♪♪ >>> TO THE CONSTITUENTS OF DISTRICT 30, IT IS AN ABSOLUTE HONOR AND I AM HUMBLED THAT YOU ALLOWED ME TO BE YOUR VOICE HERE AT THE STATE CAPITAL, AND I TAKE THIS JOB VERY SERIOUSLY AND TAKE THAT POSITION OF REPRESENTING YOU VERY SERIOUSLY.

I WANT TO DO THE BEST THAT I CAN.

SENATOR TIM BEERDON SPEAKS DIRECTLY TO HIS CONSTITUENTS WHO VOTED FOR HIM FOLLOWING HIS SWEARING IN CEREMONY TODAY.

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "LAWMAKERS" ON THIS 28th DAY OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

I'M DONNA LOWERY IN ATLANTA AND MORE ON SENATOR BEARDON.

>> GEORGIA'S BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES CONTRIBUTED AN ESTIMATED $1.3 BILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT ACROSS GEORGIA.

TONIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO EXPLORE HOW VITAL HBCUs ARE TO GEORGIA'S WORKFORCE AND WHAT'S TAKING PLACE TO GROW THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BERT JONES AND SENATOR SONIA HALPERN TOOK A TOUR LAST FALL OF THE HBCUs AND WHAT LEGISLATION HAS COME OUT OF THEIR VISIT.

ALSO, WE'LL FIND OUT MORE ABOUT A BIPARTISAN MEASURE TO STIFFEN THE PENALTIES FOR STALKING AND DOXXING WHICH IS A FORM OF CYBER BULLYING, BUT FIRST, WE GET A WRAP-UP OF THE NEWS UNDER THE GOLD DOME FROM CAPITAL CORRESPONDENT SARAH CALAS.

>> ON DAY 24, LAWMAKERS WELCOMED A NEW MEMBER AND DEBATED BILLS THAT COULD AFFECT YOUR DRIVING.

THE SENATE GOT A NEW SENATOR AS TIM BEARDON WAS SWORN IN TO REPRESENT THE 30th DIFT RIEKT.

>> PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME.

>> THE SENATOR FROM CAROLTON WON A SPECIAL ELECTION TO REPLACE MIKE DUGAN WHO RESIGNED EARLIER THIS YEAR TO RUN FOR CONGRESS.

>> IT IS AN ABSOLUTE HONOR TO BE HERE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO PERSONALLY.

THERE ARE SOME THINGS I SAY YOU LIKE, AND THERE MAY BE SOME THINGS YOU DON'T LIKE, BUT I PROMISE YOU I WILL NEVER LIE TO YOU OR DECEIVE YOU AND I WILL DO THE BEST I CAN FOR THIS STATE.

>> THE SENATE TOOK UP THREE BILLS AND A RESOLUTION ALL DEALING WITH MILITARY OR VETERAN MATTERS.

FIRST OFF, SB-375 CREATES A NEW COMMISSIONER OF VETERANS SERVICE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COUNCIL.

THE BILL BENEFITTED FROM A SPECIAL ENDORSEMENT.

>> SAY VOTE FO IT.

>> VOTE FOR IT.

>> IT WILL EXPAND THE ONLINE DEGREE PROGRAM FROM TWO YEARS TO FOUR YEARS, AND SB-398 REVISES THE GEORGIA JOINT DEFENSE COMMISSIONS ORIGINAL ROLE OF MAINTAINING MILITARY BASES IN THE STATE TO A MORE ECONOMIC ROLE, WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

>> BECAUSE THE MISSION HAS REALLY BECOME ONE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AROUND OUR MILITARY INSTALLATIONS, THIS BILL MOVES A JINT DEFENSE COMMISSION FROM THE TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM OF GEORGIA TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR ADMINISTRATIVE PURPOSES.

IT ADDS REPRESENTATION FROM INDUSTRY, USG AND DEFENSE RESEARCH.

THIS SHOULD ALIGN BETTER WITH THE GOALS OF THE COMMISSION AND PROVIDE MORE ABILITY TO MARKET GEORGIA AS A GREAT DESTINATION FOR INDUSTRIES RELATED TO DEFENSE AS WELL AS FOR VETERANS.

>> A SENATE STUDY COMMITTEE ON VETERANS, MENTAL HEALTH AND HOUSING WILL BE FORMED WITH SENATE RESOLUTION 527.

A RECENT FEDERAL STUDY ESTIMATES THAT 40,000 GEORGIA VETERANS LIVE IN POVERTY AND 1100 ARE HOMELESS.

>> WHEN THEY SUFFER SUICIDE THOSE TOPICS ARE NOT EASY TO TALK ABOUT AND TO SHOW OUR SUPPORT AND CELEBRATION FOR, SO THIS RESOLUTION, ONE REASON I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT IT AND SO ENTHUSED ABOUT IT IS THAT IT PROMISES TO FACE HEAD-ON SOME OF THE MORE DIFFICULT CHALLENGES THE VETERANS FACE, THE TOPICS THAT AREN'T EASY TO TALK ABOUT.

THE REAL DEMONS THAT COME FROM HONORABLY SERVING.

>> ALL OF THE INFORMATION WAS OVERWHELMINGLY PASSED.

IN THE HOUSE, MEMBERS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED A MEASURE THAT WOULD MAKE IT EASIER FOR DIVORCEES TO CHANGE BACK TO THEIR SURNAME ON THEIR BERTH CERTIFICATE.

>> CURRENTLY, TO GET YOUR MAIDEN NAME BACK, YOU GO TO SUPERIOR COURT AND PAY A FEE.

IN MY COUNTY IT'S $250 AND RUN AN AD IN THE PAPER FOR FOUR WEEKS AND THEN FOR AN ADDITIONAL FEE, YOU GO BACK TO SUPERIOR COURT, BRING THE DO YOU MEANATION WITH YOU AND THEN WAIT FOR THE JUDGE TO HOLD A HEARING AND THEN HE'LL SIGN OFF.

I HAD A FRIEND THAT WAS ALMOST $500, TOOK HER OVER EIGHT MONTHS TO GET THIS DONE TO GO BACK TO HER MAIDEN NAME, A NAME SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH.

>> ANOTHER BILL, HOUSE BILL 154 WOULD ALLOW DRIVERS WHO REFUSE TO SIGN A TICKET TO APPEAR IN COURT INSTEAD OF GOING TO JAIL.

>> THIS BILL ADDRESSES THE MOMENT OF CONFLICT BETWEEN CITIZENS ON THE ROAD AND OFFICERS.

EVEN WHEN I WAS POLICING THERE WAS A PRACTICE THAT WE WOULD USE WHICH WOULD BE TO REFUSE TO SIGN THE TICKET AND SEND THEM ON THEIR WAY.

CURRENTLY, THE PROCESS IS YOU GET A TICKET, PAY THE FINE, GO TO COURT, REFUSE TO SIGN?

YOU GO TO JAIL.

WHAT THIS BILL DOES, GET A TICKET, REFUSE TO SIGN, RF SAYS NO PROBLEM AND THEY REFUSE TO SIGN ON THE TICKET AND SENDS THEM ON THEIR WAY.

NO MORE ARGUMENTS, NO MORE FIGHTS, NO MORE INSTANCES OF RISKING THEIR LIVES FOR LOWER TRAFFIC CRIMES AND EVERYONE GOES SAFE AT THE END OF THE NIGHT.

>> THE BILL PASSED 156-10 AND HOUSE BILL 1001 ALLOWS DRIVERS TO SHOW AN ELECTRONIC'S DRIVER'S LICENSE TO POLICE.

THAT BILL PASSED 161-1.

SHARON COOPER AND SCOTT HILTON HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE TO ADVOCATE FOR WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES AND REPRESENTATIVE COOPER SAID SOME OF THE EMPLOYERS PAID 22 CENTS PER HOUR.

>> I WAS SHOCKED TO FIND THAT ON AVERAGE, FOLKS WITH A DISABILITY ARE PAID SOMEWHERE JUST ABOVE $3 AN HOUR.

WORK IS MEANINGFUL.

YOUR WORK IS MEANINGFUL, YOUR LIVES ARE MEANINGFUL.

WE WANT YOU TO WORK, BE PRODUCTIVE AND EARN A WAGE THAT IS COMMENSURATE WITH WHAT YOU DESERVE AND THANK YOU FOR WHO YOU ARE AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO, AND AS A FATHER OF A CHILD WITH A DISABILITY, MY SON 14-YEAR-OLD, CHASE, WHEN HE GROWS UP I WANT HIM TO WORK IN A HAPPY, HEALTHY, PRODUCTIVE JOB EARNING A WAGE OF WHAT HE OUGHT TO BE PAID.

>> UNDER CURRENT LAW, EMPLOYERS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO PAY WORKERS WITH A DISABILITY MINIMUM WAGE.

HOUSE BILL 1125 WOULD PHASE OUT SUB MINIMUM WAGE.

ALSO TODAY GEORGIA ANNOUNCED A $1 MILLION DONATION HELP THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM AND THE CHILDREN WHO AGE OUT OF IT.

>> TOMORROW IS ALZHEIMER'S AWARENESS DAY AT THE STATE CAPITAL AND LAWMAKERS WILL RETURN FOR DAY 25 AND THAT'S ALL FOR MY CAPITAL REPORT.

DONNA, BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU, SARAH, FOR THAT REPORT.

OF THE 107 HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES OR UNIVERSITIES OR HBCUs IN THE U.S.

TEN OF THEM ARE IN GEORGIA.

THEY NOT ONLY HELP FUEL THE STATE'S ECONOMIC ENGINE, BUT THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE TO CONTRIBUTING TO THE VITALITY OF GEORGIA'S WORKFORCE THROUGH INNOVATION AND CREATIVITY.

LAST FALL LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BERT JONES SPENT TIME TOURING HBCUs MEETING WITH PRESIDENTS AND TALKING TO STAFF AND STUDENTS.

I HAD THE EXPANSE -- THE TIME TO HAVE AN EXPANSIVE INTERVIEW WITH THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ABOUT THE TRIPS AND I ASKED HIM WHY HE DECIDED TO GO ON THOSE VISITS.

>> LAST YEAR, SENATOR HALPERN CAME TO ME, AN ATLANTA SENATOR HERE CAME TO ME AND SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT AN INITIATIVE THAT SHE WANTED TO TRY TO IMPLEMENT HERE IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA AND HBCUs AND I HAD AN INITIATIVE OF SAYING THAT WE NEEDED TO ORGANICALLY GROW OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND I SAID, YOU KNOW, WE NEED ALL OF OUR UNIVERSITIES AND TECHNICAL SCHOOLS AND K THROUGH 12 SYSTEMS AND WHAT I WANTED TO KNOW WAS WHAT EACH SYSTEM DID WELL AND THE ONLY WAY TO DO THAT IS GO IN AND SEE IT FOR YOURSELF.

SO WE HAD SOME REALLY GOOD VISITS -- WENT TO ALL OF THEM, AND THERE WERE VERY GOOD VISITS TO THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS, SPELMAN, MOREHOUSE AND CLARK AND WE WENT TO ALBANY STATE AND SAVANNAH STATE AND CAME AWAY WITH A LOT OF GOOD IDEAS ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO AND WE'RE WORKING ON SOME BUDGETARY ITEMS RIGHT NOW IN GEORGIA, AND THIS REAL ON ARE REAL SIMPLE THINGS BUT AT SAME TIME, THINGS THAT WE CAN GET DONE THIS SELZ SESSIONS SESSIONS.

>> BUT YOU VISITED PUBLIC SCHOOLS IT'S NOT JUST THOSE STATE SCHOOLS AND WHAT THEY MAY OFFER AND THE STUDENTS THAT ABOUT THROUGH THOSE SCHOOLS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

NUMBER ONE, WE WANTED TO FIND OUT WHAT EACH SCHOOL DID WELL AND THEN ALSO FIND OUT HOW WE COULD PARTNER EITHER AT THE STATE LEVEL OR BRINGING IN PRIVATE BUSINESSES AND PARTNER IN THAT WAY, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS TELLING TO ME WHEN I WENT TO VISIT PARTICULAR HE SPELMAN, MOREHOUSE AND CLARK IS THAT LACK OF BROADBAND ACCESS THAT THE SCHOOLS HAD AND ATLANTA UNIVERSITY CENTER THERE, THAT RIGHT THERE WAS -- IS TOTALLY SOMETHING THAT WAS OUT -- IT WAS A BUDGETARY ITEM, YOU KNOW, THAT WE ARE PUTTING INTO THE BUDGET THIS YEAR AND THAT GIVES THAT SCHOOL SYSTEM OR THAT LEARNING CENTER THERE, WHICH IS JUST THREE BLOCKS AWAY FROM MERCEDES BENZ STADIUM WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, THE CONNECTIVITY THERE IS TETHERED, AND THIS IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO DO RIGHT OUT OF THE BAT AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE DID, BUT LEARNING ABOUT THEM SOME OF THE SCHOOLS AND PROGRAMS WAS GOOD TO KNOW.

SAVANNAH STATE IS FOR SOMETHING I LEARNED AS MARINE BIOLOGY IS ONE OF THEIR MAJOR CURRICULUMS THERE.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE LEARNED THROUGH THAT.

ALBANY STATE AND WE'RE GROWING IN CAPACITY AND WE WORKED ON STUDENT HOUSING FOR THAT TO CONTINUE TO GROW AND CONTINUE TO FLOURISH AND WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT FORT VALLEY STATE, OBVIOUSLY, ONE OF THE OLDEST UNIVERSITIES HERE IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA, AN AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE IF IT HAD TO HAVE A VETERINARY SCHOOL, AS WELL.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'LL PUT INTO THE BUDGET TO LOOK AT A FEASIBILITY STUDY OF WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE.

OBVIOUSLY, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS IN HIGH DEMAND RIGHT NOW IS THE LACK OF VETS AND PARTICULARLY IN RURAL COMMUNITY, AS WELL.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU TALKED TO THE STUDENT, TOO.

>> OH, YEAH.

WE INTERACTED WITH ALL OF THE KIDS AND IT WAS FASCINATING HOW MANY KILLS WERE FROM THE STATE OF GEORGIA, OBVIOUSLY, AND PARTICULARLY IN THE ATLANTA SCHOOLS ABOUT HOW FAR REACHING A LOT OF THOSE SCHOOLS WERE WHERE YOUR DAUGHTER, YOU TELL ME SHE WENT TO SPELMAN AND IT WAS AMAZING THAT STUDENTS AS FAR AWAY FROM CALIFORNIA AND ARIZONA THAT ALSO THAT CAME TO SPELMAN BECAUSE OF THIS REPUTATION, AND AS YOU WELL KNOW, IT'S A GREAT SCHOOL AND HAS A GREAT REPUTATION.

>> I NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE BILLS OF THE HBCU INNOVATION AND THE PLANNING DISTRICT ACT.

TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT WOULD BE?

>> WELL, THAT'S SENATOR HALPERN'S WHO I THINK WILL BE JOINING US A LITTLE LATER ON.

THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS HER INITIATIVE AND ONCE AGAIN TO SPOTLIGHT HBCUs AND ALSO TO CREATE A MECHANISM THAT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF SCHOOLS THEY HAD THE LUXURY OF HAVING BIG FOUNDATIONS AND HAD THE ABILITY TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, DONORS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY THAT THEY GIVE TO THOSE FOUNDATIONS AND THEY CAN UTILIZE THOSE, PLACES LIKE ALBANY STATE, FORT VALLEY AND SOME OF THOSE THAT DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THAT SAME OPPORTUNITY.

SO WHAT THIS INITIATIVE ALONG WITH OTHER THINGS, WHAT I THINK WILL BE REALLY MEANINGFUL IS THAT IT'S GOING TO SET UP A FUND, A FOUNDATION FUND, BUT YOU HAVE STATE DONORS ANDAL MOST LIKE A COMMISSION THAT CAN DONATE TO THIS, AS WELL AND THEN WE CAN HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE FALL PHAM ILYEAR AND WHO IN MY NEXT NETWORKS TO RECEIVE GRANTS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

IT DOES OTHER THINGS, AS WELL AND I'VE LET SENATOR HALPERN EXPLAIN THAT, BUT THAT FOR ME WAS ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS THAT I SAW AS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY PARTICULARLY FOR THE HBCUs THAT DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE SOME OF THE BIG FOUNDATION THAT SOME OF THE PRIVATE ONES DO.

>> WHAT I WANT TO GET TO IS THE WHOLE WORKFORCE ISSUE IN GEORGIA.

>> SURE.

>> IF WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE A GREAT STATE FOR BUSINESS WE'VE GOT TO FOCUS ON EVERYBODY, AND THE HBCUs BRING IN A WORKFORCE THAT BRING IN UNIQUE NEEDS TO THE STATE, RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY AND ONE OF THE THING AND OBVIOUSLY WE'RE FOCUSED ON THE HBCUs AND I VISIT TECHNICAL SCHOOLS AS WELL AS K THROUGH 12 SYSTEMS THAT WERE -- THAT WERE EITHER IMPLEMENTED WORKFORCES WITH PRIVATE ENTITIES OR -- OR THEY'RE WORKING ON TRYING TO PARTNER WITH DIFFERENT GROUPS WHEN IT'S AN AVIATION FIELD OR WHETHER IT'S THE MOVIE INDUSTRY OR WHETHER IT'S IN CONSTRUCTION.

YOU'D BE AMAZED AT SOME OF THE AREAS OF THE STATE WHERE THEY'RE DOING IT REALLY WELL.

YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS POINT TO SAVANNAH AND GULFSTREAM AND THEIR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SCHOOLS DOWN THERE AND PARTICULARLY THE K THROUGH 12 SYSTEMS, WHERE EVERY YEAR THEY'RE GETTING ANYWHERE BETWEEN 75 TO 85 KIDS THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH PROGRAM PROGRAMS THAT WE TO DO THAT FOR EVERY REGION OF THE STATE, AND WHAT YOU DON'T HAVE RIGHT NOW, YOU'VE GOT A LABOR SHORTAGE.

WE HAVE OUR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONALS TO HELP BUILD THAT ORGANICALLY, AND THE ONLY WAY I THINK YOU CAN DO THOSE PARTNERSHIPS WELL IS BY KNOWING WHAT EVERYONE IS GOOD AT DOING.

LIKE I SAID, WHETHER IT'S AN AGRICULTURAL ARENA LIKE FORT VALLEY FOCUSES ON OR MARINE BIOLOGY OR EDUCATIONAL, WHICH EVERYONE -- JUST ABOUT EVERY ONE OF THOSE SCHOOLS I JUST NAMED ARE EDUCATIONAL HUBS AND HAVE EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT PRODUCE TEACHERS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

SO ALL THOSE THING, I THINK, YOU'RE GOT TO HAVE A GOOD IDEA AND A GOOD GRASP ON THAT IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE SUCCESSFUL LONG TERM.

>> I KNOW YOU'RE A FOOTBALL GUY, AND I SAW WHAT YOU POSTED THAT YOU GOT A HELMET FROM ALBANY STATE, RIGHT?

>> I DID.

I DID.

YOU KNOW -- I MEAN, I'VE GOT A BOOKSHELF HERE IN THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

SINCE PEOPLE DON'T READ BOOKS, EVERYTHING IS ON A TABLET ORE ONLINE NOW THAT I FIGURE WE'D BETTER MAKE GOOD USE OF THE BOOKSHELF.

SO I DECIDED TO DESIGNATE THAT AS ALL OF THE SCHOOLS WHO HAVE FOOTBALL PROGRAMS AND THEY'VE BEEN GENEROUS ENOUGH AND DONATED TO OUR OFFICE AND ALLEGANY STATE WAS THE MOST RECENT ONE AND WE APPRECIATE THAT, AND WE APPRECIATE THEIR PARTNERSHIP AND REALLY BEEN VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE LEADERSHIP THERE, AND WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO HAVE A LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM.

>> I WANT TO THANK THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FOR THAT INTERVIEW.

>>> COMING UP, WE'LL HEAR FROM THE DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKER WHO SUGGESTED THE HBCU TOURS, SENATOR SONIA HALPERN.

SHE'LL TALK ABOUT LEGISLATION TO CREATE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY DISTRICTS, SO STAY TUNED.

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

WITH OVER 80 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 GEORGIA FARMERS.

PEOPLE PUT THEIR FAITH IN PBS BECAUSE THEY KNOW LITTLE CONSTANTLY DELIVERING QUALITY.

IT COVERS THE WHOLE OF THE UNITED STATES.

IT'S A FREE AND INDEPENDENT MEDIA.

WE GO WHERE THE VIEWERS ARE.

>> WHAT ARE THE CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, AND WE FEEL CIVIL DISCOURSE IS A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY AND REPORTING PEOPLE K TRUST.

YOU CAN HEAR VOICES ON ALL SIDES OF AN ISSUE AND THIS IS THE PLACE PEOPLE TURN TO FOR STORIES THAT MATTER AND WHEN THEY WALK AWAY THEY WILL HAVE LEARNED SOMETHING ABOUT THE WORLD AROUND THEM.

>> THAT'S WHY THIS MAKES PBS IMPORTANT FOR DAILY LIFE AND IN OUR WORLD.

♪♪ ♪ ♪♪ >>> WELCOME BACK TO "LAWMAKERS."

I'M DONNA LOWERY.

THE SOUTHERN EDUCATION FOUNDATION SAYS GEORGIA'S TEN HBCUs AWARD 23% OF ALL BACHELOR'S DEGREES EARNED BY BLACK STUDENTS IN GEORGIA.

WE HEARD FROM THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

JOINING US NOW IS DEMOCRATIC SENATOR SONIA HALPERN OF ATLANTA.

SHE'S VICE CHAIR OF THE MINORITY CAUCUS AND VICE CHAIR OF THE SENATE URBAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.

WELCOME.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE SO MUCH.

>> BEFORE WE GET INTO LEGISLATION JUST TELL US YOUR OVERALL THOUGHTS ON THE TOUR YOU WENT ON LAST FALL.

>> I THOUGHT IT WAS GREAT, AND I WAS REALLY GLAD THAT THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WANTED TO JOIN ME AND VISIT THE CAMPUSES.

I, OF COURSE, HAVE BEEN ON ALL OF THOSE CAMPUSES AND I AM EXCITED THAT HE GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO STEP FOOT AS A STATE SENATOR IN HIS ROLE BEFORE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, HE KNEW OF SOME OF THE SCHOOLS THAT HAD BEEN TO SOME AND HAD DEFINITELY NOT HAD THE CHANCE TO VISIT ALL AS NONE WERE IN HIS DISTRICT.

IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR HIM TO SEE SOME OF THE GREAT WORK THAT WAS HAPPENING AT SCHOOLS THAT HE WAS AWARE OF.

>> SO WE HAVE PICTURES AND WE'RE GOING TO PUT UP SOME OF THE SPECIFIC VISITS AND CAN YOU SAY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT EACH ONE AS WE GO THROUGH THEM?

LET'S BEGIN WITH FORT VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY.

THAT IS A BIG PIECE OF MEAT.

>> YES, IT IS.

Y IT IS AND THEY HAVE A VETERINARY SCIENCES PROGRAM THERE AND WHAT YOU MIGHT NOT NOTICE, BUT THAT'S ALL YOUNG WOMEN IN THAT PHOTO THERE.

THEY HAVE COME FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE AND THEY ARE LEARNING ALL ABOUT VETERINARY SCIENCES INCLUDING MEAT.

>> YEAH.

>> YES.

>> I NOTICE THAT SENATOR KENNEDY IS IN THERE.

>> THE PRESIDENT PRO TEM REPRESENTS FORT VALLEY STATE AND IT IS OUR LAND GRAND INSTITUTION AND IT IS ONE OF THOSE 1890 HBCUs AND THERE ARE FOUR OF THE TEN ARE STATE UNIVERSITIES.

>> ACTUALLY, THREE OF THE 10 ARE STATE UNIVERSITIES SO FORT VALLEY STATE, SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY WHICH IS ACTUALLY THE OLDEST ONE IN THE STATE AND THEN ALBANY STATE.

>> OKAY, LET'S GO TO OUR NEXT PICTURE.

>> CLARK ATLANTA.

IT'S A PRIVATE INSTITUTION AND THEY HAVE BOTH UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE PROGRAMS.

THEY HAVE A SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK, THE WHITNEY YOUNG SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK IS THE OLDEST SCHOOL OF DEEP SOCIAL WORK WITH ROOTS IN METRO ATLANTA AND RURAL GEORGIA AND RANKS NUMBER TWO IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA OF ALL OF THE SCHOOLS OF SOCIAL WORK.

>> YOU SAID THEY HAVE SOMETHING THAT FOCUSES ON PROSTATE CANCER INDEPENDENT.

>> YES.

SO THEY'RE STARTING TO DO RESEARCH ON THAT, AS WELL AND GROWING THAT PROGRAM.

THAT'S VERY MUCH NEEDED RID NOW, WE HEARD SO MUCH CANCER ASK THIS PICTURE IS WITH SOME OF THE OTHER UNIVERSITY LEADERS FROM WHEN WE CALL THE UNIVERSITY CENTER CONSORTIUM, AND IT IS THE NUMBER ONE RANKED HBCU IN THE COUNTRY RIGHT HERE IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA AND THEY GRADUATE MORE BLACK PMDs AND S.T.E.M.

THAN ANYWHERE ELSE.

>> OKAY.

NEXT LET'S GO TO SAVANNAH STATE.

>> SAVANNAH STATE.

THIS IS A PICTURE OF US RIGHT ALONG THE MARSH WHICH IS WHERE THE UNIVERSITY IS LOCATED AND SAVANNAH STATE HAS AN INCREDIBLE MICROBIOLOGY PROGRAM AS WELL AS THE CYBERSECURITY PROGRAM GIVEN ITS PROXIMITY TO THE CYBERSECURITY.

DEFINITELY AREAS WE NEED MORE OF A WORKFORCE IN GEORGIA AND LET'S GO TO PAYNE COLLEGE.

THIS WASN'T EXACTLY AT PAYNE COLLEGE.

>> NO.

THIS WAS IN THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

PAYNE COLLEGE -- SO THERE ARE SEVEN PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS AND SIX OF WHICH ARE RIGHT HERE IN ATLANTA.

>> PAYNE COLLEGE IS IN AUGUSTA, WE DID NOT GET THE CHANCE TO GO TO AUGUSTA, AS WE HAD HOPED TO BE ABLE TO DO AND WE STILL GOT A CHANCE TO SIT DOWN AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THEIR UNIVERSITY AND THE COLLEGE AND SEE WHAT SOME OF THE KIND OF HIGH POINTS ARE THERE AND WHERE -- WHERE THEY'RE TRYING TO GROW.

>> SO I TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE LIEUTENANT BILL 275 AND THE HBCU INNOVATION AND ECONOMIC PROSPERITY PLANNING DISTRICT ACT.

IT'S A LONG TITLE.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

>> IT IS A LONG TITLE, BUT DON'T BE DISMAYED BY THAT.

REALLY WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS FIGURE OUT NEW, INNOVATIVE WAYS TO REALLY EMPOWER THE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES AND THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY SIT.

SO ALL OF THESE SCHOOLS, ALL 10 OF THEM DO SIT IN UNDERINVESTED COMMUNITIES, YET ARE ANCHOR INSTITUTIONS AND HAVE DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB.

YOU SAID SOME OF THE STATISTICS EARLIER IN GRADUATING STUDENTS.

GENERALLY, BLACK STUDENT, BUT REALLY THERE'S A LOT OF DIVERSITY ON THESE CAMPUSES, AS WELL, AND SO AS I CHAIRED IN 2022 A STUDY COMMITTEE ON EXCELLENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY AT OUR HBCUs, WE HEARD FROM BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LEADERS.

WE HEARD FROM PUBLIC POLICY FOLKS.

WE HEARD FROM UNIVERSITY LEADERS AND STARTED TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF SOME OF THE CHALLENGES AND BETTER OPPORTUNITIES.

SO THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION IS A DIRECT, DIRECT RECOMMENDATION FROM THE STUDY COMMITTEE'S EFFORTS AND OUR FINDINGS WHICH WAS A BIPARTISAN COMMITTEE, AND SO THE IDEA IS AGAIN, HOW DO WE USE THE SCHOOLS AS ANCHOR INSTITUTIONS AND USE THEM AS A CATALYST FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND ALSO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

>> YEAH.

SO WHAT IT IS IS TRYING TO FIND OUT HOW TO BETTER SERVE THE COMMUNITIES THEY'RE IN, TOO, RIGHT?

>> YES.

THAT PART, TOO.

SO HOW DO WE TAKE WHAT SOME OF THE NEEDS ARE OR THE RESOURCES THAT COULD REALLY HELP THE SCHOOLS GROW AS SCHOOL AND THE STUDENTS, BUT THEN ALSO THE COMMUNITY.

I'LL GIVE YOU SOME EXAMPLES AND USING THE COMMISSION AND THE AK WOULD CREATE A COMMISSION THAT WOULD SIT UNDER THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF GEORGIA AND THAT COMMISSION WOULD BE EMPOWERED TO CREATE LOCAL ADVISORY COMMITTEES MADE UP OF THE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS IN EACH DISTRICT.

SO AROUND EACH PARTICULAR SCHOOL BECAUSE EVERY SCHOOL ACTUALLY DOES HAVE DIFFERENT NEEDS, BUT DEPENDING ON WHAT THAT MASTER PLAN IS, THEN FUNDS COULD BE FOUND WHETHER IT'S DRAWING DOWN FEDERAL FUNDS, STATE, CITY, PHILANTHROPIC FUNDS TO HELP MAKE THOSE THINGS HAPPEN AND THERE ARE LOTS OF AREAS OF INTEREST SO HOUSING IS ONE.

MORE STUDENT HOUSING IS NECESSARY.

HOW DO WE HELP THE UNIVERSITIES BE ABLE TO DO THAT?

IT COULD BE SMALL BUSINESS INCUBATORS.

WHEN PRESIDENT HELENE GAIL FROM SPELMAN CAME TO TESTIFY IN THE COMMITTEE ABOUT THE BILL SHE TALKED VERY SPECIFICALLY ABOUT RESEARCH, AND SOME OF THE RESEARCH SPELMAN COLLEGE IS DOING AND HOW THIS COULD REALLY HELP ANCHOR THAT.

IT COULD BE DIGITAL BROADBAND, REALLY HELPING TO EXPAND BROADBAND.

THERE IS INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS ON ALL OF THESE CAMPUSES IN TERMS OF TECHNOLOGY AND NOT JUST THE SCHOOLS, BUT THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY SIT.

>> THE BILL HAS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

I'M VERY EXCITED TO GET IT ON THE FLOOR -- IT HAS TO BE CROSSOVER DAY, BUT I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT IT SHOULD GET TO THE FLOOR AND IT SHOULD PASS WITH FLYING COLORS AND IT'S A BIPARTISAN BILL.

HBCUs HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN A BIPARTISAN EFFORT AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND WE'RE EXTENDING THAT TO THE STATE LEVEL.

>> OKAY.

I WANT TO GET TO SOMETHING QUICK BEFORE WE HAVE YOU LEAVE.

BEFORE YOU CAME HERE.

>> YES.

>> YOU HAVE A BILL THAT DEALS WITH SCHOOLS AND AEDs.

>> YES.

>> THE DEFIBRILLATORS.

>> YES.

>> AUTOMATIC, EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS.

>> JUST BEFORE I CALM WHAT PASSED OUT OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE WOULD REQUIRE SCHOOLS TO HAVE A CARDIAC RESPONSE PLAN.

EVERY SCHOOL HAS TO HAVE A SAFETY PLAN, AND THIS BILL SAYS IT HAS TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE SAFETY PLAN A SPECIFIC CARDIAC EVENT EMERGENCY RESCUE PLAN BECAUSE WHAT WE ARE FINDING IS THAT MORE AND MORE STUDENTS, NOT JUST IN THE ATHLETIC FIELD ARE HAVING CARDIAC EVENTS AT YOUNGER AGES AND YOU'LL HEAR THE STORIES OF THE CHILDREN WHO WERE ABLE TO SURVIVE THAT, BUT THERE ARE ALSO HEARTBREAKING STORIES OF CHILDREN WHO WERE NOT, AND PART OF THE GOAL HERE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT IF A SCHOOL HAS A PLAN, THEN THEY KNOW HOW TO JUMP INTO ACTION IF SOMETHING SHOULD HAPPEN AND PART OF THAT PLAN HAS TO INVOLVE HAVING AT LEAST AN AED ON SITE WITH SOMEBODY TRAINED TO KNOW HOW TO USE IT, BECAUSE SECONDS WILL SAVE LIVES.

>> AND PASSED OUT OF THE COMMITTEE TODAY.

LOOKING GOOD.

>> YOU ALSO HAVE SB-180, A BILL TO INCREASE PENALTIES AND DOXXING FOR THOSE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE TERM, CYBER BULLYING WHEN SOMEONE HARASSES OR HARMS A PERSON THROUGH THE INTERNET OR SOCIAL MEDIA.

>> YES.

IN OUR CURRENT CYBER STALKING OR CYBER BULLYING LAWS ARE NOT EXPANSIVE ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY RELATE TO WHAT WE'RE REALLY SEEING ON THE GROUND, AND SO DOXXING IS IS WHEN I TAKE AN ARGUMENT WITH YOU AND I BRING IT OUT TO THE WORLD BY RELEASING PERSONALLY IDENTIFYING INFORMATION ABOUT YOURSELF, AND SO THIS BILL WOULD CREATE PENALTIES FOR THAT AND NAME MISDEMEANORS AND THE NAMED FELONY ACT IT IS AROUND THAT ACTIVITY AS A WAY TO DISCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM DOING THAT.

>> AND THAT'S BIPARTISAN, TOO.

>> OH, YEAH.

ABSOLUTELY.

>> AND LOOKS PRETTY GOOD?

>> I THINK SO.

NOW THAT BILL, I WILL SAY THERE'S ANOTHER BILL, SWATTING, AND BOTH OF THOSE TOGETHER I THINK LOOK VERY GOOD.

>> WE'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT THEM.

I APPRECIATE YOU COMING ON TODAY.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

THAT DOES IT TODAY FOR "LAW MARKS."

WE'LL BE BACK TOMORROW WITH ALZHEIMER'S DAY AT THE CAPITOL.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

♪♪ ♪♪ >>> OUR MISSION HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO SUPPORT GEORGIA FARMERS.

THAT'S WHY WE CREATE GEORGIA FARM BUREAU MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY, PROVIDING FINANCIAL PROTECTION THE FARMERS NEEDED.

WHILE THIS REMAINS THE SAME TODAY, WE'VE GROWN TO PROTECTION ALL GEORGIANS THROUGH HOME, AUTO AND LIFE INSURANCE.

FROM THE VERY BEGINNING AND INTO THE FUTURE, WE STAND FOR EVERY GEORGIA COMMUNITY.

♪♪