On Friday, the Senate debated a bill that would allow the biological and adopted children of fostering families to access the $6,500 Georgia Promise Scholarship.
“This is an important step to ensure that those people that take care of the most vulnerable in our population have an additional incentive to do so,” Sen. Greg Dolezal (R-Cumming) said.
Democrats objected because of the threat to families misusing the funds.
“We are not giving that same scholarship to the very foster children they will have in their households,” Sen. RaShaun Kemp (D-Atlanta) said.
The bill passed 32 to 22 along party lines.
Across the hall, the House passed a bill that would modernize the state’s 911 call center system.
House Bill 423 would implement geographic information systems to more accurately locate the caller and reduce emergency response times.
“Whether it be folks in rural Georgia, suburban Georgia, or in our urban centers all across our state, we see a great need to utilize current technology,” Rep. Will Wade (R-Dawsonville) said.
Also, Senate Republicans filed legislation to investigate the New Georgia Project and its founder, Stacey Abrams, for alleged financial misconduct.
The state Ethics Commission already investigated and levied a large fine on the organization, but Lt. Gov. Burt Jones said that more scrutiny is needed.
Democrats say it’s a waste of time.
Lawmakers return Monday for Day 26, as the lead-up to Crossover Day on Thursday continues.
