>>> A DEAL WAS MADE EARLIER THIS YEAR BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND SENATE LEADERSHIP, THAT THE HOUSE WOULD PASS THE BIG-BUDGET OVER TO THE SENATE, BEFORE CROSSOVER DATE, OR BY CROSSOVER DATE.

OBVIOUSLY THE HOUSE HAS FAILED TO DO THAT.

WE ARE LOOKING AT HOPEFULLY GETTING THE BUDGET OUT OF THE HOUSE THIS WEEK.

MR. PRESIDENT, I'M GOING TO RECOMMEND THIS SENATE CHAMBER NOT CONSIDER ANY HOUSE BILLS ON THE FLOOR OR THE SENATE UNTIL THE HOUSE PASSES ITS BUDGET.

>> GOOD-NATURED, GOING DOWN ON THE GAUNTLET, GETTING THE 2025 BUDGET TO WELCOME TO 20 DYING DAYS OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

IT HAS BEEN A BIG WEEK AT THE CAPITAL FOR ANYONE INTERESTED IN RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

IT IS QUALIFYING WEEK THROUGH FRIDAY.

ALL 236 SEATS ON THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ARE UP FOR GRABS, AND SO ARE GEORGIA CONGRESSIONAL OFFICES.

GEORGIA HAS A SYSTEM THAT RATES THE QUALITY OF LEARNING, ONE LEGISLATOR IS SPEARHEADING A MOVE TO MAKE SOME CHANGES TO THE SYSTEM.

HE JOINS US IN THE STUDIO.

ALSO WITH US IS A LAWMAKER THAT WANTS TO REPEAL A LAW THAT KEEPS STUDENTS CONVICTED OF NONVIOLENT DRUG OFFENSES FROM GETTING THE HOPE SPONSORSHIP WOULD AND SHOULD ADULT WARDS OF THE STATE BE ABLE TO MAKE IT WITH THEIR GUARDIANS?

WE WILL HEAR MORE ON THAT FROM THE LEGISLATOR WHO WANTS TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

WE WILL ALSO TALK ABOUT BILLS OF INTEREST TO MILITARY FAMILIES, AND A SENATOR IN GEORGIA.

FROM SARAH.

>> DONNA, LAWMAKERS RETURN TO THE CAPITAL AFTER A LATE NIGHT ON CROSSOVER DAY.

THIS WEEK, MANY LAWMAKERS WILL REACH A KEY MILESTONE.

QUALIFYING KICKED OFF WITH MAJOR CANDIDATES VISITING THE GOLD DOME.

THEY HAVE TO REGISTER, AND PAY A FEE IN ORDER TO APPEAR ON THE BALLOT.

>> WE KEEP HAVING THESE OVER AND OVER AGAIN, I'M HAPPY TO REPRESENT ANY CONSTITUENT, AND HAPPY TO CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK.

I HAVE DECIDED THAT I WILL NOT LET EXTREMIST REPUBLICANS DETERMINE HOW MY WORK IS DONE, I WILL LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE.

IN THE HOUSE, MEMBERS HONORED A FRIEND OF THE CHAMBER WHO PASSED AWAY LAST WEEK.

HE SERVED AS A DOORKEEPER IN THE HOUSE.

THIS HOUSE FOR OVER 16 YEARS.

HE WAS DEDICATED, WHAT A NICE, NICE MAN, WHO ALWAYS HAD A KIND WORD, AND MADE US FEEL GOOD ABOUT OURSELVES AND THE WORK WE ARE DOING.

>> THE HOUSE ADJOURNED.

IN THE SENATE, A QUIET DAY WITH NO BILLS ON THE FLOOR.

THAT DID NOT STOP INNER CHAMBER RIVALRY.

>> THAT SENATE PASSED 67 HOUSE BILLS THROUGH MARCH 1.

THE HOUSE HAS ONLY PASSED 26 SENATE BILLS.

WHAT HAVE THEY BEEN DOING?

THE SENATE, ON THE OTHER HAND, HAS PASSED 139 SENATE BILLS, AND THE HOUSE HAS PASSED 280 HOUSE BILLS.

THE HOUSE IS OUTPACING US 280 TO 125, SO THERE IS A LOT OF WORK FOR US TO DO.

A DEAL WAS MADE EARLIER THIS YEAR BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND SENATE LEADERSHIP, THAT THE HOUSE WOULD PASS THE BIG-BUDGET OVER TO THE SENATE BEFORE CROSSOVER DAY, OR BY CROSSOVER DAY.

OBVIOUSLY THE HOUSE HAS FAILED TO DO THAT.

WE ARE LOOKING AT HOPEFULLY GETTING THE BUDGET OUT OF THE HOUSE THIS WEEK.

MR. PRESIDENT, I'M GOING TO RECOMMEND THAT THIS SENATE CHAMBER NOT CONSIDER ANY HOUSE BILLS ON THE FLOOR, OR THE SENATE, UNTIL THE HOUSE PASSES A BUDGET.

>> ALSO RECEIVING ATTENTION, AND I SUSPECT THINGS SENATOR.

>> WE HAVE BEEN GIVING AN AWARD OUT FROM TIME TO TIME IN THE LAST YEAR AND THREE MONTHS.

THIS AWARD HAS BEEN GIVEN TO DESERVING SENATORS WHO ARE PRIMARILY PUSHING CONSERVATIVE IDEOLOGY AND FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE PIECES OF GIVEN THAT AWARD FROM TIME TO TIME.

LAST WEEK WE SAW BENEFITS OF GIVING IT TO SOMEONE FROM THE MINORITY PARTY.

ONE OF OUR SENDERS FROM THE MINORITY PARTY WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND THE MEANS OF A TRUE PATRIOT.

WE ARE GOING TO ISSUE THIS AWARD THIS MORNING TO A SENATOR WHO HELPED US ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM LAST WEEK, WE CUT THE DEBATE SHORT BY SEVERAL HOURS, BECAUSE HE WAS WORRIED ABOUT PASSING OTHER GOOD CONSERVATIVE MEASURES IN OUR CHAMBER.

THIS SENATOR ALSO HELPED US ON A SMALL LICENSING PLATE.

IN FACT THERE WAS AN AMENDMENT TO INCLUDE A FORMER PRESIDENT'S NAME ON THAT LICENSE PLATE.

A GOOD, STRONG, CONSERVATIVE MEASURE.

I'M GOING TO LEAVE THIS ELEPHANT UP HERE, I HOPE THE RECIPIENT WILL COME FORWARD AND ACCEPT IT WITH HUMILITY AND GRATITUDE.

THIS AWARD GOES TO THE SENATOR FROM THE 14th CONGRATULATIONS.

>> IF THERE ARE ANY REPUBLICANS IN MY DISTRICT TO ACCUSE ME OF BEING A LEFT- WING NUT, THIS IS MY ANSWER.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE HONOR.

>> LAWMAKERS RETURN AT THEIR USUAL TIME TOMORROW.

THAT'S ALL FROM MY CAPITAL REPORT.

>> THANK YOU, SARAH.

FROM ELEMENTARY, TO COLLEGE AND UNCLE SCHOOL, LOTS OF HILLS ARE FOCUSED ON GEORGE'S EDUCATION SYSTEM.

WE WILL SPEND SOME TIME LOOKING AT THOSE BILLS.

FIRST, ERIC BELL, OF JONESBORO, WHO IS NEW TO THE LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR.

AND SCOTT HELTON OF PEACHTREE CORNERS, VICE CHAIR OF THE HEALTH EDUCATION COMMITTEE.

THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN, FOR BEING HERE FOR LAWMAKERS.

I APPRECIATE IT.

YOU ARE REALLY GETTING THE FULL YEAR, THIS YEAR.

LET'S START WITH YOU.

YOU HAVE A BILL LOOKING TO REPEAL THE DRUG-FREE POST SECONDARY EDUCATION ACT OF 1990.

>> THE DRUG-FREE ACT OF 1990 SAYS ANY PERSON THAT HAS A DRUG CONVICTION IS UNABLE TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE HOPE SCHOLARSHIP, OR FOR LOANS FOR COLLEGE OR TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

IT'S ABOUT 35,000 PEOPLE, ANNUALLY.

OVER THE EXTENT OF THIS BILL, MILLIONS OF GEORGIA RESIDENTS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO BECOME PART OF THE WORKFORCE, 40% OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLERS WILL BE INELIGIBLE TO ENTER.

THIS IS AN EMERGENCY BILL, TO MAKE SURE GEORGIA REMAINS A GOOD PLACE TO DO BUSINESS.

>> TELL US A BIT ABOUT THE BACKGROUND, AND WHY YOU DECIDED TO GO FOR THIS BILL.

>> MULTIPLE THINGS.

I HAVE PERSONAL FAMILY EXPERIENCE WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE DRUG CONVICTIONS, YOU CAN SEE THE RIPPLES THAT AFFECT GENERATIONS.

THAT'S ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS.

SECOND, EVERY PERSON DESERVES A SECOND CHANCE, NO MATTER WHAT THEY DO, WHETHER IT IS THE FIRST TIME, OR THEY ARE SUFFERING FROM POVERTY.

THEY ARE MOVING UP FROM CURRENT ECONOMIC STATUS.

THIS IS A LIFELINE TO SAY YOU MATTER.

>> THANK YOU FOR TELLING US ABOUT IT.

WE WILL GET BACK WITH YOU IN A SECOND, WE KNOW YOU HAVE MORE BILLS.

AND YOU DEAL WITH SOMETHING A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T THINK ABOUT, THAT IS THE RATING SYSTEM FOR GEORGIA SCHOOLS.

TALK ABOUT WHAT EXISTS NOW, AND THE CHANGES YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN.

I COMMITTED TO MY CONSTITUENTS THAT I WOULD HELP EMPOWER PARENTS.

AND NO BETTER WAY THAN PUTTING TRANSPARENT INFORMATION.

GEORGIA PRODUCES A PERFORMANCE RATING FOR OUR SCHOOLS.

WE SUSPENDED IT AFTER 2019.

WE ARE JUST NOW GETTING BACK TO THE PROCESS.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DO IT RIGHT.

WE PRODUCE A SINGLE SCORE THAT IS EASY FOR PARENTS TO UNDERSTAND, AND TO MAKE DECISIONS ON WHERE THEIR CHILDREN GO TO SCHOOL.

>> YOU CAN LOOK AT IT AND COMPARE YOUR CHILD'S SCHOOL TO ANOTHER SCHOOL.

THERE IS A MOVE TO CHANGE THAT NOW?

>> THERE IS.

A WAIVER WAS RECEIVED TO PRODUCE A SCORE THAT WAS AGGREGATED ACROSS FIVE DIFFERENT METRICS.

MY THOUGHT PROCESS IS PARENTS ARE BUSY, THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME, THAT NEEDS TO BE A SINGLE SCORE, AND THAT CALCULATION NEEDS TO STAY THE SAME YEAR AFTER YEAR, SO PARENTS CAN SEE IF A SCHOOL IS MAKING PROGRESS.

>> WHAT WOULD YOUR BILL DO?

>> MY BILL WOULD REQUIRE THE PRODUCTION OF ONE SCORE FOR EVERY SCHOOL ACROSS THE STATE, AND THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE PUBLISHED ON THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WEBSITE, SO PARENTS CAN EASILY COMPARE HOW THEIR SCHOOL IS PERFORMING.

IN GEORGIA, WE'VE SPENT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON EDUCATION.

WE'VE GOT TO BE TRANSPARENT.

>> WE ARE TALKING ABOUT READING, AND THINGS LIKE THAT, RIGHT?

>> READING, PREPAREDNESS, CAREER READINESS.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF METRICS THAT ARE DISAGGREGATED.

WE WANT TO ROLL THOSE UP INTO ONE SCORE.

>> I REMEMBER WHEN THEY HAD A LETTER GRADE, NOW IT'S A NUMBER.

>> WHEN YOU AND I GO OUT TO EAT, WE GO TO A RESTAURANT, THERE'S A SCORE WE CAN UNDERSTAND.

I THINK WE NEED TO BE TRANSPARENT, AND PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION.

RIGHT NOW, THE BILL DID NOT MAKE IT THROUGH THE CROSSOVER, BUT AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY TO AMEND AND SUBSIDY OTHER BILLS.

I'VE GOT MEETINGS TOMORROW TO DISCUSS THAT AND FIGURE OUT HOW WE GET THIS ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

IT'S A GOT A LOT OF SUPPORT.

>> YOU ARE WITH EDUCATION, SO THAT IS YOUR COMMITTEE.

REPRESENTATIVE BELL, YOU HAVE ANOTHER MEASURED DEALING WITH HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

>> HBA 5050 IS A STUDY COMMITTEE LOOKING AT THE INTERSTATE SYSTEM, AS WELL AS THE AIRPORT, TO SEE THE IMPACT ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

PEOPLE ARE GETTING MOVED AROUND IN MANY DIFFERENT CAPACITIES.

GEORGIA HAS THE BUSIEST AIRPORT AND ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING SEAPORTS, AS A STATE LEGISLATURE, WE CAN DEFINITELY STEP UP AND DO OUR FAIR SHARE TO HAMPER ANY ILL WILL.

>> YOU MENTIONED HARTSFIELD JACKSON.

WHAT DO YOU DO?

>> GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS.

HE RECOGNIZED THE NEED.

>> DEFINITELY.

WE HAVE 100 MILLION PASSENGERS PER YEAR.

IT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE, A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS ARE HAPPENING.

THEY ARE DOING A GREAT JOB, I THINK WE CAN HELP A LOT MORE.

THERE IS A LOT WE CAN DO IN THIS FIELD, ESPECIALLY TALKING ABOUT INDIVIDUALS AS YOUNG AS 13, 12, BEING TRAFFICKED, NOT JUST ADULTS, BUT ESPECIALLY OUR CHILDREN, THE KIDS.

THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHEN THEY ENTER THIS LIFE OR ENTER A CERTAIN LIFESTYLE WHAT COULD COME FROM IT.

THEY ARE LOOKING FOR THE NEWEST GADGET, BY COMBATING HUMAN TRAFFICKING, WE ARE GOING TO SAVE A LOT OF LIVES.

>> I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU BOTH ABOUT HOW YOU THINK THINGS ARE GOING.

TODAY WAS A QUIET DAY.

WE HEARD SARAH'S REPORT.

CROSSOVER DAY HAPPENED, QUALIFYING, IT IS DIFFERENT FOR A FEW DAYS, RIGHT?

>> LAST THURSDAY WAS CROSSOVER DAY, WE WERE THERE UNTIL ABOUT NIGHT.

ALL BILLS HAVE TO PASS THE HOUSE OR SENATE TO BE CONSIDERED STILL ALIVE.

I THOUGHT WE DID A LOT OF GREAT THINGS ON CROSSOVER DAY FOR GEORGIA.

RECENTLY THE ISSUE OF MIGRATION HAS COME UP, WE PASSED A BILL IN REGARDS TO THAT, TO MAKE SURE FOLKS WHO MAYBE SHOULDN'T BE HERE ARE REPORTED ACCORDINGLY.

I WANTED TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF ALL GEORGIANS RIGHT NOW.

>> SO FAR, SO GOOD.

PEOPLE LIKE TO SAY IN GEORGIA WE ARE A DIVIDED HOUSE, BUT THE MAJORITY OF THE BILLS THAT WE VOTE ON ARE GOOD DEALS FOR GEORGIA CITIZENS, GOOD BILLS TO PROVIDE FOR A FUTURE THAT WE ALL WANT TO SEE.

THERE ARE SOME IN THE WEEDS, LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT THE IMMIGRATION BILL, BUT FOR THE MOST PART WE ARE DOING A GREAT JOB MAKING SURE GEORGIA STAYS ON TRACK.

>> THIS IS YOUR FIRST SESSION.

>> THERE IS A LOT OF PAGEANTRY.

>> YOU WERE IN THE NAVY, SO PAGEANTRY, A LITTLE BIT.

>> WE WILL LEAVE THAT FOR THE BUT I FEEL LIKE WE CAN DIVE IN A LITTLE DEEPER, AND REALLY WORK FOR THE PEOPLE THAT CAN'T ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES, ESPECIALLY THE HOMELESS, THOSE THAT HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, AND PRISONERS.

I THINK WE CAN HAVE A LITTLE MORE HUMILITY, AND BE A LOT MORE KIND TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVEN'T HAD THE SAME OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAD.

WE ARE A STEP AWAY FROM BEING HOMELESS OR DISABLED, WHETHER THAT'S A CAR WRECK THAT CAUSES YOU TO LOSE YOUR JOB, OR YOU GET PULLED OVER FOR A SUBSTANCE THAT IS LEGAL IN OTHER STATES.

YOU ARE ONE MISTAKE AWAY FROM BEING IN SOMEONE ELSE'S SHOES.

I APPRECIATE BOTH OF YOU TALKING TO ME, AND TALKING ABOUT THE BILLS THAT YOU ARE OBVIOUSLY PASSIONATE ABOUT.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR COMING IN.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> DOZENS OF BILLS FOCUS ON WORKFORCE ISSUES.

WE ARE GOING TO HEAR FROM TO MAKE LIFE LESS CHALLENGING FOR WORKING FAMILIES.

STAY WITH US.

>> LAWMAKERS IS MADE POSSIBLE BY GEORGIA FARM BUREAU.

HELPING EVERYONE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE IN OUR STATE.

AGRICULTURE IS GEORGIA'S NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY.

THE GEORGIA FARM BUREAU LEGISLATIVE TEAM WORKS TO REPRESENT PRODUCERS ACROSS GEORGIA AND THE STATE CAPITAL, DURING THE SESSION AND YEAR- ROUND.

GEORGIA FARM BUREAU IS THE VOICE OF GEORGIA FARMERS.

>> CONSTANTLY DELIVERING QUALITY.

IT COVERS ALL 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?

>> WE FILL -- WE FEEL THIS IS A CIVIC RESPONSE ABILITY.

>> AUTHENTIC REPORTING.

>> WE GIVE TIME SO YOU CAN HEAR VOICES ON ALL SIDES OF THE ISSUE.

>> THIS IS A PLACE PEOPLE TURN TO, FOR STORIES THAT MATTER.

>> WHEN THEY WALK AWAY, THEY WILL HAVE LEARNED SOMETHING ABOUT THE WORLD AROUND ME.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

[ MUSIC ] >>> WELCOME BACK TO LAWMAKERS.

I'M DONNA LAUER.

WE WILL TALK ABOUT A VARIETY OF LEGISLATIONS WITH OUR GUEST, THE LOOK IN SENATOR LARRY WALKER THE THIRD.

HE IS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE INSURANCE AND LABOR COMMITTEE, AND ALSO WITH US IS REGINA, AMONG HER COMMITTEES IS AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS.

WELCOME TO LAWMAKERS.

I APPRECIATE YOU BOTH BEING HERE.

IT WAS A QUIET DAY, BUT WE CAN GET THINGS ROLLING HERE.

I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT SOME BILLS DEALING WITH MILITARY FAMILIES.

I WANT TO PUT UP SOME INFORMATION, SO PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE SCOPE OF THIS.

I GOT THIS DATA FROM THE DEFENSE MANPOWER DATA CENTER, WHICH I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW EXISTED.

THERE ARE ROUGHLY 37,000 ACTIVE- DUTY SERVICEMEMBERS IN GEORGIA, MORE THAN 4000 ACTIVE-DUTY SPOUSES, 42,000 NATIONAL GUARD AND RIVER RESERVE MEMBERS, MORE THAN 17,000 OF THEM HAVE SPOUSES IN GEORGIA.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT MORE PEOPLE THAN SOME MAY IMAGINE.

CHAIRMAN, YOU SUPPORT THE BILL WITH OCCUPATIONAL LICENSES FOR MILITARY SPOUSES.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

>> IT'S GREAT TO BE WITH YOU, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

HYPER-I REPRESENT THE AIR FORCE BASE.

THEY KEEP OUR PLANES FLYING, AND KEEP OUR COUNTRY SAFE.

WE WANT TO SUPPORT THEM, WE BRAG ABOUT BEING THE NUMBER ONE STATE FOR BUSINESS, WE WANT TO BE THE NUMBER ONE STATE FOR MILITARY.

MILITARY MEMBERS, AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, THEY GENERALLY MOVE EVERY TWO YEARS.

THEY ARE MOVING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, ALL OVER THE WORLD.

NOT ONLY IS THE MILITARY MEMBER SACRIFICING FOR OUR COUNTRY, FAMILY IS SACRIFICING AS WELL.

THE SPOUSE GOES WITH THEM, WHEN THEY MOVE.

IT IS HARD FOR A SPOUSE TO HAVE A CAREER, WHEN THEY ARE HAVING TO GET A NEW LICENSE EVERY TIME THEY MOVE.

THIS IS A PRIORITY FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, FOR THE 21st CENTURY PARTNERSHIP, THE ADVOCACY GROUP, AND FOR ALL OF OUR MILITARY INSTALLATIONS.

BETHANY BALLARD IS PART OF THE HOUSE AND COUNTY ALLEGATION.

SHE GOT HOUSE BILL 880 PASSED, AND CARRIED INTO THE SENATE.

IT GIVES IMMEDIATE LICENSE FOR MILITARY SPOUSES LICENSED IN ANOTHER STATE, LICENSED AND IN GOOD STANDING, SHE OR HE APPLIES FOR AN EXPEDITED LICENSE THROUGH GEORGIA, AND THEY HAVE 30 DAYS TO TELL THEM APPROVED OR NOT, THEY CAN START WORK IMMEDIATELY, AND IF THEY ARE NOT TURNED DOWN WITHIN 30 DAYS, THEY'VE GOT TO ISSUE THEM THE LICENSE.

THIS IS THE CIVIL RELIEF ACT, IT WAS PASSED A YEAR OR TWO AGO.

I AM REALLY, REALLY EXCITED, THIS WILL BE ONE OF THE STRONGEST MILITARY LICENSE SPOUSE BILLS IN THE COUNTRY.

IT WILL PUT GEORGIA ON THE MAP.

>> WE ARE TALKING ALL TYPES OF PROFESSIONS, FOR PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE DOCTORS, NURSES, AND LAWYERS, PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO HAVE A LICENSE AND JUST HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING THEM RIGHT AWAY.

>> AND THEY ALREADY HOLD A VALID LICENSE IN ANOTHER STATE.

>> OKAY, I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

I KNOW WE ARE GOING TO TALK MORE.

YOU GET TO CARRY IT FORWARD A LITTLE BIT.

WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT A BILL THAT YOU HAVE TO HELP ADULTS WHO ARE WARDS OF THE STATE, PEOPLE THAT WE PROBABLY FORGET, HB 144, TELL US WHAT THAT IS ABOUT.

>> FIRST, LET ME SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR INVITING ME HERE TODAY.

THIS CAME TO ME BY A CONSTITUENT.

SHE HAD A FAMILY MEMBER WHO WAS UNDER THE GUARDIANSHIP OF HIS WIFE.

SHE DID NOT ALLOW HIM TO MEDICATE WITH THE FAMILY.

WE DID RESEARCH, AND WE FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS A LAW IN GEORGIA THAT SPELLS OUT THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE GUARDIAN.

WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE WAYS WE WOULD BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, IF THEY CHOOSE TO, AND WORK WITH THE CHAIR OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE COMMITTEE, SHE SUGGESTED THAT WE STRENGTHEN IT, AND PUT SOME PENALTIES IN IT, AND WE DID THAT.

LAST SESSION, IT PASSED THE HOUSE UNANIMOUSLY, AND MOVED OVER TO THE SENATE.

IT NEVER MADE IT TO THE SENATE FLOOR.

BUT IT IS STILL ALIVE.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED.

SOMETHING ELSE WAS TACKED ONTO YOUR BILL.

>> MY BILL WAS GUTTED, THE LANGUAGE WAS STRIPPED, IT WAS REPLACED WITH LANGUAGE FROM ANOTHER BILL, THE ANTI-SEMITISM BILL, AND THAT BILL DID NOT COME TO THE HOUSE FLOOR.

BUT THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS TO MY BILL.

>> WHERE DO THINGS STAND THIS YEAR?

>> WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH MORE PEOPLE THIS SUMMER, WHO WERE INTERESTED IN THE BILL, AND ASKED US TO MAKE SOME MORE CHANGES.

WE DID THAT.

TOMORROW THERE WILL BE A HEARING IN THE FAMILY AND CHILDREN SERVICES COMMITTEE.

>> GOOD LUCK TO YOU ON THAT.

IT SEEMS LIKE YOU'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK ON THIS.

THERE IS ALSO A BILL THAT FOCUSES ON MILITARY MEDICAL WORKERS.

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> I HAVE CHAIRED A COMMITTEE DURING THE INTERIM, AND WE CAME UP WITH 11 RECOMMENDATIONS.

ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IS TO LOOK AT WHAT VIRGINIA HAS DONE WITH REGARD TO MILITARY CORPSMEN AND MEDICS, AND RECOGNIZING THE EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING THEY HAVE IN THE MILITARY, SO WHEN THEY EXIT THE MILITARY, HOPEFULLY IN GEORGIA, WE GIVE THEM AN EXPEDITED PATHWAY TO JOIN THE HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE.

EVERYWHERE I GO, WORKFORCE SHORTAGE IS A TOPIC OF CONVERSATION, NO MATTER WHAT INDUSTRY YOU ARE TALKING TO, THESE PEOPLE ARE ALREADY CERTIFIED AND TRAINED THROUGH THE MILITARY, AND WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT, AND GIVE THEM A PATHWAY TO GET INTO THE HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE QUICKLY.

IT IS SENATE BILL 449.

GEORGIA HAS THE FIFTH LARGEST MILITARY POPULATION IN THE COUNTRY.

YOU SHOWED SOME STATISTICS EARLIER.

WE HAVE ABOUT 700,000 MILITARY VETERANS IN GEORGIA, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, AND 100,000+ HAVE FULL MILITARY RETIREMENT.

A LOT OF THESE RETIREES CAN RETIRE AFTER 20 YEARS.

THEY HAVE A SECOND CAREER THAT THEY PURSUE.

THOSE THAT HAVE MEDICAL EXPERIENCE AND MILITARY, WE WANT THEM TO BECOME EMTS, THE NURSE AIDES, PARAMEDIC, AND GET THEM IN THE HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE.

>> WE CERTAINLY NEED THEM.

THEY ARE FILLING IN WHERE WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY.

>> WE HAVE 10 MAJOR MILITARY INSTALLATIONS ALL OVER THE STATE, A LOT OF THEM IN RURAL AREAS.

>> I WANTED TO GET TO ANOTHER BILL WITH YOU.

YOU ARE WORKING ON A BILL THAT DEALS WITH HOAS.

TALK ABOUT THIS, HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS.

WE KNOW THERE IS A HOUSING CRISIS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, GEORGIA LAW CURRENTLY ALLOWS HOAS TO PLACE A LIEN ON HOMES, IF THE ASSESSMENTS ARE MORE THAN $2000.

MY BILL DOES THREE THINGS.

IT MAKES THE ASSESSMENTS INFERIOR TO MEDICAL DEBT, MEANING THAT A PERSON WHO IS STRUGGLING WITH PAYING MEDICAL BILLS, BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MEDICAL INSURANCE, OR INSURANCE IS INADEQUATE, THEY CAN'T LOSE A HOME OVER MEDICAL DEBT.

AND IT REQUIRES NH AWAY TO OFFER SOME TYPE OF ASSISTANCE IN MEDIATION, MEDIATION OR ARBITRATION, BEFORE THEY CAN PLACE A LIEN ON SOMEONE'S HOME.

RIGHT NOW HOAS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO WORK WITH HOMEOWNERS.

WE'VE BEEN GETTING A LOT OF COMPLAINTS FROM HOMEOWNERS, WHEN THEY SELL THEIR HOMES, THE CLOSING LETTER THAT SAYS THEY ARE IN GOOD STANDING CAN COST UP TO $350.

THIS BILL ASKS FOR THE H AWAY TO SEND THE HOMEOWNER A STATEMENT THAT SAYS YOU ARE IN GOOD STANDING.

>> WHERE ARE YOU WITH THAT BILL, AT THIS POINT?

>> THAT BILL IS BACK IN LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL.

WE ARE WORKING ON CHANGING SOME LANGUAGE.

WE KNOW IT WON'T BE HEARD THIS YEAR, BUT WE WILL BRING IT BACK UP NEXT YEAR.

>> LAST WEEK, IN THE SENATE, YOU APPROVED A BILL THAT ALLOWED SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES TO CUT TIES WITH THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.

WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME LEFT, BUT GIVE US AN IDEA WHY YOU PUSHED THROUGH THAT BILL.

>> BASICALLY WE WANT THE LOCAL LIBRARY BOARDS AND LIBRARIANS TO DETERMINE WHAT MATERIAL THEY WANT IN THE LIBRARY WITHOUT UNDUE INFLUENCE FROM EXTREME ORGANIZATIONS.

IT'S A PRIVATE ENTITY, BASED IN CHICAGO.

THE PRESIDENT IS A SELF- DESCRIBED MARXIST, AND WE DON'T NEED THEM MEDDLING IN OUR LOCAL LIBRARIES.

IT WOULD PROHIBIT PUBLIC FUNDING FROM GOING TO THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.

>> THE SCHOOLS OR THE LIBRARIES COULD MAKE THAT DECISION.

OR IS THAT OVERALL?

>> ABOUT THE FUNDING?

THEY WOULD BE PROHIBITED FROM PUBLIC FUNDING TO THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.

>> WE KNOW IT IS CLOSE TO THE HOUSE NEXT.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, GOOD CONVERSATION, I APPRECIATE THAT.

THAT DOES IT FOR LAWMAKERS.

WE WILL BE BACK TOMORROW, AND AMONG DISCUSSIONS, A BILL.