Crossover Day

(Editor’s Note: This was submitted on Friday, March 3, so it is looking back from then.)

The Georgia General Assembly made it through Crossover Day and is now nine days away from the end of the 2016 legislative session. On Monday, Crossover Day, we reached the point where the Senate can no longer vote on legislation that originated in our chamber.

Now, we will concentrate our efforts on vetting and voting on legislation passed in the House, while they focus on ours. This week Senators began this process by presenting our bills in House Committees, and representatives have been doing the same before Senate Committees.

On Wednesday, Senate Bill 309 passed out of the House Education Committee. I sponsored SB 309 to allow student athletes to express their personal religious beliefs as long as the expression does not affect the safety of other athletes or the conduct of the athletic event.

SB 309 also allows schools to organize sporting events with nonmember schools if both administrators agree in writing to participate in the event. Each school requesting to participate in the event must be in compliance with physical exams and management of concussions. SB 309 applies to high school student athletes only. I look forward to presenting SB 309 to the House Rules Committee and having it heard on the House floor soon for a vote.

There were several other pieces of legislation that was I proud to support this week:

•Senate Bill 310, the Transparency in Education Act, would require any department, agency, or state official applying for a grant over $20 million to provide a written analysis along with their application. The analysis would include several items such as long-term projections of unfunded costs, purpose of the grant and the grant’s relationship with any existing law.

•Senate Bill 355, the Student Protection Act, would allow students with a doctor’s note for illness or life-threatening sickness to be excused from standardized testing. These students would also have the right to request standardized tests be provided in paper and pencil format. Evaluations of students who do not take the traditional route for standardized testing would be developed by State School Superintendent.

•Senate Bill 369 would create new restrictions on locations where consumer fireworks may not be used and would revise permitted time periods in which consumer fireworks may be ignited. To ensure additional safety measures, SB 369 would allow the Governor to restrict fireworks during a time of drought and would restrict the use of fireworks by individuals under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Illegally selling fireworks would carry a fine of $2,500 if SB 369 goes into effect.

•Senate Bill 420 would require a referendum approval by the voters on any citizen funding for the establishment, maintenance and operation of fixed guideway transit. The type and location of the guideway transit, the date when costs shall be paid in full and the capital costs to establish and maintain the transit system must be stated by the governing authority of a county.

My colleagues and I will return to the Gold Dome on Monday, March 7 for day 32 of the legislative session. It remains a pleasure to serve you, the constituents of the 25th Senate District. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact my office at 404.656.0082 or via email at burt.jones@senate.ga.gov.