Legislative Kickball Game
The Fourth Annual Legislative Kickball game was held this week at Georgia State University’s Center Parc Stadium. Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones was Captain of the Senate team while Speaker of the House Jon Burns was Captain to the House team. The Senate jumped out to an early 9-3 lead only to see the House come from behind to claim victory 15-11.
Senate Passes FY 2024 Budget
The Georgia Senate voted 51-1, 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.
Senate 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 Senate version of the budget included significant cuts to the USG teaching budget of $87 million and an additional $18 million for an increase in health insurance bringing the total cut to $105 million. The budget instructed to reduce funds and utilize Carry Forward funds where necessary.
The Senate agreed with Governor Kemp to fully fund the HOPE scholarship program and to give all state employees and public school teachers $2,000 raises. In the Senate proposal, some state law enforcement officers would get $6,000, up from a $4,000 bump sought by the House. A Conference Committee has been formed to work out the differences. Member of the Conference Committee are from the Senate, President Pro Team John F. Kennedy, Majority Leader Steve Gooch and Appropriations Chairman Blake Tillery, from the House, Speaker Pro Tem Jan Jones, Majority Leader Chuck Efstration and Appropriations Chairman Matt Hatchett.
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 Senate Higher Education Committee and is scheduled to be on the Senate floor for a vote next week.
Dual Enrollment
SB 86, sponsored by Sen. Matt Brass
(R-Newnan), would allow eligible students participating in the Dual Enrollment program to access HOPE grant funds for certain Career, Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE) courses regardless of whether or not such student has reached the maximum credit hour cap of 30 hours. The bill passed the House by a vote of 167-0 and now goes to Governor Brian Kemp for his signature and final approval.
Workforce EXCELeration Act
SB 112, sponsored by Sen. Jason Anavitarte
(R-Dallas), would create a private-public partnership to develop a pilot program to allow students 21 years of age or older who have aged out of public high schools to attain a high school diploma instead of a GED. The program would be administered in partnership with the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG). The bill passed the House Higher Education Committee and is now eligible for consideration in the House Rules Committee.
Social Media Restrictions
SB 93, sponsored by Sen. Jason Anavitarte
(R-Dallas), would prohibit state employees in all branches of government and all kindergarten through 12th grade public schools from installing, using, or visiting on state equipment a social media platform that is controlled or influenced by a foreign adversary. This would include TikTok, WeChat and Telegram among others. The bill passed the House by a vote of 174-0 and now goes back to the Senate to agree or disagree to the changes.
Alternative Bus Transportation
HB 51, sponsored by Rep. Clay Pirkle
(R-Ashburn), would authorize local boards of education to use vehicles other than school buses for the transport of all students to and from school and school related activities. The bill passed the Senate Education and Youth Committee and is scheduled to be on the Senate floor for a vote next week.
Teacher Duty-Free Planning Periods
HB 340, sponsored by Rep. John Corbett
(R-Lake Park), would protect planning periods for teachers in grades six through twelve. Teachers who are in the classroom more than 50 percent of a regular school day are required to have a duty-free planning period, with some exceptions related to safety. The bill passed the Senate Rules Committee and is scheduled to be on the Senate floor for a vote next week..
Street Gang Terrorism
SB 44, sponsored by Sen. Bo Hatchett
(R-Cornelia), known as the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, would strengthen the sentencing for all gang-related offenses by imposing mandatory minimum sentences but would specifically target the recruitment of minors by instating even stricter mandatory minimums for those whose gang-related offenses involve a minor or otherwise vulnerable individual. The bill passed the House by a vote of 99-74 and now goes to Governor Brian Kemp for his signature and final approval.
Tobacco and Vaping
SB 47, sponsored by Sen. Chuck Huffstetler
(R-Rome), would add vaping to the no smoking signs in restricted areas and would be considered a misdemeanor punishable by fine. The bill passed the House by a vote of 152-14 and now goes to Governor Brian Kemp for his signature and final approval.
Mental Health
HB 414, sponsored by Rep. Shaw Blackmon
(R-Bonaire), creates the Veterans Mental Health Services Program, a competitive grant program administered by the Department of Veterans Services. The grant program will provide behavioral health services to service members, veterans, or family members through non-profit community behavioral health programs. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 51-0 and now goes back to the House to agree or disagree to the Senate changes.
Peace Officer Loan Repayment
HB 130, sponsored by Rep. Matthew Gambill (R-Cartersville), 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, and the program is contingent upon appropriation of funds by the General Assembly. The bill passed the Senate Rules Committee and is scheduled to be on the Senate floor for a vote next week.
Medical Examiner Loan Repayment
HB 163, sponsored by Rep. Lauren McDonald (R-Cumming), establishes a student loan repayment program for full-time medical examiners employed with the Division of Forensic Sciences of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The total repayment amount must not exceed $120,000 or the total student debt amount, whichever is less, and the 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 and the program is contingent upon the appropriation of funds by the General Assembly. The bill passed Senate by a vote of 52-0 and now goes to Governor Brian Kemp for his signature and final approval.
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 House by a vote of 166-0 and now goes to Governor Brian Kemp for his signature and final approval.
HB 557, sponsored by Rep. Ron Stephens
(R-Savannah), would authorize physicians to delegate the authority to prescribe Schedule II controlled substances to advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) and physician assistants (PA). The bill would limit the authorized Schedule II drugs too hydrocodone and oxycodone compounds. Also included, would allow APRNs and PAs to issue disability parking permits. The bill passed the Senate Rules Committee and is scheduled to be on the Senate floor for a vote next week.
Nursing Licenses
HB 493, sponsored by Rep. Matt Hatchett
(R-Dublin), would would revise a provision regarding verification of competency as it relates to the renewal, surrender, and restoration of registered professional nursing licenses and continuing competency requirements. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 50-0 and now goes to Governor Brian Kemp for his signature and final approval.
Veteran Owned Businesses
HB 128, sponsored by Rep. Soo Hong
(R-Lawrenceville), would provide for representation of minority business enterprises, women owned businesses, and veteran owned businesses in the area of procurement of state contracts for construction, services, equipment, and goods. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 44-1 and now got to Governor Brian Kemp for his signature and final approval.