2010 Legislative Session Update: Week Eleven

Dear Neighbor:

As many of you know, the Georgia National Guard is finishing their mission in Afghanistan. I want to thank you for your prayers and support as my son, Trey, safely returns this week. I also ask for your continued prayers for all the soldiers as they return to their families as well as the 8 families whose sons paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

No Texting While Driving Passes the Senate

Senate Bill 360, also known as Caleb’s Law, passed unanimously out of the Senate. This law serves as an attempt to prevent needless wrecks and deaths that can occur when drivers text while behind the wheel. It will prohibit those 18 and under from using wireless telecommunication devices; text messages while driving. It now goes to the House for further debate.

Expanding Water Supply Across the State

The Senate voted in favor of legislation to allow for the development of public private partnerships for reservoirs. Balfour explains, “it is important to meet our state’s future water demand. Increasing water storage is the best way to ensure Georgia’s this as well as Georgia’s economic development.” This bill authorizes the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority Water Supply Division and local governments to enter into a water use agreement with the owner of any private reservoir. This bill will help expand water supply across the state at less expense to Georgia taxpayers.

Financial Relief for Teachers and Schools

On Monday, the Georgia Senate voted unanimously to give teachers and schools financial relief during the state’s worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Under this legislation, the number of professional learning units (PLU) teachers are required to earn in order to keep their teaching certificate will be cut in half.

The legislation also establishes a Certification and Professional Learning Task Force to review certificate renewal requirements and make recommendations on how to better cultivate an education system that improves teaching and student learning. The task force will consist of 16 members, including representatives from the state’s K-12 and higher education systems

Other Bills that Unanimously Passed the Senate

Senate Bill 387 provides career counseling and advisement for students in grades 6 through 12. This bill is a vital step for Georgia to qualify for specific federal funding to aid its financially struggling school systems

Senate Bill 392 will require educational institutions to verify that motorized transportation of students are properly licensed and certified.

Healthy Georgians Act of 2010 allows individual and group health plans to include and operate wellness programs. These programs encourage people to exercise, quit smoking, and adopt other healthy lifestyle habits so that they’ll have less medical problems in the future.

Senate Bill 427 creates the Georgia Foundation for Public Education. The bill establishes the foundation as a public, tax-exempt, charitable instrument of the state that will be able to solicit and accept financial contributions to support educational excellence in Georgia schools.

I appreciate your support throughout the 2010 legislation session. It is an honor to serve you.

Please contact me with questions or concerns.

Best Regards,

Don

This entry was posted on Friday, March 26th, 2010 at 1:05 am and is filed under News & Events. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.