February 19, 2016
                     
Table of Contents
BREAKING NEWS: SB 364 Passes
House Introduces Evaluation Reform Bill
House Passes FY 2017 Budget
House Budget Includes 3 Percent Raise for ERS Retirees
Bills Pass House and Senate
 
Week in Review

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to watch the latest Week in Review podcast to catch up on last week's action under the Gold Dome.
 
PAGE Report From the Capitol
Days 23 and 24   

BREAKING NEWS: SB 364 Passes  
Senate Ed Committee

SB 364, the testing and evaluation reform bill by Senate Education and Youth Committee Chairman Lindsey Tippins (R-Marietta), passed the Senate Education and Youth Committee this afternoon. The bill now moves on to the Senate Rules Committee for consideration to be heard in the full Senate. It is imperative that you contact members of the Senate Rules Committee today to urge them to vote "Yes" on this important bill. PAGE also urges you to reach out to your local legislators to urge a "Yes" vote when the bill makes it to the Senate floor. More information about the legislation can be found HERE.

SB 364 is supported by PAGE. We would like to thank Sen. Tippins for sponsoring the legislation, and all members of the Senate Education and Youth Committee for passing it unanimously. Educators, if you ever wondered if your advocacy makes a difference, the passage of SB 364 proves that it does. Be proud of this effort, and let's keep the momentum rolling. 
House Introduces Evaluation Reform Bill
  
House Appropriations Education Subcommittee Chair Tom Dickson (R-Cohutta) and House Education Committee Chair Brooks Coleman (R-Duluth) have introduced legislation reducing the emphasis of standardized testing in educator evaluation. HB 1061 is not yet available electronically, but we have several pictures of hard copies obtained from the House Clerk's Office.

 
House Passes FY 2017 Budget
The House passed the FY 2017 Budget today. The budget included the $300 million partial austerity restoration promised by Gov. Deal at the beginning of the legislative session. PAGE commends the Governor for this restoration, but encourages him to fully restore these reductions next year. This austerity reduction is intended to provide educators and school staff a 3 percent raise; however, many districts still have furlough days and other budget shortfalls and will be unable to provide these raises. For more information, CLICK HERE.

The budget also includes a state-funded teacher liability insurance program that is estimated to cost the state up to $1.2 million dollars.
 
CLICK HERE to read the FY 2017 budget as passed by the House.
House Budget Includes 3 Percent Raise for ERS Retirees

An appropriation was included in the FY 17 budget that provides a 3 percent raise for ERS retirees. PAGE commends Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee Terry England (R-Auburn) and members of the General Government Appropriations Subcommittee for including this one-year pay raise. We would also like to commend the Georgia State Retirees Association for their hard work on this issue.
Bills Pass House and Senate

On Thursday, the House passed several pieces of legislation:

HB 777 sponsored by Rep. Mike Dudgeon (R-Johns Creek) permits school bus drivers to use cell phones as two-way radios.

HB 879 sponsored by Rep. Tom Taylor (R-Dunwoody) authorizes school systems to award a seal of bilteracy to graduates proficient in one or more foreign languages.

The Senate passed:

SB 309  by Sen. Burt Jones (R-Jackson) would prohibit a high school that receives state funding from participating in an athletic association that prohibits religious expression on clothing of student athletes.

SB 329 by Sen. Lindsey Tippins, expands the types of technical diplomas awared based on dual credit courses.
Margaret Ciccarelli - Director of Legislative Affairs mciccarelli@pageinc.org

Josh Stephens - Legislative Policy Analyst
jstephens@pageinc.org
  


PAGE's core business is to provide professional learning for educators that will enhance professional competence and confidence, build leadership qualities and lead to higher academic achievement for students, while providing the best in membership, legislative and legal services and support