Day 30 - March 11, 2008
Today was Crossover Day. In order to remain viable, all bills must pass the chamber in which they were originally introduced by the end of Crossover day. Thus, legislators worked late into the evening as they hurried to pass a plethora of final bills in an attempt to meet the deadline.
Among the bills that passed today were several affecting children in Georgia.
Today the House passed:
- HB 1321 which amends what is considered as inappropriate behavior by a teacher or school personnel.
- HB 1234, the “Medicaid Care Management Organizations Act” which proposes changes to Georgia's Medicaid program and its use of Care Management Organizations.
- HB 1300, addressing what is considered as a "minimum school year" and the number of days each must contain.
- HB 977 which deals with high-deductible health plans and an exemption from State insurance premium taxes for such plans.
- HR 1246, which in its current form would begin eliminating the tag tax in 2009, eliminate the .25 mil of state property taxes, and limit how much property tax assessments could increase per year. Assessments on personal property could increase no more than 2 percent each year and businesses no more than 3 percent.
Today the Senate passed:
- SB 335 which would designate English as official language and proposes to prohibit requiring State agencies' employees to speak any other languages as a condition of employment.
- SB 461 which addresses new guidelines and policies regarding bullying of children in schools.
- SB 507, which amends Georgia's Medicaid law and would establish basic therapy services for children with disabilities. This Bill is a rewrite of the House version of this legislation from the 2007 Session, HB 549, which was vetoed.
It is important to note that several bills that have been championed by the child advocacy community did not pass by Crossover Day. Those bills included HB 901, the Parent Protection Act; HB 939, the bill to expand Georgia’s PreK program to 3 year olds; and HB 324, the Children’s Health Insurance Act. Unless these bills can be attached as an amendment to another bill, they will not pass this session and must be reintroduced in 2009.