Day 34 - 3/20/2006

>> Back to Week Ten, Mar. 20 - Mar. 24

2007 Budget Takes Another Step

he Senate Appropriations Committee spent two hours going over its version of the 2007 budget and recommended passage.  It agreed with the House on funding for dental care for pregnant women and a $500,000 increase for Babies Born Healthy.  It doubled to 3,000 the number of waiver slots for people with developmental disabilities, but recommends only $100,000 more for Family Connection Partnership in contrast to the House’s $250,000.  The Committee restored some of the funds for SACWIS that had been removed by the House.  View the entire budget proposal:  Senate Appropriations Committee Version - 2007 Budget.  It now must go to the full Senate for a vote later this week.  After that, the House and Senate Conferees will try to resolve differences.

The House sent SB 25 requiring longer waiting periods for divorce and counseling on the effects of divorce on children back to the Rules Committee.  Many legislators thought the longer waits should be removed.  The House passed SB 79 allowing state funding for elective courses in the Old and New Testaments.

The Senate passed HB 1066 expanding screening of newborns to 29 treatable conditions.

Coming Events:

Senate Education & Youth, 9:00 a.m., Room 450 CAP - HB 1358 (class size), HB 1239 (instruction in criminal law)

Senate Judiciary, 9:00 a.m., Room 307 CLOB – HB 1145 (juvenile proceedings), HB 1059 (sex offenders)

House Judy Civil, 9:00 a.m., Room 132 CAP – SB 420 (care of grandchild); at 1:00 p.m.  move to 415 CLOB -  SB 382 (child support)

House Judiciary Non-Civil Subcommittee Two; 10:00 a.m.; Room 515 CLOB – SB 529 (Ga. Security & Immigration Compliance Act)

House Appropriations Health Subcommittee; 11:00 a.m.; 341 CAP – Review differences between House and Senate 2007 budgets for DCH, DHR, and DOL

3:30 Senate Judiciary; 3:30 p.m.; Room 307 CLOB - HB 1302 (street gangs)

House Education; 3:30 p.m.; Room 606 CLOB – SB 413 (compulsory attendance and parental opt out for school clubs); SB 515 (remedial education for middle school); SB 610 (virtual charter school); SB 288 (grade integrity); SB 618 (education for children in custody of DHR and DJJ)

House Judiciary Non-Civil; 2:00 p.m., Room 515 CLOB - SB 396 (deadly force)