>>> STAND UP FOR THE RIGHT FOR ALL OUR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.

NOT JUST THE ONES THAT LOOK LIKE OURS.

TARGETING OUR MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN, AND CRIMINALIZING THOSE WHO LOVE AND CARE FOR AND PROTECT THEM IS BARBARIC.

>> AN IMPASSIONED DEBATE IN THE SENATE OVER A BILL THAT WILL PROHIBIT TRANSGENDER GIRLS FROM PARTICIPATING IN GIRLS SPORTS.

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "LAWMAKERS" ON THIS LEGISLATIVE DAY 20, THE HALFWAY MARK OF THE 40-DAY LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

I'M DONNA LOWRY.

MORE ON SENATE BILL 435, THE TRANSGENDER SPORTS BILL IN JUST A MOMENT.

WE'RE GOING TO SPEND TIME ON OTHER PROPOSED EDUCATION LEGISLATION IN TODAY'S SHOW.

A CLOSER LOOK AT WHAT SOME CALL THE SCHOOL CHOICE AND OTHERS CALL THE SCHOOL VOUCHER BILL.

IT'S HAD SOME MOMENTUM IN RECENT WEEKS, BUT NOW IT'S NOT LIKELY TO MOVE THROUGH THE GEORGIA HOUSE.

THE BILL'S AUTHOR JOINS US ON THE SHOW.

WE'RE ALSO GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE STATE'S COMPLICATED EDUCATION FUNDING FORMULA, QBE.

THE QUALITY BASIC EDUCATION ACT.

ONE LAWMAKER WANTS TO KICK START A PILOT PROGRAM TO MAKE SOME CHANGES.

ANOTHER LEGISLATOR WANTS TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE CONTRACTS FOR EDUCATORS AND OTHER PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEES UNDER THE STATE HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN.

>>> BUT WE START WITH THE BUSY DAY AT THE CAPITAL WHERE BOTH CHAMBERS LOOKED AT A LOT OF BILLS.

OUR CORRESPONDENT BRENDA WATERS BRINGS US UP TO DATE.

HI, BRENDA.

>> HEY, DONNA.

YOU KNOW, IT'S HUMP DAY FOR THE 40th LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

WE ARE HALFWAY THROUGH, BUT THINGS ARE CERTAINLY NOT SLOWING DOWN.

>>> AN IMPASSIONED DEBATE IN THE SENATE TODAY, AT STAKE WAS A BILL THAT WOULD KEEP TRANSGENDER ATHLETES FROM PARTICIPATING IN GIRLS SPORTS.

>> IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS LEGISLATORS AND AS ADULTS WITH COMMON SENSE TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE AND ENSURE THAT THE GIRLS, GEORGIA'S GIRLS AREN'T ROBBED OF TIME ON THE FIELD, A CHANCE FOR CHARACTER BUILDING, ATHLETIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND INVALUABLE SCHOLARSHIPS.

FORCING GIRLS TO PLAY AGAINST BIOLOGICAL BOYS INHIBITS THE ABILITY OF YOUNG GIRLS IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA TO WIN COMPETITIONS, RECEIVE SCHOLARSHIPS, AND ACHIEVE THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF SUCCESS IN THEIR SPORT.

>> AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO CARE FOR THE WELL-BEING OF ALL OUR CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND THAT INCLUDES TRANS, NONBINARY, AND GENDER NONCONFORMING YOUTH.

THEY ARE OUR KIDS, TOO.

AND WITHOUT ANY ADEQUATE SCIENTIFIC OR SOCIAL EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THIS TYPE OF STATE-SANCTIONED CRUELTY, I CANNOT SUPPORT THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION AND NEITHER SHOULD YOU.

>> IT ALSO INCLUDED A PERSONAL PLEA FROM A SENATOR WITH FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE WITH THIS.

>> I'M THE MOTHER OF A TRANS CHILD, AND IT'S HARD TO STAND UP HERE AND SAY THAT BECAUSE IT HURTS.

IT REALLY, REALLY HURTS.

I JUST WANT THIS TO STOP BECAUSE THIS FEELS PREMATURE AND THIS FEELS JUDGMENTAL.

THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT WE -- IT'S BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME, BUT WE'RE DEALING WITH IT IN A NEW WAY.

AND WE DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.

SO LET'S NOT MOVE SO FAST.

>> DEMOCRATS ALSO PUT FORWARD A THE BILL'S LEGALITY.

>> THIS BILL BASICALLY ALLOWS PARENTS, FAMILIES TO SUE SCHOOLS BASED ON SUPPOSITION, RUMORS, DEFERENCE AND NOT BASED ON -- >> GUESSWORK.

>> ANY SORT OF REALITY.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

FURTHER, NOT ONLY JUST CHILDREN WHO ARE TRANSGENDER, BUT ANYONE WHO DOESN'T FIT, LIKE, THE VERY, YOU KNOW, FORMULAIC VIEW OF WHAT MORE STEREO TYPICALLY ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR GENDER COULD COME UNDER SOME SCRUTINY AS WELL.

>> THE BILL PASSED 34-22.

ANOTHER REDISTRICTING MAP WAS INTRODUCED ON THE SENATE FLOOR, AND ANOTHER CONTROVERSY OVER ITS BOUNDARIES.

THIS TIME IT'S FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSIONERS MAP.

>> THE MAPS CONSTITUTIONAL AND AS I SAID, OTHERWISE, THIS MAP IS -- MEETS ALL THE REQUIREMENTS.

AND I'LL ALSO SAY THIS.

THIS IS ALSO THE PRODUCT OF THE FOCUS THAT SERVE ON THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION.

THEY HAVE -- THEY ARE PLEASED WITH THIS MAP AND HAD A HAND IN THE DRAFTING OF IT.

>> AN AMENDMENT TO SB 472 WAS INTRODUCED BY DEMOCRATS SPECIFYING THAT ONLY VOTERS FROM EACH DISTRICT WOULD BE ALLOWED TO ELECT THEIR COMMISSIONER INSTEAD OF BEING STATEWIDE.

THEY CLAIM THAT AFRICAN AMERICAN AND OTHER MINORITY VOICES ARE BEING SILENCED BY THE PROPOSED MAP AND STATEWIDE ELECTIONS.

>> THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IMPACTED THE MOST BY THE PSC'S DECISION IN TERMS OF THE RATES THAT THEY HAVE TO PAY WITH RESPECT TO POWER, THEY ARE, THEY ARE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN THIS STATE.

THEY DESERVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE REPRESENTED.

>> SENATOR JOHN KENNEDY SAYS THAT GOVERNOR ROY BARNES, A DEMOCRAT, INSTIGATED THE STATEWIDE ELECTIONS FOR A REASON.

>> WE DON'T NEED REGIONALISM.

WE DON'T NEED DISTRICT FIGHTS ABOUT WHAT THE STATEWIDE PUBLIC POLICY OUGHT TO BE, SUCH AS THE ENERGY SOURCE FOR THE STATE OF GEORGIA FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS.

>> AFTER A FAILED ATTEMPT TO TABLE THE BILL, AND THE AMENDMENT FAILED TO PASS, SB 472 WAS PASSED 33-21.

ALONG PARTY LINES.

A REQUEST WAS MADE TO RECONSIDER THE BILL.

>>> ALSO UP FOR A VOTE, TWO MUCH DEBATED HOUSE BILLS DEALING WITH KALB COUNTY.

BOTH BILLS WERE PASSED ALONG PARTY LINES.

THE RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE WAS ON THE MINDS OF LEGISLATORS IN THE HOUSE.

THIS MASS ASSAULT BY LAND, AIR AND SEA IS THE BIGGEST ATTACK BY ONE STATE AGAINST ANOTHER IN EUROPE SINCE WORLD WAR II.

>> WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN OUR DAY WITH SCRIPTURE READING AND PRAYER HERE IN A MOMENT.

BUT I FEEL COMPELLED TO ASK ALL OF US TODAY, WHEN WE GET TO THE PRAYER, TO REMEMBER THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE.

IT'S A VERY SCARY TIME AND I KNOW THEY'RE KIND OF CAUGHT RIGHT IN THE TARGET.

SO LET'S REMEMBER THEM IN OUR PRAYER.

>> MR. SPEAKER, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE, I WOULD ASK -- I WANTED TO STAND TODAY AND STAY FAR, FAR, FAR FROM POLITICS AND JUST ASK FOCUS TO RISE AND HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THE HUMAN COST THAT'S BEING EXACTED IN THE UKRAINE.

IT'S A VERY COMPLEX CIRCUMSTANCE.

I JUST HOPE WE CAN HAVE PEACE, WE CAN HAVE JUSTICE.

>> ON A HAPPIER NOTE, IT WAS A GOOD DAY IN THE HOUSE FOR REPRESENTATIVES WHO GOT HIS FIRST BILL PASSED TODAY.

REPRESENTATIVE BRAD THOMAS PRESENTED HB 1215, A CHARTER SCHOOL BILL.

HE WAS VERY NERVOUS, BUT GOT SUPPORT WITH A SIDE OF TEASING FROM FELLOW LEGISLATORS.

>> I TRIED NOT TO TIP OFF EVERYBODY THIS IS MY FIRST BILL, BUT WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GET THAT OUT OF THE WAY.

[ LAUGHTER ] SO, I'M VERY PROUD, IT'S FUNNY, I GOT BUTTERFLIES IN MY STOMACH.

LAST TIME THAT HAPPENED TO ME WAS WHEN I MET MY WIFE.

WHEW, ALL RIGHT.

>> YOU CAN GO HOME TONIGHT AND TELL HER YOU VIOLATED THE RULES OF THE HOUSE BY NOT BEING RECOGNIZED BEFORE YOU GOT IN THE WELL.

>> REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS'S BILL PASSED 113-45.

DOM AS WAS SWORN IN JANUARY 2021.

DONNA, I TOLD HIM THAT IT'S ALSO MY SECOND YEAR HERE.

THAT'S MY CAPITAL REPORTS.

BACK TO YOU.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, BRENDA.

WE SHOULD BE TEASING YOU, AND WE DO.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> YES, YOU DO, YES.

>> WELL, IT'S NOT UNUSUAL TO SEE SEVERAL EDUCATION BILLS FILED DURING A GEORGIA LEGISLATIVE SESSION, BUT THIS YEAR SOME OF THOSE BILLS ARE ATTRACTING AS MUCH ATTENTION AS JUST ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK WITH OUR GUESTS ABOUT SOME OF THEM.

JOINING ME NOW ARE REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE WESS CANTRELL OF WOODSTOCK, AND DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE DONNA McLEOD OF LAWRENCEVILLE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING "LAWMAKERS."

REPRESENTATIVE CANTRELL, WE HAVE TO START WITH YOU.

A BILL THAT APPEARED TO HAVE A LOT OF MOMENTUM THIS YEAR, BUT MAY BE STALLED AT THIS POINT.

IT'S HB 999.

GEORGIA EDUCATIONAL FREEDOM ACT.

AND TELL US ABOUT IT BEFORE WE GET INTO THE LATEST.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, EDUCATION RUNS DEEP IN MY FAMILY.

I'M A FORMER PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATOR MYSELF.

THE FATHER OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATOR, THE GRANDSON OF PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATOR, SO EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT TO ME.

SO WHAT THIS BILL DOES IS IT BASICALLY SAYS, YOU KNOW, OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE DOING A GREAT JOB FOR THE MOST PART.

BUT THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF KIDS WHO DON'T DO WELL IN TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM SETTING.

WOULD PROVIDE THEM AN OPTION FOR THEIR FAMILIES TO FIND MAYBE AN EDUCATIONAL PATH THAT WOULD WORK BETTER FOR THEM.

THAT'S THE HEART OF THE BILL.

>> IT'S CALLED THE PROMISE SCHOLARSHIP.

IT WOULD PROVIDE FOR $6,000 TO GO FOR TUITION AT A PRIVATE SCHOOL.

>> NOT JUST TUITION.

>> OKAY.

>> A LOT OF OUR SPECIAL NEEDS FAMILIES DON'T HAVE AN OPTION OF A PRIVATE SCHOOL THAT REALLY MEETS THEIR NEEDS.

SO THIS MONEY WOULD BE USED FOR ANY PRE-APPROVED EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES.

SO, FOR SPECIAL NEEDS FAMILY IT COULD BE THERAPIES, COULD BE A TUTOR, COULD BE ONLINE, COULD BE TEXTBOOKS.

IT GIVES A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY TO FAMILIES THAT HAVE UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES.

IT CAN ALSO BE USED FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL TUITION, BUT THAT'S A GOOD ANSWER FOR A LOT OF FAMILIES, BUT IT'S NOT AN ANSWER FOR EVERYONE.

>> SO, WE KNOW THINGS CHANGED WITH THIS BILL A FEW DAYS AGO AFTER A PRO SCHOOL CHOICE GROUP, THE AMERICAN FEDERATION FOR CHILDREN, SENT CONSERVATIVE GEORGIA VOTERS A FLYER CONNECTING MORE THAN A DOZEN LAWMAKERS TO THE, QUOTE, RADICAL LEFT.

AND YOU POSTED ON TWITTER THAT WHAT THE GROUP DID WAS WRONG.

YOU DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT, YOU SAID, AND IT WAS AN INCREDIBLY STUPID IDEA.

AND THEN SPEAKER RALSTON TOLD THE AJC IT WAS A DECEITFUL ATTACK.

>> YEAH.

VERY, VERY -- >> EXPLAIN ALL OF THAT.

>> IT REALLY SPEAKS TO, IF YOU WANT TO ADVOCATE FOR YOUR POLICY POSITION, WHATEVER MIGHT BE, YOU REALLY NEED KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

AND YOU NEED TO KNOW THE PEOPLE YOU'RE TRYING TO PERSUADE.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, THIS GROUP WENT ROGUE AND DECIDED TO USE A TACTIC THAT THEY THOUGHT WOULD BE AN EFFECTIVE WAY, IT ACTUALLY BACK FIRED.

IT ACCOMPLISHED EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT THEY HOPED TO ACCOMPLISH.

BUT I WILL SAY, IN FAIRNESS, YOU KNOW, JUST BECAUSE YOU HAD A COUPLE OF LOBBYISTS THAT WENT ROGUE AND DID SOMETHING RIDICULOUS, GEORGIA'S FAMILIES AND STUDENTS SHOULDN'T SUFFER AS A RESULT OF THE ACTIONS OF TWO PEOPLE.

AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.

GEORGIA'S FAMILIES ARE GOING TO SUFFER BECAUSE TWO PEOPLE DECIDED TO, YOU KNOW, USE A TACTIC THAT'S VERY INAPPROPRIATE AND WRONG.

>> LET'S EXPLAIN BRIEFLY.

IT WAS A FLYER THAT HAD SOME DEMOCRATS ON IT AND KIND OF TIED THEM TO, IF YOU DON'T -- TO SOME LAWMAKERS.

>> IT DID.

BASICALLY WHAT IT DID, IT HAD A PICTURE OF THE LAWMAKER AND PUT THEM ON THE SAME PAGE WITH SOME VERY FAMOUS DEMOCRAT LEADERS.

AND THE TEXT OF IT, OF THE FLYER WASN'T THAT BAD, BUT THE PHRASE, PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T LOOK AT THE TEXT.

THE TEXT SAID URGE YOUR REPRESENTATIVE NOT TO STAND WITH THE LIBERAL LEADERS AND TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT BY GEORGIA'S FAMILIES.

BUT IT WAS BEYOND THE PALE RIDICULOUS, THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE IT, AND IT BACK FIRED AS I COULD HAVE TOLD THEM IT WOULD HAVE IF THEY ASKED ME.

>> OKAY, MAY NOT GET MUCH MOMENTUM.

ALMA -- >> IT'S NEVER OVER TILL IT'S OVER.

>> YOU HAVE A QBE.

IT IS AT A BASIC LEVEL IT'S A QUALITY BASIC EDUCATION, A FORMULA FOR GEORGIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT BECAME A LAW.

IT USES THE TOTAL NUMBER OF SCHOOLS ENROLLED IN SCHOOLS TO DETERMINE THINGS SUCH AS SALARIES AND OTHER SCHOOL EXPENSES.

THAT'S REALLY BREAKING IT DOWN.

YOU WERE ON A COMMITTEE A FEW YEARS AGO, 2015, THAT LOOKED AT THIS.

TELL US WHAT YOU CAME UP WITH.

>> SO, ACTUALLY, I DEPTH START THE GEORGIA LEGISLATURE TILL 2019.

BUT WHAT WE CAME IN -- I ACTUALLY DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS IN 2019, OUR SCHOOLS IN GWINNETT COUNTY CAME TO US AND WAS ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR CAFETERIA WORKERS AND FOR SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS.

AND WHEN THEY ASKED FOR THE MONEY, I ASKED THEM, I DON'T UNDERSTAND, I THOUGHT WE FULLY FUNDED BECAUSE AT THAT TIME THEY WERE ALREADY SAYING IT WAS FULLY FUNDED.

HE SAID, NO, WE'RE NOT.

SO I WENT TO THE CHAIRMAN AND I SAID, LISTEN, OUR SCHOOLS ARE ASKING FOR SOME MORE MONEY.

IT SO HAPPENED THAT -- ASKING FOR MORE QUESTION AND FOUND OUT THERE WAS A STUDY DONE IN 2015.

IT WAS SITTING ON THE SHELF IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, AND MY STAFF AND I TOOK THE STUDY AND ACTUALLY BROKE IT DOWN, AND THAT'S HOW WE CREATED HB 71.

BECAUSE ALTHOUGH, I THINK IT'S MISLEADING JUST LIKE THE NAMES OF SOME OF THESE BILLS ARE VERY MISLEADING.

THEY SOUND REALLY FLOWERY, BUT THEY AREN'T WHAT THEY SEEM TO BE.

THE SAME ISSUE, WHEN WE LOOKED -- WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE FORMULA, IT WASN'T DOING WHAT WAS NEEDED.

AND SO WE DID THIS BILL AND, AGAIN, SAYING IT WAS FULLY FUNDED IS NOT TRUE.

IT'S MISLEADING.

IT'S FULLY FUNDING AT THE 1985 STANDARD.

WE'RE IN 2022, AND GWINNETT COUNTY SCHOOLS DO NOT LOOK LIKE 1985.

I CAN ASSURE EVERYONE THAT'S LISTENING OUT THERE, IT DOES NOT.

AND WE ARE AT A MILLION PEOPLE.

I THINK BACK IN 1985, I THINK OUR SCHOOLS PROBABLY HAD IN GWINNETT COUNTY MAYBE CLOSE TO 175,000 PEOPLE TOTAL, AND SO TO COMPARE THE TWO, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE FORMULA.

I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT, BUT THIS PILOT PROGRAM ALLOWS FOR US TO LOOK AT ABOUT SIX SCHOOLS AND ACTUALLY LOOK AT BREAKING DOWN DISABILITY, ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE, KIDS THAT ARE BELOW THE POVERTY LINE, BECAUSE WE CANNOT KEEP TAKING AWAY FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND EXPECT THAT IT'S GOING TO BE FIXED.

WE HAVE TO FIX PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

AND BECAUSE MAJORITY OF OUR CHILDREN ARE EDUCATED THERE, WE HAVE TO INVEST IN IT, AND THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR US TO CONTINUE THE SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE BECAUSE OUR KIDS ARE NOT READING BY GRADE THREE.

>> IT'S A BIG LIFT.

BUT THE OTHER THING YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH, YOU WANT TO GET RID OF THE MONEY SPENT ON PRIVATE PRISON.

TALK ABOUT THAT.

WE HAVE A FEW MINUTES.

>> I DO.

BECAUSE, AGAIN, WE KNOW THERE'S BEEN LOTS OF STUDIES IF KIDS AREN'T READING BY GRADE 3, THAT INCREASES THE SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE, $127 MILLION OF TAX DOLLARS BEING USED TO BASICALLY FUND PRIVATE PRISONS.

IF YOU WANT TO BE PRIVATE, THAT'S ON YOU.

BUT WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC MONEY, THAT MONEY COULD BE USED TO MAKE SURE OUR SCHOOLS DO BETTER.

WE SHOULD NOT BE DIVERTING OUR MONEY FROM OUR KIDS AT ALL, PERIOD.

>> OKAY.

I'VE GOT TO SAY NEITHER ONE OF YOU WILL BE HERE NEXT YEAR, YOU'RE NOT RUNNING FOR THE SAME POSITION.

YOU ARE -- YOU HAD A LOT OF MOMENTUM THIS SESSION, THOUGH.

HOW DOES IT FEEL FOR YOU COMING OUT?

>> I TELL PEOPLE IT'S LIKE WHEN YOU'RE A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A REAL TEMPTATION TO COAST.

BUT THEN THERE'S ALSO THE OTHER SIDE THAT SAYS, HEY, IT'S MY LAST CHANCE TO GET A LOT OF STUFF DONE.

I HAD A VERY AGGRESSIVE AGENDA FOR THIS SESSION.

>> YEAH, THE DACA TUITION, IMMIGRANTS OR REFUGEES AND TUITION, THE PARENTS BILL OF RIGHTS, THE PROHIBITING BIOLOGICAL MALES FROM PARTICIPATING IN GIRLS SPORTS.

A LOT OF BILLS.

>> THERE'S A LOT GOING ON.

CAMPAIGN YEAR AND A LOT OF PEOPLE RUNNING FOR STATEWIDE OFFICE, SO PEOPLE TEND TO BECOME A LITTLE DIFFERENT THOSE YEARS.

>> THIS IS A DIFFERENT YEAR.

I'M GLAD YOU WERE ABLE TO COME BACK ON BEFORE YOU MOVE ON.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BOTH BEING HERE.

>> THANKS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>> NEXT UP, A LOOK AT A PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE RENEWAL CONTRACTS FOR HEALTH PLANS FOR EDUCATORS AND A SPONSOR OF THE PARENTS BILL OF RIGHTS BILL JOINS US.

YOU'RE WATCHING "LAWMAKERS" ON GPB.

>> Announcer: CIGNA IS A PROUD PARTNER OF GEORGIA PUBLIC BROADCASTING AND GEORGIA "LAWMAKERS."

CIGNA'S MISSION IS TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH, WELL-BEING OF THOSE WE SERVE.

GO TO CIGNA.COM TO LEARN HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT YOUR EMPLOYEES PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING.

>> "LAWMAKERS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY GEORGIA FARM BUREAU.

81 YEARS OF 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 CAPITAL DURING THE SESSION AND YEAR ROUND.

GEORGIA FARM BUREAU, THE VOICE OF GEORGIA FARMERS.

>> GEORGIA HUMANITY, CONNECTING PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS GEORGIA TO ENCOURAGE CONVERSATION, EDUCATION AND UNDERSTANDING.

FIND OUT MORE AT WWW.GEORGIA HUMANITIES.ORG.

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "LAWMAKERS."

WE CONTINUE TALKING ABOUT PROPOSED EDUCATION-RELATED LEGISLATION WITH DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE ERIK ALLEN OF CHIMERA -- SMYRNA.

WELCOME, REPRESENTATIVE ALLEN.

YOU HAVE A BILL HB 1003.

IT DEALS WITH BOARD OF COMMUNITY HEALTH WHEN IT COMES TO CONTRACTS.

I'LL LET YOU TAKE IT FROM THERE AND EXPLAIN IT.

>> OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS WE'VE SEEN THESE NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN INSURANCE COMPANIES AND HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, HOSPITAL SYSTEMS.

WE'VE GOT NORTHSIDE AND WELL STAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THESE RIGHT NOW WHERE INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE RENEGOTIATING THEIR CONTRACTS IN THE MIDDLE OF A NEGOTIATED PERIOD.

SO THIS BILL SIMPLY WILL HOLD THE INSURERS ACCOUNTABLE TO NOT USE THE TACTIC OF RENEGOTIATING MIDSTREAM TO LOWER THEIR REIMBURSEMENT RATES.

THE CARROT THAT WE HAVE, THE STICK WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS IS BY TAKING AWAY THE MOST BENEFICIAL CONTRACT THAT THEY CAN GET, WHICH IS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE STATE HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN.

WE HAVE TEACHERS, STATE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE LITERALLY RECEIVING LETTERS FROM THEIR PROVIDERS SAYING THAT THE ONCOLOGIST THAT HAS BEEN TREATING YOU THE LAST COUPLE YEARS FOR CANCER, YOUR CHILD'S PEDIATRICIAN IS NO LONGER IN NETWORK BECAUSE OF THESE DISPUTES.

I THINK WE NEED TO DO BETTER BY PROTECTING OUR STATE EMPLOYEES, OUR TEACHERS AND REALLY ALL GEORGIANS FROM BEING HELD IN THE MIDDLE OF THESE NEGOTIATIONS, ALMOST BEING HELD IN A CAPTIVE SITUATION AND THIS BILL DOES THAT.

>> OKAY.

WE'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT IT IN JUST A MOMENT.

I WANT TO TURN TO YOU, REPRESENTATIVE BONNER, AND LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOU'RE ONE OF THE GOVERNOR'S FLOOR LEADERS.

>> YES.

>> AND YOU'RE SPONSORING HB 1178 AND THAT'S SOMETHING HE'S PUSHED FOR AND IT'S THIS PARENT BILL OF RIGHTS.

SO, TELL US WHAT IT IS AND WHY YOU THINK IT'S NEEDED.

>> SURE, AS YOU MENTION IT IS PART OF GOVERNOR KEMP'S AGENDA, ONE OF THE PRIMARY AGENDA ITEMS FOR THIS SESSION.

THE PARENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS IS REALLY ABOUT TRANSPARENCY AND IT'S A BILL MEANT TO PULL TOGETHER A LOT OF THE VARIOUS THINGS THAT ARE BEING DONE RIGHT NOW THROUGHOUT GEORGIA, BUT THEY'LL PRIMARILY BEING DONE VIA RULE OR LOCAL POLICY.

AND WHAT WE'RE DOING IS PULLING TOGETHER ALL THOSE THINGS AND CODIFYING THE RIGHTS OF PARENTS THAT WE KNOW CURRENTLY EXIST.

PRIMARILY TO DETERMINE THE EDUCATION OF THEIR CHILD.

SO WHAT THIS DOES IS PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK FOR WHICH PARENTS, IT'S UNIFORM ACROSS THE STATE, AND PROVIDES A FRAMEWORK SO PARENTS CAN MAKE A REQUEST TO THEIR SCHOOL AND FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT THEIR KIDS ARE BEING TAUGHT.

>> SO WHAT RIGHTS WOULD IT GIVE PARENTS?

>> ESSENTIALLY IT JUST PUTS INTO BLACK LETTER LAW THE RIGHTS THEY ALREADY HAVE.

PRIMARILY TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN, TO PUT THEM IN THE SCHOOLS WHICH THEY CHOOSE, WHETHER IT'S PUBLIC, PRIVATE, OR RELIGIOUS, AS WELL AS TO GET THE INFORMATION THAT'S BEING TAUGHT TO THEIR KIDS AND HAVE AVAILABILITY OF WHATEVER RECORDS THAT THE SCHOOL MAY HAVE.

>> I KNOW IT DEALS WITH TRANSPARENCY, TOO.

THAT'S A BIG PART OF IT.

>> CORRECT.

>> ALSO PARENTS CAN OPT OUT OF HAVING THEIR KIDS IN SEX EDUCATION CLASSES.

>> IT CURRENTLY EXISTS.

IT ALLOWS THEM TO OPT OUT OF THAT.

AND ALLOWS THEM TO OPT OUT OF HAVING THEIR PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN, VIDEOS, THINGS LIKE THAT, WITH THE EXCEPTION THAT IT STILL DOES NOT APPLY TO THINGS LIKE SECURITY CAMERAS, CAMERAS ON THE BUSES, THINGS LIKE THAT THAT ARE MEANT TO BE FOR PROTECTION OF THE STUDENTS.

>> AND AS YOU MENTIONED, THE CRITICS SAY THAT ALREADY SOME OF THE STUFF ALREADY EXISTS.

EITHER STATE LAW OR FEDERAL LAW.

SO WHY PUT IT INTO A BILL LIKE THIS?

WHY DO IT THIS WAY?

>> SURE.

SO, WHAT THIS DOES IS IT'S KIND OF ONE-STOP SHOPPING FOR OUR PARENTS.

AND WHAT IT DOES IS TAKE A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN CODE, THROUGHOUT CODE AND BRINGS THEM INTO ONE PLACE.

AND ALSO CODIFIES THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE CURRENTLY DONE BY RULE, NOT LAW, THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

>> YEAH, THE OTHER THING IS THE PARENTS ARE FEELING -- WE TALKED ABOUT ALL THESE EDUCATION BILLS.

AND THE FEELING IS IT'S A LOT ON TEACHERS.

THEY'RE BOGGING DOWN SCHOOL SYSTEMS AS A WHOLE WITH MORE RESPONSIBILITIES.

HOW DO YOU ANSWER THAT?

>> SO, THIS BILL DOES NOT ADD ANY ADDITIONAL WORK TO A TEACHER.

IT SIMPLY TAKES WHAT THEY'RE ALREADY DOING AND MAKES IT AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.

SO WHAT IT DOES IN ADDITION TO ADDING THAT LAYER OF TRANSPARENCY, I THINK WHAT IT DOES, IT STARTS TO REBUILD THAT TRUST THAT WE MAY HAVE TAKEN A HIT DURING THIS PANDEMIC.

AND THE MORE TRUST WE HAVE, I THINK THE BETTER OFF WE'LL BE IN THE CLASSROOM BECAUSE THOSE PARENTS WILL HAVE A BETTER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE TEACHERS.

THE TEACHERS WILL HAVE A BETTER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PARENTS.

AND IT WILL MAKE FOR A MUCH BETTER EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE.

>> SCHOOLS ARE ALWAYS SAYING WE WANT TEACHERS -- PARENTS TO BE MORE INVOLVED.

I GUESS THIS IS ASKING THEM.

I WONDER WHETHER YOU HAVE AN OPINION ON THIS.

>> YOU KNOW, MY MOTHER RETIRED TEACHER, TAUGHT 31 YEARS IN THE SAME SCHOOL.

I THINK THAT THE RELATIONSHIP SHE BUILT POURING INTO THAT COMMUNITY WITH PARENTS WAS SOLID ENOUGH AND DIDN'T NEED LEGISLATIVE INTERFERENCE.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE AN EXTREME CHALLENGE RECRUITING AND RETAINING TEACHERS IN GEORGIA.

I FEAR THIS WILL MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT.

THERE ARE THINGS IN THE BILL THAT ALLOW PARENTS TO CHALLENGE OR TO REALLY CONFRONT THE CURRICULA AND THE THINGS BEING TAUGHT, WHICH COULD BE A MECHANISM OF HAVING A TEACHER MORE RETREAT BACK AND NOT BE THEIR FULL SELF AND GIVE THE EXPERIENCE OUR STUDENTS NEED.

I HAVE A CONCERN IT MAY BE LESS HELPFUL THAN WE THINK IT'S GOING TO BE.

>> SO, WHAT DO YOU SAY ABOUT THAT?

RECRUITING, WE'RE SEEING ESPECIALLY AFTER THE PANDEMIC, SO MANY TEACHERS HAVE LEFT THE PROFESSION AND THERE ARE FEWER GOING INTO COLLEGE THINKING ABOUT BEING TEACHERS.

SO RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.

>> RIGHT, ABSOLUTELY.

OF COURSE, YOU COULD USE THAT SAME ARGUMENT FOR ANY INDUSTRY THAT WE'VE GOT IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA, CORRECT.

BUT WHAT I WOULD SUBMIT IS THAT BY ADDING THAT LEVEL OF TRANSPARENCY, WHICH I WOULD AGREE OCCURS IN PROBABLY 80 TO 90% OF OUR SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW, BUT MAKING THAT UNIFORM ACROSS THE BOARD, THAT LEVEL OF TRANSPARENCY LEADS TO MORE TRUST, MORE TRUST LEADS TO MORE PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT.

THEN THAT CREATES A MUCH BETTER ENVIRONMENT FOR THAT TEACHER TO TEACH IN.

I WOULD SUBMIT THAT THE MORE THAT OUR PARENTS GET TO KNOW OUR TEACHERS AND THE MORE OUR TEACHERS GET TO KNOW NOT ONLY OUR PARENTS, BUT THE BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE FROM WHERE THE KIDS ARE COMING FROM, I THINK THAT WILL HELP TO GUIDE SOME OF THE LESSON PLANS AND A LOT OF THESE OTHER ISSUES I THINK WILL GO AWAY IF WE CAN GET TO THAT LEVEL OF TRUST THAT WE NEED TO BE.

>> YEAH, SO THE SENATE'S VERSION OF THIS PASSED EARLIER THIS WEEK.

>> IT DID.

IT PASSED OUT OF THE SENATE.

WE HAD THAT SAME VERSION, THE SAME LANGUAGE IN THE HOUSE THAT JUST CAME OUT OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE YESTERDAY.

AND WILL GO TO RULES COMMITTEE THIS COMING MONDAY.

AND HOPEFULLY GET A VOTE ON THE FLOOR NEXT WEEK.

>> YEAH, YOU'RE FEELING PRETTY GOOD ABOUT IT.

IT FALLS IN LINE WITH A LOT OF THE DIFFERENT EDUCATION THINGS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

>> IT CERTAINLY DOES.

THIS WAS A BILL THAT WAS CRAFTED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE EDUCATORS, WITH PARENTS, WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS IN THIS PROCESS.

AND SO WE FEEL THAT WE'VE GOT A GOOD CHANCE TO GET A LOT OF GOOD BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AND GET IT THROUGH.

>> I WANTED TO ASK A LITTLE MORE ABOUT YOUR BILL IN TERMS OF WHERE YOU THINK IT'S GOING TO GO.

HOW MUCH CHANCE DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE?

>> WELL, AS YOU SAID, WE'RE DAY 20.

THE DAYS ARE GETTING SHORTER.

IT'S ALREADY BEEN HEARD IN SUBCOMMITTEE, INSURANCE SUBCOMMITTEE.

I'M HOPING TO GET A FULL COMMITTEE VOTE HERE SOON BEFORE CROSS OVER DAY.

HOPEFULLY IT MOVES.

IT HAS A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM OUR INSURANCE -- WELL, OUR HOSPITAL SYSTEMS FROM DIFFERENT ADVOCATES.

SO I THINK THAT THERE'S SOME MOMENTUM.

SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE.

OTHERWISE THIS IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE A TACTIC THAT'S USED TO REALLY IMPACT AND HURT GEORGIANS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR GOOD HEALTH CARE.

>> WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM TEACHERS AND STATE EMPLOYEES ON THIS?

>> THEY'RE FRUSTRATED.

LIKE I SAID, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT IN THE MIDDLE OF A TREATMENT TO GET A LETTER FROM YOUR INSURANCE CARRIER SAYING THAT YOU'RE NO LONGER GOING TO BE COVERED AT THE RATE THAT YOU WERE.

SO NOW THAT'S GOING TO BE A HIGHER OUT-OF-POCKET COST, AND WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE HOLDING EVERYONE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE AGREEMENTS THAT THEY SIGNED.

PART OF THE BILL ALSO THAT I'M HOPING TO INTRODUCE AS A SUBSTITUTE IN COMMITTEE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER PLAN YOU SIGN UP FOR AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, THAT THAT HAS TO BE HONORED.

NO MATTER WHAT.

EVEN IF THERE IS A CONTRACT, BECAUSE WHEN YOU GO THROUGH THE OPEN ENROLLMENT PROCESS, YOU SELECT YOUR POSITIONS, YOU SELECT WHAT PLAN YOU WANT TO CHOOSE.

I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO MAKE SURE THEY PROVIDE THAT SERVICE THROUGHOUT THAT PLAN YEAR.

>> 0 OKAY.

WE TALKED ABOUT IT HALFWAY THROUGH.

HOW ARE YOU GUYS FEELING?

DOES IT FEEL LIKE A HALFWAY POINT AT THIS POINT?

>> IT'S BEEN EXHAUSTING.

FEELS LIKE IT'S BEEN LONGER THAN HALFWAY.

>> REALLY?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> IF WE KEEP UP THE SAME PACE, IT'S GOING TO BE TRYING.

WE'RE ALL GOING TO BE READY FOR VACATION COME APRIL 5th.

>> YEAH, IT'S BEEN A LOT.

AND AS I SAID, EDUCATION HAS BEEN A BIG PART OF ALL OF THIS.

DO YOU FEEL THAT IN THE END THAT PARENTS AND TEACHERS ARE GOING TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT?

I MEAN, WE KNOW THAT THE BUDGET CERTAINLY IS PROVIDING FOR EDUCATION IN A WAY THAT IT HASN'T IN A WHILE.

>> I DO THINK THAT THE NUMBER OF BILLS AND THE FOCUS THAT WE'VE HAD REALLY HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION IN OUR STATE.

NOT ONLY IS IT OVER HALF OF OUR BUDGET, BUT IT IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT ISSUE, EVEN AS REPRESENTATIVE McLEOD POINTED OUT EARLIER, IF WE DON'T GET SOME OF THESE THINGS RIGHT AT THESE EARLY AGES, THEN IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO IMPACT OUR STATE FOR GENERATIONS.

SO WE'VE GOT TO GET IT RIGHT.

AND I THINK WE HAVE A GOOD SHOT AT GETTING THERE.

>> YEAH, YOU'RE FEELING GOOD ABOUT IT, OKAY.

I WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> 20 MORE DAYS TO GO.

WE'LL GET THERE, TILL APRIL 4th.

I WANT TO THANK YOU, TOO, FOR JOINING US TONIGHT FOR "LAWMAKERS."

YOU CAN JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER AT GPB NEWS USING THE HASHTAG GBP "LAWMAKERS."

DON'T FORGET TO TUNE IN FOR POLITICAL REWIND HOSTED BY BILL NYGUT.

WE'LL SEE YOU FOR LEGISLATION DAY 21.

WE'RE WINDING DOWN.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.