Day 39 - 3/28/2006
>> Back to Week Eleven, Mar. 27 - Mar. 31
Budget and Child Support Go Down to the Wire
The House and Senate have yet to agree on the FY 2007 Budget, and the leadership of both chambers exchanged angry words about the lack of progress.
The House and Senate have different versions of SB 413. It requires parental permission for students ages 16-17 who wish to drop out of school and allows parents to withhold permission for their children to participate in extracurricular activities. It is being sent to a conference committee where it may be amended to include HB 1239 requiring schools to offer courses informing students of criminal law, particularly with regard to sexual offenses that carry lengthy prison sentences.
HB 1145, requiring that juveniles have attorneys when being evaluated for mental competency to stand trial, was amended in the Senate to add SB 522 (Amy’s Law). The House agreed to the change, so the bill has been sent to the Governor for his signature.
SB 610 which allows the creation of virtual charter schools passed the House.
The Senate passed HB 847 dealing with emancipation of juveniles by petition. It had been amended to require that a child be at least 16 to be emancipated. It was also amended to eliminate the pregnancy exception to the requirement for parental consent to marriage. It also was amended to require that 16 and 17 year olds must have parental consent to marry.
The House gave final approval to SB 529 (Georgia Security/Immigration Compliance Act) which now goes to the Governor. It also approved the conference committee report on HB 1059 increasing penalties for felony sex offenses, but leaving intact the "Romeo and Juliet" misdemeanor penalty for sex between teenagers who are at least 13 and where there is no more than four years' difference in their ages. The bill now requires that offenders with life sentences serve at least 30 years.
The House vote on SB 382 (child support) was postponed to the 40th day. The Rules Committee has adopted another substitute to the bill.
Coming Events:
Thursday, March 30th:
The General Assembly will meet for its 40th day and adjourn sine die. Many bills hang in the balance for the final day.