Parent Press: Week 5 of the 2022 Legislative Session
This week in the Gold Dome we saw an acceleration of bills moving through the legislative process. Here are some of the highlights and lowlights of this week.
Education Bills in Committee
The Education and Youth Committee held hearings on three significant bills this week:
SB 377
SB 377 'banning divisive concepts' from being taught in schools had a hearing on Monday. Despite a room full of advocates and citizens ready to share their views on this bill with the committee, no public testimony was heard. The vague language of the bill led to vague answers from the bill's sponsor. Claims were made that this will not impact the teaching of history, although part of what is banned is any teaching that would cause ‘discomfort’ because of race. Our history is discomforting at times. It is also unclear where the line is on past and present. We can teach about the John Lewis’ role in the Civil Rights movement, but can we teach about his visit to BLM Plaza in the last weeks of his life? His recent fight for voting rights? Can we teach about how red-lining policies of the past impact the African American community today? This bill will prevent thoughtful discussions in classrooms about race and racism which are important to understand our past and become a better society. And, the bill could take us backwards even further because the vague language of the bills may cause teachers to avoid teaching facts about history out of fear of complaints and retribution.
and read more here:
SB 449
This bill has been dubbed the ‘Parent’s Bill of Rights’ and basically codifies into state law onerous reporting mechanisms to inform parents of school curriculum. These rights already exist. More importantly, our schools welcome parent involvement in their children’s education and strive to provide opportunities to keep parents informed. This is the Governors bill and is absolutely an election year stunt but, it could have consequences that limit teachers’ freedom to alter lesson plans to respond to student interest and current events. The onerous reporting mechanisms is an unfunded mandate on already strapped school districts and over-burdened teachers.
Both of these bills will be heard in the Education and Youth Committee on Monday at 3pm in CLOB 307. Public Feedback is critical. You can find the members of the Committee listed here:
Education and Youth Committee Members
SB 435
Another bill banning transgender youth from participating in school sports was filed this session. The hearing room was packed again, but public testimony had to wait for a replay of a slickly produced video about a Connecticut student supporting this sports ban and was limited to 1 minute per person. This bill is trying to address issues that do not currently in Georgia. Our transgender youth are already struggling, and elite sports organizations are developing nuanced and inclusive policies. Why are we debating the exclusion of vulnerable children from sports? It's cruel. I voted no, but this bill passed through committee on a party line vote.
This article frames the issue well, and includes this quote from Karissa Niehoff, executive director of the National Federation of State HS Associations, the organization overseeing high school sports:
“We don’t look at [fairness] in terms of winning and losing. It’s more about opportunity and access. We want to be fair there first.” That matters specifically for trans students, she noted, because “it’s not easy to be a high school kid to begin with — growing up is tough. To be a transgender adolescent is an extra challenge. This is about life, not winning and losing in sports.”
You can read the recently released International Olympic Committee Framework here.
Redistricting
DeKalb County
There are two sets of maps moving through the General Assembly for the DeKalb County Commission. The DeKalb House delegation held hearings this week on the maps submitted by the DeKalb County Commission and is moving to pass the bill. Another bill in the Senate proposes a change the County Commission districts that would eliminate the super districts and shift to 7 smaller districts with equal population. Legally, a change in the commission structure must be done through a change in the DeKalb charter and a voter referendum. The current bill proposed in the Senate has been amended to include provisions for a voter referendum.
I believe this is putting the cart before the horse. I served on the DeKalb Operations Review Task Force 8 years ago. One of the most important recommendations from this task force was to conduct a DeKalb County Charter Review. This process is long overdue. I am grateful to DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond for appointing a chairman this week.
I believe the Charter Review should be completed before major changes to the County Commission are proposed. The redistricting deadline is approaching so I expect movement on passing maps this week.
Richmond County
Again, there is another county redistricting proposal by Republicans to circumvent the maps approved through a comprehensive local process. These are continued attempts to disenfranchise voters.
You can read Senator Harold Jones’ statement here and watch my comments on the senate floor:
Cityhood Proposals
There are several cityhood proposals in the General Assembly now and even more in the organizing stages in communities. The goal of many of these proposals is to bring the administration of some services closer to the people they serve. These goals are understandable, but the solutions are complicated in part due to the Georgia State Constitution.
Counties are allowed to provide services that we may associate with cities, like police, fire, sewer, parks and recreation and garbage collection, as a result of Amendment 19 of the Georgia Constitution. So essentially, any new city or expansion of a city within a county is in effect a de-annexation from the county. The constitution also does not define how the complicated de-annexing process should work for both entities, or identify which services require scale or are better managed at the county level. The Georgia Constitution also says a city must deliver a minimum of 3 services but does not define what these are or allow for a smaller form of government – like a township or village.
This is why Sen. Sally Harrell, Sen. Kim Jackson and I are considering authoring a constitutional amendment that specifically spells out which services need to stay with the county. I will keep you posted on this effort.
In the meantime, city proposals are moving forward with 4 new cities proposed in Cobb County and Buckhead City.
Buckhead City
The Buckhead City proposal is similar to the 2018 Eagles Landing referendum which would have siphoned off half the tax revenue from Stockbridge had voters not voted this down. Buckhead City would have significant impact on Atlanta Police, APS, could impact the entire state due to a loss of bond ratings. Both Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan and Speaker of the House David Ralston have said that they do not support this process moving forward this year, with a newly inaugurated Mayor just taking office, but we will continue to watch closely. Read more here:
New Cobb County Cities
Three new cities in Cobb County are being rushed through the General Assembly: 1) HB 841 East Cobb passed in the Senate this week 2) HB 840 Lost Mountain in west Cobb and 2) HB 826 Vinings passed through Committee today. Collectively, these cities, along with one additional proposal for the city of Mableton, would have a significant impact on Cobb County services and citizens, which should be part of careful consideration and analysis.
Other Bills of Note
SB 456
SB 456 is the latest attempt to limit abortion rights through barriers to access for women. This bill uses faulty science and misleading definitions to eliminate telehealth consultations for women seeking a pill-induced abortion. The FDA recently amended their abortion-inducing pill consultation guidelines to permit telehealth consultations, which ultimately improves access for women in need. SB 456 requires a woman to conduct an in-person consultation with a mandatory ultrasound and blood test, increasing the time-spent in office as well as the cost of the visit. Further, this bill disallows access to abortion-inducing pills on college campuses – it is unclear whether this bill would extend to and limit prescribing abilities of university hospitals. This bill is a regressive, destructive measure that moves Georgia backwards in the fight for healthcare access for all.
SB 456 passed the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services with a 7 to 5 vote. I continue to oppose any effort to add barriers to health care for women.
SB 319
'Permitless Carry' was not brought to the Senate Floor this week. There is also a new bill SB 478 that limits where gun permits are required. We don't know what the next steps will be, but we are keeping an ear to the ground. Stay Tuned!
Good Bills that Passed this Week
SB 257
This Criminal justice reform legislation would close loopholes in the laws that restrict the criminal history of individuals who are pardoned or first offenders. It impacts individuals who were granted a pardon, so long as the offense was not a violent felony or a sexual offense, and those eligible for first offender treatment who were not informed about the option. This law does not apply for repeat offenders. Nonviolent offenders should be able to seal their criminal record and have opportunities to move on with their lives, and this legislation does exactly that. Senate Democrats worked hard to move this legislation through the Senate. SB257 has now headed over to the House
SB 388
SB 388 will provide one year of Medicaid coverage for new low-income mothers - an increase from the current period of Medicaid coverage of 6 months. This would be a step towards reducing the terrible maternal mortality rate in the state of Georgia, which are among the worst in the country and are particularly high for Black women. We can do even more by expanding Medicaid, long overdue in Georgia. SB 388 is now headed to the House.
Virtual Town Hall
If you missed our town hall this week, watch the recording here:
DeKalb County Covid Resources:
Order 4 free at home Covid tests: www.COVIDtests.gov,
DeKalb County testing and vaccine resources:
https://www.dekalbhealth.net/covid-19-dashboard/
Questions? Please contact me at elena@elenaparent.com.