>> IN OUR BUSINESSES AND HARD NEED RELIEF FROM INCREASED COST OF DOING BUSINESS, HAVING CAR INSURANCE, OR GETTING ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE.

I BELIEVE THIS PACKAGE ACCOMPLISHES THOSE GOALS AND STRIKES THE RIGHT BALANCE.

>> GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP REVEAL THE DETAILS OF HIS HIGHLY ANTICIPATED TORT REFORM PACKAGE.

GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO "LAWMAKERS" ON THIS LEGISLATIVE DAY 9.

AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY, THE GOVERNOR SAID GEORGIANS NEED TORT REFORM AND THEY NEED IT NOW.

WE'LL HAVE MORE ON HIS PLAN TO OVERHAUL THE CIVIL LIABILITIES SYSTEM IN GEORGIA COMING UP.

THE LEGISLATION TO MAKE GIRLS' SPORTS IN GEORGIA FOR GIRLS ONLY IS ON THE MOVE IN THE SENATE.

ON THE SHOW WE'LL HEAR FROM A COUPLE OF PEOPLE WHO TESTIFIED ONE OF THE BILL'S SPONSORS AND ANOTHER LAWMAKER WHO SAYS THE LEGISLATION WILL MAKE, WILL HARM VULNERABLE PEOPLE.

WE'RE ALSO TALKING EDUCATION TONIGHT.

ON EVERYTHING FROM PRE-K THROUGH COLLEGE AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT WITH TWO LEGISLATORS WHO JOIN US IN THE STUDIO.

FIRST, LET'S GO TO THE CAPITAL WHERE OUR SARAH KALLIS HAS TODAY'S NEWS.

>> Reporter: HI.

GOVERNOR KEMP REVEAL HIS MUCH ANTICIPATED TOP LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY.

THE BIG NEWS OF THE DAY WAS THE UNVEILING OF GOVERNOR KEMP'S TORT REFORM LEGISLATION PACKAGE.

THE LEGISLATION WHICH WE'LL BE HEARING BY SENATOR JOHN F. KENNEDY LAYS OUT RULES FOR CIVIL LAWSUIT PROCEEDINGS.

THE GOAL IS TO LIMIT LAWSUITS, CURB RISING INSURANCE COSTS AND LEGAL FEES FOR BUSINESSES AND CONSUMERS.

SPECIFIC PROPOSALS INCLUDE BLOCKING FOREIGN ADVERSARIES FROM FINDING LAWSUITS, LIMITING WHEN A BUSINESS CAN BE SUED FOR INJURIES THAT HAPPEN ON THEIR PROPERTY, ALLOWING JURIES TO CONSIDER IF SOMEONE WAS WEARING A SEATBELT IN CAR ACCIDENTS, AND BANNING OUTSIZED JURY AWARDS.

>> IN OUR BUSINESSES AND HARD WORK, GEORGIANS NEED RELIEF FROM THE INCREASED COST OF DOING BUSINESS, HAVING CAR INSURANCE OR GETTING ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE.

I BELIEVE THIS PACKAGE ACCOMPLISHES THOSE GOALS AND STRIKES THE RIGHT BALANCE.

IT ACHIEVES MEANINGFUL TORT REFORM THIS SESSION AS OPPOSED TO A SECOND ONE LATER THIS YEAR.

>> KEMP SAYS THAT THE LEGISLATION COULD PROTECT SMALL BUSINESSES AND THAT IF IT DOES NOT PASS THIS YEAR, HE WILL CALL A SPECIAL SESSION TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE LATER THIS YEAR.

SEVERAL DEMOCRATS HAVE ALREADY STATED THEIR OPPOSITION TO THE LEGISLATION.

>> A PLAINTIFF IS SOMEONE WHO HAS SUFFERED CATASTROPHIC HARM IN MANY CASES, AND TODAY, WHAT THE GOVERNOR WAS SAYING WAS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE PLAINTIFFS, WHAT THEY HAVE SUFFERED WITH THESE GEORGIANS HAVE SUFFERED, DOES NOT MEAN AS MUCH BECAUSE THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY NOW HAS A COMPLAINT.

>> THE HOUSE LEGISLATURE LAID OUT ITS PRIORITIES INCLUDING FULLY FUNDING PUBLIC SCHOOLS, GUN SAFETY, AND MEDICAID EXPANSION.

>> HOUSE DEMOCRATS HAVE A DIFFERENT VISION FOR GEORGIA.

ONE WHERE WORKING FAMILIES HAVE A CHANCE TO GET AHEAD, NOT JUST GET BY.

GEORGIA DEMOCRATS BELIEVE THAT EVERYONE DESERVES THE FREEDOM TO THRIVE BY BUILDING COMMUNITIES THAT PRIORITIZE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION, AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.

AS DEMOCRATS, OUR TOP PRIORITY IS TO ENSURE THAT ALL GEORGIANS AS THE LEADER SAID, HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO LIVE, LEARN, AND EARN.

>> IN THE HOUSE, MEMBERS OBSERVED A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THE VICTIMS OF A TRAGIC PLANE CRASH IN WASHINGTON, D. C. >> JOIN ME IN PRAYING FOR THESE SOULS LOST IN THAT INCIDENT AND FOR THE FAMILIES WHO NOW FACE UNIMAGINABLE GRIEF.

TO THOSE MEMBERS OF OUR ASSEMBLY, CHUG OUR SPEAKER IN WASHINGTON, D. C. , WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SAFE RETURN LAST NIGHT.

PLEASE BE WITH ALL OUR NATION'S TRANSPORTATION PARTNERS THAT MOVE OUR LOVED ONES AROUND THIS GLOBE.

WE PRAY FOR THEM AND THE SAFETY OF THE PASSENGERS IS PARAMOUNT FOR THEIR MISSION.

>> IN THE SENATE, SENATOR ELAINA PARENT TOOK A MOMENT DURING HER POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE TO POINT OUT WHAT SHE CALLED HYPOCRISY BY PRESIDENT TRUMP AFTER HE SIGNED THE BILL IN WASHINGTON CLAIMING TO BE CRACKING DOWN ON CRIME WHILE ALSO PARDONING THE JANUARY 6th PROTESTERS.

>> I'M NOT BUYING IT, THAT TRUMP CARES ABOUT CRIME OR ABOUT PROTECTING AMERICANS.

IF HE DID, HE WOULD NOT BE SELECTIVELY PUNISHING CRIMES THAT FIT HIS POLITICAL NARRATIVE WHILE EXCUSING VIOLENT OFFENDERS WHEN THEY SERVE HIS PERSONAL INTERESTS.

THAT IS NOT JUSTICE.

THAT IS MANIPULATION.

>> THE SENATE THEN CALLED IT A DAY.

AND --PUT ON YOUR FASHIONABLE BLACK DRESS OR YOUR BEST SUIT AS THIS YEAR'S DEBUTANTES AND BEAUS MAKE THEIR ANNUAL VISIT TO THE CAPITOL.

IT GIVES, QUOTE, THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS FROM DeKALB, ROCKDALE, NEWTON, AN OPPORTUNITY TO WITNESS THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS AND ENGAGE WITH LEGISLATORS.

THIS YEAR IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THE YOUNG MEN HAVE BEEN INCLUDED.

ALSO TODAY, A CONTROVERSIAL BILL THAT BANS TRANSGENDER GIRLS FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL, AND COLLEGE FEMALE SPORTS PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE.

LAWMAKERS RECONVENE ON MONDAY FOR LEGISLATIVE DAY TEN.

THAT'S ALL FOR MY CAPITOL REPORT.

BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU, SARAH.

> >> ONCE AGAIN, THE ISSUE OF TRANSGENDER ATHLETES IN GIRLS' SPORTS IS HEATING UP AT THE CAPITOL.

TODAY THE SENATE EDUCATION AND YOUTH COMMITTEE HELD A HEARING ON WHETHER TO BAN TRANSGENDER GIRLS FROM PLAYING IN GIRLS' SPORTS.

LET'S HEAR FROM A COUPLE OF SPEAKERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE, INCLUDING A PEDIATRICIAN.

FIRST, KATIE BLANKENSHIP, A FORMER STUDENT IN WOODSTOCK, NOW IN COLLEGE, DESCRIBES SWIMMING WITH A TRANSGENDER ATHLETE.

>> I DISTINCTLY REMEMBER OUR FIRST SATURDAY PRACTICE.

THIS WAS 5:30 IN THE MORNING.

WE WERE DOING A SWIM SET OF 20-50s OFF THE BLOCK.

WE WERE GOING AS FAST AS WE COULD.

NOBODY WAS REALLY IN SHAPE.

IT WAS JUST COMING BACK AFTER THE SUMMER SEASON.

THIS MALE ATHLETE AFTER NOT SWIMMING THE ENTIRE YEAR AFTER BEING ON HORMONE THERAPY WAS ESSENTIALLY GOING OUR RECORDS IN PRACTICE, AND BEATING OUR BEST FEMALE ATHLETES THAT WE HAD THAT HAVE HAD GONE TO NCAA, SCORED AT CONFERENCE, SCORED AT THE CHAMPIONSHIPS AND THEY WERE ESSENTIALLY OBLITERATING OUR RECORDS IN PRACTICE.

>> THIS BILL AND OTHERS LIKE IT SEEK NOT ONLY TO EXCLUDE TRANSGENDER STUDENTS FROM THE BENEFIT OF SCHOOL SPORTS BUT REALLY TO EXCLUDE THEM FROM SOCIETY IN GENERAL.

WOULD YOU WANT YOUR IDENTITY TO BE EFFECTIVELY BANNED?

AND WHEN KIDS FEEL EXCLUDED AND OUTCAST, THEY FALL INTO DEPRESSION AND THEY OFTEN COMMIT SUICIDE.

>> WELL, JOINING US TO TALK GOING THE LEGISLATION IS DEMOCRATIC SENATOR KIMBERLY JACKSON OF STONE MOUNTAIN.

WE'RE SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE.

WELCOME TO "LAWMAKERS" AGAIN.

ALWAYS SO GLAD TO HAVE YOU.

LET'S BEGIN WITH THE YOUNG WOMAN FROM WOODSTOCK WHO IS NOW IN COLLEGE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

I HAVE TO BEGIN BY SAYING I'M SAD THAT WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION ONCE AGAIN.

WE KNOW FROM REALLY HIGHLY REPORTED STATISTICS THAT EVERY TIME WE BRING LEGISLATION TO BEAR THAT HAS AN ANTI-TRANS SENTIMENT TO IT THAT IT PUTS CHILDREN IN DANGER WHO ARE IDENTIFYING THIS WAY.

SO I'M SORRY THAT WE'RE HERE.

BUT I WILL SAY, I HEAR THAT YOUNG WOMAN'S STORY AND I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE WANT GIRLS TO BE ABLE TO PLAY SPORTS, TO FEEL LIKE THEY'RE COMPETITIVE, AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SPACES THAT ARE ALSO SAFE FOR TRANS GIRLS AS WELL.

AND I THINK WE CAN GET THERE.

THIS LEGISLATION JUST DOESN'T TAKE US THERE.

>> AND THE PEDIATRICIAN ADDRESSED THE ISSUES THAT IT CAN BE HARMFUL FOR THEM.

>> THE PEDIATRICIAN DOES A REALLY GOOD JOB.

WE DON'T HEAR THAT IN THE CLIP SAYING THERE'S NOTHING ABOUT BEING A TRANS GIRL THAT MAKES YOU INHERENTLY MORE DEPRESSED AND MORE LIKELY TO COMMIT SUICIDE.

IT IS THESE TYPES OF CONVERSATIONS WHERE WE TRY TO ERASE TRANS CHILDREN.

WE DON'T MAKE SPACE FOR THEM.

WE MAKE DEFINITIONS ABOUT SEX THAT DON'T INCLUDE THEM.

THAT'S WHAT MAKES THEY WILL VULNERABLE TO EPISODES OF DEPRESSION AND ULTIMATELY SUICIDE.

THAT'S WHY I STAND AGAINST THESE TYPES OF BILLS.

I AM VERY MUCH INTERESTED IN PROTECTING KIDS AND IN SAVING LIVES.

>> WE'RE GOING TO TALK MORE ABOUT A BILL YOU HAVE, TOO.

I ALSO SPOKE TO SENATOR CLINT DIXON OF BUFORD.

ONE OF THE 29 SENATORS WHO SIGNED THIS BILL.

>> AT GEORGIA, AT THE THERE WAS AN INCIDENT.

IT'S BEEN A FEW YEARS AGO.

YOU HAD A MALE THAT WAS COMPETING AS A MALE AND HE WAS MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, YOU KNOW, RANKING MIDDLE OF THE PACK, AND ACTUALLY CLAIMED THAT HE WAS TRANSGENDER, WAS TRANSITIONING TO A FEMALE AND WAS ON HORMONE THERAPY FOR THAT BUT HAD NOT HAD ANY OF THE ACTUAL PHYSICAL SURGERIES.

JUST SUPPRESSING TESTOSTERONE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, AND WAS ALLOWED TO COMPETE AGAINST FEMALES AND ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, BEAT ALL THE FEMALES IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT CATEGORIES, WHICH IS VERY ALARMING.

TYPICALLY, IN ANY SPORTS, YOU HAVE ESPECIALLY, IN SWIMMING, YOU HAVE YOUR MARATHON SWIMMERS THAT SWIM 400 METERS.

AND THEN YOU HAVE YOUR DASH, JUST LIKE IN RUNNING.

50-METER SWIM.

AND TYPICALLY, THE TRAINING FOR THAT, YOU KNOW, ONE ATHLETE WOULD NOT BE COMPETING ACROSS THE BOARD.

THEY WOULD BE FOCUSING ON ONE OF THOSE EVENTS.

THIS MALE JUST CRUSHED ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES.

AND THEN THERE HAVE BEEN ISSUES IN HIGH SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE WHERE MALES HAVE BEEN PARTICIPATING IN FEMALE SPORTS.

AND IT'S PROBLEMATIC IN SEVERAL, FOR SEVERAL DIFFERENT REASONS.

INJURY CAN COME TO FEMALES.

BECAUSE MALES ARE BIOLOGICALLY STRONGER.

THEY'RE BIGGER AND FASTER.

FEMALES HAVE FOUGHT FOR EQUALITY ACROSS MANY DIFFERENT THINGS IN OUR SOCIETY.

THIS BEING ONE OF THEM.

AND WE DON'T NEED TO LET THAT BE TORN APART BECAUSE YOU HAVE MALES TRYING TO COMPETE IN FEMALE SPORTS.

IT'S A COMMON SENSE ISSUE.

I UNDERSTAND THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY WHICH MAKES UP ABOUT 1% OF THE POPULATION.

THEY HAVE THEIR CONCERNS.

SIMPLY PUT, WE'VE GOT TO PROTECT FEMALES.

LIKE I SAID, THERE HAVE BEEN ISSUES THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY WITH FEMALES NOT BEING EQUALLY ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN SPORTS, FOR PAY, TO BE ABLE TO VOTE, ALL THESE THINGS.

THEY FOUGHT FOR THEIR RIGHTS SO MANY YEARS.

AND THEN YOU HAVE FOLKS IN A LOT OF CASES ARE CLAIMING TO BE TRANSGENDER TO COMPETE IN THESE OTHER SPORTS AND FEMALE COULD BE HURT, THEY COULD BE INJURED.

AND THEY COULD LOSE OUT ON COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS AND MANY OTHER THINGS.

I THINK IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE PROTECT THEM.

>> OKAY.

SENATOR DIXON, YOUR COMMENT ON WHAT HE HAD TO SAY.

>> THE INCIDENT THAT CONTINUES TO BE REFERRED TO THAT HAPPENED AT GEORGIA TECH, WE'VE, THE NAACP HAS ACTUALLY TAKEN THAT ON.

I'M SORRY.

THE NCAA HAS TAKEN THAT ON AND ADDRESSED THOSE RULES.

THAT INCIDENT WOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN TODAY BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTOOD THAT, YOU KNOW, SURE, WOMEN DON'T WANT TO BE IN THE LOCKER ROOM WITH SOMEONE WHOSE BODY DOESN'T MATCH THEIR SAME BODY.

THEY'VE IMPLEMENTED SOME CHANGES.

THERE ARE SOME ADDITIONAL TIME PERIODS THAT YOU HAVE TO BE ON.

SO A LOT OF THINGS HAVE ALREADY CHANGED THROUGH THE NCAA VALLEYS THAT WE DON'T NEED TO BE PASSING LEGISLATION ABOUT.

I WANT TO PICK UP ON THIS PIECE ABOUT PROTECTING GIRLS WHEN IT COMES TO SPORTS.

FEMALES IN SPORTS.

IF WE REALLY WANT TO PROTECT GIRL AND MAKE SURE THERE IS EQUALITY IN SPORTS, THERE ARE SOME REAL THINGS WE CAN ADDRESS.

I HAVE GIRLS RIGHT NOW WHO ARE HAVING TO GET UP AT 5:00 A. M. TO PRACTICE SOCCER BECAUSE THE FIELD IS RESERVED FOR THE BOYS AFTER SCHOOL.

SO EVERY MORNING, THEY'RE WAKING UP EARLY.

THE BOYS NEVER HAVE TO WAKE UP EARLY.

I HAVE COACHES IN MY DISTRICT TODAY HAD A COACH GIRLS' SPORTS WHO MAKE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS MONEY FOR COACHING GIRLS' SPORTS THAN THE ONES WHO COACH BOYS' SPORTS.

IF WE REALLY WANT TO BRING EQUALITY TO SPORTS, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO QUALITY PLAYING FIELDS AND SHARED SCHEDULES.

I HAVE GIRLS WHO GET SIX BALLS FOR AN ENTIRE SEASON FOR SOCCER.

THAT'S ALL THEY GET.

THAT'S WHAT THE SCHOOL GIVES THEM.

THE BOYS GET AS MANY BALLS AS THEY NEED.

IF WE REALLY WANT TO BRING EQUALITY, IF WE WANT TO PROTECT GIRL' SPORTS, LET'S TALK ABOUT A REAL ISSUE WHERE THERE ARE REAL GIRLS INVOLVEDFUL WHAT'S TRUE TODAY, WE DON'T HAVE TRANSGENDER CHILDREN IN HIGH SCHOOL TRYING TO, ALL OF A SUDDEN, BE TRANSGENDER AND WANT FLY SO THEY CAN WIN ALL THE SCHOLARSHIPS.

THERE'S NO EVIDENCE OF THAT HAPPENING.

BUT THERE IS EVIDENCE OF COACHES NOT BEING PAID EQUALLY.

>> I KNOW ONE OF THE WAYS YOU WANT TO MAKE SOME CHANGES IS YOUR OWN BILL.

YOU HAVE SB 41.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT SB 41 DOES.

IT TRIES TO BRING SOME REAL EQUALITY TO GIRLS' SPORTS.

IT SAYS IF YOU PAY BOYS' COACHES A CERTAIN AMOUNT, YOU NEED TO PAY GIRLS' COACHES A CERTAIN AMOUNT.

YOU HAVE TO SHARE THE PLAYING FIELDS EQUALLY SO NO ONE IS HAVING TO GET UP AT 5:30 IN THE MORNING EVERY SINGLE TIME.

IT SAYS YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE EQUAL AMOUNTS OF EQUIPMENT TO BOTH SIDES.

THESE ARE COMMON SENSE.

THEY KEEP SAYING THIS IS COMMON SENSE.

WE SHOULDN'T LET TRANS KIDS PLAY.

THIS IS TRUE COMMON SENSE.

SAME PAY, SAME AMOUNT OF PROVISIONS, ME OPPORTUNITIES TO PLAY ON THE FIELDS.

AND I WOULD ARGUE WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE SAME LEVEL OF QUALITY OF COACHING.

FOR GIRLS' TEAMS, IT IS OFTEN THE PARENT WHO FINALLY RAISES THEIR HAND WHO SAYS OKAY, I'LL DO IT.

THEY KNOW NOTHING GOING THE SPORT.

FOR OUR BOYS' SPORTS, ACROSS MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND HIGH SCHOOLS, THEY HAVE TOP-RATED COACHING.

THAT'S WHY YOU FIND GIRLS WANTING TO PLAY ON BOYS' TEAM.

NOT BECAUSE THE BOYS ARE FASTER AND STRONGER AND BETTER, BUT BECAUSE OF THE COACHING.

THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVANCEMENT ARE SO MUCH BETTER THAN BOYS A SPORTS.

>> WE'RE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT COLLEGE, THE WNBA, WOMEN'S SOCCER IS STILL LACK FOR EQUALITY.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THIS IS AN ISSUE ACROSS THE BOARD.

I'VE PLAYED ON THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL TEAM.

I'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME PLAYING.

AND SOME OF THE SAME ISSUES I FACED IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, THE THING THAT MADE ME REALLY MAD, THEY'RE STILL HAPPENING.

BOYS HAVING ACCESS TO STATE-OF-THE-ART WEIGHT LIFTING ROOMS.

IT GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE PROFESSIONAL LEVEL.

I'VE SO EXCITED ABOUT SEEING EQUALITY COME TO OUR SPORTS.

IT NEEDS TO TRICKLE DOWN THE OUR HIGH SCHOOLS AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS.

>> OKAY.

WE'LL FOLLOW YOUR BILL AND CERTAINLY WE'LL FOLLOW THIS ISSUE.

I KNOW YOU HAVE A PRESS CONFERENCE ON MONDAY SO WE'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT IT.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

> >> COMING UP, A CLOSER LOOK AT WHY EDUCATION FUNDING HAS THE BIGGEST CHUNK OF THE STATE'S BUDGET.

OUR NEXT GUEST WILL OFFER A GLIMPSE INTO BILLS TO HELP NAVIGATE EDUCATION FROM PRE- K THROUGH COLLEGE.

THIS IS -- > >> WELCOME BACK TO "LAWMAKERS. "

WE'RE GOING TO TALK EDUCATION NOW.

JOINING US IS THE HOUSE CHAIRMAN OF HIGHER EDUCATION, REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE CHUCK MARTIN.

ALSO HERE, THE SENATE MINORITY CAUCUS CHAIR, DEMOCRATIC SENATOR ELAINA PARENT.

WELCOME TO LAWMAKER TO BOTH OF YOU.

I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.

LET'S START WITH THE YOUNGEST LEARNERS.

THE LITTLE ONES.

CHILDCARE IS EXPENSIVE.

THE COSTS KEEP RISING.

AND I KNOW YOU SERVED ON A STUDY COMMITTEE THAT LOOKED TO CHILDCARE.

WHAT WERE SOME OF THE KEY POINTS?

>> IT'S NOT JUST A GEORGIA PROBLEM.

IT'S A NATIONAL PROBLEM.

THAT'S ESSENTIALLY AS YOU ALLUDED TO BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THE ECONOMICS OF IT SIMPLY DON'T WORK THAT WELL.

IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE FOR FAMILIES, EVEN WHEN THE WORKERS THEMSELVES AREN'T GETTING QUALITY PAY OR BENEFITS.

AND THEN THERE'S HIGH TURNOVER.

THAT HAS A VERY SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC COST TO OUR ECONOMY IF PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO COME UP WITH UNORTHODOX OR UNLICENSED CARE.

ALSO, THAT WOULD SET US BACK IN TERMS OF HAVING OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS READY FOR FORMER SCHOOLING.

WE KNOW THAT ABOUT 90% OF A CHILD'S BRAIN IS ACTUALLY, NEURO PATHWAYS ARE DEVELOPED BY AGE 5.

SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT ENRICHING ENVIRONMENT WHEN YOU'RE REALLY YOUNG, IF YOU'RE IN A UNLICENSED OR NOT QUALITY SITUATION, IT IS GOING TO BE REALLY HARD FOR GEORGIA'S SCHOOL SYSTEM TO EVER TRY TO CATCH YOU UP.

AND THEN THERE IS ECONOMIC COST.

WHETHER YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT, WE WANT TO GET OUR LEARNERS READY, THIS WILL HELP US IN K-12 OR JUST, WE NEED MOMS AND DADS TO GO TO WORK NOW.

IT MATTERS.

>> SO WHAT DIDDID RECOMMEND?

>> THERE ARE SO MANY RECOMMENDATIONS IN THERE.

WHAT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE, EXCUSE ME, IS HOW MANY ACTUALLY ENTER THE MORE FORMAL DISCUSSION.

WE HAVE THE CHILD AND PARENT SERVICES PROGRAM WHICH THE FEDERAL AND STATE PROGRAM.

THE GOVERNOR PUT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FEDERAL FUNDS FROM COVID RELIEF DOLLARS INTO THAT.

WE WERE SERVING ABOUT 50,000 FAMILIES.

NOW WE'RE COMING WAY BACK DOWN.

SO PUTTING MORE MONEY BACK INTO IT IS ONE OF THE PROPOSALS.

THERE HAVE BEEN SOME NOVEL IDEAS ABOUT MAYBE DOING SOME TAX INCENTIVES OR OTHER ENCOURAGEMENT FOR BUSINESSES TO HAVE DAYCARE ON SITE OR BE CONTRIBUTING TO A CHILL CARE CENTER FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES.

THAT IS CERTAINLY ANOTHER IDEA THAT COULD HAVE LEGS.

AND THEN ONE VERY NOVEL IDEA THAT REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN AND I HAVE DISCUSSED BEFORE, AND CERTAINLY WOULD NEED VETTING, IT IS A SOLUTION OF MAYBE FOLLOWING THE LEAD OF NEW MEXICO AND UTILIZING A PORTION OF OUR $12 BILLION-ISH UNDESIGNATED SURPLUS TO MAKE A CHILDCARE TRUST FUND THAT WOULD THEN BE GENERATIONAL.

AND THE MONEY THAT IT KICKED OFF YEAR AFTER YEAR, NOTNOT THAT PRINCIPAL, WOULD THEN BE PUT INTO YEARLY APPROPRIATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF EARLY CARE AND LEARNING.

>> SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SURPLUS THE STATE HAS.

LIKE A RAINY-DAY FUND.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE SOME MONEY PUT INTO IT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> WE HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION, THE SENATOR AND I DID, I KNOW WHAT SOME OTHERS.

WHAT WORRIES ME ABOUT THAT, TYPICALLY, THAT'S A BIT LIKE SOCIAL SECURITY.

YOU PUT IT OUT THERE AND IT PLANS TO DO THIS.

IF THE RETURNS AREN'T THERE OR IF SOMEBODY NEEDS THAT IN THE FUTURE, THEY PULL IT OUT AND IT DOESN'T DO WHAT IT IS MEANT TO DO.

I WOULD PREFER TO WORK ON A SOLUTION THAT IS OPERATIONAL TODAY AND COULD BE OPERATIONAL TOMORROW ALONG WITH WHAT THE SENATOR SUGGESTED.

I WOULD AGREE THAT GETTING THE COMPANY INVOLVED, WORKING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO MAKE IT TAX ADVANTAGEOUS TO HAVE A DAYCARE ONSITE.

THEN MAKE SURE IT IS A BUSINESS INCENTIVE THAT CAN BE WRITTEN OFF BUT NOT BE TAXABLE TO THE FAMILY.

THERE ARE WAYS WE CAN DO THESE SORTS OF THINGS, WORKING WITH OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS, WITH OUR BUSINESS AND EMPLOYERS THAT REMOVE GOVERNMENT FROM TOUCHING THE MONEY BECAUSE EVERY TIME GOVERNMENT TOUCHED THE MONEY, THAT WOULD TAKE A LITTLE MONEYMONEY ADMINISTER WHEN YOU WORK WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, IF YOU DEVELOP A TAX DVANTAGEOUS THING, NUMBER ONE, MOM AND DADS WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THEIR KIDS ARE BEING TAKEN CARE OF.

IF THEY'RE AT THE BUILDING WHERE THEY'RE WORKING, I'M CONVINCED THAT IS A BETTER OPPORTUNITY THAN HAVING TO DROP THEM AND THEN GO TO WORK.

SO THERE ARE WAYS WE CAN DO THIS.

I WOULD PREFER TO WORK ON SOMETHING WE COULD SEE OPERATIONALLY WORK FROM YEAR TO YEAR AS OPPOSED TO HOPING THE RETURN KEPT UP WITH THE DEMAND LATER ON.

>> WELL, THE FIGURE THAT ARE BEING FLOATED ARE BASED ON THE HISTORICAL RETURNS OF THE TEACHER SYSTEM.

THERE COULD BE CHANGES YEAR TOTO YEAR.

AUTHENTIC YOUR APPROPRIATION WOULD HAVE TO BE MADE IF WHAT KICKED OFF.

THAT SYSTEM IN ADDITION TO EVERYTHING ELSE WE PUT IN IT REQUIRES ANOTHER $115 MILLION TO BE PLACE IN THE THERE BECAUSE IT'S NOT EARNING WHAT IT NEEDS TO DO TO KEEP THE PROMISES.

>> THAT'S A RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE NOT FUNDING ANY OF THESE FAMILIES.

SO ANYTHING YOU DO WOULD BE A BENEFIT.

>> I UNDERSTAND.

I WOULD JUST, AGAIN, I WOULD PREFER TO WORK ON IT AND TAKE THE SITUATION HEAD-ON AND NOT PUT MONEY OVER AND COUNT ON SOMEBODY ELSE TO HONOR PROMISES THAT THE SENATOR AND I MAY MAKE AS A LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR.

I THINK WE OUGHT TO HONOR THOSE PROMISES AND PUT A SUSTAINABLE MODEL IN PLACE.

IF WE CAN DO THAT, WORKING GO WITH THE STATE, WITH OUR FELLOW PARTNERS, WE SHOULD CERTAINLY DO THAT.

>> THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAS BEEN VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND STUDIED A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, I'M SURE IT'S GONE UP NOW, DEMONSTRATED AN $8 BILLION LOSS.

>> I KNOW THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY LEGISLATION NOW.

WHEN YOU GUYS HAVE SOMETHING, COME ON BACK TO TALK ABOUT IT.

LET'S MOVE UP A LITTLE BIT.

ONE OF THE OTHER THINGSTHINGS YOU ANXIOUS ABOUT, NOT ANXIOUS ABOUT, YOU CARE ABOUT, IS DUAL ENROLLMENT.

WORRYING ABOUT THE KIDS NOT GETTING ENOUGH OUT OF THAT.

NOT FULLY UTILIZING IT.

>> YOU HAVE A GOOD MATCH ON IT.

WE'VE ALSO WORKED THIS ISSUE TOGETHER.

YES.

IT SEEMS VERY SMART TO ME TO UTILIZE THE DUAL ENROLLMENT IN A WAY, ADMINISTER IT IN A WAY THAT IS SET UP TO MEET GEORGIA'S WORKFORCE NEEDS.

WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO ALIGN THOUGH THINGS BETTER.

I REALLY GOT INTERESTED IN THIS IDEA WHEN I STARTEDSTARTED MORE ABOUT THE APPRENTICESHIP MODELS THEY HAVE IN SWITZERLAND AND LOORK AT OUR DROP-OUT RATES IN AMERICA.

THINKING IF WE COULD HAVE MORE KIDS GETTING A SKILL AND STILL HAVE IT BE PERMABLE THE WAY IT IS OVER THERE.

YOU GO TO A FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE, TWO- YEAR, WHATEVER IT IS, I THINK IT COULD HAVE TREMENDOUS BENEFITS FOR OUR ECONOMY.

AND GEORGIA IS, I DON'T MEAN TO SET OUT THE NOTION THAT GEORGIA, THAT WE GOT NOTHING, OR NONE OF IT IS ANY GOOD.

IT IS COMPLICATED AND WE NEED MORE, I THINK, PRIVATE BUSINESSES TO BE PROVIDING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.

FOR AN ISSUE THAT CHAIRMAN MARTIN HAS WORKED ON FOR STUDENTS FOR FIRST GEN AND LOWER-INCOME FAMILIES, I KNOW HE WILL SPEAK TO THIS, PAYING FOR COLLEGE CAN BE TRULY PROHIBITIVE, RIGHT?

SO THAT'S ANOTHER REASON THAT I THINK DUAL ENROLLMENT HAS A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY.

AND WE DO KNOW WE NEED 65% OF THE STUDENTS TO HAVE SOME SORT OF SECONDARY TRAINING TO KEEP ONE WORKFORCEFUL.

>> AND GETTING THEM INVOLVED IN HIGH SCHOOL.

PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND.

THEY'RE IN COLLEGE AND HIGH SCHOOL AT THE SAME TIME.

I KNOW IT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL.

YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE KIDS WHO GET NEEDS- BASED FINANCIAL AID.

THAT THEY GET WHAT THEY NEED.

>> I THINK WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, THIS YEAR IS HOUSE BILL 38.

WE'RE TRYING TO EXTEND THE SUNSET AND BASICALLY, WE CALL IT THE COLLEGE COMPLETION GRANT.

KIDS THAT HAVE EXHAUSTED THEIR FINANCIAL ABILITY TO FINISH COLLEGE.

IT ALLOWS THEM TO GET UP TO $2,500.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO GET IT ALL AT ONCE TO COMPLETE THEIR COLLEGE COURSE.

IT CAN BE A TWO-YEAR DEGREE, A FOUR-YEAR DEGREE, A CERTIFICATION THAT MOVES THEM FORWARD.

A STACKABLE CERTIFICATE.

AND IT IS NOT BASED ON MERIT IN TERMS OF, YOU DON'T HAVE TO QUALIFY FOR IT.

IF YOU'RE THAT CLOSE TO FINISHING YOUR DEGREE, YOU VERY MUCH MERIT THE INVESTMENT THAT GEORGIA WOULD BE MAKING IN YOU.

SO FAR OVER THE TWO YEARS, WE HAVE 93% OF THE COURSE HOURS TAKEN HAVE BEEN PASSED.

THESE KIDS, I SAY KIDS.

THESE STUDENTS ARE SERIOUS ABOUT FINISHING.

THEY'VE PUT THEIR SHOULDER TO THE WHEEL.

THEY HAVE AN END IN MIND.

AND THIS IS $10 MILLION A YEAR WE'VE PUT.

THE BILL THIS YEAR WILL LOWER THE THRESHOLD AND MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO TWO-YEAR CERTIFICATE HOLDERS, OR TWO-YEAR DEGREE HOLDERS.

IF YOU'RE 45%, YOU WOULD BE ELIGIBLE.

70% IF YOU'RE A FOUR-YEAR PERSON.

I'M GOING TO GET THE NUMBERS WRONG BUT THERE WERE 6,900 AWARDS OUT OF THAT $10 MILLION IN THE FIRST YEAR TO 6,000 STUDENTS.

AND WILL A VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE ARE COMPLETING AND CROSSING THE FINISH LINE AND THEY'LL BE PRODUCTIVE PARTS OF OUR ECONOMY.

IT HAS BEEN GREAT TO SEE HOW THE STUDENTS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN IT.

HOW THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICES AT THE COLLEGES THAT OUR UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, AND OUR PRIVATE PARTNERS HAVE WORKED TOGETHER TO DO THAT.

SO WE'RE DOING SOME GREAT THINGS.

AS THE SENATOR SAID, TOWARD INDUSTRY, THE MEDICAL FIELD, THE USG, I SHOULD SAY, THE GRADUATES, THE USG SYSTEM HAS DONE A GOOD JOB IN FOCUSING TOWARD MEDICAL NEEDS.

AND I THINK GEORGIA IS MOVING FORWARD, FOCUSING OUR TIME AND TREASURE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

>> YOU TALKED ABOUT 6,000 STUDENTS.

HOW MANY MORE IF YOUR BILL PASSES?

>> THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY IS AVAILABLE.

WE'LL SEE THE TWO- YEAR COLLEGES DEGREES WILL HAVE ACCESS TO IT.

MORE SO NOW.

AND THEN WE WOULD HOPE THAT WE WOULD CONTINUE.

WE ARE PUSHING THE SUNSET TO FOUR MORE YEARS.

WE'LL PUT MORE MONEY INTO THAT.

WE KNOW IT IS TOUGH TO GRADUATE.

WHAT IS EVEN TOUGHER IS WHEN YOU DON'T GRADUATE AND YOU HAVE COLLEGE DEBT.

>> I APPRECIATE YOU BOTH BEING HERE.

LOTS OF GREAT IDEAS.

WE'LL HAVE YOU BACK TO TALK ABOUT SOME MORE.

THAT DOES IT FOR "LAWMAKERS" TODAY.

WE'LL BE BACK ON MONDAY.

WE'LL TALK ALL THINGS AI AND WHAT IT MEANS TO GEORGIA.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.