March 8, 2016
                     
Table of Contents
Correction to PAGE Day 32 Report from the Capitol
Legislative Shenanigans Ramp Up
House Judiciary Subcommittee Hears Amendment with Voucher Protection
 
Meeting Schedule
 
Wed. March 9 - House Education Committee - 2:00pm - 606 CLOB

Fri. March 11 - Senate Education and Youth - 2:00pm - 307 CLOB

 
Week in Review

CLICK HERE
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
Day 33
Correction to PAGE Day 32 Report from the Capitol

In yesterday's report from the Capitol, PAGE incorrectly reported that the FY 2017 Budget passed the Senate. It has not. It passed the Senate Finance Committee and is expected to be voted on by the Senate tomorrow, March 9, 2016. We regret the error.

Notably, the proposed FY 2017 Budget, which is expected to go through conference committee before the 2016 session ends, still contains language providing state-funded liability insurance to Georgia teachers. Language in the current budget indicates that the Department of Administrative Services will provide this benefit to teachers by using existing funds.

Last time the state provided similar liability insurance for Georgia teachers, it did so in retaliation for teacher-group advocacy under the Gold Dome. After the state spent several million dollars on the program and no educators filed a claim, the program was phased out.  
Legislative Shenanigans Ramp Up
 
As the 2016 Legislative session winds down and the number of legislative days dwindles, gamesmanship between the House and the Senate is ramping up. The Senate Education Committee held several House bills in committee yesterday, and a House Education subcommittee held several Senate Education bills today.

The committee did pass the following:

SB 374 by Senate Education Chair Lindsey Tippins (R-Marietta) is a Title I funding flexibility bill that acknowledges the one-year pilot that is already underway. It passed unanimously and is on its way to House Rules.

HR 1253 a non-binding resolution by Rep. Dexter Sharper (D-Valdosta) is in reference to a young man in his district that was killed during a baseball game. Passed. 

HR 1564 by Rep. David Clark (R-Buford) encourages schools to adopt and implement sudden cardiac arrest training. Passed.

HR 1342 by Rep. Demetrius Douglas (D-Stockbridge) urges more recess time in school. Passed.

SB 357 by Sen. Michael Williams (R-Cumming) makes clear that local school board members have full First Amendment rights. The legislation was not given an up or down vote on its merits but the subcommittee did vote to pass the bill on to the full House Education Committee for its consideration at an upcoming meeting.

The subcommittee heard but held the following:

SB 328 by Sen. Emanuel Jones (D-Decatur) would limit to two semesters the amount of time that students could spend in alternative school, except in the case of serious student offenses.

SB 409 by Sen. JaNice VanNess (R-Conyers) requires that schools publish in a public place in schools the DFACS toll-free number for reports of child abuse and neglect .
House Judiciary Subcommittee Hears
Amendment with Voucher Protection

A subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee heard SR 388 by Sen. Bill Heath (R-Bremen) this afternoon, but did not take a vote. In its original form, the bill was a constitutional amendment meant to prevent discrimination in the public funding of social services by allowing religious or faith-based organizations to receive public funding. However, the bill also would have opened the door for full-scale school vouchers.

PAGE actively lobbied the Senate to include an amendment to the original bill that would exclude the creation of vouchers should the amendment pass. Senate Education and Youth Chairman Sen. Lindsey Tippins (R-Marietta) introduced this amendment on the Senate floor, and Sen. Heath agreed with it stating his intention was never to allow for vouchers. PAGE would like to thank both Chairman Tippins for introducing the amendment and Sen. Heath for agreeing to it. We would also like to thank Rep. Elena Parent (D-Decatur) for introducing the same amendment during the committee process.
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