|
2020 LEGISLATIVE UPDATE #5
Thursday, March 19
Important News and Meetings:
- The 2020 Legislative Session has been suspended indefinitely due to COVID-19. Therefore, this will be the last legislative update until the legislature returns to the Capitol to resume the current legislative session. Because the session was suspended the day after Crossover Day, we have highlighted education bills below that were passed in either chamber.
- We are hopeful that legislators can return and pass bills, including the two we supported this year.
- There is a possibility they will only return to pass the 2021 budget, which is the sole legal duty of the legislature.
- Governor Kemp signed the amended 2020 budget on Tuesday. This included an additional $100 million for the state’s response to COVID-19.
Highlight of Education Legislation:
GCSA Supported Legislation
- HB 755 (Rep. Dave Belton) requires local boards of education to provide local charter schools with itemized allotment sheets for the upcoming fiscal year and 30 days' notice before any allocation is adjusted. Passed the House by a vote of 163-4.
- HB 957 (Speaker Pro-Tem Jan Jones) codifies in law that charter school employees shall be included in the health insurance fund for public school teachers, updates the 2019 lottery bill, extends the term of SCSC Commission members, clarifies who is responsible for records of closed charter schools, and revises the deadline for virtual school audits. Passed the House by a vote of 165-4.
Other Education Bills:
The following bills passed the House and will head to the Senate should they take up bills upon the Legislature’s return:
- HB 86 (Rep. Tommy Benton) requires districts to have an appeals policy for teachers to appeal poor evaluations.
- HB 336 (Rep. Shaw Blackmon) allows retired educators to return to teaching in certain “high-need” areas so long as one year has passed since retirement, without losing their retirement allowance. The employer still contributes to TRS.
- HB 736 (Rep. Dave Belton) calls for the state board to establish a teacher recruitment and retention program. It would provide a tax credit for $3,000 per school year, up to five years for teachers in rural or turnaround schools.
- HB 1026 (Rep. Robert Dickey) amends the number of REACH scholarships available due to funding. This bill reduces the number of students awarded these scholarships depending on the size of districts.
- HB 1084 (Rep. Mike Cheokas) creates the Georgia Endowment for Teaching Professionals.
The following bills passed the Senate and will head to the House should they take up bills upon the Legislature’s return:
- SB 40 (Sen. Lester Jackson) extends the prohibition of school employee sexual contact with students to include volunteers.
- SB 102 (Sen. Emanuel Jones) provides for a pilot program to plan, implement, and improve sustainable “community schools”, subject to appropriations.
- SB 349 (Sen. Donzella James) requires feminine hygiene products be made available to female students in schools with grades 6-12 at no cost to students. It also allows the state to develop model guidance and policies. There is a $1 million grant to provide schools with these products.
- SB 375 (Sen. Jeff Mullis) is known as the “vaping bill.” It will require boards to include vaping and tobacco in mandatory drug and alcohol instruction. The bill also requires the State Board and local boards to supplement this instruction by making resource information and materials available to student clubs and organizations, including warnings from the Surgeon General and Department of Health.
GCSA staff is available remotely during the COVID-19 crisis; contact RaShaun Holliman, Sr. VP Advocacy and Government Affairs, at rholliman@gacharters.org.
Follow us on Twitter @gacharters and @rashaunholliman
|
|
|
|
