>>> THE STATE'S ALLOCATIONS WILL BUMP UP TO ABOUT 154,000 DOSES PER WEEK STARTING WITH NEXT WEEK'S SHIPMENT.

>> GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP FEELS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT GETTING MORE VACCINES IN GEORGIA AS SOON AS NEXT WEEK.

GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "LAWMAKERS."

I'M DONNA LOWRY IN ATLANTA.

OUR CAPITOL CORRESPONDENT WILL OUTLINE MORE OF THE GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE TODAY IN JUST A MOMENT.

DEEPER INTO THE GOVERNOR'S EDUCATION PIPELINE BILLS WITH TWO LAWMAKERS WHO WILL DISCUSS BRING RETIREES BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM AND PROVIDING A PATHWAY FOR TEACHER CERTIFICATION FOR MILITARY VETERANS.

>>> THERE'S TALK OF LEGISLATION TO OFFER EMPLOYEES PAYDAY LOANS ON AN EARNED WAGE ADVANCE ON YOUR FUTURE CHECK.

THE COST TO EMPLOYEES, $1.

>>> AND SHOULD VOTERS BE ALLOWED TO CAST THEIR BALLOT ANYWHERE AT ANY PRECINCT IN THEIR COUNTY?

ONE LAWMAKER THINKS SO.

FIRST WITH WE HEAD TO THE GOLD DOME AND CAPITOL CORRESPONDENT BRENDA WATERS.

WE ALL WANT A BRIGHT E PICTURE WHEN IT COMES TO VACCINE DISTRIBUTION.

THE GOVERNOR TODAY TALKED ABOUT THAT, DIDN'T HE?

>> INDEED HE DID.

GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP SAYS THAT 1 MILLION GEORGIANS NOW HAVE GOTTEN THE COVID-19 SHOT ADDING HE WOULD LIKE TO INCREASE THOSE NUMBERS BUT CANNOT BECAUSE THE VACCINE SUPPLY JUST ISN'T AVAILABLE.

THE GOVERNOR AND GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH COMMISSIONER DR. KATHLEEN TOOMEY HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE IN COBB COUNTY AT THE DRIVE-THROUGH COVID-19 VACCINE SITE AT JIM MILLER PARK.

GOVERNOR KEMP SAYS HE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MASS VACCINE SITES BUT.

>> WE DO NOT HAVE THE SUPPLIES TO DO THAT RIGHT NOW.

I THINK FOR PEOPLE AT HOME TO REALIZE WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH, IF WE HAD MORE SUPPLY RIGHT NOW, THAT LANE THAT'S EMPTY COULD BE FULL OF CARS, BUT IT'S NOT BECAUSE WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE VACCINE.

>> BUT BEGINNING NEXT WEEK DUE TO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, THE 120,000 DOSES ALLOTTED TO THE STATE EACH WEEK WILL INCREASE.

>> THE STATE'S ALLOCATION WILL BUMP UP TO ABOUT 154,000 DOSES PER WEEK STARTING WITH NEXT WEEK'S SHIPMENT.

>> Reporter: AND SOMETHING ELSE WILL HAPPEN SOON, THE STATE WILL BEGIN MONITORING COMMUNITIES.

>> AS EARLY AS NEXT WEEK WE WILL HAVE UP ON OUR WEBSITE A SPECIAL DASHBOARD THAT WILL HAVE ALL THE METRICS FROM OUR VACCINATION PROGRAM STATEWIDE INCLUDING RACE ETHNICITY DATA, WHICH I KNOW IS SOMETHING OF CONCERN.

>> Reporter: THE GOVERNOR ALSO SAID THE NUMBER OF NEW COVID CASES HAS DROPPED BY 46%, BUT ADDS THAT WE ARE STILL IN A DEADLY RACE WITH THIS VIRUS, AND WE MUST CONTINUE TO KEEP OUR GUARD UP.

>>> WHILE IT'S BEEN CALLED THE LARGEST SHRINE TO WHITE SUPREMACY IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD.

NOW SOME HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES AGREE AND WANT THE CARVINGS AND THE CONFEDERATE FLAGS OF STONE MOUNTAIN TO COME DOWN.

REPRESENTATIVE BILLY MITCHELL HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE TO TALK ABOUT HIS BILL AND TWO OF REPRESENTATIVE SHELLY HUTCHINSON'S BILLS.

STONE MOUNTAIN IS IN THE MIDDLE OF REPRESENTATIVE MITCHELL'S DISTRICT.

HIS BILL IS HB 77.

>> MY BILL FOCUSES STRICTLY ON STONE MOUNTAIN, WHICH IS THE LARGEST SYMBOL OF CONFEDERATE MEMORIALS IN THIS BILL.

AND REPRESENTATIVE HUTCHINSON'S PROPOSAL WOULD REMOVE EVERY MEMORIAL, EVERY STATUE CONCERNING THE CONFEDERATE MONUMENTS AND MEMORIALS IN THE STATE.

>> Reporter: HOUSE BILL 237 WOULD MAKE CONFEDERATE MONUMENTS PROHIBITED ON PUBLIC PROPERTY.

HOUSE BILL 238 REVERSES WHAT HOUSE -- WHAT SENATE BILL 77 DID.

>> SENATE BILL 77 PROTECTS GOVERNMENT STATUES, MONUMENTS, AND OTHER COMMEMORATIVE SYMBOLS.

>> THIS IS WHY I HAVE INTRODUCED THESE BILLS THIS YEAR.

I INTRODUCED THEM LAST YEAR, AND I WILL KEEP INTRODUCING THEM UNTIL THEY'RE PASSED.

>> Reporter: THE BILLS HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORT, INCLUDING THAT OF ATTORNEY DENNIS COLLARD, THE CO-FOUNDER OF THE STONE MOUNTAIN ACTION COALITION.

>> STONE MOUNTAIN PARK IS A PLACE OF NATURAL WONDER, BEAUTY, AND RECREATION.

YET, ITS REPUTATION AND IDENTITY AS A CONFEDERATE MEMORIAL MAKE IT A PLACE OF CONTROVERSY, PROTEST, AND VIOLENCE.

WE'RE HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF HOUSE BILLS 237 AND 238.

>> Reporter: CARVINGS DEPICT THREE CONFEDERATE LEADERS, JEFFERSON DAVIS, ROBERT E. LEE AND STONEWALL JACKSON.

WHEN ASKED IF THIS IS NOT A PART OF HISTORY, THE PRESIDENT OF THE ATLANTA NAACP HAD THIS TO SAY.

>> HISTORY IS AN EVENT OR SERIES NO MONUMENT IS HISTORY.

IT IS A POLITICAL STATEMENT.

>> Reporter: ALL THREE BILLS HAVE BEEN FILED AND TWO ARE NOW IN COMMITTEE.

>>> THE SENATE BILLS DROPPED THIS WEEK THAT WOULD CHANGE THE WAY FOLKS VOTE HERE IN GEORGIA.

THEY'RE STILL DRAWING CRITICISM FROM DEMOCRATIC SENATORS, AND ONE OF THE BILLS WOULD REQUIRE AN I.D.

WITH AN ABSENTEE BALLOT, ANOTHER WOULD BAN DROP BOXES AND STILL ANOTHER ENDS AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION WHEN YOU GET YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE.

THREE DEMOCRATIC FEMALE SENATORS TOOK TO THE SENATE FLOOR TO SOUND OFF.

>> IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT.

IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT.

>> SENATE BILL 68, WHICH SEEKS TO ELIMINATE ABSENTEE BALLOT DROP BOXES DOES NOT SERVE THE INTENT OF OUR DEMOCRACY, NOR DOES IT SERVE THE WILL OF OUR CONSTITUENTS.

ELECTIONS ARE UNAVOIDABLY BUT HOW WE ENABLE ALL VOTERS TO CAST THEIR BALLOTS SHOULDN'T BE.

>> VOTERS ACROSS GEORGIA SEE THESE BILLS FOR WHAT THEY ARE.

THEY SEE EFFORTS TO PREVENT THEM FROM EXERCISING THEIR DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS AND THEY'RE JUSTIFIABLY OUTRAGED.

>>> AND FINALLY TONIGHT, IN COMMITTEE NEWS FROM THE HOUSE, THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ACCESS TO THE CIVIL JUSTICE SYSTEM HAS APPROVED TO EXTEND HOUSE BILL 112 FOR ANOTHER YEAR.

THE BILL APPROVES -- I'M SORRY, PROVIDES IMMUNITIES FOR BUSINESSES FROM LIABILITY REGARDING COVID-19.

NOW, YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN THE SIGNS IN RESTAURANTS AND SHOPPING CENTERS STATING YOU ARE ASSUMING THE RISK BY ENTERING THE PROPERTY.

>>> AND PROGRESS MADE THIS AFTERNOON IN MOVING FORWARD WITH THE RESOLUTION TO REPLACE THE STATUE OF ALEXANDER STEVENS, A CONFEDERATE LEADER WITH THAT OF JOHN LEWIS.

THAT STATUE WILL BE IN THE NATIONAL STATUARY HALL AT THE U.S. CAPITOL.

HOUSE RESOLUTION 14 WAS VOTED OUT OF THE STATE PROPERTY'S COMMITTEE THIS AFTERNOON.

>> ONCE THIS RESOLUTION IS PASSED, THE COMMITTEE WILL BE COMPOSED OF EIGHT MEMBERS.

THE GOVERNOR SHALL APPOINT FULL MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE AND DESIGNATE ONE OF SUCH MEMBERS AS CHAIRPERSON.

THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WILL APPOINT TWO MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE WILL APPOINT TWO MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.

>> Reporter: NOW, THIS ENTIRE PROCESS COULD TAKE UP UNTIL DECEMBER 2022.

PRIVATE FUNDS WILL BE USED TO REMOVE AND REPLACE THE STATUES.

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

>> ON DAY 11.

THANK YOU, BRENDA.

>>> NOW WE'RE GOING TO TALK EDUCATION NOW.

THE GOVERNOR UNVEILED HIS TEACHER PIPELINE LEGISLATION THIS WEEK, AMONG OTHER THINGS HE WANTS TO BETTER TRAIN, RETRAIN, AND RECRUIT TEACHERS.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THAT AND MORE ARE DISTRACT REPRESENTATIVE DORENE CARTER OF LITHONIA AND REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE DAVE BELTON OF BUCKHEAD, GEORGIA, AND MONROE COUNTY.

WELCOME TO "LAWMAKERS" TO BOTH OF YOU.

YOU'RE BOTH ON THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE IN THE HOUSE, SO WE'VE GOT LOTS TO UNPACK HERE.

BUT LET'S GO FIRST OVER THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS.

FIRST, THE PACKAGE HELPS FUTURE TEACHERS BETTER PREPARE FOR WORKING WITH STUDENTS.

THIS ALSO HELPS RETIRED TEACHERS RETURN TO THE CLASSROOM WHERE THERE IS A HIGH NEED.

IT SUPPORTS MILITARY VETERANS BY PROVIDING A PATHWAY FOR THEM TO BECOME CERTIFIED TEACHERS.

IT ENSURES THE NEW TEACHERS RECEIVE MUCH NEEDED HELP FROM MENTORS, AND IT ENHANCES TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAMS AT GEORGIA'S HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.

HBCUs.

ONE OTHER THING, THE LEGISLATION WOULD ADD THE GEORGIA TEACHER OF THE YEAR AS AN EX-OFFICIO MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

REPRESENTATIVE BELTON, WITH THE THE STATE, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE A NO-BRAINER THAT WE WOULD FIND A PATH FOR THEM TO BECOME TEACHES IF THEY WANT IT.

>> WE HAVE OVER 750,000 VETERANS BELIEVE IT OR NOT IN GEORGIA.

WE HAVE THE FIFTH MOST MILITARY POPULATION IN GEORGIA IN AMERICA, AND A LOT OF THESE VETERANS HAVE REAL WORLD LIFE EXPERIENCE THAT THEY COULD GIVE TO THESE CHILDREN.

ALSO, IT HELPS DIVERSITY BECAUSE THE MILITARY IS VERY DIVERSE PEOPLE, AND OFTENTIMES AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER I REMEMBER IT WAS HARD TO FIND A DIVERSE POPULATION TO HIRE.

SO THIS WOULD HELP THAT AS WELL.

ANOTHER THING IS THESE MILITARY PEOPLE, IT HELPS TO KEEP THEM IN GEORGIA, WHICH I THINK IS WHAT WE WANT TO DO.

>> YOU'RE A MILITARY VET, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

>> I APPRECIATE THAT.

>> REPRESENTATIVE CARTER.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE RETIRED TEACHER'S ASPECT TO THIS.

A PATH FOR THEM TO RETURN IN HIGH NEED AREAS.

HOW IMPORTANT DO YOU THINK THAT IS?

>> I THINK HAVING HIGH QUALITY EDUCATORS IN OUR SCHOOLS IS VERY IMPORTANT, AND HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE TEACHERS WHO HAVE BEEN EXCELLENT IN THE CLASSROOM, IT GIVES THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK AND DO WHAT THEY LOVE BECAUSE WE KNOW OUR KIDS NEED THE BEST TEACHERS IN OUR CLASSROOM.

I THINK IN HAVING THAT CONVERSATION AND CREATING A PATH, I BELIEVE THAT WE ALSO SHOULD BE SENSITIVE OF THE ENVIRONMENT THAT WE'RE IN WITH COVID, AND WE NEED TO ENSURE AS WE'RE CREATING THIS PATH THAT TEACHERS, RETIRED TEACHERS BECOME HIGHER ON THE AVAILABILITY FOR THE VACCINE BECAUSE IF WE'RE WANTING THEM TO COME BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM AND WE NEED THEM, THEN WE NEED TO ALSO MAKE SURE THEY'RE SAFE AND HEALTHY.

>> RIGHT.

AND THEN THERE ARE AREAS THAT REALLY DO NEED THEM, IF THEY'RE HEALTHY AND THEY CAN GO BACK IN -- >> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THEN SOMETIMES THOSE VETERAN TEACHERS KNOW SOME THINGS.

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

AND SPEAKING OF THAT, WE KNOW THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH RETENTION WHEN IT COMES TO TEACHERS, AND RIGHT NOW WITH WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH WITH COVID-19, THERE'S A FEELING THAT A LOT OF TEACHERS MAY NOT STAY IN THE PROFESSION.

YOU HAVE A BILL THAT YOU -- I GUESS YOU BROUGHT IT OUT LAST YEAR.

YOU SPONSORED IT LAST YEAR.

HOUSE BILL 32 THAT WOULD ALLOW A REFUNDABLE TAX -- INCOME TAX CREDIT, TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT'S ALL ABOUT.

>> FIRST I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR TEACHERS.

THEY'VE DONE AN AMAZING JOB THIS YEAR.

HEROES OUT THERE TEACHING OUR CHILDREN AS BEST THEY POSSIBLY CAN.

WHAT MY BILL WOULD DO IS IT WOULD ALLOW A $3,000 TAX CREDIT FOR FIVE YEARS IF THE TEACHER WAS WILLING TO TEACH AT A VERY RURAL SCHOOL OR A LOW PERFORMING SCHOOL.

IT'D BE FOR OVER FIVE YEARS.

THERE'S A CAP ON HOW MANY TEACHERS THERE WOULD BE.

A THOUSAND TEACHERS FOR THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF THE PILOT PROGRAM WOULD BE ABOUT $3 MILLION.

>> RIGHT, AND LAST YEAR DID IT MAKE IT OUT OF COMMITTEE?

>> IT PASSED IN THE HOUSE, AND IT JUST DIDN'T DO ANYTHING IN THE SENATE BECAUSE OF COVID.

>> DO YOU FEEL BETTER ABOUT IT THIS YEAR?

IDEA.

DEMOCRATS LIKE IT BECAUSE IT GOES TO THE LOW PERFORMANCE SCHOOLS, AND REPUBLICANS LIKE IT BECAUSE IT GOES TO THE RURAL SCHOOLS.

I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYONE WHO DOESN'T LIKE IT.

>> YEAH, WE'RE LOOKING AT THINGS A LOT DIFFERENT THIS YEAR.

I WANT TO TALK TO BOTH OF YOU ABOUT THE PROPOSAL TO HELP FUTURE TEACHERS, THE ONES THAT ARE IN COLLEGE RIGHT NOW, BETTER PREPARED FOR WORKING WITH STUDENTS.

ONE OF THE PROPOSALS DEALS WITH HELPING THEM WITH ENGLISH LANGUAGE STUDENTS.

ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE STUDENTS AND THOSE WITH DISABILITIES.

THE OTHER ONE IS TO SHORE UP THE READING SKILLS OF FUTURE TEACHERS, AND I WONDERED, WHY IS THAT SO IMPORTANT?

WHY DO YOU THINK THE GOVERNOR REALLY WANTS THAT BILL?

>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ENSURE THAT THE TEACHERS THAT ARE IN THE CLASSROOM HAVE THE SKILLS AND THE ABILITY TO TEACH, AND READING IS FUNDAMENTAL.

WE KNOW IF YOU CAN TEACH A KID TO READ THAT THEY ARE LIMITLESS IN WHAT THEY CAN ACCOMPLISH.

AND ONE OF THE -- I THINK THE CONCERNS IS WHEN YOU HAVE TEACHERS COMING TO GEORGIA FROM OTHER UNIVERSITIES OR EVEN WITHIN GEORGIA, ARE THEY EQUIPPED WITH THE STANDARDS THAT WE HAVE HERE IN GEORGIA, AND I THINK IN CREATING AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENSURE THAT TEACHERS HAVE THAT -- THE TRAINING HELPS SOLIDIFY OUR TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM, AND IT HELPS US TO ACCOMPLISH OUR GOALS IN ENSURING THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE READING AT GRADE LEVEL BY THIRD GRADE.

I THINK WE HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PREPARE TEACHERS SO THEY CAN TEACH OUR CHILDREN.

>> WHAT I FOUND WAS CURIOUS, AND I TALKED TO MARGARET WITH THE PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA EDUCATORS ABOUT THIS, WHY DOES IT TAKE LEGISLATION TO GET THE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES TO DO BETTER AT TEACHING TEACHERS HOW TO TEACH READING.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> WELL, IT IS ODD THAT WE HAVE TO DO THAT, BUT I WILL SAY ONE THING, I DON'T THINK IT WAS TALKED ABOUT A LOT, EDUCATIONAL PERFORMANCE HAS REALLY RISEN IN GEORGIA.

WHEN I GOT HERE 20 YEARS AGO, WE WERE NUMBER 50 ON THE S.A.T.

NOW WE'RE ABOVE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE ON THE S.A.T.

AND THE A.C.T.

WE'RE 13th BEST IN THE NATION IN THE AP SCORES AND 13th BEST IN K-12 SCORES.

OUR GRADUATION RATE HAS NEVER BEEN HIGHER AT 80%.

OUR TEACHERS ARE DOING A GREAT JOB.

IT'S ABOUT GETTING MORE TEACHERS IN THAT PIPELINE.

>> AND PREPARING THEM BETTER, YEAH.

I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT A BILL THAT YOU HAVE, AND I BELIEVE IT'S HB-262.

>> YES.

>> AND IT IS -- YOU WANT MANDATORY PRE-K AND KINDERGARTEN BEFORE 1st GRADE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

BECAUSE THE OBJECTIVE IS HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE PREPARED ONCE THEY ENTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND BECAUSE WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT READING, THAT'S ONE OF THE -- THAT'S AN AREA WHERE WE CAN FOCUS AND ENSURE THAT THERE IS A CURRICULUM IN OUR PRE-K AND OUR KINDERGARTEN TO ENSURE THAT THE CHILDREN ARE READY BECAUSE, IF NOT, WE'RE SPENDING THE MAJORITY OF THEIR YOUNGER YEARS TRYING TO GET THEM TO CATCH UP IF THEY'RE BEHIND.

IF WE SOLIDIFY THAT IN PRE-K, IN KINDERGARTEN, I BELIEVE WE WOULD SPEND LESS MONEY GOING FORWARD IN TRYING TO CORRECT THEIR LEARNING.

>> WHAT RESPONSE ARE YOU GETTING?

>> SO WE HAVEN'T REALLY -- I HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY ADVERSE RESPONSE.

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ALL UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS CHILDREN ARE TRAINED AND PREPARED, AND IF WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT EDUCATION IN GEORGIA, THEN WE SHOULD BE SERIOUS ABOUT ENSURING THAT ALL CHILDREN HAVE A HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION, AND THEY ALL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITIES REGARDLESS OF THE RESOURCES THAT THEIR FAMILIES HAVE.

>> OKAY.

I KNOW WE'VE BEEN TALKING EDUCATION, BUT BECAUSE I HAVE BOTH OF YOU ON, TALK DISTRACTED DRIVING FOR A LITTLE BIT, AND THAT'S BECAUSE, DAVE, YOU AND I MET 11 YEARS AGO IN MONROE COUNTY WHEN CALEB'S LAW CAME INTO EFFECT, AND THAT WAS DEALING WITH DISTRACTED DRIVING AND IN MEMORY OF A YOUNG MAN NAMED CALEB, SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVE CARSON.

DRIVING LAW, AND HE SAYS THERE'S A LOOPHOLE.

WHAT'S THE LOOPHOLE WITH HANDS FREE?

>> WELL, WE DID A LOT OF PROGRESS.

AND YOU KNOW, THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS WE EVEN DECREASED THE NUMBER OF DEATHS BY ABOUT 12%.

SO A LOT OF PROGRESS HAS BEEN DONE.

WHAT THE PROBLEM IS THERE'S A LOOPHOLE IF YOU SAY AFTER YOU'VE BEEN PULLED OVER IF YOU GO BUY ANOTHER -- LIKE A CUP HOLDER FOR THE CELL PHONE, THEY WILL NOT PROSECUTE YOU FOR THAT, AND YOU COULD DO THAT IN NUMEROUS DIFFERENT COUNTIES.

THERE'S NO ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THAT.

>> WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THEY'RE SAYING, OH, I BOUGHT SOMETHING TO KEEP ME HANDS FREE AND THEY DON'T GET CHARGED AND THEY CAN DO IT AGAIN AND KEEP DOING IT.

SO THAT'S THE LOOPHOLE.

THE FINES ARE NOT THAT MUCH.

>> WE WANT TO STANDARDIZE THEM A LITTLE MORE.

>> YOU'RE ON THE STUDY COMMITTEES.

>> SO YOU AGREE SOME TIGHTENING NEEDS TO HAPPEN?

>> I DO BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE SOME TIGHTENING.

I ALSO BELIEVE WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT WE'VE EDUCATED GEORGIANS ON THE LAW.

I DON'T NECESSARILY AGREE THAT WE SHOULD WAIVE THE INITIAL BYPASS, BUT I DO BELIEVE IF THERE'S A LOOPHOLE, WE SHOULD FIGURE OUT A WAY HOW TO FIX THAT, AND WE SHOULD NOT TURN THIS LAW IN AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE REVENUE.

>> OKAY.

>> ELIMINATE THAT -- WE'RE NOT GOING TO WAIVE THAT ANYMORE.

>> REAL QUICK WITH YOU, I HAVE TO SAY BUCKHEAD IS LOOKING -- BUCKHEAD AND THE CITY OF ATLANTA WANTS TO BE A BUCKHEAD CITY, AND YOU'RE ALREADY BUCKHEAD.

YOU'RE FROM BUCKHEAD.

>> BUCKHEAD MORGAN COUNTY, AND WE PROBABLY HAVE 200 PEOPLE THERE, WE'RE VERY PROUD OF OUR NAME.

>> SO THEY CANNOT BE BUCKHEAD.

THEY'LL HAVE TO COME UP A DIFFERENT NAME.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> COMING UP ON "LAWMAKERS," WE'LL TALK ABOUT STATE SPENDING ON PRIVATE PRISONS ALLOWING VOTERS TO CAST THEIR VOTE IN ANY PRECINCT IN THE COUNTY, TWO DIFFERENT ISSUES.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT AND MORE.

YOU'RE WATCHING GPB.

>> "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 CAPITOL DURING THE SESSION AND YEAR ROUND.

GEORGIA FARM BUREAU, THE VOICE OF GEORGIA FARMERS.

>>> WE'RE ALL IN THIS FIGHT ALL THE WAY FROM THE 7,000 CIGNA CLINICIANS SUPPORTING FRONT LINE DOCTORS AND NURSES, TO EVERYONE STAYING HOME TO PROTECT OTHERS.

FIND ANSWERS TO YOUR MOST PRESSING QUESTIONS AT CIGNA.COM/COVID-19.

>>> GEORGIA HUMANITIES, CONNECTING PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS GEORGIA TO EDUCATION, AND UNDERSTANDING.

FIND OUT MORE AT WWW.GEORGIAHUMANITIES.ORG.

>>> JOIN GPB AS WE CELEBRATE AMERICAN PORTRAITS.

>> I HAVE A GREAT TRADITION IN MY FAMILY.

WE GO TO STAR WARS MOVIES EVERY YEAR WHEN THEY COME OUT.

>> HALF AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND HALF SOUTH ASIAN EDUCATED INDIVIDUAL, I SPENT QUITE A BIT OF TIME RETHINKING MY CHOICE TO CELEBRATE THIS HOLIDAY.

>> WHEN THIS IS ALL OVER, I HOPE TO GO BACK TO SOME SENSE OF NORMALCY.

>> SHARE YOUR STORY AT GPB.ORG/AMERICANPORTRAIT.

♪♪ >>> WELCOME BACK TO "LAWMAKERS" ON GPB, I'M DONNA LOWRY.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK NOW ABOUT A VARIETY OF ISSUES WITH TWO LAWMAKERS, DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE ROGER BRUCE OF ATLANTA WHO HAS SERVED IN THE HOUSE FOR 18 YEARS, I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT, AND REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE BILL WERKHEISER WHO'S SERVED SINCE 2015.

WELCOME TO "LAWMAKERS."

I SAY THAT BECAUSE I USED TO COVER YOU FROM YEARS AGO.

SO I'M GOING TO GO BACK AND FORTH WITH EACH ONE OF YOU ABOUT DIFFERENT LEGISLATION THAT IS NEAR AND DEAR TO EACH OF YOUR HEARTS.

SO REPRESENTATIVE WERKHEISER, YOU ARE THE CHAIR OF THE HOUSE INDUSTRY AND LABOR COMMITTEE, AND WE KNOW THERE'S AN INTERESTING BILL THAT IS IN THE FIELD WITH TECHNOLOGY, DEALING WITH TECHNOLOGY THAT WOULD ALLOW EMPLOYERS TO DO THESE PAYDAY LOANS AND ACTUALLY PAY WHAT YOU'VE ALREADY WORKED FOR BUT YOU'D GET IT AHEAD OF TIME, AND YOU'D GET IT IN THE FORM OF MAYBE SORT OF A CARD, AN ATM TYPE CARD.

EXPLAIN THAT.

>> FIRST OF ALL, WE'VE GOT TO GET RID OF THE WORD LOAN.

>> OKAY.

IT'S NOT A LOAN, BUT YOU GET IT AHEAD OF TIME.

>> THIS IS CALLED AN EWA OR EARNED WAGES ACCESS, SO A LOT OF EMPLOYERS PAY TWICE A WEEK, COBB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM USED TO PAY ONCE A MONTH.

SO WHAT HAPPENS IS LET'S SAY IT'S TWO WEEKS BEFORE I GET PAID BUT I'VE GOT SOME MAJOR BILLS DUE THIS FRIDAY, I CAN GET UP TO 50% OF MY WAGES THAT I'VE ALREADY EARNED.

IT'S MY MONEY, AND THE EMPLOYER ONLY CHARGES A DOLLAR FOR THE TRANSACTION, AND IT COMES IN THE FORM OF A -- LIKE A DEBIT CARD AND I CAN SPEND IT JUST LIKE IT WAS CASH.

I LOVE LEGISLATION THAT COMES TO MY COMMITTEE THAT BENEFITS THE EMPLOYEE AS MUCH AS IT DOES THE EMPLOYER BECAUSE THEN IT BECOMES A WIN-WIN, AND ACTUALLY, THE FEW COMPANIES THAT HAVE ALREADY DONE THIS, THERE'S BEEN -- THEY HAVE A 19% BETTER RETENTION RATE BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT -- THESE EMPLOYERS AREN'T CHASING -- EMPLOYEES AREN'T CHASING JOBS THAT PAY DAILY SUCH AS UBER AND A LOT OF THESE GIG ECONOMY JOBS.

IT'S A BENEFIT TO THE EMPLOYER, AND THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD CALL IT, AN ADVANCE.

SO REPRESENTATIVE BRUCE, LET'S TURN TO YOU.

ONE OF YOUR ISSUES IS VOTER SUPPRESSION, AND ONE OF THE THINGS YOU HAVE A BILL THAT DEALS WITH TRYING TO GET VOTERS TO BE ABLE TO VOTE WHEREVER THEY CAN IN THE COUNTY, NOT A SPECIFIC PRECINCT.

TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, IF YOU THINK ABOUT EARLY VOTING, YOU CAN GO TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT LOCATIONS WITHIN YOUR COUNTY TO CAST YOUR BALLOT, AND THIS BILL WOULD SAY YOU COULD DO THAT ON ELECTION DAY AS WELL.

IT'S KIND OF CRAZY IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, YOU KNOW, WHERE IF YOU LIVE ON ONE SIDE OF TOWN, BUT YOU WORK ON ANOTHER SIDE OF TOWN THAT YOU MIGHT PASS FOUR OR FIVE POLLING PLACES TO GET TO A DESIGNATED PLACE, AND THEN ONCE YOU GET THERE, IF THEY'VE CHANGED IT AND SOMETIMES THEY CHANGE THESE POLL ING PLACES JUST BEFORE THE ELECTION, AND THEY SAY, WELL, YOU'RE NOT -- THIS IS NOT THE LOCATION FOR YOU TO VOTE, AND THEN THEY GIVE YOU A PROVISIONAL BALLOT, AND THEN THE PROVISIONAL BALLOTS PILE UP AND YOU HAVE ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS FROM PROVISIONAL BALLOTS.

THIS WOULD ALMOST ELIMINATE THE PROVISIONAL BALLOTS BECAUSE YOU'D BE ABLE TO VOTE ANYWHERE.

AND BASICALLY, ALL YOU'RE DOING IS USING A COMPUTER TO SAY THIS PERSON HAS VOTED.

>> SO IT WOULDN'T BE HARDER ON THE POLL WORKERS OR FOR TABULATING THE VOTES LATER?

>> IT WOULD BE NO DIFFERENT THAN EARLY VOTING.

AS FAR AS TABULATING THE VOTES LATER, THERE'S PROBABLY A FEW MORE STEPS THAT YOU HAVE TO TAKE, BUT THE BILL DOES NOT SAY THAT THE COUNTY HAS TO DO IT RIGHT AWAY.

BUT THE BILL SAYS IF A COUNTY WANTS TO DO IT AND THEY HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY TO DO IT, THEY CAN THEN DO IT.

>> OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING ON IT?

>> IN ALL CANDOR WHAT I'M HEARING IS THAT ONE OF THE OPPOSING PARTIES, THEY BASICALLY SAY WE DON'T WANT TO MAKE IT IF WE MAKE IT EASIER FOR THEM TO VOTE, THEY'RE GOING TO GO VOTE, AND ONE OF THE CHAIRMEN OF THE COMMITTEE, HE'S NO LONGER THERE, THAT WAS HIS EXACT WORDS TO ME.

IF I MAKE IT EASIER FOR YOUR FOLKS TO VOTE, THEN THEY'RE GOING TO GO VOTE.

THAT'S WHAT HE SAID.

>> OKAY.

WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THAT.

WE'VE GOT A LOT DEALING WITH ELECTIONS, AND BRENDA TALKED ABOUT IT EARLIER.

WE'RE GOING TO SWITCH GEARS AGAIN, GO BACK TO YOU.

YOU'VE GOT THE PUBLIC SAFETY SUBCOMMITTEE, AND -- OF APPROPRIATIONS, AND A PROPONENT OF PRIVATE PRISONS.

TALK ABOUT THIS RECENT PUSH TOWARD -- AGAINST USING STATE FUNDS, I GUESS, FOR PRIVATE PRISONS.

>> YEAH, IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE EVERY YEAR IT GETS BROUGHT UP BECAUSE WE APPROPRIATE MONEY, AND LAST YEAR 100% OF THE MONEY WENT FOR THE WORKERS, AGAIN, EMPLOYEE RETENTION DIDN'T GO TO ANY OF THE STAFF OR OWNERS, FOR THE WORKERS, BUT EVERY YEAR WE'VE GOT A CONTRACT.

WE DO SPEND MONEY AND -- BUT YOU GOT TO REMEMBER, PRIVATE PRISONS CAME INTO BEING DURING CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM.

IT WAS A WAY TO SAVE MONEY AND WE SEEN EVEN THOUGH OUR STATE HAS GROWN VERY QUICKLY, LIKE WE'RE THE EIGHTH MOST POPULATED STATE.

WE PASSED NORTH CAROLINA -- >> IN TERMS OF PRISON POPULATION?

>> NO, IN POPULATION TOTAL, BUT YET OUR PRISON POPULATION HAS NOT GONE UP AS FAST.

SO THE GOAL IS NOT TO NEED MORE PRISONS.

BUT THOSE WHO SAY THEY DON'T LIKE THEM, WELL, THE ALTERNATIVE IS WHERE DO YOU WANT TO TAKE 30 TO $40 MILLION OUT OF THE BUDGET TO BUILD A STATE PRISON TO REPLACE THESE PRIVATE PRISONS?

BECAUSE THEY'RE NEEDED, AND I TELL YOU WHAT, I ALWAYS ASK IF YOU EVER VISITED ONE, THEY DO AN UNBELIEVABLE JOB AS FAR AS VOCATIONAL TRAINING, USING THEIR OWN MONEY.

THIS ONE PRISON JUST SPENT OVER $2 MILLION IN DIESEL MECHANIC TRAINING, TRUCK DRIVING, ALL INMATES READY TO HAVE A GOOD PAYING JOB WHEN THEY LEAVE SO PEOPLE WHO ARE OPPOSED, I SAY GO VISIT ONE.

I THINK IT WOULD CHANGE YOUR MIND BECAUSE THEY'RE DOING A BETTER JOB AT A LOWER COST, AND ONE THING THAT WE DO BECAUSE WE HEARD HORROR STORIES FROM OTHER STATES THAT HAVE PRIVATE PRISONS.

THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN IN GEORGIA.

OUR PRIVATE PRISONS GO THROUGH@SAME TWO UNANNOUNCED AUDITS THAT OUR STATE PRISONS GO THROUGH, AND A LOT OF OTHER STATES DON'T DO THIS.

THEY GET AUDITED AND HAVE TO MEET CERTAIN STANDARDS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR INMATES ARE TREATED FAIRLY, FED WELL, AND A LOT OF THE THINGS.

SO THAT'S WHY I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING.

>> OKAY.

I WANT TO GET YOUR COMMENT.

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, IT'S UNFORTUNATE, THERE'S A LOT TO BE SAID ABOUT PERCEPTION, IF YOU HAVE A PRIVATE PRISON, IN ORDER FOR THAT PRISON TO EXIST, IT HAS TO MAKE A PROFIT JUST LIKE ANY OTHER BUSINESS, SO THE QUESTION BECOMES HOW DO YOU POPULATE THIS PRIVATE PRISON SO THAT IT HAS ENOUGH INCOME TO SUSTAIN ITSELF.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW, FOR AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN MAN, YOU KNOW, WE END UP IN THE PRISON SYSTEM A LOT MORE OFTEN THAN WE SHOULD, AND IF YOU'RE RIDING THROUGH ONE OF THESE LITTLE SMALL TOWNS AND THEY NEED, YOU KNOW, FIVE OR SIX PRISONERS IN ORDER TO MAKE THEIR PROFIT, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH TIME ARE YOU GOING TO GET FOR RUNNING A RED LIGHT?

I DON'T KNOW.

SO THE REALITY IS THAT IT MAY NOT BE A PROBLEM IN REALITY, BUT THE PERCEPTION IS THERE.

>> OKAY.

I WANT TO GET TO ONE MORE WITH YOU REPRESENTATIVE WERKHEISER.

THAT IS WE TALKED LAST YEAR, YOU AND I DID AND I THINK THE YEAR BEFORE ABOUT DOING SOMETHING WITH AMBULANCES.

YOU DIDN'T GET YOUR BILL, IT DIDN'T PASS LAST YEAR.

TALK ABOUT THE BILL BRIEFLY AND BUT GOOD THINGS HAPPENED EVEN THOUGH IT DIDN'T PASS.

BRINGING THAT UP.

HOUSE BILL 264, I DID NOT BRING IT BACK THIS YEAR, BUT WE HAD ABOUT EIGHT ITEMS WE WANTED, AND I TELL YOU WHAT, DR. TOOMEY, BLESS HER HEART WITH ALL SHE HAD GOING ON, SHE STILL FOUND TIME TO MEET WITH US AND KUDOS TO HER DURING THE STATE OF THE STATE OF, A LOT OF PEOPLE GOT A STANDING OVATION.

I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE GOT ONE BETTER THAN SHE DID, BUT SHE MET WITH US AND WE HAD A LOT OF PROGRESS DONE THROUGH THE ZONES AND THERE WAS JUST SOME TRANSPARENCY ISSUES IN THE WAY THAT BOARDS OPERATED, THAT OPERATED THESE AMBULANCE SERVICES.

SO THERE WAS SOME SIGNIFICANT CHANGES.

AND SO DID WE GET EVERYTHING WE WANTED?

NO.

A LOT OF TIMES IT DOESN'T TAKE A BILL TO BRING DISCUSSION AND BRING PEOPLE TO THE TABLE TO SAY, HEY, WE GOT AN ISSUE WE NEED TO LOOK AT.

SO I FEEL VERY GOOD ABOUT WHAT WE DID.

>> OKAY.

WELL, WE'LL SEE WHETHER YOU'LL POINT.

I'M SORRY, WE'VE RUN OUT OF TIME.

WE DIDN'T GET TO EVERYTHING, I'M SO GLAD YOU CAME.

>> THANK YOU, DONNA.

>> THANK YOU, APPRECIATE.

>>.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT ON "LAWMAKERS."

BE SURE TO TUNE IN TOMORROW FOR LEGISLATIVE SESSION DAY 12.

HAVE A GOOD EVENING.

MUSE