Rep. Barbara Massey Reece's Legislative Report- Feb. 17

Charter Schools

Changes have been made by the authors of a proposed constitutional amendment to allow the state to set up charter schools at the local level. HR 1162 fell 10 votes short of the required two-thirds majority approval in the House of Representatives on Feb. 8 but is eligible for reconsideration later in the session. Even with changes, the legislation still allows a state appointed commission to approve charter schools by-passing the elected local school boards.

Our public schools have absorbed billions of dollars in cuts resulting in larger class size, teacher furloughs, and instructional programs dropped or cut. To me, it is not logical for the state to set up charter schools when out public schools have not been fully funded.

A recent report compiled by the Georgia Department of Education has found that traditional public schools had slightly more success than charter schools in achieving "adequate yearly progress" (AYP) standards during the 2010-11 school year. According to the report, Georgia had 162 charter schools in operation serving 56 districts.

Of these charter schools, 70 percent made AYP that year, compared to 73 percent of traditional public schools. Over the past five years, the overall performance of charter schools compared to traditional public schools has been mixed but both groups have traditionally demonstrated the same general performance trends, the report added.

House Action Last Week

Legislation approved by the House this week includes:

• HB 728, which would clarify provisions of state law pertaining to property covenants

• HB 729, the annual effort by the General Assembly to revise the state tax code so that it aligns with changes in federal tax laws.

• HB 744, the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act

• HB 785, which provides that the issuance of state licenses for physicians and dentists "shall not be conditioned upon or related to participation in any public or private health insurance plan, public health care system, public service initiative or emergency room coverage."

• HB 800, which would change certain qualifications for assistant adjutants general.

• HB 824, which would revise the formula for allocating the state's equalization grants to school systems in less-developed counties.

• HB 835, which would allow a 5 percent variance of weight limitations for towing disabled commercial vehicles.

Prison Cell Phones

The House also adopted HR 1325, which urges Congress to change the federal Communications Act of 1934 in order to permit the use of "cellular jammers" to prevent illegal cell phone use by prison inmates.

Our State Institutions and Property Committee has discussed the need to be able to prevent cell phones being brought into the prison for inmate use. During the last year, the Department of Corrections confiscated more than 8,500 illegal cell phones. Inmates have used cell phones to coordinate sit downs, riots, and gang activities.

Nursing Education

Gov. Nathan Deal has signed legislation to amend a state law that inadvertently excluded some military-trained nurses from a license to practice in Georgia. HB 675 revises the definition of approved nursing education programs for registered professional nurses and licensed practical nurses. Through the passage and signing of this bill, around 150 nursing professionals will now be eligible for employment in Georgia. The bill passed the General Assembly unanimously.

January Revenues

The state of Georgia's net tax collections for the month of January 2012 totaled $1.57 billion, an increase of $11 million or 0.7 percent compared to January 2011. Through seven months of FY2012, net revenue collections totaled $9.8 billion year-to-date, an increase of $420 million or 4.5 percent compared to the same YTD period last year.

Session Schedule

Monday, Feb. 20, will be the 22^{nd day of the 2012 Georgia General Assembly, meaning we have gone past the halfway point of this year's session. Lawmakers are scheduled to be in session four days next week and three days the following week, leaving some time for committees to work on legislation prior to "Cross-Over Day," which is the 30th day of the session and the final day for either the House of Representatives or the Senate to approve legislation in time for it to be considered by the other house this year. Cross-Over Day is scheduled for Wednesday, March 7.}