| Day 36 The Senate
and House passed the following education related bills, as of March 25, 2015. Please be sure to share any
concerns you may have regarding HB170 and the proposed use of SPLOST and/or
eLOST funds with your legislators and the conference committee members. HB170, the Transportation Funding Act
of 2015. The Senate and House versions
of this bill are very different. There will
be considerable negotiations needed this week in order for this bill to make it
through the legislative process prior to the end of the 40th
day. The Senate version of the bill does
not require counties or school systems to spend part of their SPLOST and/or
eLOST funds on transportation. Should be
assigned to conference committees for final negotiations and agreement before
the end of the 40th day. The House made a motion to
disagree on Tuesday. The House insisted
on its position on Wednesday. Conference Committee appointed on Wednesday - Senate 51st, 19th,
48th House Members: Jay Roberts,
155th; Mark Hamilton 24th; Calvin Smyre 135th Senate Members: Steve
Gooch, 51st; Tommie Williams, 19th; David Shafer, 48th SR287, Opportunity School District
Constitutional Amendment. — PASSED THE HOUSE (121-47) March 25, 2015. House
immediately transmitted to Senate. SB133, substitute, Opportunity School
District establishment. — PASSED THE HOUSE (108-53) March 25, 2015. Will need to go back to the Senate for
agreement. House
immediately transmitted to Senate. HB91, elimination of the High School
Graduation Test and awarding of a High School diploma to individuals who need
to pass any section of the test to graduate. — PASSED THE SENATE March 25, 2015 HB1, the use of medical marijuana in
a very limited access. — PASSED THE SENATE March 24, 2015. The House Agreed to the Senate substitution
to HB1 March 25, 2015. SB2, the Move on When Ready bill will allow students who complete certain requirements
relating to postsecondary coursework to be awarded a high school diploma. This bill has been amended in the House Rules
Committee to remove the age 16 requirement. — PASSED BY THE HOUSE March 24,
2015. Senate Agreed. Bill Passes March 25, 2015 HB62, waive
certain qualifications for a student whose parent is an active duty military
service member stationed in Georgia within the previous year to receive the
Special Needs Scholarship. — PASSED BY THE SENATE March 24, 2015. HB198, the Jason Flatt Act-Georgia Suicide Prevention Training Act. —
PASSED BY THE SENATE March24, 2015. HB164, as passed by the House, this
bill will extend the suspension of the professional learning requirements until
the new regulations are in place. — PASSED BY THE SENATE March 23, 2015. HB75, the midterm FY15 budget. This bill has been signed by the Governor, and
schools have already received their midterm adjustment sheets. — SIGNED by the
Governor HB76, the FY16 budget. The Senate and House have agreed to most
recommendations by the Governor, but there are some differences that will
likely result in the bill going to a conference committee this week. CONFERENCE COMMITTEE MET ON
TUESDAY. Members of the conference
committee are Senators Jack Hill, David Shafer, Bill Cowsert, House
Representatives Terry England, Jan Jones, Jay Powell. The committee will continue discussions this
week. WEDNESDAY ACTION: The House
postponed any action on HR620. The resolution urges local boards of education
to provide educational awareness regarding renewable energy. The full
House Education Committee passed the following bills: SB116, strongly encourages the Celebrate Freedom Week event and
posting of historical documents. — PASSED FULL HOUSE EDUCATION
COMMITTEE. SR80, requesting revision by the
College Board regarding Advanced Placement U.S. History. — PASSED FULL HOUSE EDUCATION
COMMITTEE. SB176, the "Deantre Gregory Turman Act"; STRONGLY
ENCOURAGES youth athletes participating in gridiron football to use as a
minimum, a four star rated helmet on the Virginia Tech Helmet Rating Scale. - PASSED
FULL HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE. SB156, State Charter Schools Commission; authorize to establish a
nonprofit foundation. — PASSED FULL HOUSE EDUCATION
COMMITTEE. SB132, substitute, "Quality
Basic Education Act"; program for high school students to attend
postsecondary institutions; provisions; 'Move on When Ready Act'. — PASSED FULL HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE. SB164; Provide for positive behavioral interventions and supports and
response to intervention initiatives. — PASSED FULL HOUSE EDUCATION
COMMITTEE. The full Senate Education and
Youth Committee passed the following bills: HB372, by substitute, the
Utopian Academy for the Arts Act. — PASSED FULL SENATE EDUCATION AND YOUTH COMMITTEE. HB313, by substitute, limited
paid leave for public employees for the purpose of promoting education. — PASSED FULL SENATE EDUCATION AND
YOUTH COMMITTEE. HB209, by substitute, change
qualification for time from one year attendance to one semester attendance to
be eligible for the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship. — PASSED FULL SENATE EDUCATION AND
YOUTH COMMITTEE. HB474, by substitute, enrollment
priorities for disadvantaged and military students for lotteries for Charter
Schools. — PASSED FULL
SENATE EDUCATION AND YOUTH COMMITTEE.
HB131, by substitute, the end of Cyberbullying Act. — PASSED FULL SENATE EDUCATION AND
YOUTH COMMITTEE. HB502, by substitute, Title 20 Clean Up bill. — PASSED FULL SENATE EDUCATION AND
YOUTH COMMITTEE. SR564, by substitute, create a
Senate study committee on school construction. — PASSED FULL SENATE EDUCATION AND YOUTH
COMMITTEE. THURSDAY ACTION: SENATE CALENDAR for Day 37 contains only one
educationally related bill: HB177, School personnel required to report
child abuse shall be notified by child protective agency upon receipt of report
and completion of investigation. HOUSE CALENDAR for Day 37 contains only one education
related bill: HR640, create a joint
study committee on Health, Education, and School-Based Health Centers. Please remember,
it is the practice of the House to have additional Rules Committee meetings
during the day to add additional legislation to the calendar for full House
Consideration. The legislators
will meet each day during the remainder of this week. Day 39 of the session is scheduled for next
Tuesday, and day 40 is scheduled for Thursday, April 2nd. The bills
just keep on passing. The last four days
of the session will prove to be very hectic. If you have
any questions regarding this legislative session, please give me a call at
404-909-1639. Michael
Surma Legislative
Liaison Georgia
School Superintendents Association |