| DAY 18 As the session moves on, the temperature outside is cold,
but the activity under the Gold Dome is warming up. The full House passed HB100,
the date by which a child must reach a certain age in order to be eligible for
enrollment in certain educational programs. The date a child must reach age five, in order to begin kindergarten in
the 2017-2018 school year, would be August 1st. For the 2018-2019 school year, the date would be July 1st. The full House also passed two additional bills. HB164,
Professional Learning Requirements for Certification Renewal. This bill will extend the suspension of PLU
requirements for another three years. HB198, Suicide Prevention Training – Jason Flatt Act. These bills now cross over to the Senate for consideration. Today the House Education Academic Innovations Sub Committee
met to discuss a number of bills: HB16,
Magnet School Students to Participate in Home School Activities. This bill has been amended to enable local
School Boards to decide whether or not Magnet Schools students may participate in
their home school activities. After an
amendment, the bill was voted to move on to the entire House Education
Committee for consideration. HB209, Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Act, to revise the
attendance requirement from the prior school year to only one semester. No vote was taken on this bill. HB
271, Charter-Schools-in-the-Workplace. This bill permits Local School Districts and
the Charter School Commission to approve charter schools in the workplace. An amendment removed section five of the bill. The bill was voted to move on to the full
House Educational Committee. HB296, Scholarship Program for Special Needs Students, to expand
eligibility for the program to certain lawful refugees. This bill received a favorable vote and will
move on to the full House Education Committee. The presenter said that the bill would affect under 600 students. HR4, Municipalities, to establish
by local law an independent school system. This resolution was on the agenda, but was not heard. The House Public Safety and
Homeland Security Committee met to hear HB
186, Carrying
weapons within certain school safety zones and at school functions. After discussion by the committee and public
comment, a special Sub Committee A was formed to improve the bill. The Amended
FY15 budget was amended in the House and transmitted to the Senate. The Senate agreed with the House and voted to
approve the Amended FY15 budget. The
House and Senate will now focus on the FY16 budget. Both Chambers will meet on Friday for the 19th
day of the session. At the time of this
report, only the House and Senate Rules Committee meetings are scheduled for
Friday. |