President Blake visits with Georgia’s Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Georgia Public Service Commissioner Tim Echols
President Blake had the opportunity to meet with Georgia’s Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Georgia Public Service Commissioner Tim Echols. President Blake presented both with a glass commemorative rendering of the Inauguration of Governor Brian P. Kemp and the Constitutional Officers of the State of Georgia which was held in Georgia State University’s new Convocation Center.
House Passes FY 2024 Budget
The Georgia House of Representatives voted 176-1 to pass the $32.4 billion state budget for the fiscal year that begins on July 1, 2023. The proposed budget for FY 2024, is an increase of $2.2 billion, or 7.4%, over the original FY 2023 budget. In the FY 2024 budget, 53% of funds are appropriated to education, 24% for health and human services, 7% for public safety, 7% for transportation, and 9% for economic development and general government services including debt service.
The House agreed with the Governor for $2,000 pay raises for state employees, though the House added additional for state law enforcement officers bringing the total to $4,000. Other House budget recommendations of interest to the University System of Georgia (USG) and Georgia State University included an additional $16.635 million in bonds for construction of a new Research Tower at Georgia State University. The GSU Government Affairs team will continue working the budget process to see this important project across the finish line.
The FY 2024 budget provides an additional $26.7 million in lottery funds to bring the HOPE factor rate for HOPE Scholarships at public schools and HOPE grants up to 95% of the previous year’s tuition. Also, included is $325,000 for a Quick Start-Special Project program to identify and address healthcare shortages throughout the state.
House and Senate Agree on FY 2023 Amended Budget
The House and Senate this week agreed upon HB 18, the FY2023 amended budget. The Conference Committee agreed with the Governor to provide Georgian’s with Homeowner Tax Reliefs totaling close to $1 billion dollars.
The FY2023 amended recommendation of interest to the University System of Georgia (USG) includes the original $105 million for the Medical College of Georgia Hospitals and Clinics, Georgia’s only public teaching hospital, to implement a new electronic medical record system.
HB 18, includes $11.2 million for capital projects at University System of Georgia institutions that were requested by the Board of Regents. Additionally, the budget provides $5 million for equipment and infrastructure at the Georgia Research Alliance.
Needs Based Financial Aid
HB 249, sponsored by Rep. Chuck Martin
(R-Alpharetta), would allow students to apply earlier to the needs based financial aid program. Georgia College Completion Grant eligibility would be awarded to students who have completed 70 percent of a four-year program or 45 percent of a two-year program. The maximum award amount per eligible student is set at $3,500, with no single payment exceeding $2,500. The bill passed the House by a vote of 168-1 and has been assigned to the Senate Education and Youth Committee.
Zell Miller Scholarship Scholar
HB 607, sponsored by Rep. Clay Pirkle
(R-Ashburn), would change the ACT score requirement for a Zell Miller Scholarship Scholar from 26 to a score equivalent to 1,200 on the SAT, as determined by the Georgia Student Finance Commission using nationally-recognized standards. The bill has an effective date of July 1, 2024. The bill passed the House by a vote of 174-1 and has been assigned to the Senate Higher Education Committee.
Georgia Lottery for Education Act
HB 353, sponsored by Rep. Alan Powell
(R-Hartwell), the “Georgia Lottery for Education Act,” provides additional requirements and rules for those involved in coin operated amusement machines (COAMs). The bill would award non-cash redemption gift cards capped at $50 per play to winners that could be redeemed anywhere in the state for any legal product. Under current law, COAM winners can redeem their prizes only for merchandise sold in the store where the machine they played is located. The bill passed the House by a vote of 127-46 and has been assigned to the Senate Economic Development and Tourism Committee.
Literacy
HB 538, sponsored by Rep. Bethany Ballard
(R-Warner Robbins), creates the ‘Georgia Early Literacy Act’ to implement the science of reading in Georgia. School systems will be required to teach high-quality instructional materials approved by the State Board of Education in kindergarten through third grade. The Department of Education must develop and provide training to teachers on the science of reading so teachers have the skills and knowledge to teach young students to read. Students across the state will take a universal reading screener assessment to monitor their progress in foundational literacy skills multiple times a year. The bill passed the House by a vote of 174-0 and has been assigned to the Senate Education and Youth Committee.
SB 211, sponsored by Sen. Billy Hickman
(R-Statesboro), would create the Georgia Council on Literacy, which would be tasked with conducting comprehensive reviews of educational programs for all ages, from birth to adulthood. The Council will be composed of 24 members appointed by the Governor, Lt. Governor, and Speaker of the House of Representatives. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 55-0 and has been assigned to the House Education Committee.
Georgia Promise Scholarship Act
SB 233, sponsored by Sen. Greg Dolezal
(R-Alpharetta), the “Georgia Promise Scholarship Act”, would provide for the establishment of promise scholarship accounts to be funded by the state in the amount of $6,000 per school year for each participating student. Families could use the funds to pay for private tuition, tutoring, curriculum and other approved educational expenses. This would only apply to children who attend schools that rank in the lowest 25 percent of the state’s school rating system. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 33-23 and has been assigned to the House Education Committee.
Georgia Cyber Command Act
SB 97, sponsored by Sen. Jason Anavitarte
(R-Dallas), known as the “Georgia Cyber Command Act” would create the Georgia Cyber Command Division under the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 52-2 and has been assigned to the House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee.
Sports Betting
SB 172 and SR 140, sponsored by Sen. Bill Cowsert (R-Athens), would legalize sports betting in Georgia through a constitutional amendment. Mobile and retail sports betting would be allowed under this legislation with proceeds going to needs based scholarships, healthcare, mental health and economic development among other needs. SB 172 was tabled. SR 140, the Constitutional Amendment to allow the people of the State of Georgia to vote on Sports Betting failed to receive a two-thirds majority vote required for a Constitutional Amendment, 30-26.
HB 380, sponsored by Rep. Marcus Weidower (R-Watkinsville), would authorize and provide for the regulation and taxation of sports betting in Georgia under the Georgia Lottery Corporation with no constitutional amendment needed. The bill calls for mobile only betting with no retail locations. Under this legislation revenue would go to the HOPE Scholarship and Pre-K education. The bill was not called on for a vote.
Peace Officer Loan Repayment
SB 237, sponsored by Sen. Bo Hatchett
(R-Cornelia), establishes a student loan repayment program for eligible full-time peace officers. The total repayment amount must not exceed $20,000 or the total student debt amount, whichever is less. Payments will be paid in annual installments for a period not exceeding five years. The Georgia Student Finance Authority is authorized to establish rules and regulations to implement the program, which is contingent upon appropriation of funds by the General Assembly. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 54-1 and has been assigned to the House Higher Education Committee.
Nursing Faculty Loan Repayment
SB 246, sponsored by Sen. Mike Hodges
(R-Brunswick), would provide for student loan repayment for a registered professional nurse duly licensed and authorized to practice in the state who holds a master’s or doctoral degree in nursing and is currently employed or has been employed for at least one year as a faculty member of a nursing program at a post-secondary institution in the state. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 55-1 and has been assigned to the House Higher Education Committee.
Advanced Practice Registered Nurses
SB 164, sponsored by Senator Chuck Hufstetler (R-Rome), would revise definitions for licensure of advanced practice registered nurses. This bill also adds advanced practice registered nurse to the list of those who would receive a misdemeanor charge if caught practicing without a license. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 53-0 and has been assigned to the House Health Committee.
HB 557, sponsored by Rep. Ron Stephens
(R-Savannah), authorizes advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants in good standing with the applicable medical board and at least one year of post-licensure clinical experience to prescribe Schedule II controlled substances in emergency situations, under certain circumstances. The patient receiving the prescription must be at least 18 years old unless the medication is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and the supervising physician is a pediatrician, family practice physician, internal medicine physician, or psychiatrist. The bill passed the House by a vote of 136-38 and has been assigned to the Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee.
Freedom to Work Act
SB 195, sponsored by Sen. Larry Walker
(R-Perry), the “Freedom to Work Act”, would allow service members and their spouses to utilize their military certification, work experience, or licenses acquired in another state to get an expedited license in Georgia. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 54-0 and has been assigned to the House Regulated Industries Committee.
Pounce visits the State Capitol
Pounce was invited to the Capitol this week by Rep. Teddy Reese (D-Columbus) to meet with students at Emanuel Prep located in Columbus, Georgia.
Intern Spotlight: Ian Ellison
Ian Ellison, a Political Science major from Miamisburg, Ohio, has learned a lot about the process of the Georgia Legislature through the Georgia Legislative Internship Program (GLIP). “Going into the GLIP program, I was not too sure what to expect,” says Ian. However, after a few weeks, Mr. Ellison discovered the GLIP experience contributed to him growing as a person.
Assigned to the House Higher Education Committee, Ian’s helps prepare for committee meetings, address constituent needs, write bill summaries, perform administrative tasks, and many various duties assigned by chairmen and administrative assistants.
After graduating from Georgia State University, Ian hopes to work in state government, and eventually the federal government. Ellison’s passion for the state of Georgia is clear, even citing his favorite quote by Mr. Rogers, “All of us, at some time or other, need help. Whether we’re giving or receiving help, each one of us has something valuable to bring to this world. That’s one of the things that connects us as neighbors—in our own way, each one of us is a giver and a receiver.”