The Senate Rules Committee set an extensive calendar for Days 39 and 40. HB 235, a PAGE-supported bill to allow educators to take up to 30 days of leave for organ donation and up to seven days for bone marrow donation, was added to the calendar. Two competing versions of bills to restrict the use of school zone speed cameras were also added, setting the stage for lots of debate on how to handle the devices.
House Education Passes Voucher Clarification and Expansion to Children of Foster Parents
SB 152 sponsored by Sen. Greg Dolezal (R-Cumming) would expand the Georgia Promise Scholarship private school voucher to the adopted and biological children of foster parents (but not the foster children themselves). The committee introduced a new version of the bill clarifying that students eligible to use the voucher must attend a school scoring in the lowest student-achievement quartile. After the Promise Scholarship’s creation during the 2024 session, the new state agency created to administer it interpreted the voucher’s applicability to students zoned for any school in the lowest quartile in the student’s district. This interpretation vastly expanded applicability. In the case of smaller school districts with a sole middle or high school, if that school is in the lowest quartile, every student in the district was eligible for the voucher.
During public testimony, PAGE Director of Legislative Services Margaret Ciccarelli shared concerns about the proposal to expand the voucher. She voiced support for the clarifying provisions but emphasized that foster and adoptive families as well as all others would be better served by more voucher transparency. Ciccarelli suggested private schools participating in the voucher program could provide families with information on their available special education services, length of operation, and student retention.
Several other speakers testified in support and opposition before the bill passed along party lines. It now moves to House Rules, which may schedule it for a floor vote. If this happens, continued debate over the bill is likely as Sen. Dolezal mentioned during his bill presentation that the Senate will oppose the House’s clarifying changes.
SB 179 by Sen. Clint Dixon (R-Gwinnett) would require the academic and disciplinary records of each transferring student shall be provided within five days. The records production language is included as part of comprehensive House school safety legislation currently on the governor’s desk, so a committee substitute of SB 179 was introduced today. It creates a high school computer science requirement for students graduating in 2037 or later. This requirement would be effective starting in the 2031-2032 school year. The legislation would also raise the per course reimbursement rate from $250 to $350 for the Georgia Virtual School.
The committee also passed two resolutions creating study committees, both of which move to House Rules:
The committee also heard HB 310 by Rep. Phil Olaleye (D-Atlanta) which would provide grants to support student teachers. While the grants would be state funds, they would be paid through local districts to student teachers in regular installments. Each student teacher could receive a maximum of $7,500 in total grant funds.
PAGE Legislative Specialist Robert Aycock spoke in support of the bill. He shared PAGE member survey data demonstrating teacher student loan burdens while reiterating that student teacher requirements bring on additional challenges such as transportation costs while also preventing the students from working paying jobs.
While HB 310 cannot become law this legislative session, several committee members expressed support for the initiative. PAGE looks forward to working to support this important issue in the future.
Bill Prohibiting SHBP from Covering Transition Care Passes House Committee
SB 39, by Sen. Blake Tillery (R-Vidalia), was returned to the House Health Committee after Rep. Brent Cox (R-Dawsonville) stripped the bill's original language and replaced it with HB 660. SB 39 originally sought to prohibit the State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP) from covering gender-affirming care. It is now limited to prohibition of transition-related expenses.
An attempt was made to amend the bill to grandfather in coverage for SHBP members currently in the process of transitioning, but the motion failed.
The bill moves to the House Rules Committee for consideration.
Upcoming Schedule
Wednesday, April 2 - Legislative Day 39
Thursday, April 3 - Committee Workday
Friday, April 4 - Legislative Day 40/Sine Die