House Education Appropriations Subcommittee Hears FY 17 Budget Presentations
The House Education Appropriations Subcommittee heard presentations from several education departments on Thursday including the Department of Education (GaDOE) and the Division of Early Care and Learning (DECAL).
Much of the GaDOE presentation focused on the $300 million reduction of austerity that the Governor mentioned in his State of the State address. The Governor strongly urged local districts to use this money for a 3 percent raise for educators. However, many districts are still facing furlough days and other critical issues, and may elect to use these funds to fill those gaps. CLICK HERE to read more on this increase in a previous Report from the Capitol. DECAL is receiving $7.9 million increase in funds to coincide with the Governor's recommendation for a 3 percent raise for all state employees. Commissioner Amy Jacobs reiterated that this money is instrumental in providing a much needed pay increase for both lead and assistant Pre-K teachers. DECAL is also receiving a $26.2 million increase to implement a new compensation model for all Pre-K teachers and to further increase assistant teacher salaries. Both recommendations come from the Education Reform Commission's final report.
CLICK HERE to review the entire FY 17 budget tracking sheet with the agency and Governor's recommendations (DECAL begins on page 37, and GaDOE begins on page 40).
The committee will meet again in the next couple of weeks to discuss and propose any recommended changes to these budgets.
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False Alarm Bill Passes Judiciary Subcommittee
HB 790 by Rep. Brad Raffensperger (R-Johns Creek) passed the House Judiciary Non-Civil Subcommittee and moves on to the full Judiciary Non-Civil Committee. The bill clarifies and expands the law relating to false alarms in any place necessary for national or public security, education or public safety. This bill would make reporting a false alarm in these places a felony and would require no less than 5 years and no more than 10 years imprisonment.
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