♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >>> AS TOUGH AS THIS DAY IS AND THE REST OF THE SESSION WILL BE WITHOUT HIS LEADERSHIP IN THE RULES COMMITTEE AND SITTING IN THAT CHAIR HE WOULD WANT US TO CONTINUE OUR WORK, SPEAKER, ON BEHALF OF THIS GREAT STATE AND IN HIS MEMORY THAT'S WHAT WE WILL DO.

>> THE GEORGIA HOUSE LOSES ONE OF HIS OWN.

BRIAN KEMP VISITS THE CHAMBER TO TALK ABOUT THE FORMER HOUSE COLLEAGUE LONGTIME MEMBER REPRESENTATIVE RICHARD SMITH OF COLUMBUS.

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "LAWMAKERS" ON DAY 12 OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

I'M DONNA LOWERY IN ATLANTA.

THE GEORGIA HOUSE STARTED ON THE SOMBER NEWS WITH THE NEWS OF THE DEATH OVERNIGHT OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE RULES COMMITTEE.

YOU WILL HEAR MORE OF THE TOUCHING TRIBUTES TO SMITH COMING UP.

IN THE STUDIO, OUR GUESTS WILL TALK ABOUT GEORGIA'S PUSH TO IMPROVE READING SKILLS.

THE EFFORT BEGAN LAST YEAR WITH THE LAW ESTABLISHING THE GEORGIA COUNCIL ON LITERACY AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT BILLS PATTERNED AROUND SO-CALLED RED FLAG LAWS AND OTHER STATES AIMED AT PREVENTING PEOPLE DEEMED DANGEROUS FROM BUYING FIREARMS, BUT FIRST, CAPITOL CORRESPONDENT SARAH CALAS TELL US WHAT TOOK PLACE TODAY AT THE GOLD DOME.

>> HI, DONNA.

LAWMAKERS STARTED DAY 12 WITH SAD AND SHOCKING NEWS.

>> HOUSE RULES CHAIRMAN RICHARDS SMITH PASSED AWAY OVERNIGHT AFTER BATTLING THE FLU.

HE WAS 78.

SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE JOHN BURNS PAID AN EMOTIONAL TRIBUTE TO SMITH WHO HAD SERVED IN THE HOUSE FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS.

>> HE KNEW YOU ALL.

HE CARED FOR YOU ALL.

HE APPRECIATED YOU ALL.

AND I DARE SAY HE LOVED US ALL.

>> GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP ADDRESSED THE CHAMBER.

>> WHEN HE WAS YOUR FRIEND YOU KNEW IT.

THERE WERE TIMES WHEN HE WAS STANDING WITH ME WHEN OTHERS WERE NOT, BUT THAT DIDN'T BOTHER HIM.

HE JUST DID WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS RIGHT.

AND I KNOW HE DID THE SAME THING SERVING AS COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN AND AS THE RULES CHAIRMAN WHICH YOU ALL KNOW IS A VERY TOUGH JOB, BUT HE WAS A GREAT LEGISLATOR.

>> SMITH'S COLLEAGUES IN THE HOUSE REMEMBERED HIM AS A LEADER AND A FRIEND.

>> COLUMBUS HAS LOST A GIANT OF A MAN IN THE LOSS OF RICHARD SMITH.

WE WERE ALL SADDENED AND HEART BROKEN TO HEAR OF HIS PASSING, BUT WHEN I THINK OF RICHARD, I THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT A FRIEND NEVER REALLY DIES AS LONG AS YOU KEEP THEIR MEMORY ALIVE AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT OUR DELEGATION IS GOING TO CONTINUE AND WORK IN THE HONOR AND THE MANNER THAT RICHARD HAS SET OUT FOR US.

>> HE AND I WERE SEATMATES IN THE HOUSE CHAMBER FOR ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AND NOT ONLY WAS HE A GREAT LEGISLATIVE LEADER, BUT HE WAS A PERSONAL FRIEND AND AM SADDENED BY THE LOSS PRAYING FOR HIS FAMILY AND THE ENTIRE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES RIGHT NOW.

HE WILL TRULY BE MISSED AND THE STATE CAPITOL WON'T BE THE SAME WITHOUT HIM.

>> THE HOUSE DECIDED TO SHORTEN THEIR DAY WHILE MEMBERS DEALT WITH THE LOSS OF SMITH, WHILE THE DAY CONTINUED IN THE SENATE IT WAS ALSO A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE.

WHILE SMITH WASN'T A PART OF THEIR CHAMBER THAT DIDN'T STOP SENATORS FROM REMEMBERING HIS LEGACY AND INFLUENCE.

>> RICHARD SMITH WAS A TRUE GENTLEMAN.

HE WAS A TRUE STATESMAN, AND HE IS A VITAL COG IN OUR LOCAL LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION.

RICHARD, YOU KNEW WHERE YOU STOOD AT ALL TIMES.

YOU COULD BE AWAY FROM HIM, WITH HIM AND IT'S GOING TO BE THE SAME WAY, AND I JUST ADMIRED HIM AND HIS GREAT CONTRIBUTION TO THE GREAT STATE OF GEORGIA WILL SORELY BE MISSED.

>> EVERYBODY SAYS THE WORLD'S A LITTLE DARKER AND THERE'S A VACUUM WHEN SOMEBODY THAT THEY CARE ABOUT PASSES AWAY.

MY MENTOR PASSED AWAY, BUT I KNOW HE'S WATCHING OVER ME, AND I KNOW THE SENATOR FROM THE 15th'S GOING TO KEEP ME IN LINE, BUT LET US NEVER FORGET THAT THERE ARE EXAMPLES THAT WE CAN FOLLOW TO MAKE US BETTER HUMAN BEINGS AND RICHARD SMITH WAS ONE OF THOSE EXAMPLES.

>> FOLLOWING A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR SMITH, A SECOND INFLUENTIAL GEORGIAN WAS REMEMBERED.

>> THE PROB LA NATION CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF FORMER FIRST LADY ROSALYNN CARTER.

>> HER GRANDSON JASON CARTER WAS THERE TO CELEBRATE THE MOMENT AND SPEAK TO HER CONTRIBUTION SPOTLIGHTING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

>> I THINK THAT ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF HER LIFE WAS WHEN THIS BODY AND THE STATE HOUSE A FEW YEARS AGO ADOPTED THE PARITY BILL THAT I KNOW A LOT OF YOU WORKED ON WITH RESPECT TO MENTAL ILLNESS AND MY ONLY POINT IN SAYING THAT IS THAT HER LEGACY, I APPRECIATE THIS, BUT HER LEGACY FLOWS THROUGH THIS PLACE IN REAL WAYS, AND I JUST PRAY AS TODAY WE TALKED ABOUT EXAMPLES, WHETHER THEY BE FROM NEOMAYA OR OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO US, WE JUST REMEMBER THAT IT'S POSSIBLE TO DO GOOD HERE.

>> ANOTHER OF THE THREE GEORGE AN SOLDIERS LOST DURING A DRONE ATTACK WAS HONORED BY SENATOR DEREK MALO.

BREONNA MOFF AT WAS A SPECIALIST IN THE U.S. ARMY RESERVE AND PUSHING THE YOUNG SOLDIER TO BE HER BEST.

>> HE DID PUSH HER TO BE BETTER BECAUSE SHE DID JOIN THE UNITED STATES ARMY, AND HE UNDERSTOOD THAT THERE'S NO GREATER LOVE THAN THIS THAN A FRIEND THAT LACE DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIEND.

AND THERE'S NO GREATER SERVICE THAT THOSE THREE AMERICAN HEROES COULD HAVE DONE BY SACRIFICING THEIR OF LIFE SO THAT WE CAN TRULY KNOW JOY FREEDOM.

>> FINALLY, A VISIT FROM SENATOR RAFAEL WARNOCK BRINGING A BIPARTISAN MESSAGE.

>> WHEN WE PASS THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, SENATOR OSSOFF AND I SECURED $1.2 BILLION IN INCENTIVES TO HELP GEORGIA EXPAND.

SO IF WE CAN FIND A BIPARTISAN PATH TO GETTING THIS DONE, THERE'S $1.2 BILLION SITTING THERE FOR THE CITIZENS OF GEORGIA TO MAKE THE GLIDE PATH EASIER, TO GET MEDICAID DONE FOR WORKING FAMILIES IN GEORGIA, AND SO I HOPE WE CAN FIND A WAY TO DO IT.

>> AND AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SENATORS TO LITERALLY REACH ACROSS THE AISLE DURING A BRIEF PRAYER.

THEN THE SENATE GOT BUSY PASSING FIVE BILLS FROM EXPANDING VETERAN PENSIONS TO CREATING AN ANNUAL FIRST RESPONDERS REMEMBRANCE DAY ON SEPTEMBER 11th EACH YEAR.

LATER IN THE DAY, THE UNITED CAMPUS WORKERS VISITED THE CAPITOL TO PUSH FOR BETTER WAGES, COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AND ACADEMIC FREEDOM.

>> PLANS FOR REPRESENTATIVE SMITH'S MEMORIAL SERVICE HAVE YET TO BE ANNOUNCED.

TOMORROW ON DAY 13, GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP IS EXPECTED TO SIGN THE ANTISEMITISM BILL INTO LAW IN A PUBLIC EVENT.

THAT'S ALL FOR MY CAPITOL REPORT, DONNA, BACK TO YOU.

>> A HUGE THANKS TO SARAH FOR THAT REPORT.

>>> ACCORDING TO WORLD POPULATION REVIEW, GEORGIA IS LISTED AS 41 OUT OF 50 STATES WHEN IT COMES TO LOAD LITERACY.

LAST YEAR, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BEGAN TRYING TO TURN THAT AROUND AND JOINING ME ARE TWO PEOPLE WHO ARE PART OF THAT EFFORT.

REPUBLICAN SENATOR BILLY HICKMAN IS CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE AND SCOTT JOHNSON IS CHAIRMAN OF THE GEORGIA LITERACY COUNCIL.

HE IS THE PRINCIPLE OF SOUTHERN STRATEGIC SOLUTIONS OF MURRIETA.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE ON "LAWMAKERS" AS WE START I WANT TO DRAW ATTENTION TO NUMBERS.

WHEN IT COMES TO THIRD GRADE READING LEVELS, 56% OF READERS IN GEORGIA ARE NOT READY TO MOVE ON TO THE FOURTH GRADE BECAUSE OF READING AND ALSO A 2017 DELOITTE STUDY REVEALED OVER 1 MILLION ADULTS ARE LOW LITERATE AND LOW LITERACY IS A GENERATIONAL CYCLE.

THIS IS ALL FROM THE REPORT FROM THE GEORGIA LITERACY COUNCIL AND CHAIRMAN HICKMAN, YOU WERE THE PRIMARY SPONSOR OF THE BILL LAST YEAR SENATE BILL 211 TO SET UP THE GEORGIA LITERACY COUNCIL, SO TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> THOSE NUMBERS THAT YOU GAVE ARE SO EMBARRASSING TO ME AND SO UPSETTING TO LIVE IN SUCH A GREAT STATE AS GEORGIA AND HAVE SUCH A LOW LITERACY RATE.

WE REALLY DIDN'T THINK OUR RATE WAS THAT LOW BECAUSE WE WERE GAUGING EVERYTHING BASED UPON THE GRADUATION RATES.

EVERY SCHOOL IN GEORGIA GRADUATES 85, 90, 95% AND THEN LIKE YOU SAID, 50% OF THEM ARE READING AT A GRADE LEVEL AND THAT'S THE HYPOCRISY ABOUT THE SITUATION.

I DUG DOWN A LITTLE BIT FURTHER IN THE LAST FEW DAYS AND I WANT TO DISCLOSE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM THEY WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT AND THEIR NUMBERS IN 2023 WERE IN THE THIRD GRADE ONLY 59% IN THE THIRD GRADE, 59% OF THE THIRD GRADE WERE NOT READING ON GRADE LEVEL, AND IN THE THIRD GRADE 53% WERE NOT READING AT GRADE LEVEL AND EIGHTH GRADE, 62% AND THIS IS A RICIS THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH AND THANK GOODNESS THAT WE GOT SCOTT JOHNSON IN THE LITERACY COUNCIL LOOKING AT THIS AND WE HAVE BILL 38 IN A FEW MINUTES AND LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THIS BILL.

THIS BILL ACTUALLY FOCUSED ON FOUR DIFFERENT THINGS AND FOCUSED ON FOUR TO FIVE, AND IT FOCUSES ON K THROUGH THREE AND WHETHER COLLEGES AND YESTERDAY ARE UNIVERSITIES ARE TEACHING OUR CHILDREN HOW TO READ AND IT FOCUSES ON THE COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT.

I WANT TO ONE DAY DRIVE INTO YOUR COUNTY, WHEREVER YOU LIVE AND SEE A SIGN THAT SAYS HOME OF GWINNETT COUNTY, THE HIGHEST LITERACY RATES IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA.

IF WE HAD THOSE NUMBERS WE'D BE CHANGING LIVES, WE'D BE CHANGING FAMILIES AND CHANGING GENERATIONS AND THAT'S WHAT THE LITERACY COUNCIL IS GOING TO DO AND THAT'S WHAT HOUSE BILL 538 WILL DO.

>> IT'S A WORK FORCE PROBLEM, TOO.

>> YEAH.

IF YOU CAN'T READ YOU CAN'T WORK AND IT REALLY IS NOT ONLY A WORKFORCE PROBLEM, IT'S A NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUE.

YOU THINK ABOUT THE LEVEL OF THE TECHNOLOGY OF THE ARMED FORCES TODAY AND IF OUR ARMY PEOPLE OR NAVE PEOPLE CAN'T READ THEY CAN'T PROTECT US.

>> THAT'S ABSOLUTELY TRUE AND IT'S FRIGHTENING WHEN YOU PUT IT THAT WAY.

>> SO, MR. JOHNSON, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE GEORGIA LITERACY COUNCIL.

BRING US UP-TO-DATE ON WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN DOING.

>> DONNA, THE LITERACY COUNCIL IS 30 MEMBERS, LEADERS FROM OUR EDUCATION COMMUNITY AND FROM OUR LEGISLATURE AND FROM OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY THAT WILL FOCUS ON CHANGING THE TRAJECTORY OF LITERACY FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR STATE.

WE CAN'T MAINTAIN BEING THE BEST PLACE OR THE BEST PLACE TO DO BUSINESS UNLESS WE'VE GOT GREAT EMPLOYEES SO IT IS A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ISSUE, BUT I LOVE TO SAY EVERY TIME I TALK ABOUT LITERACY THAT THIS IS GEORGIA'S MOST SOLVABLE PROBLEM, AND I TRULY BELIEVE IT IS.

WE'LL TAKE IT ON WITH A TASK FORCE MENTALITY.

THIS COUNCIL HAS A LIFESPAN TO THE END OF 2026.

SO IT'S WANT A FOREVER THING, BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT I HOPE THAT WE WILL CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY AND A LOT OF WHAT OUR IMPORTANCE IS AS CROSS-AGENCY ALIGNMENT ON LITERACY.

SO WE ARE WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, THE DEPARTMENT OF EARLY CARE AND LEARNING AND PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS COMMISSION, THE TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM OF GEORGIA AND THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF GEORGIA AND THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO ALL FOCUS OUR PRIORITY ON LITERACY, AND I THINK WE CAN DO IT AND WE CAN CHANGE OUR TRAJECTORY OF THE LITERACY.

>> I KNOW THE GEORGIA CHAMBER IS VERY INTERESTED.

>> YES.

>> SO THERE'S A LOT OF EFFORT BEHIND ALL OF THIS.

SO CHAIRMAN HICKMAN, ANOTHER VERY IMPORTANT LITERACY BILL ALSO PASSED LAST YEAR AND IT WAS A PARTNER WITH THIS AND IT WAS HOUSE BILL 538.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

>> HOUSE BILL 538 WAS PASSED BY BALLARD.

A GREAT BILL.

WHAT IT DID FOR THOSE OF US IN SIMPLE TERMS IT BRINGS BACK PHONICS TO READING.

HAS DEFINITE DATES IN IT AND DEFINITE TIMELINES.

FOR INSTANCE, AUGUST 1 OF THIS YEAR OF '24, SCHOOLS WILL BE MANDATORY TO GIVE SCREENINGS WHICH IS TESTS IN WHICH CHILDREN CAN READ THREE DIFFERENT TIMES A YEAR, AND IF A CHILD CANNOT MEET CERTAIN LEVELS AND THEN THERE'S A PLAN TO PUT IT IN PLACE TO HELP THAT CHILD LEARN HOW TO READ AND THAT'S A BIG, BIG PART OF THAT.

IT ALSO IS GOING TO WORK TO TEACH OUR EXISTING TEACHERS HOW TO TEACH CHILDREN TO READ.

SO IT'S A VERY MUCH A HANDS ON DECK GET IT DONE BY THE TARGET DATE BILL.

>> AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE -- YOU CAN START ON RIGHT NOW.

THIS ISN'T ONE OF THOSE WAIT A FEW YEARS.

LET'S WORK ON IT RIGHT NOW AND THAT'S WHAT YOU GUYS ARE PLANNING BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY PHONICS IS GONE ANYHOW.

THIS IS BRINGING BACK THAT SOME OF US WERE TAUGHT.

ME, TOO.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO WITH THE GEORGIA LITERACY COUNCIL WHEN IT COMES TO THIS?

>> HOUSE BILL 538 DESCRIBES THAT WE FOCUS IN GEORGIA ON SOMETHING CALLED THE SCIENCE OF READING.

PHONICS IS A PART OF IT, BUT OVERALL IT'S A -- IT'S A -- IT'S A SCIENCE THAT SAYS THIS IS HOW THE BRAIN WORKS AND THIS IS HOW CHILDREN LEARN TO READ BEST AND IT'S ALSO CALLED STRUCTURED LITERACY AND ONE OF THE COUNCIL'S DUTIES IS TO MONITOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF WHAT'S PRESCRIBED IN HOUSE BILL 538 AND REPORT ON THAT PROGRESS TO THE GOVERNOR, THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

>> THERE WILL NEED TO BE ASSESS AMS, RIGHT?

IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT REPORT.

>> >> THAT'S RIGHT, THERE ARE, AND THE COUNCIL IS ALSO ABLE TO DO THINGS LIKE WHEN THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION PASSED A LIST OF SCREEN ERRORS THAT SENATOR HICKMAN MENTIONED THAT CHILDREN WILL BE SCREENED THREE TIMES A YEAR THEN WE WASHGED WITH THE DEAL CENTER AT THE GEORGIA COLLEGE AND STATE UNIVERSITY TO DO AN EVALUATION AND A -- AN E VALUATION TO DETERMINE HOW EFFECTIVE THE SCREENS ARE TO SCREEN THEIR STUDENTS AND THEY DID AN E VALUATION OF THE SCREENERS AND WE DISTRIBUTED IT TO THE STATE.

>> THE BIG THING ALWAYS IS WHO WILL PAY FOR IT AND HOW IS THE STATE GOING TO PAY FOR IT?

IS THERE A FISCAL NOTE ON THIS?

>> THERE IS A FISCAL NOTE AND THERE IS IN THE BUDGET AND I BELIEVE THE NUMBER IS $6.5 MILLION AND THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAS IDENTIFIED AT LEAST 32 LITERACY COACHES THAT WILL BE DIVIDED.

THERE ARE 13 RECENT DISTRICTS IN GEORGIA AND THEY'RE ASSIGNED EACH RECENT DISTRICTS AND THEY WILL MONITOR WHERE THE TEACHERS ARE OR ARE BEING TAUGHT HOW TO TEACH AND THEY'LL HELP TEACHERS MONITOR ALL OF IT.

>> SO IT'S SOMETHING WHERE THERE WILL BE THESE COACHES, BUT CERTAINLY AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL IT WILL HAVE TO COME UP WHERE THEY ARE ABLE TO TEACH THESE TEACHERS HOW TO BETTER TEACH HOW TO READ.

>> YEAH.

I'VE HAD THREE DIFFERENT SUPERINTENDENTS IN THE LAST MONTH WHO SAID THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD IN THEIR WHOLE LIFE AS MUCH TALK ABOUT LITERACY AS THEY HAVE SINCE THESE TWO BILLS HAVE BEEN PASSED.

>> WE HAVE A LOT GOING ON ON OUR STATE WHEN IT COMES TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND THIS IS PARTS OF IT.

>> PRIORITIZATION OF LITERACY IS WHAT THIS IS ABOUT AND WE BELIEVE WE CAN CHANGE THE FUTURE.

>> CAN I MAKE ONE STATEMENT?

>> YES.

>> AS LITERACY GOES UP, CRIME GOES DOWN.

>> AS LIT RASSY GOES UP, TEEN PREGNANCY GOES DOWN.

>> AND AS LITERACY GOES UP,S ANY DOWN.

>> WE'LL KEEP TALKING ABOUT THIS.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT GEORGIA WILL WORK ON IN THE NEXT DECADE, BUT I CAN TELL YOU WITH ASSURANCE IT IS AS IMPORTANT AS ANYTHING OUR STATE WILL ENGAGE IN IN THE N DECADE.

>> WE'LL KEEP UP WITH IT.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR COMING ON THE SHOW TO TALK ABOUT IT.

I APPRECIATE IT.

COMING UP, WE'LL LOOK AT BILLS AIMED AT CURBING GUN VIOLENCE.

>>> "LAWMAKERS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY GEORGIA FARM BUREAU HELPING EVERYONE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE IN OUR STATE AFTER ALL, AG IS GEORGIA'S NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY, FOOD AND FIBER PRODUCTION REPRESENTS OVER 74 BILLION IN OUTPUT OF GEORGIA'S STRONG ECONOMY.

THE GEORGIA FARM BUREAU LEGISLATIVE TEAM WORKS TO REPRESENT PRODUCERS ACROSS GEORGIA AT THE STATE CAP DURING THE SESSION AND YEAR ROUND.

THE VOICE OF GEORGIA FARMERS.

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "LAWMAKERS."

I'M DONNA LOWERY.

FOUR DOZEN GEORGIA MAYORS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE SENT A LETTER URGING THEM TO PASS STRICTER GUN LAWS.

WE'LL LOOK AT EFFORTS TO DO JUST THAT WITH TWO HOUSE DEMOCRATS.

JOINING US IS REPRESENTATIVE SHEA ROBERTS OF SANDY SPRINGS.

SHE'S ON THE GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS JUDICIAL NON-CIVIL STATE PLANNING, COMMUNITY AFFAIRS AND HIS COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS INCLUDE CODE REVISION AND CREATIVE ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT AND TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION.

WELCOME TO "LAWMAKERS."

YOUR FIRST TIME.

APPRECIATE YOU COMING ON.

>> THANK YOU.

?

REPRESENTATIVE ROBERTS I'LL START WITH YOU.

I HAVE A COUPLE OF BILLS FOCUSING ON GUNS AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND TELL US ABOUT HB 584, THE PROTECTIVE ORDER ACT AND HB 185 WHICH WOULD MACK SURE THAT SOMEONE CONVICTED OF FAMILY VIOLENCE OFFENSES CANNOT POSSESS OR PURCHASE A FIREARM.

>> CORRECT.

SO BOTH OF THESE ARE AIMED TOWARDS MAKING SURE THAT FOLKS WHO ARE IN SOME SORT OF MENTAL CRISIS AND HAVE EXHIBITED SOME SORT OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR ARE NOT ABLE TO GET GUNS.

WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT LAW-ABIDING GUN OWNERS HERE.

THE LAST THING WE WANT IS FOR DOMESTIC ABUSERS TO HAVE ACCESS TO GUNS.

YOU KNOW, WOMEN ARE FIVE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DIE IN A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATION IF A GUN IS PRESENT AND ONE IN FIVE WOMEN WILL BE IN SOME SORT OF VIOLENT, DOMESTIC VIOLENT SITUATION AND THAT'S PRETTY SCARY.

THE IDEA IS THERE'S DUE PROCESS THAT SOMETIMES THE CRITICISM, YOU KNOW, THEY EITHER HAVE TO BE CONVICTED OF A MISDEMEANOR OR THEY GET TO GO AND PRESENT THEIR CASE BEFORE A JUDGE AND IF THE JUDGE EXTENDS THE FAMILY PTO SOMETIMES IT'S SIX MONTHS, 12 MONTHS THEN THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO RECEIVE, TRANSPORT, POSSESS FIREARMS, AND THE STATISTICS IN OTHER STATES SHOW THAT THIS HAS IMPROVED THIS ISSUE BY ELF TW%.

WE HAVE A FEDERAL LAW CURRENTLY BEING CONSIDERED BY THE SUPREME COURT AND WE'RE NERVOUS ABOUT HOW THAT WILL COME DOWN.

>> I KNOW IN THE PAST VICTIMS, WOMEN IN PARTICULAR, IN THESE INSTANCES IN PARTICULAR HAVE COME DOWN TO THE CAPITOL TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATIONS WHO WERE SHOT BY THEIR DOMESTIC PARTNERS.

>> RIGHT.

>> BECAUSE GUNS WERE AROUND.

>> YES.

WE'VE HAD SEVERAL COME DOWN AND TESTIFY.

ONE WOMAN -- I'M BLANKING ON HER NAME RIGHT NOW, BUT HE WOULD HAVE KILLED HER AND HER KIDS IF THEY HAD BEEN THERE.

LUCKILY, THEY WERE OKAY, BUT SHE'S IN A WHEELCHAIR PARALYZED AS A RESULT OF IT.

THAT'S THE OTHER THING IS THERE'S A RIPPLE EFFECT.

IF KIDS WITNESS IT OR ARE MURDERED, AS WELL.

GEORGIA IS NUMBER FOUR IN THE COUNTRY FOR MURDER/SUICIDE.

>> NUMBER FOUR?

>> NUMBER FOUR.

THESE ARE JUST COMMON SENSE WAYS THAT WE COULD TRY AND CURB THIS EPIDEMIC THAT IS THE NUMBER ONE KILLER OF OUR KIDS AND TEENS.

>> YEAH.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT.

SO THAT'S DEALING WITH GUNS.

YOU ALSO ARE PART OF REPRESENTATIVE MICHELLE AL'S BILL.

SHE'S GOT THE BILL THAT DEALS WITH PROTECTING THE GUNS AND MAKING SURE THEY'RE SAFE WHEN IT COMES TO HAVING CHILDREN AROUND.

TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> SO WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE GUN OWNERS TO SAFELY STORE THEIR GUNS AND PROVIDE TRIGGER LOCKS BECAUSE THE REALITY IS A LOT OF THESE KIDS ARE CURIOUS AND THEY WANT TO GO FIND THE GUNS AND THEY'LL DO WHATEVER THEY CAN AND IF THEY'RE NOT STORED SAFELY, MOST LIKELY THE CABLE KEPT THE GUN AND ACCIDENTALLY DISCHARGED IT BECAUSE THERE'S NO TRIGGER LOCK AND THE GUN'S NOT IN A SAFE, AND SO WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE GEORGIANS TO PURCHASE SAFE STORAGE DEVICES AND GET A TAX INCENTIVE MUCH LIKE THOSE GET A TAX INCENTIVE.

>> THE BILL HAS CHANGED A THE LITTLE BIT.

LAST YEAR IT WAS MONEY THAT THEY RECEIVED AND NOW IT'S A TAX INCENTIVE IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, AND I KNOW THERE WAS A HEARING LAST YEAR SO IT AT LEAST GOT THAT FAR.

>> IT GOT THAT FAR.

>> SO THOSE CHANGED A LITTLE BIT AND WE'RE HOPING IT GETS ANOTHER HEARING.

SOME OF THE LANGUAGE IN THE BILL IS NOW HOUSE BILL 971, BUT I AM EXCITED THAT WE'VE GOT BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AND IT'S ACTUALLY THIS YEAR SPONSORED BY REP NEWTON, SCOTT HOUGHTON AND MATT REEVES AND DEBORAH SILCOX.

THIS YEAR IS NOT ONLY PROVIDING CREDIT FOR SAFE STORAGE, BUT TRAINING, AS WELL.

>> BIPARTISAN SUPPORT THERE.

WHAT ABOUT WITH YOU?

THE MAJORITY PARTY HAS BEEN PUSHING BACK AGAINST ANYTHING THAT RESTRICTS GUN USE AND POSSESSION.

>> IT'S FUNNY THIS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ONE, FORMER SENATOR JEN JORDAN FILEDED A SIMILAR BILL IN 2019 AND IT ACTUALLY HAD FULL SUPPORT IN THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE PASSED BIPARTISAN, UNANIMOUS AND THEN I THINK THE GUN LOBBIES GOT INVOLVED AND IT GOT SHUT DOWN.

SO WE'RE REALLY STRUGGLING EVEN THOUGH WE'VE HAD MAYORS FROM ACROSS THE STATE, YOU KNOW, IN REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC AREAS BEGGING FOR THESE LAWS TO TRY AND ADDRESS THIS VERY SERIOUS ISSUE.

>> SO WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH YOURS.

SAFE STORAGE IS A POSSIBILITY, AND I HOPE THEY FIND THAT.

I WANT ON START ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE AND I'LL BEGIN WITH YOU.

YOU ARE THE LEAD SPONSOR OF THE REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM ACT.

TALK ABOUT WHAT IT IS AND WHAT YOU WANT TO DO WITH IT.

>> SO HB-75, THE REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM ACT IS OUR VISION FOR WHAT WE WANT TO SEE FOR REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM IN GEORGIA AND IT GOES FURTHER THAN ROE.

IT NOT ONLY REPEALS THE RESTRICTIVE ABORTION BANS, YOU KNOW, ALMOST NEAR TOTAL ABORTION.

MOST WOMEN DON'T KNOW THEY'RE PREGNANT AT SIX WEEKS, BUT IT ALSO WOULD EXPAND ACCESS BECAUSE EVEN WHEN ROE WAS THE LAW OF THE LAND POOR WOMEN COULD NOT AFFORD THE ACCESS.

SO WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE SOME INSURANCE COVERAGE, MEDICAID AND PRIVATE INSURERS IN THE MARKETPLACE COVER THIS KIND OF CARE, BUT IT IS HEALTH CARE.

>> THAT'S THE IMPORTANT THING IS WE WANT DOCTORS TO STOP BEING CRIMINALIZED AND WE HEARD FROM MANY ESTEEMED DOCTORS THAT THEY HAVE LAWYERS ON THEIR CARE TEAMING AND THEY TO CONSULT WHETHER TO RECEIVE LIFE-SAVING CARE SOMETIMES AND THESE ARE QUICK DECISIONS AND WITH OUR STATE HAVING ONE OF THE INFANTRY, AND THE LAST THING WE NEED TO DO IS DRIVE DOCTORS AWAY FROM OUR STATE.

>> THE YOU'LL DO IS IT'S CALLING FOR AIR RESOLUTION?

I'M ON THAT ONE, BUT I'M NOT THE LEAD SPONSOR OF THAT, BUT BOTH -- THAT WOULD ENSHRINE IT IN OUR ACTUAL CONSTITUTION THAT NOTHING -- IT WOULD REQUIRE A MUCH STANDARD TO OVERTURN IT LATER ON.

WE'RE MAKING ALL KINDS OF EFFORTS.

WE'RE JUST -- IT'S JUST A STRUGGLE AND WOMEN IN GEORGIA JUST LIKE IN THIS COUNTRY, WE'VE SEEN THEY'RE SHOWING UP AT THE BALLOT BOX AND THEY'RE VOTING ON THESE ISSUES AND WE KNOW THAT 70% TO 80% OF GEORGIANS SUPPORT REPRODUCTIVE ABORTION CARE IN THE STATE.

>> I WILL BE FOLLOWING THAT BILL, TOO.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>> I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE VERY INTERESTED IN.

YOU'RE A SIGNER ON EDUCATION THAT DEALS WITH UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS AND MAKING SURE AND WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION THEY ARE TAKEN CARE OF?

>> WE KNOW WE HAVE A WORK FWORS PROBLEM HERE IN GEORGIA AND RIGHT NOW, UNFORTUNATELY, I SEE THESE HIGH SCHOOL KIDS WHO PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG EVERY SINGLE DAY, BUT THE MOMENT THEY GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL BECAUSE THEIR PARENTS ARE UNDOCUMENTED AND THEY THEMSELVES ARE UNDOCUMENTED THEY DO NOT GET IN-STATE TUITION.

SOME OF THESE KIDS ARE VAL DICKERIANS COMING OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL AND THEY GET WOOED AWAY BY CONNECTICUT OR THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND THEY'RE WILLING TO GIVE THEM NOT JUST IN-STATE TUITION IN THOSE STATES, BUT SCHOLARSHIPS, AS WELL, AND IF WE WANT TO HAVE A HIGHLY SKILLED LABOR FORCE WE NEED AS MANY KIDS WHO ARE WILLING TO GO TO COLLEGE AS POSSIBLE AND THE KIDS THAT GO TO TRADE SCHOOLS, AS WELL, BUT WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON THAT AND THE REALITY IS WHEN THESE KIDS LEAVE TO OTHER STATES THEIR PARENT GOES WITH THEM AND WE LOSE A LABOR FORCE TO THESE OTHER STATES AND WE SEE IT ACROSS ALL OF OUR INDUSTRIES WHETHER IT'S HOSPITALITY, RESTAURANT, CONSTRUCTION.

WE WANT TO BUILD MORE HOMES, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE FOLKS WHO CAN BUILD THE HOMES.

>> YOU HAVE SOME BIPARTISAN SUPPORT ON THAT.

>> IT'S LED PIE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AND THE CHAMBER UNDERSTANDS THAT IT'S SUPPORTIVE OF THIS BILL.

>> WHAT ARE YOU THINKING AT THIS POINT, WILL IT GET ANYWHERE?

>> WE HAD IT HEARD IN COMMITTEE LAST YEAR AND WE WERE HOPING IT WOULD GO TO VOTE FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER IN COMMITTEE AND IT'S LOOKING LIKE THAT MAY HAPPEN THIS TIME.

>> OKAY.

WE'LL KEEP UP WITH THAT.

>> YOU'RE IN SUPPORT OF THIS?

>> OH, DEFINITELY.

REV CARPENTER CARPENTER BROUGHT THIS BILL AND THIS IS IMPORTANT LGSZ AND IT NEEDS TO MOVE.

>> THANK YOU BOTH FOR COMING HERE AND TALKING ABOUT YOUR PRIORITIES.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THAT DOES IT FOR "LAWMAKERS" WE'LL BE BACK WITH THE GOVERNOR SIGNING THE ANTISEMITISM BILL.

GOOD NIGHT.

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