Day 9, Jan. 31, 2008

Georgia Representatives worked late into the afternoon today as legislators debated issues including charter schools and firearms legislation.  The House passed HB 881 which will create the Georgia Charter Schools Commission in an attempt to make it easier for charter schools to get approval.  In addition, the House voted to disagree with the Senate’s changes to House Bill 89, the guns in parking lots bill.  In addition, the House added an amendment to the bill which would allow individuals to carry guns in most public places including churches, sporting events, playgrounds, and restaurants.  Voices for Georgia’s Children is deeply concerned about the bill’s potential effect on children.  The bill will next go back to the Senate which will either agree with the House’s position or appoint a conference committee.

The Senate Health and Services Committee and the House Children and Youth Committee jointly hosted a family impact seminar this afternoon on childhood obesity featuring Joe Thompson, M.D., MPH, the Surgeon General for Arkansas.  The committee heard about the impact of childhood obesity on health outcomes and on the economy and considered various strategies to combat childhood obesity.  Arkansas has successfully decreased the rate of childhood obesity by taking steps such as requiring BMI measurements at school, banning vending machines in elementary school, educating cafeteria staff and establishing an independent Child Health Advisory Committee.