As the members of the Georgia General Assembly gathered for their sixteenth legislative day, the first Tuesday in a series of three-day weeks that they plan to work, neither chamber tackled a lengthy agenda.  In the world of education, the only bill addressed was SB 14, Senator John Douglas' bill seeking to prohibit a registered sex offender from serving on a local board of education.  The bill passed the Senate with no dissenting votes (Can anyone even imagine a "no" vote on such a bill???) and will now move to the House.

The Senate also gave its approval to HB 143, the bill designed to "mandate" the payment of the Homeowner's Tax Relief Grant this year (but, in all likelihood, prohibit its payment in future years).  However, the Senate declined to "immediately transmit the bill to the Governor," a move that would have forced the Governor's hand on either signing or vetoing the bill.  This move, without a doubt, is a sure sign that more severe cuts to the state budget may be in the offing.  Rumors continue to circulate around the Capitol that more cuts are on the way and that those cuts may be anything but "minor."

On the House side, Representative Tom Dickson (R-Cohutta) convened a meeting of his Academic Support Subcommittee of the House Education Committee to hear two bills, HB 229 (the PE bill) and HB 280 (additional compensation for math and science teachers).  Both bills were sponsored by House Education Committee Chairman Brooks Coleman (R-Duluth).  After a couple of minor amendments, HB 229 received a unanimous "do pass" recommendation from the subcommittee.  HB 280, though, got a thorough "going over" from this group of legislators (It was opposed by both GAE and PAGE.) and, after lengthy discussion, only received a "do pass" recommendation from the subcommittee by a slim, 8-6 margin.  The legislative process, which never ceases to amaze, marches on.

As part of the aforementioned "legislative process," members of the General Assembly continue to introduce bills designed (in their minds, at least) to improve public education in our state.  Introduced recently are:

HB 313 -- Uniform method of calculating GPA's for the HOPE scholarship

SB 114 -- mandates on how to handle transfers of students whose parents are in the military

HB 336 -- would require the DOE to set state testing windows in such a way as to accommodate local school system calendars

HB 345 -- 5-year vestment in TRS

HB 356 -- privatization of sales tax collections

SB 129 -- the annual attempt to permit retirement system assets to be invested in venture capital

SR 173 -- a resolution urging teacher education programs at all four-year colleges

The General Assembly will meet for their seventeenth legislative day on Wednesday, February 11.  In addition, the State Board of Education will be in town for their monthly meeting.  Fun times in Atlanta.