Apparently, any hope of a fairly quick end to the 2010 session of the Georgia General Assembly is going down the tubes rapidly, as budget negotiations once again appear to have hit a snag.  It is being reported widely that the Senate leadership, rather than simply accepting the House plan to increase hospital taxes as a way to provide some new revenue for the FY2011 Budget, want to match that increase by cutting capital gains taxes (as they attempted late on the last night of the 2009 session).  Senate floor votes on the 33rd day (Thursday) will help to decide that issue, but it may not settle it.  If the Senate is successful in passing their plan, it will create not only a budget impasse, but will cause the House and Senate budget writers to return to the table in search of some $150 million or more to balance next year's budget.  This intra-party wrangling is creating havoc for local school systems who are trying their best to plan a budget for the next school year.  But, Capitol-watchers can attest to the fact that concern over local school system budgeting is pretty low under the Gold Dome.

As noted yesterday, the Senate's session was abbreviated so that the members of that chamber could have time to get to the funeral of one of their former members.  And, the House didn't exactly spend the whole day in session, either!  The House did pass two education related bills:  SB 319, which changes the way textbook funds can be spent so as to include digital content and technology hardware, and SB 341, which requires a student to be a Georgia resident in order to receive the $500 HOPE stipend for GED work.

As part of yesterday's Day Thirty-One report, we provided a list of House bills that are ready for Senate action.  Today, we list the Senate bills that have passed the Senate and are ready for House action.  They are:

SB 239 -- requires timely enrollment of children in school (a similar bill resides in the House Education Committee)

SB 298 -- would require instruction in first aid as part of the health curriculum

SB 308 -- though GSSA has not tracked this bill closely, it is of interest to educators as it attempts to expand the places where licensed gun owners can carry their weapons

SB 319 -- expands definition of "textbook" to include digital content and purchase of technology hardware (bill passed House on this day)

SB 332 -- requires local boards to report expulsions due to weapons violations

SB 340 -- deals with reporting of grades for purposes of determining HOPE eligibility

SB 341 -- must be a Georgia resident for one year to receive HOPE GED voucher (passed House on this day)

SB 387 -- requires Georgia Student Finance Commission to provide online career counseling

SB 392 -- contract carriers must be properly insured before transporting students

SB 426 -- no salary or per diem for misbehaving board members who cause accreditation problems for school systems

SB 427 -- creates Foundation for Public Education, whose purpose is the support of the state schools for the hearing and vision-impaired

SB 457 -- seeks a referendum to achieve charter status for a cluster of schools

SB 496 -- a "needs-based" HOPE scholarship

SB 515 -- an attempt to restrict the use of local systems' fund balances

SB 518 -- requires "study" of the pledge of allegiance to the US flag

SB 521 -- would provide a higher level of funding for dual enrollment students

The General Assembly will gather for Day 33 on Thursday, April 1, after which they will take a full week off before reconvening for Day 34.  Stay tuned.