♪♪ >>> THE STORY OF FILM IN GEORGIA IS UNPRECEDENTED.

THERE IS NO EQUAL LIKE THIS ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY, ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.

>> THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE GEORGIA FILM ACADEMY REVEALS HOW JOBS IN THE FILM INDUSTRY ARE THE FASTEST GROWING IN GEORGIA.

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "LAWMAKERS" ON THIS THE 30th DAY OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, I'M DONNA LOWRY IN ATLANTA.

>>> IN A MOMENT, MORE ON THE STATE'S FILM INDUSTRY AND ITS PROJECTED GROWTH DURING AND AFTER THE PANDEMIC.

>>> BIG NEWS FROM GOVERNOR KEMP, GEORGIA WILL EXPAND VACCINATION ELIGIBILITY TO ANYONE 55 YEARS OLD AND OLDER AND THOSE WITH CHRONIC MEDICAL CONDITIONS.

>>> GEORGIA EDUCATORS ARE GETTING VACCINATED, WE'LL UPDATE THAT.

>>> WE'LL SPEND MUCH OF OUR TIME TODAY TALKING ABOUT A RANGE OF EDUCATION ISSUES.

WHAT IS LIKELY TO BECOME LAW AND WHAT CLASSROOM ISSUES DIDN'T GAIN MUCH TRACTION THIS SESSION.

>>> FIRST LET'S HEAD TO THE GOLD DOME AND CAPITOL CORRESPONDENT BRENDA WATERS WITH MORE ON THE NEWS CONFERENCE FROM THE GOVERNOR THIS AFTERNOON, BRENDA?

>> Reporter: HEY, DONNA.

ONE MORE STEP IN THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID.

IN AN AFTERNOON NEWS CONFERENCE, GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP OPENED THE DOOR FOR MORE PEOPLE TO GET THE COVID VACCINE.

IT INCLUDES THOSE 55 AND OLDER AND THOSE WITH HIGH-RISK ILLNESSES.

>> ON MARCH 15th, WE WILL BE EXPANDING VACCINATION CRITERIA FURTHER TO INCLUDE ALL GEORGIANS OVER THE AGE OF 55 AND THOSE WITH HIGH-RISK CONDITIONS DEFINED BY THE CDC.

>> BUT ALSO THOSE ADULTS 16 UP THROUGH ADULTHOOD WHO HAVE MULTIPLE HEALTH CONDITIONS THAT MAY PUT THEM AT RISK FOR COMPLICATIONS OF COVID.

SEVERE ASTHMA, ALL CANCER, AND THOSE WHO ARE BEING TREATED FOR CANCER, CEREBRAL VASCULAR DISEASE, CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE, CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE, OR OTHER LUNG DISEASES, CYSTIC FIBROSIS, MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, DIABETES, HYPERTENSION OR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, AND OTHER HEART CONDITIONS.

>> Reporter: WITH COVID-19 SETBACKS, GEORGIA'S ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY HAS ALREADY MADE A COMEBACK.

NOW THERE'S MORE BUSINESS THAN THERE IS INFRASTRUCTURE.

TODAY, THE HOUSE CREATIVE ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT COMMITTEE HEARD ACTIVITY UPDATES FROM KEY LEADERSHIP IN GEORGIA'S FILM INDUSTRY.

>> I REALLY WANTED TO TRY TO BRING EVERYBODY TOGETHER TO FIND OUT WHERE WE ARE AS A STATE.

>> COVID HIT, AND EVERYONE WENT HOME, STARTED CONSUMING CONTENT AT THE SAME MOMENT THAT WE ALL HAD TO STOP MAKING CONTENT.

WE CAME OUT BEING THE FIRST STATE TO OPEN.

IT REALLY UNDERSCORED THE COMMITMENT THAT OUR STATE LEADERS AND THOSE OF US IN INDUSTRY HAD TO GETTING THE INDUSTRY BACK TO WORK.

>> Reporter: THAT SEEMS TO BE EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE STATE.

>> FILM IS ACTUALLY THE FASTEST-GROWING INDUSTRY RIGHT NOW IN GEORGIA.

AND EMPLOYMENT BETWEEN 2020 AND 2029 IS PROJECTED TO GROW AT 47%, THE FASTEST SECTOR IN THE STATE.

>> Reporter: MICHAEL AKINS WITH LOCAL UNION 479 CONFIRMS THAT.

>> THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR IS GOING TO BE THE BIGGEST QUARTER THAT WE'VE EVER SEEN.

>> Reporter: HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC?

>> BRIEFLY, OUR FILM TAX CREDIT, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND WORKFORCE.

WE CAN DO SOMETHING THAT NO OTHER STATE'S EVER DONE BEFORE.

AND THAT IS CREATE A PERMANENT AND SUSTAINABLE ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS.

AND WE KNOW HOW TO DO THIS.

IT'S THROUGH DEVELOPING THE FULL ECOSYSTEM OF THE BUSINESS.

CONTENT CREATION, WRITERS, PRODUCTION, POST-PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION, MARKETING.

I CAN GO ON.

THERE'S A PLACE FOR THE PUBLIC SECTOR AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR HERE.

>> Reporter: A FEW INTERESTING BILLS PASSED THE SENATE TODAY.

AB-163 PASSED 52-0.

IT IS ONE THAT WILL BENEFIT THE STATE'S MOST NEEDY CHILDREN WHOSE FAMILIES ARE ON FOOD ASSISTANCE.

>> THIS BASICALLY IS A STREAMLINING OR EXPRESS LANING CHILDREN WHO MAY BE ENROLLED IN S.N.A.P.

OR CANIF.

ONCE THEY ENROLLED IN THAT, THEY WOULD BE ENROLLED IN MEDICAID ALSO.

IT REDUCES DUPLICATIVE SERVICES AND REDUCES BUREAUCRACY AND ACTUALLY GIVES SERVICE TO THOSE CHILDREN IN NEED, THOSE WHO MAY HAVE CHRONIC ASTHMA OR THOSE WHO HAVE OTHER CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS LIKE SICKLE CELL DISEASE, WOULD GET THEM ENROLLED AND KEEP THEM ENROLLED.

>> Reporter: ANOTHER BILL TO PASS THE SENATE HOUSE BILL 129.

IT CORRECTS A MISTAKE FROM 2019.

SHERIFFS IN TEN COUNTIES WITH POPULATIONS OF 39,000 TO 49,000 WERE NOT GIVEN RAISES.

>> THIS BILL CORRECTS THAT MISTAKE AND GIVES THEM THE PAY RAISE AS WAS INTENDED IN 2019.

THIS WILL AFFECT TEN COUNTIES.

>> Reporter: THOSE COUNTIES ARE COLQUITT, TIFT, TUMIS, BALDWIN, HANCOCK, MURRAY, SPOKE.

IT DREW A COMICAL QUESTION.

>> IS THERE SOME SPEEDING TICKET CONNECTED TO THIS?

[ LAUGHTER ] NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF.

BUT IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO KNOW THE PERSON WHO HAS THE KEYS TO THE JAIL.

>> OH, OKAY.

NO MORE QUESTIONS FOR YOU.

>> Reporter: NO MORE QUESTIONS FOR YOU, INDEED.

THAT'S MY "CAPITOL REPORT."

DONNA, BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, BRENDA.

>>> WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THE REST OF THE SHOW TALKING ABOUT EDUCATION ISSUES LIKE EVERY OTHER INDUSTRY, FEARS OF A SEVERE DROP IN STATE REVENUE IN 2020 AND A PANDEMIC LED TO A NEARLY BILLION DOLLARS IN CUTS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION LAST YEAR, MOSTLY K-12.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK BUDGETS, BILLS AND MORE WITH GUEST MARGARET CICCARELLI, TOMMY BENTON, RETIRED EDUCATOR FROM JACKSON COUNTY SCHOOLS.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

LET'S START WITH THE COMMENTS FROM THE GOVERNOR.

AND DR. KATHY TOOMEY THIS AFTERNOON.

>> THE ORIGINAL SURVEY WE GOT ON TEACHERS IS WE WERE THINKING THERE WAS ONLY GOING TO BE ABOUT 45% OF THE TEACHER POPULATION WERE GOING TO TAKE THE VACCINE, SO THAT IS GOOD NEWS THAT THAT NUMBER'S A LITTLE BIT HIGHER FROM YOUR CALCULATIONS.

I THINK IT WILL CONTINUE TO GET BETTER AS MORE TEACHERS GET VACCINATED.

>> THE VACCINE HESITANCY, WHETHER IT'S IN TEACHERS OR THROUGH OTHERS, IN OTHER POPULATIONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, IS SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY FEEL IS OUR TOP PRIORITY TO TRY TO ADDRESS.

>> SO MARGARET, I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING IN TERMS OF THIS SURVEY IN THE NUMBERS, HE'S SAYING THAT IT'S BETTER, THE GOVERNOR IS SAYING THAT IT'S BETTER THAN THE 45% NUMBERS.

BUT YOU TOLD ME THAT YOU GUYS DID SOME SURVEYING YOURSELF?

>> WE ALSO DID A SURVEY.

WE HEARD FROM ABOUT 9,000 PAGE MEMBERS IN ALL BUT TWO SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHO INDICATED THAT THEY WANT TO RECEIVE THE VACCINE.

THAT'S NOT TRUE OF EVERYBODY, AND THERE'S SOME DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABILITY BASED ON RURAL VERSUS METRO, BASED ON MEN VERSUS WOMEN, BASED ON POSITION IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

BUT BY AND LARGE, PEOPLE WANT TO RECEIVE THE VACCINE.

AND I THINK THE FACT THAT THE GOVERNOR'S INITIAL SURVEY NUMBERS SHOWED LOWER RATES OF INTEREST, BUT BY THE TIME THEY CLOSED THEIR OWN SURVEY, THERE WERE HIGHER NUMBERS OF INTEREST, INDICATING THE NUMBERS ARE MOVING IN A GOOD DIRECTION.

>> AND THEN THE FEELING THAT HE OPENED IT UP TO ANOTHER GROUP, THOSE 55 AND OLDER, THOSE WITH MEDICAL CONDITIONS, THAT THAT MIGHT BE BECAUSE TEACHERS AREN'T GETTING THE VACCINE AT THE RATE WE EXPECTED.

TEACHERS AND THE OTHERS IN THAT 1-A GROUP.

>> I THINK IT'S TOO SOON TO TELL.

TEACHER ELIGIBILITY OPENED FOR MOST GEORGIA EDUCATORS JUST ON MONDAY OF THIS WEEK.

SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY FIRM NUMBERS YET THAT SHOW THAT TEACHERS ARE MORE RELUCTANT THAN OTHER GROUPS TO RECEIVE THE VACCINE.

I WILL SAY THAT DPH HAS BEEN DOING A GREAT JOB TO COMBAT VACCINE HESITANCY.

THEIR CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER RECORDED A PODCAST WITH US MONDAY THAT'S AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE ABOUT VACCINES IN GEORGIA AND HOW THEY IMPACT EDUCATORS, SO I ENCOURAGE WATCHERS TO CHECK THAT OUT, TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TEACHERS AND VACCINES.

>> OKAY.

REPRESENTATIVE BENTON, YOU'RE IN AN AREA WHERE THEY STARTED IN JULY FULL GOING BACK TO SCHOOL, AND NO PROBLEMS SO FAR.

>> SO FAR, THERE'S BEEN VERY FEW.

THERE'S THREE SYSTEMS IN JACKSON COUNTY.

AND JEFFERSON WAS THE FIRST SYSTEM TO START BACK OVER THE WHOLE STATE.

AS FAR AS I KNOW, THEY HAVEN'T MISSED A SINGLE DAY.

AND THEY'VE DONE ALL THE PRECAUTIONS.

YOU KNOW, COMPARED TO ATLANTA, THEY'RE A SMALL SYSTEM, BUT STILL IT'S A REALLY GROWING COMMUNITY THAT SEES A LOT OF NEW FACES AND EVEN DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR.

THEN YOU'VE GOT COMMERCE CITY THAT I DON'T THINK HAS MISSED ANY TIME, AND JACKSON COUNTY.

IT'S A LARGER SYSTEM, AND THEY'VE HAD TO SHUT DOWN A COUPLE OF SCHOOLS FROM TIME TO TIME.

BECAUSE OF THE NUMBERS WERE GETTING HIGHER THAN WHAT THEY WANTED.

BUT THEY REMAINED OPEN AS WELL.

SO I THINK IT SAYS A LOT FOR THE TEACHERS THAT TEACH IN THOSE SYSTEMS AND HOW DEDICATED THEY ARE TO BE AT SCHOOL, BECAUSE THERE'S NO SUBSTITUTE FOR IN-PERSON LEARNING.

>> I THINK IT MIGHT HELP ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE WORRIES FROM THOSE WHO ARE WORRIED ABOUT GETTING KIDS AND TEACHERS BACK IN THE CLASSROOM.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING IN TERMS OF VACCINATIONS IN THOSE AREAS?

IT'S A RURAL AREA.

EVEN THE GOVERNOR ADMITTED SOMETIMES IN THE RURAL AREAS, WE'RE NOT SEEING THEM GETTING VACCINATED, ANYBODY GET VACCINATED, WHEN ELIGIBLE.

>> IT WAS IN THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER LAST WEEK THAT JACKSON COUNTY WAS LAGGING BEHIND OTHER COUNTIES THAT SURROUND US.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE REASON FOR THAT IS, OR PEOPLE FROM JACKSON COUNTY WENT SOMEWHERE ELSE AND GOT VACCINATED AT ANOTHER TIME?

I RECEIVED A VACCINATION HERE IN ATLANTA.

SO THAT, OF COURSE, WOULD NOT BE SHOWING UP AS ME BEING VACCINATED IN JACKSON COUNTY.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THOSE NUMBERS ARE, I JUST KNOW THE NEWSPAPER HAD US AS LOWER.

>> WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

BECAUSE WITH THESE BIG, MASS VACCINATION AREAS OPENING, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE OF THAT.

>> WE'RE RUNNING A VACCINE SITE IN JACKSON COUNTY, AND IT'S VERY WELL RUN.

I'VE HAD SEVERAL COMPLIMENTS ON THE WAY IT'S BEEN RUN.

I SAID, YOU NEED TO CALL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING THAT, TELL THEM WHAT A GOOD JOB THEY'RE DOING.

>> THEY NEED TO BE LIFTED UP, THAT'S FOR SURE.

LET'S CHANGE GEARS A LITTLE BIT, TALK ABOUT THE NEW FEDERAL COVID-19 AID PACKAGE THAT WE SAW PASS TODAY, THE HELP FOR SCHOOLS IN THAT, MARGARET.

TELL US WHAT YOU'RE HEARING ABOUT WHAT HELP MIGHT BE THERE.

>> IT'S GOT BIG IMPLICATIONS FOR GEORGIA SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THAT ALMOST $2 TRILLION FEDERAL AID PACKAGE WILL BE HEADING -- GEORGIA'S PORTION CONTAINS ABOUT $3.8 BILLION FOR GEORGIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL BE HEADED OUR WAY SCAN.

WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF YEARS TO SPEND IT AND WE NEED TO GET BUSY PLANNING FOR HOW WE'RE GOING TO USE THOSE DOLLARS TO COMBAT PANDEMIC-RELATED LEARNING LOSS.

STUDENTS HAVE MORE SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL NEEDS THAN THEY EVER HAVE, AND WE KNOW BASED ON SURVEY DATA AND MANY ANECDOTAL OBSERVATIONS FROM PROFESSIONALS IN ALL AREAS OF THE STATE THAT ACADEMIC LOSSES ARE PRESENT AS WELL.

SO THAT MONEY COULDN'T COME AT A BETTER TIME.

AND WE NEED TO BE READY TO SPEND IT IN THE RIGHT WAY TO BENEFIT GEORGIA'S STUDENTS.

>> DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH THAT IS?

>> ABOUT $3.8 BILLION TO GEORGIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THERE WILL BE A SEPARATE ALLOCATION THAT WE'RE NOT SURE THE EXACT NUMBER FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN GEORGIA AS WELL.

>> WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THAT.

THE MAIN THING IS START GETTING READY FOR IT.

>> LET'S GET READY.

>> REPRESENTATIVE BENTON, THE HOUSE UNANIMOUSLY PASSED A BILL THAT DEALT WITH THE TEACHER RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

KIND OF CHANGING THE FORMULA A LITTLE BIT ON INVESTMENTS.

TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> WELL, THE BILL, IT ACTUALLY DID NOT AFFECT TEACHER RETIREMENT, IT AFFECTED ALL OTHER RETIREMENT SYSTEMS EXCEPT TEACHER RETIREMENT AND EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT THAT ARE LARGE RETIREMENT SYSTEMS THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO INVEST IN ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENTS.

WE HAVE ONLY -- UNTIL THIS BILL GETS SIGNED, WE ONLY HAVE ONE BIG RETIREMENT SYSTEM THAT IS AT 10% RIGHT NOW.

THE RETURNS ARE PHENOMENAL.

AND WE'RE HOPING THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO BE ABLE TO LATCH ON TO SOME OF THIS FOR ALL THE RETIREMENT SYSTEMS.

>> WOULD YOU HAVE BEEN RETIRED FOR HOW LONG NOW?

>> THIS WILL BE MY 17th YEAR.

>> WOW.

WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE DOWN AT THE CAPITOL.

MARGARET, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT ANOTHER BILL THAT DEALT WITH TRANSPARENCY ON FINANCES AND OPERATIONS WHEN IT COMES TO THE SCHOOLS THAT RECEIVE THE VOUCHERS, THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT PAGE WANTED TO SEE, RIGHT?

>> ARE YOU REFERRING -- THERE'S THREE DIFFERENT VOUCHER BILLS -- >> THIS DEALT WITH TRANSPARENCY WHEN IT COMES TO FINANCES AND OTHER THINGS.

>> REPRESENTATIVE CARSON'S BILL, YES.

THAT HAS LONG OVERDUE TRANSPARENCY UPGRADES TO GEORGIA'S TUITION TAX CREDIT, PRIVATE SCHOOL VOUCH EVER PROGRAM.

IT'S HARD FOR US TO REALLY ASSESS WHETHER THE TAX CREDIT, WHICH DIVERTS OVER, WELL, ABOUT $100 MILLION ANNUALLY FROM GEORGIA'S GENERAL FUND, WHICH GOES TO PAY FOR CRITICAL PUBLIC SERVICES.

IT'S HARD TO TELL WHETHER OR NOT THAT PROGRAM IS ACTUALLY LEADING TO STUDENT ACADEMIC GAINS AND IF THE MONEY'S BEING SPENT PROPERLY BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT THE OUTCOMES ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

THIS BILL DOESN'T HAVE QUITE ENOUGH TRANSPARENCY, BUT IT'S A GREAT START, AND WE SUPPORT ITS PROGRESSION THROUGH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

>> THAT MAY BE THE ONLY ONE THAT CROSSED OVER THAT DEALT WITH VOUCHERS, AS I RECALL?

>> THERE ARE TWO VOUCHER BILL CURRENTLY IN PLAY.

THE OTHER ONE, SENATE BILL 47, MOVED OVER BEFORE CROSSOVER DAY.

>> OKAY.

>> IT WOULD EXPAND GEORGIA'S SPECIAL NEEDS VOUCHER PROGRAM, CURRENTLY OPEN TO STUDENTS WITH IEPs.

THIS BILL WOULD EXPAND IT TO STUDENTS WITH 504 PLANS AND SOME OTHER DIAGNOSES.

OUR CONCERN ABOUT THE LEGISLATION, APART FROM THE FISCAL IMPACT ON PUBLIC SCHOOLS, IS REALLY ON THE IMPACT OF STUDENTS THEMSELVES.

SPECIAL NEEDS ARE WHAT TRIGGERS ELIGIBILITY.

STUDENT ELIGIBILITY FOR THE VOUCHER.

BUT ONCE STUDENTS LEAVE THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SETTING, THEY LOSE THEIR LEGAL RIGHT TO SERVICES TARGETED FOR THOSE SPECIAL NEEDS.

SO IT'S OF CONCERN.

>> OKAY.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT ONE OF THE THINGS, WE SAW GOOD NEWS IN EDUCATION THIS YEAR.

WE SAW ONE-TIME $1,000 BONUSES THAT WILL BE FOR EVERYONE IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

THE GOVERNOR'S PIPELINE PACKAGE FOR TEACHERS WENT THROUGH.

BUT GIVEN THE SUFFERING AND LOSS THAT WE'VE SEEN, THE LEARNING LOSS, OTHER DEVASTATING EFFECTS FROM THE PANDEMIC, WHY DID WE NOT SEE MORE EDUCATION-RELATED BILLS THIS SESSION, DO YOU THINK?

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT.

BECAUSE SOME YEARS IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S 15 OR 20 OUT THERE.

AND THIS YEAR THERE JUST DIDN'T SEEM -- I THINK MAYBE THERE WAS TOO MUCH STUFF OUT THERE THAT NEEDED TO BE LOOKED AT.

AND THOSE PEOPLE THAT USUALLY INTRODUCE EDUCATION BILLS DECIDED TO GO IN ANOTHER DIRECTION.

YOU KNOW, WE STILL PUT EDUCATION AS OUR TOP PRIORITY WHETHER WE'RE INTRODUCING LEGISLATION OR NOT.

SO I JUST DON'T SEE ANY REASON FOR IT, OTHER THAN IT JUST WASN'T EDUCATION'S YEAR THIS YEAR.

>> I KNOW WE STARTED THIS SESSION NOT KNOWING WHETHER -- HOW LONG THE SESSION WAS GOING TO BE WITH THE PANDEMIC AND ALL, MAYBE THAT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT.

DID YOU EXPECT THERE TO BE MORE?

>> I'M NOT SURPRISED THAT THERE'S NOT MORE.

I DON'T THINK -- I THINK IT'S HARD TO WRAP OUR ARMS AROUND AT THE STATE LEVEL SOMETIMES ABOUT WHAT COULD BE MOST BENEFICIAL AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING MIGHTILY WITH THIS, AS HAVE THE FAMILIES THAT THEY SERVE.

AND MANY TIMES THOSE LOCAL PRACTITIONERS HAVE A BETTER IDEA OF HOW BEST TO MEET FAMILIES' NEEDS.

I THINK THE FACT THAT WE HVE LESS LEDGE LAYING AT THE STATE LEVEL PROBABLY INDICATES LOCALS ARE GRAPPLING WITH THIS PROBLEM, MAYBE MORE SO, AND ARE BETTER EQUIPPED TO DEAL WITH IT THAN THE STATE.

>> THAT MAKES SENSE, PUSHING IT TO THE LOCAL LEVEL.

A LOT OF THEM ARE STILL TRYING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS, STILL TRYING TO FIGURE THAT OUT.

I WANTED TO KNOW IF YOU FELT THERE WAS ANYTHING POSITIVE THAT CAME OUT OF THIS SITUATION FOR SCHOOLS?

IN DETERMINES OF LOOKING INTO MAYBE ONLINE LEARNING AND RESOURCES AND THINGS?

JUST SOMETHING THAT MAY HAVE COME OUT OF ALL OF THIS, THAT THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO USE IN THE FUTURE?

>> A COUPLE OF HIGH POINTS FOR US.

EDUCATOR PROFESSIONALS HAVE BEEN TALKING FOR A LONG TIME ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS AND HOW THAT IMPACTS ACADEMIC OUTCOMES.

EVERYBODY IS AWARE OF THAT NOW.

IF THEY WEREN'T BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

SO THE HIGHLIGHT OR THE SPOTLIGHT ON THAT, RATHER, I THINK IS ONE OF THE BEST OUTCOMES FROM THE PANDEMIC.

AS IS THE FOCUS ON INDIVIDUAL STUDENT LEARNING NEEDS.

INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS LEARN DIFFERENTLY.

WE'VE GOTTEN BETTER, WHETHER THROUGH VIRTUAL EDUCATION OR FACE-TO-FACE OR SOME HYBRID OR VARIATION THEREOF, OF MEETING INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS' NEEDS AND UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY'RE NOT ALL THE SAME AND THEY LEARN DIFFERENTLY.

>> OKAY.

VERY GOOD POINTS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

>> VERY WELCOME.

>> I APPRECIATE IT.

WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE.

>>> COMING UP, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TALKING ABOUT EDUCATION WITH TWO MORE LAWMAKERS.

AMONG OTHER THINGS BILLS FOR TEACHER RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.

YOU'RE WATCHING "LAWMAKERS" ON 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 $70 BILLION OF OUTPUT IN GEORGIA'S STRONG ECONOMY.

THE GEORGIA FARM BUREAU LEGISLATIVE TEAM WORKS TO REPRESENT FARMERS ACROSS GEORGIA.

GEORGIA FARM BUREAU, THE VOICE OF GEORGIA FARMERS.

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

WE CONTINUE OUR CONVERSATION ON EDUCATION IN GEORGIA WITH TWO MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE.

REPRESENTATIVE DAVE BELTEN OF BUCKHEAD AND MORGAN COUNTY, REPRESENTATIVE MISHA MAINER FROM GEORGIA MNU.

BODY OF YOU HAVE BEEN ON "LAWMAKERS" THIS YEAR, WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU BACK.

REPRESENTATIVE BELTEN, YOUR EDUCATION BILL THAT PASSED IN THE HOUSE OFFERS AN INCENTIVE TO TEACHERS WHO AGREE TO WORK IN RURAL AREAS AND AREAS WHERE THERE ARE LOW-PERFORMING SCHOOLS.

TELL US MORE ABOUT IT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

HOUSE BILL 34 IS A TEACHER TAX CREDIT BILL.

IT WOULD ALLOW 1,000 TEACHERS, KIND OF A PILOT PROGRAM, TO GET $3,000 FOR FIVE YEARS IN TAX CREDITS IF THEY'RE WILLING TO TEACH AT A VERY RURAL OR THE LOWEST BOTTOM FIVE PERFORMING SCHOOLS.

IT'S A VERY BIPARTISAN EFFORT.

I WORKED -- HAD 12 DIFFERENT DRAFTS.

IT'S PASSED UNANIMOUSLY TWICE IN THE HOUSE.

SO JUST HOPING TO GET SOME TRACTION IN THE SENATE.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE REASONS BEHIND ALL OF THIS.

WE KNOW AND WE'RE EXPECTING IT TO GET WORSE, THAT IT IS HARD TO RETAIN TEACHERS, FIRST OF ALL.

AND TO GET THEM TO GO INTO THE RURAL AREAS.

>> BELIEVE IT OR NOT ABOUT 44% OF OUR TEACHERS RETIRE BEFORE THEIR FIVE-YEAR MARK.

THERE'S ABOUT 46 STATES THAT DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS, AND THEY GET REALLY, REALLY POSITIVE RESULTS.

AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, LAST YEAR, OVER 3,000 TEACHER POSITIONS WENT UNFILLED ALTOGETHER.

MOSTLY IN THESE KIND OF SCHOOLS.

SO THIS IS A VERY LASER-FOCUSED ATTENTION TO THOSE SCHOOLS THAT NEED IT THE MOST.

>> REPRESENTATIVE MAINER, HOW DID YOU VOTE ON THIS?

>> WE HAVE NOT VOTED ON THAT YET.

>> OH, OKAY.

THAT'S RIGHT.

I THOUGHT IT CAME OUT OF THE -- YEAH, I THOUGHT -- I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF FOCUS ON LOW-PERFORMING SCHOOLS, AND I KNOW THAT IS AN AREA OF INTEREST FOR YOU.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> AND THIS DEALS WITH THAT, SO I WOULD THINK YOU WOULD LIKE THAT?

>> I'M MOST LIKELY VOTING YES.

>> SO MANY THAT CAME THROUGH.

>> WE TALKED AHEAD OF TIME, SO YES, I DID VOTE FOR IT.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE LOW-PERFORMING SCHOOLS ASPECT OF IT.

THAT WORRIES YOU?

>> IT DOES.

>> YOU SENT ME AN ARTICLE ABOUT IT.

>> I DID.

>> WHAT BOTHERS YOU THE MOST?

YOU'RE IN ATLANTA.

YOU MENTIONED DOUGHERTY COUNTY IN ATLANTA HAD THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF LOW-PERFORMING SCHOOLS.

>> WE ACTUALLY DO.

YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED THAT A SCHOOL IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA, WOULD BE ONE OF THE LOWEST-PERFORMING SCHOOLS IN THE ENTIRE STATE.

SO IN MY DISTRICT, WE HAVE -- THERE ARE 2,034 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN GEORGIA.

ONE OF THE SCHOOLS IN MY DISTRICT IS ACTUALLY 2030.

ANOTHER ONE 1187.

1197.

I HAVE SOME OF THE POOREST FAILING SCHOOLS.

ALSO I HAVE SOME OF THE HIGHEST-PERFORMING SCHOOLS.

>> WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN?

>> I BELIEVE IN THE WHOLE CHILD MODEL.

I BELIEVE THAT WE CANNOT EDUCATE OUR KIDS WITHOUT CONTRIBUTING TO THE SOCIOECONOMIC PIECE TO THE FAMILY AND TO PARENTS.

WE HAVE PARENTS RIGHT NOW THAT DO NOT HAVE JOBS, THAT ARE AT HOME BECAUSE OF COVID.

THERE ARE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, IN GENERAL, I ALSO FEEL LIKE THE MODEL THAT WE'RE USING, WE NEED TO BE HAVING EDUCATION IN A MORE 21st CENTURY MODEL.

INSTEAD OF MATH, 1 PLUS 1, WE NEED TO BE DOING ROBOTICS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

>> I KNOW THAT YOU ALSO HAVE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT IS TAKING PLACE RIGHT NOW?

LIKE WHETHER OR NOT SCHOOLS ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE IT OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC TIME.

I KNOW YOU'RE A NEW LAWMAKER.

>> YES.

>> BUT IF YOU HAD A CHANCE, WHAT KIND OF LEGISLATION WOULD YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COME UP WITH?

I GUESS YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW THINGS ARE GOING.

>> I'M TRYING TO FIGURE THAT OUT.

SO ONE PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT WE DID JUST PASS IS FINANCIAL LITERACY WITHIN EDUCATION.

SO IN ADDITION TO THAT, I BELIEVE ARKANSAS JUST PASSED A PIECE WHERE COMPUTER SCIENCE IS GOING TO BE REQUIRED.

I THINK WE NEED TO CHANGE THE MODEL OF TRADITIONAL EDUCATION AND BE A LITTLE -- NOT A LITTLE, A LOT MORE PROGRESSIVE IN HOW WE'RE TEACHING OUR KIDS.

IT NEEDS TO BE FUNCTIONAL.

IT DOES NOT NEED TO BE THE STATUS QUO.

>> OKAY.

I ASK THE OTHER LAWMAKERS ON THE SHOW EARLIER IF THEY FELT THAT THERE HAD BEEN ENOUGH -- WHY THERE HADN'T BEEN ENOUGH OR MORE EDUCATION LEGISLATION.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> AS A LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, WE DON'T WANT THE STATE TO HAVE A LOT OF LEGISLATION.

WE THINK WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB.

AND WE HAVE A LOT OF POSITIVE RESULTS.

AND I'LL SAY THIS AGAIN ON MY SOAP BOX.

20 YEARS AGO, GEORGIA WAS LAST ON THE S.A.T.

NOW WE'RE ABOVE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE FOR TWO YEARS IN A ROW.

WE'RE ABOVE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE FOR A.C.T.

FOUR YEARS IN A ROW.

WE'RE 13th BEST IN AP SCORES, THIRD BEST IN BLACK AP SCORES, 13th BEST IN K-12 SCORES, AND WE'RE 84% GRADUATION RATE.

THESE ARE AMAZING NUMBERS.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THE EDUCATION IN GEORGIA IS THE BEST IT'S EVER BEEN.

SO THERE ARE PLACES LIKE REPRESENTATIVE MAINER'S TALKED ABOUT WHERE WE NEED TO BE LASER FOCUSSED AND FIX THOSE PROBLEMS, BUT THE OVERALL PICTURE IN GEORGIA IS A GOOD ONE.

>> I KNOW ONE OF THE THINGS YOU SIGNED ON TO HAD TO DO WITH NOT TURNING LOW-PERFORMING SCHOOLS OVER TO NONPROFITS.

THAT IS AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE SURE ONCE THEY DON'T SUCCEED THAT THESE NONPROFITS COME IN AND KIND OF SWOOP IN?

>> I'M NOT SURE IF I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S OKAY.

IT'S ONE OF THE BILLS YOU WERE COSPONSOR ON.

BUT I KNOW YOU GUS COSPONSOR A LOT OF BILLS.

>> IT'S BEEN SO MUCH.

I WILL ADMIT TO GEORGIA, AS A NEW FRESHMAN, I CANNOT REMEMBER EVERY SINGLE BILL.

>> I BELIEVE THAT.

YOU DID GET GOOD NEWS, HB-138.

>> HB-138 PASSED.

IT WILL HELP CHILDREN BECAUSE NOW IT ALLOWS LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO POST VIOLENT CRIMES AND SEX CRIMES ON THEIR LOCAL WEBSITES REGARDING APARTMENT BUILDINGS.

A LOT OF KIDS IN MY COMMUNITIES LIVE IN APARTMENTS.

PARENTS ARE TRYING TO FIND THE SAFEST PLACE TO LIVE.

SO THEY'RE MOVING FROM APARTMENT TO APARTMENT FOR SAFETY CONCERNS.

SO NOW TENANTS OR RENTERS ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GO ONLINE AND ACTUALLY LOOK FOR WHAT IS THE SAFEST COMMUNITY TO LIVE IN BECAUSE OF HB-138.

>> CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT.

YOU HAVE A FIRST WITH THAT, I HEAR, THE FIRST NEW LAWMAKER -- >> FIRST MINORITY PARTY LAWMAKER AS A FRESHMAN TO GET SOMETHING PASSED WITHOUT ANY MAJORITY SIGNATURES.

>> YOU'LL BE ABLE TO PUT THAT ON YOUR BYLINE FROM NOW ON.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

>> WHENEVER YOU SIGN ANYTHING, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SAY THAT.

YOU FEEL PRETTY GOOD ABOUT THE SESSION, DAVE?

>> IN GENERAL.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF HESITATION GOING INTO IT.

I THINK IT'S BEEN PRETTY PRODUCTIVE.

I LOVE WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE FILM INDUSTRY.

THAT'S ALL ABOUT EDUCATION.

THAT'S AS CLEAN, GOOD, GREAT JOBS -- WHAT THEY NEED IS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

THEY NEED EDUCATED CHILDREN.

SO EDUCATION IS DOING WELL IN GEORGIA, AND THE MORE EDUCATED WE GET GEORGIANS, THE MORE WE CAN UTILIZE THESE OTHER THINGS.

>> I'VE GOT TO GET SOMETHING IN.

LAST TIME WE WERE HERE WE TALKED ABOUT THE CITY OF BUCKHEAD THAT YOU LIVE IN AND THE BUCKHEAD IN ATLANTA THAT WANTED TO BE ITS OWN CITY.

THAT BILL NEVER WENT VERY FAR THIS YEAR.

>> NO, I DON'T THINK IT DID, THAT'S RIGHT.

>> SO NOBODY HAS TO TAKE AWAY THE BUCKHEAD.

>> THE BUCKHEAD, THE REAL BUCKHEAD, GEORGIA, LAKE OCONE.

>> HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT YOUR FIRST SESSION?

>> I LOVE IT.

IN RELATION TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, I HAVE HOUSE BILL 388, LOCAL LEGISLATION THAT CREATES WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, PARTICULARLY IN TECHNOLOGY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY SPACE FOR MY CITIZENS THAT ARE THE MOST IMPOVERISHED WITHIN THE CITY OF ATLANTA.

>> YOU'VE HAD A GOOD FEW MONTHS AND YOU'RE READY TO COME BACK NEXT YEAR?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT ON "LAWMAKERS."

WE RETURN TOMORROW NIGHT FOR LEGISLATIVE DAY 31.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.