WE NEED YOU AT THE CAPITOL
EMAIL AND CALL LEGISLATORS TOO

Be at the Capitol each day you can starting at 10am on Monday March 11, 13, 14, 18, 21, 22, 25, 26, 28, 29, and Sine Die, the last day of session on Tuesday April 2nd.

We have to support  #HB426  Hate Crimes bill on the Senate side.

We have to be ready to fight against the voting machines lobby bill  #HB316 , ineffective Medicaid waivers bill  #SB106 , and anti-safe abortion and women’s rights bill  #HB481

#HB 481 will be on the Senate Science and Technology committee. Call and Email EVERYDAY to oppose #HB481.

Renee Unterman (404) 463-1368 renee.unterman@senate.ga.gov

Greg Dolezal (404) 656-7127
greg.dolezal@senate.ga.gov

Lee Anderson (404) 656-5114
lee.anderson@senate.ga.gov


Pictures below from Crossover when #HB481 was debated
How Did your Legislator Vote on #HB481?
Red means Voted to Not Pass the bill and instead support Women's Right to Self-Determination

Green means Voted Yes to Pass the bill against women's right self-determination

White means they excused themselves from voting and didn't take stand

Yellow means they just didn't vote
Legislative Session Update
Make sure you Lobby for this Bills Too

HB 218 , E xtends the time limit by which students can qualify for the HOPE scholarship , passed the full House and is viable for final passage in the Senate before the end of the session. Rep. Lopez Romero proudly sponsored similar legislation during her first term!

HB198, Elimination of the Certificate of Need system, failed to pass the full house

HB316 , This bill follows the SAFE Commission regarding voting machines and against recommendation of cybersecurity experts, passed the full House for passage along party lines

HB426, Would increase penalties for hate crimes in Georgia; R evises the criteria for imposition of punishment for crimes involving bias or prejudice, passed the full House for passage in Senate

HB 444 , This bill makes changes to  the Dual Enroll ment program , passed the full House with more debate expected in the Senate as lawmakers seek to address the ballooning cost of the program and codify its goals
Other House Bills Passed
on Crossover Day
Crossover Day — the deadline by which bills must pass in one chamber of the legislature to move to the other in order to be passed this year — brought an array of bills in both the House and Senate


Overview of Georgia’s 2020 Fiscal Year Budget

Department of Education:

  • All certified teachers and staff will receive a $2,775 pay increase.
  • $500,000 added to fund feminine hygiene products for low-income students.
  • $400,000 added to provide funds for campus personnel services and law enforcement while students are present.

Higher Education (University System of Georgia, Technical College System of Georgia)

  • Reduction of Dual Enrollment program funding by $4 million.
  • Removal of the state match portion for the REACH Georgia Scholarship.
  • $747,600 for local law enforcement security at 4-H facilities.
  • $544,761 to increase formula funds for public library materials.
  • $348,534 for Aviation Maintenance Technician program instructors.
  • Additional bonds:
  • University System of Georgia: $1,838,406 in additional bonds for library projects for the University of Georgia, Augusta University, Savannah State University, Georgia Southern University, East Georgia State College, the Georgia Public Library Service and the Georgia Public Telecommunications Commission.
  • Technical College System of Georgia: $781,788 in taxable bonds for college and career academies, a transportation and conference center at Savannah Technical College and a commercial driver’s license (CDL) facility at South Georgia Technical College

Department of Behavioral Health and Development Disabilities
  • $500,000 in state matching funds for the HomeFirst public-private partnership which will provide behavioral health services and supported housing for the homeless.

Department of Community Health
  • $10.6 million for direct care staff rate enhancement for nursing homes to help with retention.
  • Other nursing home support including $330,000 to support enhanced background checks; $109,342 for a 3 percent increase in the ventilator reimbursement rate; and $200,762 to fund a $2.50 increase in the personal needs allowance.
  • $500,000 for Federally Qualified Health Center start-up grants in Screven and Chatham counties.
  • $1,875,000 in existing funds for a Rural Health System Innovation Center.
  • $1.9 million for 139 new primary care residency slots.
  • $828,000 for 54 OB/GYN residency slots.
  • $500,000 for the Center of Excellence on Maternal Mortality at Morehouse School of Medicine.

Department of Public Health
  • $2.4 million to screen an additional four new disorders in newborn infants.
  • $1 million added for maternal mental health screening and referral in rural and underserved areas; $500,000 for two satellite perinatal support sites in Jenkins and Wilcox counties; $200,000 for a maternal mortality review committee.
  • $500,000 to provide feminine hygiene products for low-income students.
  • $300,000 for regional cancer coalitions to provide screening, education and navigation.
  • $150,000 for sickle cell outreach offices in Columbus, Valdosta and Albany.
  • $150,000 for a nurse peer assistance program to support nurses recovering from substance abuse.

GCPS accepting applications for Instructional Resources Review Committee
Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) is inviting community members to apply for the Instructional Resources Review Committee, a group of community and school system representatives charged with the annual review of proposed instructional resources

Completed applications should be returned by March 15, 2019, to the attention of Jadd Jarusinski, director of Instructional Resources and Support, at the  J. Alvin Wilbanks Instructional Support Center , located at 437 Old Peachtree Rd. NW in Suwanee.




Gwinnett Youth Commission

Gwinnett County is seeking future youth leaders in the 10th, 11th & 12th grades, who want to serve their county on behalf of their peers and learn how to impact decisions that effect youth in our community. Interested candidates must apply by  Friday, March 29


The Gwinnett Youth Commission trains and empowers youth to...
  • Interact with Gwinnett County Government Leaders   
  • Speak on behalf of Gwinnett County youth
  • Help local government better understand the issues facing Gwinnett youth   
  • Serve as youth ambassadors for the county
  • Plan community events and participate in volunteer projects

Eligibility:   To be considered for the program, youth must be a Gwinnett County resident and:

  • Attend a school within Gwinnett County (Gwinnett County Public Schools, Buford City Schools, Private, Charter or Home Schools)
  • Be in grades 10, 11, or 12 during the 2019-2020 academic year
  • Complete an application
  • Submit a recommendation letter from a teacher, community or faith leader

*The class is limited to 30 participants each cycle

WANT TO VISIT US AT THE CAPITOL, PLAN A CAPITOL DAY, OR RECOGNIZE AN EXTRAORDINARY GROUP OR INDIVIDUAL?

EMAIL REQUESTS TO LESLIE@VOTEBRENDALOPEZ.COM
VOLUNTEER !!!

We need you to organize and advocate for a more inclusive and progressive Georgia