Committee  (132 Capitol)
        HB 927  A bullying bill
  • 2:00 p.m.  House Education Committee (506 CLOB)
        SB 84  School Governance; HB 908 Flexibility bill (class size, expenditure controls, salary schedules, etc.)

Friday, January 29

  • 9:00 a.m.  Senate Subcommittee on Education Budget  (TBA)

Monday, February 1

  • 2:00 p.m. Appropriations Subcommittee on Education  (341 Capitol)
        Department of Education; Professional Standards Commission; public comment