When Dr. Bill Barr was the executive director of the Georgia School Superintendents Association, he used to warn against legislation that was based on an "n of 1." Well, the Georgia state Senate has brought that concern to a new level on Day Thirty-seven of their 2012 session, as they have acted upon on and passed not one, but TWO, bills based on that tenuous strategy. Approved by that body on Thursday were:
- HB 181, clearly a "constituent bill" which is designed to allow a legislator's constituent to use the current special education voucher bill in such a way as to permit that aforementioned constituent to let his special-education-eligible child use the voucher without having to comply with the "one year in public school" provision. It passed the Senate overwhelmingly.
- HB 879, requiring local school systems to comply with "diabetes management plans," and sponsored by Rep. Matt Ramsey (R-Peachtree City) and whose "constituent" is one known best to himself -- himself -- and requiring a variety of specialized accommodations for children with diabetes. [Editor's note: All of the requirements in this bill are covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504. The Senate sponsor of the bill, Senator Ronnie Chance, alleged that school systems simply "were not complying" with this federal law. Apparently, the solution to this dilemma is to have a state law....."]
Of course, the biggest news of the day was the hurried passage of HB 386, the much ballyhooed (and, much rushed) passage of a major tax reform measure now approved by both chambers of the Georgia General Assembly. This controversial change to the tax structure of the state now goes to the Governor, where his signature is a virtual certainty.
The General Assembly has set their final three days to be March 26, 27, and 29. The end is near..... |