Day 31

There are now only 10 days remaining in this legislative session.  The number of bills being considered has been greatly reduced. Of all the bills introduced this session, we will continue to follow a total of forty-nine bills that crossed over. They include thirty-one House bills, one House resolution, fifteen Senate bills, and two Senate resolutions. To see the list of bills and the GSSA staff analysis, please click on the highlighted groups above.  You can print a listing or an Excel spreadsheet of each group to assist you in following the progress this session. Please make sure that you open the latest version of a bill at the site. During this time, bills may be amended, which may change the intent of the entire bill.

After a two day adjournment, the legislators returned for a full day of work today. However, on Tuesday, the Senate Transportation Committee met and amended HB170, the Transportation Funding Act of 2015. The amended bill would allow school systems to operate their eSPLOST and LOST in the same manner as they have operated in the past. The one exception is a cap on the tax collected when the state average gas sales rate is at $3.39/gallon. This amount is different than what is collected at the pump. The bill will need to go to a conference committee to resolve the differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill.

The full Senate and House had very short sessions today and did not consider any education related bills on their calendars.

The Senate Appropriations Committee passed out of committee, without any questions, HB76, the FY16 state budget. The House and the Senate budgets had some differences, but no major ones. The House and Senate agreed to continue insurance for non-certified part time staff. However, the cost will be passed on to the local district. Once the Senate passes the FY16 budget, the budget will go to a conference committee to work out the differences.

The Senate Education and Youth Committee met today to hear and vote on the following:

HB62, Special needs students; waive certain qualifications, for students whose parent is an active duty military service member, stationed in Georgia within the previous year. — Passed same version as passed by the House.

HB65, Requires local boards of education and certain charter schools to hold at least two public meetings on the proposed annual operating budget. Two minor amendments and an amendment to require the meetings to be at least one week apart. — Passed as amended.

HB164, Professional Standards Commission; Suspend the professional learning requirements for certification renewal. — Passed same version as passed by the House.

HB362, Student health; Authorizes a licensed health practitioners to prescribe albuterol sulfate for schools. — Passed same version as passed by the House.

SR447, Create a Joint Study Committee on School Construction. — Passed.

HR 394, — this constitutional amendment would affect county and city school districts in the same county regarding eSPLOST funds distribution. The funds would be distributed based on student population of the district if the districts could not agree. — This resolution is being held until Friday for possible amendments.

The House Education Committee met today to hear SB133, Opportunity School District and SR287, Opportunity School District constitutional amendment. After presentation of the bill and many questions by committee members, forty individuals signed up to speak to the bill. After the long meeting, Chairman Coleman stated that if anyone had any additional comments, they should send them to him and the House Education Committee by Monday. The committee will meet on Monday to consider changes to the bill and resolution and to vote on them. If you have any concerns regarding the bill and resolution, this would be the time for you and others in your community to make your concerns known.