[March 03, 2014] | The seventh week of the 2014 legislative session began on Monday, February 24, 2014. I have to tell you I was absent from the legislature this past week as I needed to be by my critically- ill Dad. He has improved a bit but has a long way to go. I do appreciate the prayers and calls of encouragement while I was holding his hand in the hospital. I also owe you an article from last week, as I had to run to my folks? home and wasn't able to write my article last week for you. Look for that update next week or so.
These were busy and important days, as it was the last week for bills to pass out of committees, since ?Crossover Day? is scheduled for Monday, March 3. Crossover Day is the deadline in which a piece of legislation must pass at least one of the General Assembly?s two chambers. With this date looming, long hours were spent at the State Capitol to ensure important pieces of legislation were either passed on the House floor or ready for a vote on Crossover Day.
Many of the bills passed during this past week were related to education and the welfare of our children. One such bill was House Bill 826, which provides local school systems with more flexibility in handling violations of school safety zones. Under HB 826, schools would no longer be forced to expel students who are caught with items like a fishing knife or a baseball bat in their cars on school campuses. Currently, if a student is found on a school campus with these items in their vehicle, they are automatically suspended and charged with a felony. In these cases under this bill, local school systems will now be able to issue lesser penalties if they have no reason to believe that the student intended to use the object as a weapon. Granting local school systems the authority to deal with these situations on a case-by-case basis will help prevent a student?s record and reputation from being tarnished with an offense that was actually an innocent mistake.
In addition to HB 826, which protects our children from unjust punishment, the House also passed House Bill 804 to protect children from the psychological trauma that can result from testifying in court about cases of abuse. Testifying before a court is an intimidating task, especially for a young child, and having to face an abuser can be even scarier. HB 804 provides young victims with another option. The bill allows them to testify remotely via live broadcast if the court agrees that testifying before the accused would cause serious physical or emotional distress for the victim. Not only will this measure ease discomfort for victims, but it might also eliminate one of the barriers that prevents them from coming forward about their abuse.
A child welfare measure was passed last week that would that would help track cases in the event of abuse. House Bill 923 helps ensure that cases of child abuse are treated with the seriousness that they warrant. HB 923 increases public access to government records that relate to deceased children who had at some point come into contact with the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS). The bill also updates the Child Fatality Review Board, which is responsible for examining DFCS cases that involve death. It is our hope that this increased transparency and review, combined with an increase in DFCS employees, will ensure Georgia is doing everything possible to protect children from abuse.
In addition to passing these pieces of legislation aimed at protecting Georgia?s children, the House also passed House Bill 549 to protect our State?s natural resources, such as our waterways and wildlife. This bill will help our State better prepare for a water pollution emergency, like the one recently experienced by West Virginia and the Ogeechee River Fish Kill in Georgia a few years ago. HB 549 establishes a state water pollution emergency response plan. The bill requires that the Environmental Protection Division (EPD) maintain an emergency response program to handle critical threats and pollution to our state?s water resources. The bill also requires appropriate and timely responses to emergencies that threaten the State?s waterways. Additionally, HB 549 requires that the EPD use proper public notification and coordination between the state and local communities to protect the health of Georgia?s citizens during emergencies and to keep them informed. I am proud that our State has taken these steps to protect our State?s citizens as well as the aquatic wildlife that live along our waterways.
In addition to passing legislation last week, our House also took some time to recognize a great Georgian and Olympian, Elana Meyers. Elana, who hails from Douglasville, recently returned from Sochi, Russia, where she won a silver medal in the women?s bobsledding competition at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games. This was Elana?s second time at the Winter Olympic Games, after she won bronze in Vancouver in 2010. I am proud that Georgia had such talented representation at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games.
As we begin voting on more bills and resolutions every day, I encourage you to contact me at the Georgia State Capitol with your thoughts and opinions. I am always happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have regarding legislation. My capitol office phone number is 404-656-0188, and my email address is rick.jasperse@house.ga.gov. Thank you for allowing me to serve as your State Representative.