The Fair and Safe Athletic Opportunities Act was not the only bill signed by Governor Kemp. He went on to sign a flurry of different bills relating to education in the state. The bills were varied and concerned topics related to student achievement, safety, and health.
First, House bill (HB) 307 addresses students exhibiting characteristics of dyslexia. The bill amends Georgia Code by adding provisions for students significantly at risk of not achieving grade level reading proficiency.
The bill is known as the Quality Basic Education Act. HB 307 provides screening for dyslexia and related disorders. It also provides a training and professional development program evaluating early intervention.
Second, HB 268 addresses school safety. The bill creates an Office of Safe Schools within the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency.
The new office would provide technical assistance for local school systems. They would assist in developing policies and procedures for their threat management teams.
The office will develop a state-wide behavioral threat management operational process. The threats to be addressed are related to terrorism and threats of injury.
Third, HB 235 addresses school employees and leaves of absence. The bill requires employers of school employees to provide leaves of absence for the donation of bone marrow and organs.
HB 235 also provides for standards and conditions for granting such leaves of absence. The bill concludes by providing penalties for employers who do not comply.
Finally, two remaining bills were signed entering the state into new programs. The first one is HB 81 which entered Georgia into the Interstate Compact for School Psychologists.
The second is HB 217. This bill makes the Dual Achievement Program a permanent state-wide program.
These bills were largely overshadowed by the new Riley Gaines act. Though they do not concern controversial issues like transgender athletes, they still impact education in the state.
