Rep. Dan Gasaway (R-Homer) represents the 28th GA House District. His district includes Stephens and Banks Counties and the southern end of Habersham.
The 153rd legislative session of the Georgia General Assembly began on Monday, January 12. Because it was the first day of the 2015-2016 term, all members of the Georgia House of Representatives were sworn into office. Elections were held for Speaker and Speaker Pro-Tempore. David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) and Jan Jones (R-Milton) were reelected to their respective positions. Governor Nathan Deal’s inauguration was moved into the House Chamber, due to cold, rainy weather. This ceremony completed the first day’s agenda.
On Wednesday, January 14, Governor Deal delivered the State of the State address to a joint session of the legislature. He began his address by highlighting the progress the state has made in recovering from The Great Recession. Governor Deal mapped out his agenda for this two year session of the General Assembly (2015-2016). The Governor called for the creation of an Education Reform Commission. This commission will be composed of legislators, educators, and other key stakeholders. The role of the commission is to study issues including increasing access to early learning programs and recruiting and retaining high quality teachers. It appears this commission also will be given the charge to develop proposals to modernize the state’s school funding formula from the 1980’s (QBE). Initially, modernization of the school funding formula was to be addressed this year in the legislature, but it appears that legislative action will be postponed until next year. Discussion on this issue is long overdue.
A controversial education issue that will be addressed this year is a proposed Constitutional Amendment to create “Opportunity School Districts.” If passed, this amendment will create a mechanism for the State to take over failing school systems. The debate on this issue certainly will create much media attention. A Constitutional Amendment requires a two- thirds vote of the Georgia House. The Governor also indicated support for continued increases in education funding.
The Governor’s address also indicated support for increased funding for the Department of Family and Children’s Services caseworkers and foster parents. After last session, an initiative to privatize foster care was tested is a few areas of Georgia. This privatization effort met with less than stellar results and in short, the existing system will stay in place with additional funding. I believe this is the correct move, especially for rural Georgia.
Governor Deal expressed a desire to help Georgia families who have become “medical refugees” (families who have been forced to move to states like Colorado to seek medical treatments not available in Georgia for their children.) Many Georgians followed the debate about medical cannabis oil in the last hours of the 2014 session. The debate continued after the session ended, and new proposals have been introduced for consideration in this year’s session. This is a complicated issue on which I will expand more in next week’s column.
The Governor declared the need for the legislature to address the state’s diminishing transportation funds. He said a combination of factors including increasing state population, increased fuel efficiency, and under investment in the past, have put our road system in a state of disrepair. This issue is another that is sure to be complicated and controversial over the next three months.
I welcome your thoughts and opinions as we move through the debate on some very controversial issues this session. I can be reached at [email protected] or by phone at 404-656-0325. Thank you for allowing me to serve as your representative.
