GSSA Capitol Report
Monday, March 9 – – Legislative Day 29
The House Appropriations Committee approved the FY27 Budget (HB974) which will likely be considered by the full House of Representatives on Tuesday, Legislative Day 30.
The House’s proposed Budget contains $60M for early childhood literacy efforts; an 11% increase in transportation funding; $50M in additional bond funding for school safety equipment grants; and funding for a $50 increase in employer premium State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP) costs for a total of $1,935 per employee/per month (PEPM) for the State Health Benefit Plan. The State provides funding for those employees reported through CPI. It had been previously reported that there would be a $143 increase.
The House of Representatives met and considered the following:
HR 145 (Erwin – R) Urges Departments of Education and Health to collaborate to prioritize the expansion of vision and hearing screenings at various grade levels.
Rep. Erwin requested that the bill be recommitted.
The Senate met and considered the following:
SB179 (Dixon – R) Requires the academic and disciplinary records of each transferring student shall be provided within five days. PASSED 48-3
The Senate agreed to a House substitute which in addition to records requirements, now contains inclusion of computer science as a core course and increases the charge per student for each Georgia Virtual School course. Dixon amended the bill to include language similar to that of HB198 which encourages schools to facilitate access for students to participate in activities provided by a patriotic society for the purposes of encouraging civic education and states that school districts shall not prohibit such use.
Patriotic society is defined as a youth group listed in Title 36 of US Code, including Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America.
March 10 will be Legislative Day 30.
Senate Retirement Committee will meet at 1 p.m.
Senate Education and Youth Committee will meet at 2 p.m.
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