GASP- LEGISLATION SMARTWATCH PAGE

Bill Watch- The color key below makes the bills easier to track the continuing updates and bills introduced. A quick glance at the color of the bill let's you know if it's moving forward, stalled in committee, newly introduced or passed in the house, senate or both. There are weekly updates and the previous 2 weeks are stored for review.

HB 157 Retirement; full-time teacher; full-time employment and benefits; provide

To amend Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 47 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to retirement allowances, disability benefits, and spouses´ benefits under the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia, so as to define certain terms; to provide that a retired teacher who has been retired for at least 12 calendar months may return to full-time employment in certain positions and continue to collect his or her full retirement benefit; to provide conditions for an effective date and automatic repeal; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Sponsors: (1) Coleman,Brooks 97th(2) Bridges,Ben 10th(3) Golick,Rich 34th(4) Brooks,Tyrone 63rd(5) Benton,Tommy 31st(6) Meadows,John 5th
Status:02/11/08 Senate Read and Referred - 02/08/08- House Passed/Adopted

HB 332 Quality Basic Education Act; certain maximum class size requirements; delay implementation

To amend Code Section 20-2-182 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to program weights, maximum class size, and reporting requirements under the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to provide that each local board of education may set maximum class sizes for high school general education programs under certain conditions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Sponsors: (1) Coleman,Brooks 97th(2) Millar,Fran 79th(3) Hembree,Bill 67th(4) Jones,Jan 46th(5) Maxwell,Howard 17th(6) Bearden,Timothy 68th
Status:01/14/08 - Senate Recommitted, House Passed this in March 2007

HB 602 School board members; selling school supplies; penalty; provide exception

To amend Code Section 20-2-505 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the prohibition of a school board member from selling school supplies or equipment to county board and a penalty, so as to provide an exception to such prohibition; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Sponsors: (1) Cole,Jim 125th(2) Roberts,Jay 154th(3) Smith,Vance 129th
Status:04/02/08 - Senate Passed - 03/05/08 - House Passed

HB 637 Quality Basic Education Act; nationally norm-referenced instruments; revise provisions

To amend Code Section 20-2-281 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the assessment of effectiveness of educational programs under the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to revise provisions relating to nationally norm-referenced instruments in reading, mathematics, science, and social studies; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Requires norm reference testing in 3-8 grades.

Sponsors: (1) Coleman,Brooks 97th(2) Benton,Tommy 31st
Status:03/20/08 - Senate Read Second Time -03/06/08 - House Passed

HB 641 Education, Department of; State Board; Georgia Excellence Foundation; establish

To amend Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elementary and secondary education, so as to establish the Georgia Educational Excellence Foundation and provide for its membership, duties, powers, and purposes; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Creates a body to promote education by attracting and distributing fiscal contributions within the state for educational systems.

Sponsors: (1) Coleman,Brooks 97th(2) Benton,Tommy 31st
Status:03/27/08 - Senate Read Second Time -03/06/08 - House Passed

HB 652 Blind Persons' Braille Literacy Rights and Education Act; enact

To amend Part 3 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to educational programs, so as to enact the 'Blind Persons' Braille Literacy Rights and Education Act'; to provide definitions; to require Braille instruction in the individualized education program of a student who is a blind or visually impaired child; to provide requirements for the individualized education program; to provide requirements for textbook publishers; to provide requirements relating to Braille for certain teachers; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Requires PSC to have certified VI personnel working with these children braille certified.

Sponsors: (1) Manning,Judy 32nd(2) Reece,Barbara 11th
Status:03/20/08 - Senate Read Second Time -03/06/08 - House Passed

HB 831 Public Charter School Capital Financing Act; enact

To amend Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elementary and secondary education, so as to provide for a grant program under the State Board of Education with respect to qualified donations for the purchase of real property or capital outlay for charter schools; to provide for a short title; to provide for procedures, conditions, and limitations; to provide for powers, duties, and authority of the State Board of Education with respect to the foregoing; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide an effective date; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Sponsors: (1) Setzler,Ed 35th
Status:04/01/08 - Senate Passed - 03/06/08 - House Passed

HB 881 Georgia Charter Schools Commission; establish

To amend Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elementary and secondary education, so as to provide for legislative findings and intent; to establish the Georgia Charter Schools Commission; to provide for its powers and duties; to provide for commission charter schools; to provide for approval and duties of cosponsors; to provide for cosponsor agreements; to provide for revocation of approval of cosponsors; to provide for application and review; to provide for applications of existing charter schools; to provide for application of general charter school laws; to provide for access to information for parents; to provide for an annual report; to provide for debts of commission charter schools; to provide for funding for commission charter schools; to provide for commission charter schools to be treated as part of a single, state-wide local education agency for certain purposes; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for retention of administrative fees by a local board of education for newly approved local charter schools; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Sponsors: (1) Jones,Jan 46th(2) Coleman,Brooks 97th(3) Lindsey,Edward 54th(4) Millar,Fran 79th(5) Everson,Melvin 106th(6) Sheldon,Donna 105th
Status:04/02/08 - Senate Passed - 1/31/08 - House Passed

HB 900 Local option sales tax proceeds; distribution; change provisions

To amend Code Section 48-8-89.1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to distribution of local option sales tax proceeds after certification of additional qualified municipalities, so as to change provisions relating to distribution of tax proceeds; to make provisions for qualified district areas; to define terms; to provide for distribution certificates and distribution formulas; to provide for other related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Sponsors: (1) Bruce,Roger 64th(2) Fludd,Virgil 66th(3) Holmes,Bob 61st(4) Beasley-Teague,Sharon 65th(5) Brooks,Tyrone 63rd
Status:03/05/08 - House Committee Favorably Reported

HB 901 Parent Protection Act; enact

To amend Chapter 1 of Title 34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to labor and industrial relations, so as to enact the "Parent Protection Act"; to provide for leave for employees to attend school conferences and medical appointments; to provide for legislative findings and intent; to provide for definitions; to provide for conditions to take leave; to provide for annual notification; to provide for statutory construction; to provide that retaliatory actions are unlawful; to provide for a remedy; to amend Article 1 of Chapter 1A of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to early care and learning generally, so as to require day-care programs and preschool programs to provide written notice prior to school conferences; to provide for a definition; to provide for written verification of attendance; to amend Article 4A of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to community involvement in education, so as to require local school systems and private schools to provide written notice prior to school conferences; to provide for a definition; to provide for written verification of attendance; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Sponsors: (1) Bruce,Roger 64th(2) Kaiser,Margaret 59th(3) Lunsford,John 110th(4) Hembree,Bill 67th(5) Mosby,Howard 90th(6) Sims,Freddie 151st
Status:01/17/08 - House Second Readers

HB 904 Early care and learning; fingerprint record checks; require certain employees

To amend Chapter 1A of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to early care and learning, so as to require certain employees to have state and
national fingerprint record checks prior to employment; to revise certain
definitions; to change certain provisions relating to records check requirements for
applicants and notification to such applicants; to change certain provisions relating
to requirements of individuals residing in family day-care homes; to remove
preliminary records checks of employees and require state and national fingerprint
determinations, except in limited circumstances; to provide that directors convicted
of certain criminal acts lose the ability to serve as directors; to provide for
related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal
conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Sponsors (1) Jerguson,Sean 22nd(2) Hill,Calvin 21st(3) Hamilton,Mark 23rd(4)
Sellier,Tony 136th(5) Millar,Fran 79th(6) Barnard,Terry 166th
Status: 02/26/08- Senate Read and Referred -01/22/08 - House Passed

HB 905 Building Resourceful Individuals to Develop Georgia's Economy Act; enact

To amend Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to enact the "Building Resourceful Individuals to Develop Georgia´s Economy Act" to develop programs to improve graduation rates and to improve the preparedness of students for postsecondary education and careers; to provide for definitions; to provide for the development of focused programs of study; to provide for model programs for students at risk of dropping out of high school; to train school counselors and graduation coaches to provide for educational counseling and career awareness programs for students; to establish a reform grant program; to require local school systems which receive a reform grant to comply with certain requirements; to provide for high school completion rate goals in the state accountability system; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for exemptions from certain portions of the high school graduation test and end-of-course assessments; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Sponsors: (1) Millar,Fran 79th(2) Richardson,Glenn 19th(3) Lindsey,Edward 54th(4) Holmes,Bob 61st(5) Everson,Melvin 106th(6) Pruett,Jimmy 144th
Status:04/02/08 - Senate Tabled - 3/11/08 - House Passed

HB 920 Hope Scholarships; eligibility; end-of-course assessments; provisions

To amend Code Section 20-2-157 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
the uniform reporting system for high school grades for purposes of determining
eligibility for enrollment and scholarships for postsecondary education, so as to
provide that certain scores on end-of-course assessments will result in additional
credit for purposes of determining eligibility for HOPE scholarships; to provide for
related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Sponsors (1) Hembree,Bill 67th(2) Coleman,Brooks 97th(3) Dickson,Tom 6th(4)
Casas,David 103rd(5) Maxwell,Howard 17th(6) Jones,Jan 46th
Status:01/30/08 - House Committee Favorably Reported

HB 939 Georgia's Pre-K Program; expand to three-year-olds; establish program

To amend Article 1 of Chapter 1A of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to early care and learning, so as to establish a program to expand Georgia´s Pre-K Program to three-year-olds; to provide for an annual report to the General Assembly; to provide for legislative intent with regard to funding the program; to establish a program to incentivize and acknowledge quality pre-k programs; to provide for an annual report to the General Assembly; to provide for legislative intent with regard to funding the program; to amend Code Section 50-27-3 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to definitions relative to the lottery for education, so as to add a definition for the term "pre-kindergarten"; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Sponsors:(1) Oliver,Mary 83rd(2) Benfield,Stephanie 85th(3) Ashe,Kathy 56th(4) Porter,DuBose 143rd(5) Smyre,Calvin 132nd(6) Powell,Alan 29th
Status:01/16/08 - House Second Readers

HB 948 Sales and use tax; certain school supplies; certain energy efficient products; provide exemption

To amend Code Section 48-8-3` of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
exemptions from state sales and use tax, so as to provide for an exemption with
respect to the sale of certain school supplies, clothing, footwear, computers, and
computer related accessories for a limited period of time; to provide for an
exemption from sales and use tax with respect to certain sales of certain energy
efficient products for a limited period of time; to provide an effective date; to
repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Tax free days proposed July 31- Aug 3, 2008 & October 2- Oct 5, 2008

Sponsors (1) Smith,Lynn 70th(2) Jones,Jan 46th(3) Houston,Penny 170th(4) Tumlin,Steve
38th(5) Ramsey,Matt 72nd(6) Coleman,Brooks 97th
Status:04/02/08 - Senate Passed - 03/05/08 - House Passed

HB 955 Quality Basic Education Act; foreign language credits; provisions

To amend Part 3 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, relating to educational programs under the "Quality Basic Education Act,"
so as to provide that computer language courses are accepted as foreign language
credits; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other
purposes.

Sponsors (1) Casas,David 103rd(2) Hembree,Bill 67th(3) Martin,Charles 47th(4)
Amerson,Amos 9th(5) Maxwell,Howard 17th(6) Everson,Melvin 106th
Status:01/18/08 - House Second Readers

HB 962 Local boards of education; budget deficit; require public notice

To amend Article 3 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to local boards of education, so as to require public notice of a budget deficit or irregularities within three business days; to require notification of the superintendent of budget deficits identified at the local level; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Sponsors: (1) Freeman,Allen 140th(2) Keown,Mike 173rd(3) Sims,Barbara 119th(4) Hembree,Bill 67th(5) Williams,Earnest 89th(6) Kaiser,Margaret 59th
Status:04/01/08 - Senate Read Second Time - 02/28/08 House Passed

HB 994 Duty-free lunch periods; teachers in additional grades; provide

To amend Code Section 20-2-218 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
duty-free lunch periods, so as to provide a duty-free lunch for teachers in
additional grades; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to
repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Sponsors (1) Bruce,Roger 64th(2) Hugley,Carolyn 133rd(3) Randall,Nikki 138th(4)
Mitchell,Billy 88th(5) Williams,Earnest 89th(6) Frazier,Gloria 123rd
Status:01/29/08 - House Second Readers

HB 1031 Public high schools; interscholastic athletics program; at least one defibrillator; require

To amend Part 3 of Article 16 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to student health in elementary and secondary education, so as to require each public high school in this state which has an interscholastic athletics program to have at least one functional automated external defibrillator on site at such school at all times for use during emergencies; to provide for legislative findings; to define a term; to provide for requirements on maintaining and using the defibrillator; to provide for state funding; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Sponsors:(1) Hembree,Bill 67th(2) England,Terry 108th(3) Dickson,Tom 6th(4) Maxwell,Howard 17th(5) Carter,Amy 175th(6) Wilkinson,Joe 52nd
Status:03/27/08 - Senate Passed - 03/05/08 - House Passed

HB 1050 Quality Basic Education Act; formula; fully funded by General Assembly; require

To amend Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to require that the Quality Basic Education Formula is fully funded by the General Assembly; to revise provisions for purposes of conformity; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Sponsors: (1) Ashe,Kathy 56th(2) Porter,DuBose 143rd(3) Jamieson,Jeanette 28th(4) Smyre,Calvin 132nd(5) Hugley,Carolyn 133rd(6) Randall,Nikki 138th
Status:02/01/08 - House Second Readers

HB 1067 Quality Basic Education Act; duty-free lunch requirements; provisions

To amend Subpart 2 of Part 6 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to conditions of employment under the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to provide for the withholding of funds for failure by a local school system to comply with duty-free lunch requirements; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Sponsors: (1) Parsons,Don 42nd
Status:02/05/08 - House Second Readers

HB 1091 Postsecondary education; attaining residency status; revise requirements

To amend Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to postsecondary education, so as to revise requirements for attaining residency status for purposes of tuition; to provide for definitions; to provide that students shall have graduated from an eligible high school or home study program in this state to be eligible for HOPE scholarships and grants; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Sponsors: (1) Hembree,Bill 67th(2) Cox,Clay 102nd(3) Hatfield,Mark 177th(4) Harbin,Ben 118th(5) Burns,Jon 157th(6) Dempsey,Katie 13th
Status:03/20/08 - Senate Read Second Time - 02/26/08 - House Passed

HB 1120 Quality basic education; natural resource conservation measures; require minimum amount of instruction

To amend Part 2 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to competencies and core curriculum for quality basic education, so as to require a minimum amount of grade-appropriate instruction for all students during each school year for the study of natural resource conservation measures; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Sponsors: (1) Heckstall,Joe 62nd(2) Jordan,Darryl 77th(3) Murphy,Quincy 120th(4) Dukes,Winfred 150th(5) Davis,Hardie 122nd(6) Sailor,Ron 93rd
Status:02/08/08 - House Second Readers

HB 1133 Education; student scholarship organizations; provisions

To amend Titles 20 and 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating, respectively, to education and revenue and taxation, so as to provide for a program of educational improvement; to provide for definitions; to provide for student scholarship organizations; to provide for procedures; to provide for an income tax credit with respect to qualified education expenses; to provide for conditions and limitations; to provide for powers, duties, and authority of the state revenue commissioner with respect to the foregoing; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to provide for applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

'Qualified school or program' means a nonpublic primary school or secondary school that:(A) Is accredited or in the process of becoming accredited. In the case of a single individual or a head of household, $1,000.00 per tax year; or (2) In the case of a married couple filing a joint return, $2,500.00 per tax year.

Sponsors: (1) Casas,David 103rd(2) Ehrhart,Earl 36th(3) Lindsey,Edward 54th(4) Lewis,Jeff 15th(5) Stephens,Ron 164th(6) Lunsford,John 110th
Status:04/0108 - Senate Passed - 03/11/08 - House Passed

HB 1209 State Board of Education; local school systems; contracts;
provisions

To amend Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elementary and secondary education, so as to provide that a local school system may enter into a contract with the State Board of Education for increased flexibility in exchange for increased accountability; to provide that a local school system can opt for the status quo; to provide for the development of a three-year strategic plan; to provide for contract requirements; to provide for monitoring of strategic plans; to provide for accountability, flexibility, and consequences components of the contract; to provide for certain laws which may be waived; to provide for loss of governance under certain conditions; to provide for duties of the Office of Student Achievement with respect to such strategic plans; to provide for a phased-in implementation; to provide for exceptions for charter systems; to provide for rules, regulations, and guidelines; to change certain provisions relating to appointment of local school superintendents; to change certain provisions relating to waivers to improve student performance; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. The Governors IE2 Bill.

Sponsors: (1) Coleman,Brooks 97th(2) Golick,Rich 34th(3) Smith,Vance
129th(4) Cole,Jim 125th(5) Maxwell,Howard 17th(6) Hembree,Bill 67th
Status:03/31/08 - Senate Passed - 03/05/08 - House Passed

HB 1286 Quality Basic Education Act; Veterans Day; revise provisions

To amend Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, known as the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to revise provisions relating to instructional activity concerning Veterans Day; to provide that public elementary and secondary schools shall be closed on November 11 of each year in honor of Veterans Day; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Sponsors: (1) Keen,Jerry 179th(2) Roberts,Jay 154th(3) Jones,Jan 46th(4) Davis,Hardie 122nd(5) Fleming,Barry 117th(6) Burkhalter,Mark 50th
Status:04/0208- Senate Tabled - 03/06/08 - House Passed

HB 1300 Minimum school year; certain school days; provisions

To amend Code Section 20-2-168 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the minimum school year and other matters, so as to provide that certain school days which were canceled due to disaster, emergency, act of God, and other occurrences do not have to be made up under certain circumstances; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Sponsors: (1) Carter,Amy 175th(2) Dickson,Tom 6th(3) Coleman,Brooks 97th(4) Teilhet,Rob 40th(5) Lindsey,Edward 54th
Status:04/02/08 - Senate Passed - 03/11/08 - House Passed

HB 1321 Education; alleged inappropriate behavior by teacher or school personnel; provisions

To amend Part 2 of Article 16 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to discipline of students in elementary and secondary education, so as to provide that falsifying reports regarding instances of alleged inappropriate behavior by a teacher or other school personnel is addressed in the student code of conduct; to establish a state mandated process for students to follow in reporting instances of alleged inappropriate behavior by a teacher or other school personnel; to provide for notice of such process in student and teacher handbooks; to provide for statements to local media outlets which reported on instances of alleged inappropriate behaviors; to provide for penalties for students who provide false reports of alleged inappropriate behavior by a teacher or other school personnel; to provide for statutory construction; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Sponsors: (1) Shaw,Jay 176th(2) Sims,Freddie 151st(3) Johnson,Celeste 75th(4) Jordan,Darryl 77th
Status:04/02/08 - Senate Passed - 03/11/08 - House Passed

HB 1335 Quality Basic Education Formula; funding purposes; change program weights

To amend Code Section 20-2-161 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Quality Basic Education Formula, so as to change program weights for funding purposes; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Increases slightly the weights for each grade.

Sponsors: (1) Coleman,Brooks 97th(2) Jones,Jan 46th(3) Reese,Bobby 98th(4) Casas,David 103rd
Status:03/31/08 - Senate Passed - 03/11/08 - House Passed

HB 1372 Elections; superintendent establish polling places outside of boundaries; authorize

To amend Code Section 21-2-265 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to duty of superintendent to select polling places, so as to authorize the superintendent to establish polling places outside of the boundaries of a precinct if such polling place would better serve the needs of the electors without regard to whether suitable facilities exist within the precinct boundaries; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Sponsors: (1) Marin,Pedro 96th(2) Rice,Tom 51st(3) Floyd,Hugh 99th
Status:03/05/08 - House Second Readers

SB 59 Social Networking Website; illegal for owner to allow minor to create/maintain profile; provide for penalties

To amend Chapter 9 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to forgery and fraudulent practices, so as to provide definitions; to provide that it shall be illegal for the owner or operator of a social networking website to allow a minor using a protected computer to create or maintain a profile web page on a social networking website without the permission of the minor´s parent or guardian and without providing such parent or guardian access to such profile web page; to provide for penalties; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Sponsors: (1) Staton,Cecil 18th(2) Harp,Seth 29th(3) Carter,Joseph 13th(4) Rogers,Chip 21st(5) Hooks,George 14th(6) Hill,Judson 32nd
Status:02/11/08 - Senate Read Second Time

SB 336 Quality Basic Education Act; state playoff game; no high school funded under
this Act shall be required seating capacity (PF)

To amend Part 14 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of
Georgia Annotated, relating to certain programs and activities under the "Quality
Basic Education Act," so as to provide that no high school which receives funding
under the "Quality Basic Education Act" shall participate in or sponsor
interscholastic sports events conducted by any athletic association if the
association requires a minimum permanent seating capacity in order for a school to
host a state playoff game; to provide a definition; to provide for related matters;
to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Sponsors (1) Seabaugh,Mitch 28th(2) Hill,Judson 32nd
Status:01/14/08 - Senate Read and Referred

SB 458 Education; require local school systems and schools to be accredited; provide for definitions

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to education, so as to require local school systems and schools to be accredited; to provide for definitions; to provide that if a school system or school loses or fails to attain accreditation, a student shall be entitled to attend another public school or receive a scholarship to attend a private school; to provide for notice to parents; to provide for the maximum amount of the scholarship; to provide for procedures and requirements for payment of scholarships; to provide for conditions of acceptance of a scholarship; to provide for testing; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for notice to parents; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. This bill is the next step towards school vouchers (remember SB10 last year?).

Sponsors: (1) Johnson,Eric 1st(2) Moody,Dan 56th(3) Thomas,Don 54th(4)
Williams,Tommie 19th(5) Rogers,Chip 21st(6) Douglas,John 17th
Status:04/04/08 - House Withdrawn Recommitted - 03/05/08 - Senate Passed

SB 461 Education; provide schools with certain guidelines regarding bullying; submit policy to Dept. of Education

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Subpart 2 of Part 2 of Article 16 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to discipline of students in elementary and secondary education, so as to provide schools with certain guidelines regarding bullying; to require schools to submit to the Department of Education a policy regarding bullying; to direct the Department of Education to develop a model policy regarding bullying; to provide immunity for certain individuals reporting a bullying incident; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Sponsors: (1) Rogers,Chip 21st(2) Hill,Judson 32nd
Status:04/04/08 - House Committee Favorably Reported - 03/11/08 - Senate Passed

SB 497 Education; require local school systems; reassign its high school foreign language teachers to elementary school

To amend Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to require local school systems which receive certain state funds to reassign its high school foreign language teachers to elementary school; to provide for applicability; to encourage local school systems to provide high school foreign language courses through virtual courses; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Sponsors: (1) Williams,Tommie 19th(2) Harp,Seth 29th(3) Weber,Dan 40th(4) Shafer,David 48th(5) Thomas,Don 54th(6) Chance,Ronnie 16th
Status:02/21/08 - Senate Read and Referred

SB 500 Education; change calculations for equalization grants to include a factor for median household income

To amend Code Section 20-2-165 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to equalization grants under the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to change the calculations for equalization grants to include a factor for median household income; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Amounts to cuts of the equalization grant, said cuts to affect only sixteen systems, but involving over $30 million that those systems earn under the formula

Sponsors: (1) Carter,Joseph 13th(2) Chance,Ronnie 16th
Status:02/21/08 - Senate Read and Referred

SB 506 SHAPE Act; require local school systems to conduct physical fitness testing of students; state physical education instruction requirements

To amend Part 3 of Article 16 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the health of students in elementary and secondary education, so as to enact the "Student Health and Physical Education Act"; to require local school systems to conduct physical fitness testing of students and to comply with state physical education instruction requirements; to provide for aggregate reporting of data; to provide for public inspection of such data; to establish a position within the Department of Education to coordinate activities relating to physical education; to designate unhealthy school systems under certain conditions; to provide for a recognition program established by the Governor to acknowledge healthy school systems and schools; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Schools have enough mandated assessment, now they want to do BMI testing of students?

Sponsors: (1) Carter,Joseph 13th(2) Thomas,Don 54th(3) Seay,Valencia 34th(4) Rogers,Chip 21st(5) Hill,Judson 32nd(6) Moody,Dan 56th
Status:04/04/08 - House Third Reading Lost - 02/29/08 - Senate Passed

SB 507 Public Assistance; basic therapy services for children with disabilities; establish requirements; definitions

To amend Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to public assistance, so as to establish requirements for basic therapy services ('Basic therapy services' means occupational therapy, speech therapy, physical therapy, or other services) for children with disabilities detected under screening activities required by federal law; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for definitions; to assure similar treatments and services for categorically needy and medically fragile children; to provide certain requirements relating to administrative prior approval for services and appeals; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Sponsors: (1) Moody,Dan 56th(2) Carter,Joseph 13th(3) Johnson,Eric 1st(4) Brown,Robert 26th(5) Butler,Gloria 55th(6) Seay,Valencia 34th
Status:04/01/08 - House Passed - 03/11/08 - Senate Passed

SB 512 Education; provide grants to North Georgia College students who accept a military commission

To amend Part 3 of Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Georgia Student Finance Authority, so as to provide for grants to students attending North Georgia College who accept a military commission; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for a definition; to provide for the amount of the grant; to provide for application for grants, certification of eligibility, and refunds; to provide for a pro rata reduction when funds are insufficient; to provide for audits of the college; to provide for a penalty for false statements; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Sponsors: (1) Douglas,John 17th(2) Pearson,Chip 51st(3) Harp,Seth 29th(4) Murphy,Jack 27th(5) Schaefer,Nancy 50th
Status:03/05/08 - House Second Readers - 02/29/08 - Senate Passed

SB 514 Education; determination of residency of students; change provisions

To amend Part 2 of Article 2 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the University System of Georgia, so as change provisions relative to determination of residency of students; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Sponsors: (1) Harp,Seth 29th(2) Cowsert,Bill 46th
Status:03/06/08 - Senate Read Second Time

SB 535 Local Boards of Education; require school systems to attain/maintain accreditation; definition; removal of members; provide for procedures

To amend Article 3 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to local boards of education, so as to require local school systems to attain and maintain accreditation; to provide for a definition for the term "accreditation"; to provide for the removal of all members of a local board of education of a school system which fails to attain or maintain accreditation; to provide for procedures; to provide for the filling of vacancies; to provide for election of subsequent members; to provide for powers, duties, and authority of the State Board of Education; to provide for applicability of the foregoing with respect to certain local laws and local constitutional amendments; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Sponsors: (1) Chance,Ronnie 16th(2) Heath,Bill 31st(3) Carter,Joseph 13th(4) Johnson,Eric 1st
Status:03/06/08 - Senate Read Second Time

SB 361 Georgia Credit Protection Act; provide definitions; credit reports; provide method of placing and removing security freeze

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 10 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to selling and other trade practices, so as to provide for definitions; to permit a consumer to place a security freeze on his or her credit report; to provide a method for placing and removing a security freeze; to provide exceptions; to prohibit the release of a credit report that is subject to a security freeze, except in certain instances; to allow certain fees to be charged in connection with a security freeze; to regulate changes to a credit report that is subject to a security freeze; to prohibit certain uses of a consumer's personal information; to provide for enforcement; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Sponsors: (1) Rogers,Chip 21st(2) Hamrick,William 30th(3) Shafer,David
48th(4) Grant,Johnny 25th(5) Goggans,Greg 7th(6) Staton,Cecil 18th
Status:03/18/08 - House Committee Favorably Reported - 02/19/08 - Senate Passed

Bruce Rogers is presently serving as GASP's monitor, known as "SmartWatch", for state's legislative activities during the year. He is employed in Effingham County and serves Rincon Elementary, ECMS, and ECHS.