It was another busy day under the Dome as the Georgia General Assembly passed a number of different bills. The notable ones concern motor vehicles, higher education, and family services.
The House Motor Vehicle committee met to discuss three bills but only passed two. The first on the agenda, Senate Bill (SB) 160, had previously made it to the Rules Committee.
SB 160 proposes the replacement of the forfeiture penalty when it comes to a motor vehicle involved in a second offense of reckless stunt driving. The replacement penalty would be the installation of a speed monitoring device. After much deliberation, the committee voted to a draw and the bill was sent back to the drawing board.
They concluded by passing House Resolution 558. This would create a House Study Committee on the State Board of Registration of used motor vehicle dealers and used motor vehicle parts dealers.
The House Higher Education Committee met to discuss a few important bills. They began with SB 85, which would establish a grant program for former foster youth who meet eligibility requirements. The bill would create new grants for people who passed through the foster system.
The grants would go towards scholarships and other educational opportunities. SB 85 passed to the Rules Committee.
SB 195 was next and it was quickly passed to the Rules Committee. The bill authorizes the Board of the Technical College System to establish a workforce high school diploma program.
The committee concluded with SB 149. This bill expanded the classification of schools eligible for tuition equalization grants. It quickly passed to the Rules Committee.
Finally, the Senate Children and Families Committee began with Senate Resolution 310. This creates a study committee on additional services and resources for transition age youth in foster care. It quickly passed to the Rules Committee.
The committee concluded with House Bill (HB) 340, also known as the Distraction-Free Education Act. HB 340 is a statewide policy that would ban the use of cell phones within schools between kindergarten and the 8th grade. After some deliberation, it passed to the Rules Committee.
