Legislative Session
Day 17
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Report Snapshot
PAGE, GAEL & GACTE Day on the Hill 2019
Second Hearing on HB 109 (TRS)
House Ways & Means Committee Hears Voucher Bill
Senate Judiciary Subcommittee Takes No Action on Wire Tapping and Felony Terroristic Threat Bills
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Upcoming Events
Wednesday, Feb. 20 – Legislative Day 18
House Appropriations, 8 a.m., 506 CLOB
Senate Education, 2 p.m., 307 CLOB
House Education Subcommittee on Academic Achievement, 2 p.m., 417 CLOB
Senate Retirement, 4 p.m., 125 CAP
Thursday, Feb. 21 – Legislative Day 19
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PAGE, GAEL & GACTE Day on the Hill 2019
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More than 200 educators, administrators, and student ambassadors gathered beneath the Gold Dome today to listen, learn and, most importantly, advocate during
Day on the Hill 2019.
Following a post-breakfast welcome by representatives of PAGE, GAEL (Georgia Association of Educational Leaders) and GACTE (Georgia Association of Colleges for Teacher Education), attendees heard from several legislators: House Education Chair, Rick Jasperse; Senate Education Chair, P. K. Martin; and House Retirement Chair, Tommy Benton. Topics addressed included such vital issues as TRS (
HB 109
) and Dyslexia screening (
SB 48
).
Each legislator also spoke of the critical importance of forming direct lines of communication with senators and representatives. This was an excellent lead-in to the advocacy component of the day: one-on-one dialogue with legislators at the velvet ropes.
The event culminated in a lunch buffet during which State Superintendent Richard Woods brought remarks regarding the upward mobility of Georgia public education.
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Second Hearing on HB 109 (TRS)
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Rep. Tommy Benton (R-Jefferson) held the second hearing on
HB 109
on Tuesday afternoon. Please note that the version of the bill at the previous link is NOT the substitute version. We will share the new version of the bill as soon as it is received.
Benton began his comments by reminding the committee and audience that he is open to suggestions to improve the legislation. He does not intend to ask for a vote until all necessary changes are made to the bill. PAGE’s report on the original version of the bill can be found
HERE
. Benton presented changes to HB 109 including changing the allowable employee contribution rate to five to nine percent rather than six to ten percent. Also, instead of changing the required retirement age to 60, the bill would implement the “rule of 85,” meaning that years of experience and age must total 85 years in order to retire.
PAGE’s Executive Director Craig Harper expressed PAGE’s appreciation of Benton’s willingness to work with PAGE on suggested changes to HB 109. He also thanked Benton for his many years of service as an educator.
Harper described PAGE’s support for all educators in the teacher pipeline, including students in teacher preparation programs and future educators impacted by the bill. He expressed concern with the employee contribution range of five to nine percent, stating that new educators are often shocked when they see the amount they must contribute to TRS. Should the TRS Board of Trustees decide to adjust the employee contribution rate to nine percent, the proposed $3,000 raise would be nearly absorbed by the increased contribution rate.
Harper commended Chairman Benton for introducing the “rule of 85” rather than changing the retirement age to 60. However, he stated that more tweaks can be made to this provision, and more clarification can be provided for an educator who has chosen to enter the profession for his or her second career.
Harper closed his comments stating, “We know there is a lot more work to be done on this legislation, and we look forward to being partners with you to work on the bill.”
Rep. Patty Bentley requested more information from Harper regarding PAGE’s work on the teacher pipeline. He described PAGE’s efforts with potential educators through the Future Georgia Educators program and PAGE’s support of the Teaching as a Profession career pathway.
PAGE members that participated in the PAGE/GAEL/GACTE Day on Capitol Hill earlier in the day provided testimony to the committee. Paul Harwart, a teacher at Lakeview-Fort Valley High School in Catoosa County, shared his concerns on the impact that HB 109 may have on recruiting educators in career, technical, and agricultural education programs. Jason Pratt, an eighth grade math teacher in Clarke County, also expressed his concern about the impact the bill would have on recruitment and retention of educators. Pratt suggested that future educators currently participating in educator preparation programs be “grandfathered” in to the current TRS program with HB 109 affecting those entering teacher prep programs in the future..
John Palmer, an educator from Cobb County, shared Teachers Rallying Against Insurance Changes’ (TRAGIC’s) concerns with the bill as did a representative of the Georgia Association of Educators’ (GAE’s) retired educators.
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House Ways & Means Committee Hears Voucher Bill
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The House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Public Finance & Policy heard
HB 301
today. The legislation, sponsored by House Education member Wes Cantrell (R-Woodstock) seeks to create a new voucher program in Georgia, via an Education Savings Account. When he presented the legislation, Cantrell mentioned that he is a former educator. “I see the bill as a pro-public education bill,” Cantrell said. He continued, “one size does not fit all. Not every public school is equipped to fit the needs of every student.”
In his comments, Cantrell alleged that research strongly demonstrates that voucher programs improve educational outcomes for students utilizing them in private schools as well as students who remain in public schools. HB 301 sets up a “scholarship account” under the auspices of the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement. The account, comprised of the state portion of k-12 funding that would have followed a student to his or her local public school, could be spent by the qualifying student’s family on:
- Private school tuition
- Tuition at a higher education institution
- Tutoring services provided by a certified educator
- Payment for the purchase of a curriculum
- Tuition and fees for private online learning
- Occupational, behavioral, physical, or speech-language therapies
- Transportation fees
- Computers
Students who fall into the following categories would be eligible for the voucher program:
- Students adopted from foster care
- Students of a parent who is an active duty military service member stationed in Georgia
- Students with certain disabilities with an Individualized Education Program (IEP)
- Students with family incomes below 200 percent of the federal poverty level currently enrolled in public schools
- Students who have been bullied
- Students who have spent the year prior in public school
Cantrell reported that polling shows strong support for the voucher program, which would go into effect in 2020. Enrollment in the program would be capped at ½ of 1 percent of eligible students, escalating to an enrollment cap of 5 percent total.
Along with representatives from the Georgia Parent Teacher Association, the Georgia School Boards Association, the Georgia School Superintendents Association, Public Education Matters, and Cherokee County Schools, PAGE testified against the bill. PAGE Director of Legislative Services Margaret Ciccarelli asked subcommittee members to provide a fiscal note on the bill to demonstrate its fiscal impact. A fiscal note on very similar legislation which Cantrell sponsored last year, legislation which capped student participation at half of what the he proposes to cap participation at in HB 301, was estimated to cost $22.8 million to implement and $23 million each year thereafter.
Ciccarelli noted PAGE’S longstanding opposition to private school vouchers and Georgia’s two existing voucher programs, one of which was expanding in 2018 to divert $100 million annually from the state general fund to private schools. Ciccarelli noted that policymakers are fully funding QBE for the first time in over a decade and are struggling to find ways to fund priorities in public schools such as educators pay raises. Noting the $3,000 raise promised to some educators (teachers, principals, and superintendents) and the $35 million shortfall needed to fund the $3,000 raise for school counselors, school social workers, school psychologists, media specialists, and special education specialists, Ciccarelli expressed concern about the cost of HB 301 and reiterated the need for a fiscal note.
Several legislators on the subcommittee objected to Ciccarelli’s comments. Rep. Chuck Martin (R-Alpharetta) reiterated his belief that HB 301 would save local school districts money. Two parents as well as privatization advocates from GeorgiaCAN, ExcelinEd, and the Georgia Center for Opportunity spoke in favor of the legislation.
The committee adjourned without taking action on the bill, and the committee chair Ron Stephens (R-Savannah) indicated HB 301 would come up in subcommittee again.
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Senate Judiciary Subcommittee Takes No Action on Wire Tapping and Felony Terroristic Threat Bills
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A Senate Judiciary subcommittee took no action on two bills with potential impact on schools:
- SB 59 by Sen. Jeff Mullis (R-Chickamauga) seeks to change current Georgia law which requires only one party to consent to wiretapping. The bill, which Mullis noted has stirred some concern in education and law enforcement circles, would require all parties to a conversation to consent to recording the conversation. Mullis indicated that he is open to carving out some exceptions, and those concerned should contact him.
- SB 64 by Sen. Williams Ligon (R-Brunswick) would create a felony designation for juveniles who make terroristic threats against schools. When he presented the bill, Ligon explained that he sponsored it at the request of judges and district attorneys who feel that the current misdemeanor terroristic threat law for juveniles is insufficient.
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Margaret Ciccarelli
Director of Legislative Affairs
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Ramona Mills
Director of Communications
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Josh Stephens
Legislative Affairs Specialist
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