Campus Carry Passes the House
HB 280, passed the House today by a vote of 108-63. The bill would allow anyone with a weapons carry permit to carry a firearm anywhere on a public college, university, technical school, vocational school or other institution of postsecondary education, except for dormitories, greek housing or athletic events. Firearms would also not be allowed at preschool space on campuses. There was one change from the original legislation, restriction would now not apply if a campus has more than three buildings housing preschool space. It was originally more than one building housing preschool space. The University System’s positions remains unchanged, “we support the current state law” and will continue to work with leadership on this important issue. The bill has been assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Campus Felony Crimes Passes the House
HB 51, passed the House this week by a vote of 115-55. This bill instructs all Georgia postsecondary institutions to report any information reasonably believed pertinent to a felony crime committed by an enrolled student, in or on properties overseen by the institution, to law enforcement officials. If the felony involves an alleged sexual assault, no information identifying the victim shall be provided in the report without the consent of the victim.
The law enforcement agency determines whether to investigate the alleged criminal offense and report any findings to the appropriate prosecutor’s office. No investigation of the alleged offense should be undertaken by the postsecondary institution unless the investigation is conducted by a campus law enforcement agent that is POST certified. This bill does not require a victim of an alleged sexual assault to cooperate with law enforcement in any investigation or to participate in any subsequent prosecution.
Each postsecondary institution is expected to meet its duty of care to protect the campus community as required by law. The postsecondary institution may pursue interim measures or formal disciplinary actions against any student for any violation of its code of conduct based on general disciplinary processes for students. Before any disciplinary actions are taken, the accused student must be provided the opportunity of a hearing and afforded due process protections. Furthermore, no disciplinary investigation shall obstruct or prejudice an ongoing criminal investigation. Postsecondary institutions are not allowed to force a victim of an alleged sexual assault to cooperation in any disciplinary investigation or to participate in any subsequent disciplinary proceedings; however, no disciplinary proceedings based upon an alleged sexual assault shall be conducted by a postsecondary institution without the participation of the victim of such alleged sexual assault. The bill has been assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Lottery Changes Advance
SB 5, passed the Senate this week by a vote of 53-0. The bill would raise Lottery returns to the state’s pre-K and HOPE programs. Currently, the Georgia Lottery Corporation returns slightly more than 25 percent of its sales to the state for pre-K and HOPE programs. This bill would require the Lottery to return 26.5 percent of gross sales to the state in fiscal year 2018 and gradually increase to 28.5 percent in fiscal year 2020. In any year, if ticket sales drop by 5 percent or more, the percent return will be frozen and no further increase will be required. The bill is has been assigned to the House Higher Education Committee.
In other HOPE legislation, SB 186, passed the Senate this week by a vote of 52-0. This bill provides that students who earned a high school diploma through certain dual credit coursework are eligible for a HOPE grant toward an associate degree. It now crosses over to the House.
Low Performing Schools Bill Advances
HB 338 creates an alternative intervention for schools that fall under the State Board of Education’s intervention power in the form of a turnaround school. Schools which currently fall under the State Board of Education’s intervention power are schools which receive an unacceptable rating determined by the Office of Student Achievement. This alternative intervention will include a Chief Turnaround Officer, turnaround coaches, and a turnaround advisory committee. This legislation also includes the creation of two study committees; the Joint Study Committee on the Establishment of a State Accreditation Process and the Joint Study Committee on the Establishment of a Leadership Academy. The bill has been assigned to the Senate Education and Youth Committee.
Kinship Care Legislation Advances
HB 330, passed the House this week by a vote of 165-0. This bill requires the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) of the Department of Human Services to include contact information for a regional DFCS case worker, knowledgeable in kinship care and financial assistance information, for kinship caregivers with notices during a relative search. The bill has been assigned to Senate Health and Human Services Committee.
HB 331, passed the House this week by a vote of 164-0. This bill creates a mechanism for a kinship caregiver to give legal consent in the form of an affidavit for a child residing with him/her to receive educational services and medical services directly related to academic enrollment and to participate in curricular or extracurricular activities for which parental consent is usually required. The bill has been assigned to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.
Medical Cannabis Expansion Passes House
HB 65, passed the House this week by a vote of156-6. The bill increases the list of conditions that are eligible for treatment with medical cannabis. The new conditions are: tourette’s syndrome; autism spectrum disorder; epidermolysis bullosa; alzheimer’s disease; HIV; AIDS; and peripheral neuropathy. Patients in a hospice program are also eligible. In addition, the bill allows for reciprocity regarding medical cannabis registration cards of other states, so long as the medical cannabis in such a person’s possession comports with the laws of Georgia. Also, the reporting requirement for doctors has been reduced from quarterly to annually. The bill has been assigned to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.
Casino Gambling Dead for this Session
Casino gambling bills apparently aren’t going to get a floor vote in this year’s session of the General Assembly. The last attempt to get a legislative vote died on Friday as lawmakers worked their way through long “crossover day” calendars.
Other Legislation
HB 114, passed the House this week by a vote of 161-5. This bill amends the ‘Move on When Ready Act’ to ensure dual-enrollment students are not penalized by local school systems for taking on the challenge of collegiate coursework while still in high school. This legislation provides that no school system can exclude a dual-enrolled student from eligibility for class valedictorian or salutatorian; however, students who move into the school system after their sophomore year must take at least one course on site at their high school to be eligible for valedictorian or salutatorian. The bill has been assigned to the Senate Education and Youth Committee.
SB 96, would grant registered professional nurses, nurse practitioners, or physician assistants of patients in nursing homes and hospice care the ability to pronounce death. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 52-1 and has been assigned to the House Health and Human Services Committee.
HB 486, the Georgia Registered Professional Nurse Practice Act passed the House this week by a vote of 166-1. This bill allows for the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and the Department of Community Health to select the training curricula for medication administration by proxy caregivers employed or contracted to providers of home and community- based services, community residential alternative services, or community living services. It now crosses over to the Senate.
SB 242, stipulates physicians may have no more than 10 protocol agreements with advanced practice registered nurses at one time and may not supervise more than four advanced practice registered nurses at one time. This would raise the current number of nurse protocol agreements a physician can enter into. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 52-0 and now crosses over to the House.
SB 166, would enter Georgia into an interstate “nursing licensure compact” agreement with other states who have passed the same compact agreement. This bill passed the Senate by a vote of 52-0 and has been assigned to the House Health and Human Services Committee.
HB 245, passed the House this week by a vote of 161-0. This bill requires the Georgia Professional Standards Commission to implement a process allowing military spouses to qualify for temporary certificates, certificates by endorsement, or expedited certificates when moving to Georgia. It now crosses over to the Senate.
HB 448, enables the Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission (NPEC) to create policies to exempt education and post-secondary education institutions. This bill also exempts non-public law schools accredited by the American Bar Association when NPEC is designated as the recipient of complaints as a perquisite for the non-public law school’s acceptance of federal student financial aid. This bill also changes the composition of NPEC’s board from 15 members to ten members. Lastly, HB 448 changes the composition of the Board of Trustees of the Tuition Guaranty Trust Fund to include at least two members of post-secondary institutions rather than one member representing a non-degree granting postsecondary institution and one member representing a degree granting postsecondary institution. The bill passed the House by a vote of 172-0 and now crosses over to the Senate.
HB 470, sponsored by Rep. Shaw Blackmon (R-Bonaire), authorizes the Department of Economic Development to administer a grant program, subject to appropriations by the General Assembly, for the purposes of assisting military communities and protecting Georgia’s investments in military installations. The department is required to develop a set of criteria that ensures the credibility of communities applying for these grants and submit pending grant awards to the Governor’s Defense Initiative for final review. The bill passed the House by a vote of 169-1 and now crosses over to the Senate.
HR 363, sponsored by Rep. John Carson (R-Marietta), establishes the House Study Committee on the Qualified Education Expense Credit to evaluate the criteria for the eligibility and awarding of scholarships. Assigned to the House Special Rules Committee.
HR 388, sponsored by Rep. Tom Kirby (R-Loganville), establishes the House Study Committee on Meeting the Demand for Nursing Care in Georgia for the purpose of examining whether there is a need for higher levels of education for nurses, whether nurses need to be allowed to practice to the full extent of their education, and how to address shortages in any area of skilled nursing personnel. Assigned to the House Special Rules Committee.
HB 467, sponsored by Rep. Carolyn Hugley (D-Columbus), requires the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia to establish a program that allows students from a foster home situation to attend a unit of the Technical College System without payment of fees, except supplies and lab or shop fees. A student from a foster home situation is a student that has a diploma or GED and has been placed in foster care, an independent living program, or placed for adoption by the Division of Family and Children Services. Assigned to the House Higher Education Committee.
Intern Spotlight: Edwin Mendez
For recent Georgia State graduate Ashley McLaren, the Georgia Legislative Internship Program (GLIP) experience has been more of an introduction to the legislative process. “I am grateful the program exists,” says Ashley. GLIP has given her a greater understanding of what legislators do and the impact they have on so many lives. Ms. McLaren feels that overall, “the program is a great learning and networking opportunity for students and recent graduates.”
Assigned to the Senate Budget and Evaluation Office, Ashley’s daily routine consists of gathering data for budget related analysis, tracking legislation, proofreading, answer phones, greeting guests, and assisting appropriations hearings administration.
Ms. McLaren was an Honors College student at Georgia State and a member of the National Society of Colligate Scholars. She has also spent time studying abroad. Her short-term goals include pursuing an analytical career upon completion of her Master’s, with her ultimate goal being to pursue a Ph.D. in economics. Ashley’s favorite quote is “we should certainly count our blessings, but we should also make our blessings count,” by Neal A. Maxwell.
Helpful Links
Information on legislative activities including bills and resolutions as well as webcast of daily sessions in both Chambers and committee meeting are available via the General Assembly website at www.legis.ga.gov
Upcoming Events
Day 29: The Senate will convene at 10:00 am, the House at 1:00 pm on Monday, March 6.
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GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM
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