The Capitol Express


Days continue to be busy as the Legislative Session continued the week of March 25th, completing Day 39 on March 29th.

I am always honored to represent Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Roswell and Greater North Fulton , especially on March 28th when I was
 able speak with the North Fulton Council of PTAs and five high school students from North Fulton County.  

Please continue to use the Daily Legislative Reports link in the right panel of this email to see the daily work and reach out to me with your thoughts or if I can be of assistance.

Some other bills of interest that passed the House the Week of 3/25//2019:

  • SB 48 addresses the development of new strategies to identify dyslexia in Georgia students. Under SB 48, the State Board of Education (BOE) would implement policies for referring students in kindergarten through third grade for further screenings if a teacher identifies dyslexia or similar learning disorders in students. Not only would this bill help with the early detection and intervention of dyslexia, but it would also encourage the BOE to implement certification programs to provide guidance and better equip our educators and administrators to teach dyslexic students. Additionally, SB 48 would create a three-year pilot program to help the BOE demonstrate and evaluate the effectiveness of early reading assistance programs for students who have risk factors for dyslexia. After three years, recommendations would be made to the House Education Committee and the Senate Committee on Education and Youth regarding legislative initiatives to further address dyslexia in the classroom. These two measures would work side-by-side to ensure that all of Georgia's children have access to exceptional learning opportunities in our state. 
  • SB 60 which would require the Department of Education to create and publish guidelines to inform students, parents, guardians and coaches about the dangers and warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest. Under SB 60, Georgia schools would hold informational meetings twice a year about the symptoms and warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest. These meetings would educate students, parents or guardians, coaches and other school officials about sudden cardiac arrest, and these extremely beneficial meetings may include guest speakers, such as physicians, pediatric cardiologists and athletic trainers. This bill also seeks to protect students by developing a new response plan for when students show signs of cardiac distress. If a student faints or loses consciousness during or after an athletic activity, or if other warning signs for cardiac arrest appear, the student must immediately be removed from the activity and watched closely by an athletic director, coach or trainer. In the absence of an athletic trainer, coaches who observe any symptoms must notify the student's parent or guardian so the parent or guardian can determine what treatment, if any, is necessary. Students who exhibit these symptoms would not be allowed to continue their extracurricular athletic activity until a health care provider gives written release, and school coaches would be required to review the guidelines and policies regarding student athlete's cardiac health each school year. The passage of this bill builds upon the House's recent legislative efforts to protect Georgia's student athletes from sports-related injuries and deaths. 
  • SB 158  would strengthen Georgia's current anti-human trafficking laws and provide greater resources and care for victims of human trafficking. SB 158, or the "Anti-Human Trafficking Protective Response Act," would authorize the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) to provide emergency care and supervision for a child victim of human trafficking without a court order or the consent of a parent or legal guardian. This bill would also direct DFCS and law enforcement to immediately take the child to an available victim services organization, which is certified by the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, to provide comprehensive trauma-informed services, and this bill would protect these victims from being prosecuted for prostitution if they are under 18 years old. SB 158 would also allow local authorities and citizens to seek civil penalties against businesses or property owners that have received three or more separate sexually-related charges or indictments that occur on the premises within a 12-month period. Finally, the bill would allow property owners or operators to assist law enforcement in investigations of criminal sexual-related conduct. It is imperative that we reform the way Georgia treats victims of human trafficking through treatment and rehabilitation opportunities and by protecting them from encountering unjust prosecution.  
  • HR 585 creates the House Study Committee on Gang and Youth Violence Prevention to analyze the best course of action to prevent gang and youth violence and determine legislative recommendations to combat this serious issue. The committee would consist of six House members appointed by the speaker of the House and six non-legislative members, who would bring much needed expertise as the House comprises these legislative solutions. The non-legislative members would include the commissioner of the Department of Juvenile Justice, the commissioner of the Department of Human Services, the State School Superintendent and three representatives of social service organizations that provide programs for at-risk youth. The legislative solutions from this House study committee will be vital to facing this growing problem and will allow the House to provide the most adequate and helpful resources to fight gang and youth violence. 
  • HR 589 creates the House Study Committee on Maternal Mortality to help institute systemic changes to decrease and prevent maternal deaths in our state. Currently, women in the U.S. are more likely to die of childbirth or pregnancy-related causes than women in other high-income countries, and Georgia is among the top ten states with the highest maternal mortality rate, with 60 percent of these maternal deaths being preventable. The high rate of maternal deaths in our state is a serious public health concern and has a tremendous family and societal impact that affects wide and diverse populations. For this reason, the study committee will develop ideas and strategies to be implemented systemically that would decrease and prevent maternal deaths in Georgia. HR 589 will allow this House to continue our legislative commitments to improving health care for Georgians after the legislative session adjourns, and I look forward to the legislative initiatives that will be developed from this study committee to protect the lives of expecting mothers in Georgia.
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My hope is that The Capitol Express will be an asset for you as citizens of the 49th District. Please spread the word, forward the email, and let me know the items you'd like to see highlighted.

Please encourage your friends and neighbors to go to www.martinforgeorgia.com to learn more and to join our list for legislative updates by clicking the link "Join Our Mailing List" in the frame on the right of this email.

We will convene for Legislative Day 40 on Tuesday, April 2, 2019, the last day of the 2019 Legislative Session afterwhich we will adjourn Sine Die.

If I can be of service please contact me via the information below.

Yours in Service for Georgia,

First name

Representative Chuck Martin
District 49
E-mail: chuck@martinforgeorgia.com
On the web:  www.martinforgeorgia.com
Phone: (404) 656-5064
Address: 417 Capitol Building, Atlanta, GA 30334

HB 31 - State FY 2020 Budget Final Passage of the Conference Committee Report
 On Thursday, March 28, the House fulfilled our only constitutional obligation by giving final passage to the Fiscal Year 2020 (FY 2020) budget, or House Bill 31. We completed our legislative responsibility with the adoption of a conference committee report, which set the final FY 2020 budget at an estimated $27.5 billion. Among several important appropriations, more than 50 percent of the FY 2020 funds are allocated for education, 22 percent for health and human services and 8 percent for transportation and economic development. The FY 2020 budget includes several House priorities, but one of our proudest highlights includes funding for the largest salary increase in our state's history for teachers and certified personnel, which raises their base pay by $3,000 starting in July of this year. Other highlights place a particular emphasis on women and children's issues, such as program funding to address the high percentage of maternal mortality in Georgia and additional funding for our most vulnerable Georgians, including the elderly and foster children. This comprehensive budget would provide for the wide-ranging needs of our state and its citizens, while epitomizing our legislative and fiscal priorities for Fiscal Year 2020. I am proud of the House and Senate's collaborative efforts that allowed the Georgia General Assembly to fulfill its constitutional responsibility to give final approval to the FY 2020 budget.



Thank you to our team in Higher Education

It is my honor to serve the 49th District and serve as Chair of the House Higher Education Committee.  I want to thank our team,
Team Higher Education, for helping me this year.  

Joining me with Governor Brian Kemp, House Interns, Miriam and Chris, and Administrative Assistant Darcy Callaway.

Thank you for your work for Georgians!
 
Great to Welcome North Fulton Council of PTAs

Meeting with Governor Brian Kemp -- a great chance for the students and NFCPTA leaders get to know our Governor.  Look forward to continuing to work together.




Enjoyed meeting with North Fulton Council of PTAs and including students our great high schools in North Fulton.

In addition to meeting with Governor Kemp I was able to spend time time in the morning discussing issues and answering questions.  I am always amazed at the attention to detail from the students -- these guys are awesome and great representatives of our community.
Recognizing Two Georgia Champions of Higher Education

Dr. Tom Lewis retired from Georgia State University and he will be missed.  Dr. Lewis has been a fixture at GSU and I enjoyed working with him, as mayor of Alpharetta, to bring a GSU campus to Alpharetta along Old Milton Parkway.

Thank you Dr. Lewis!


J. Griffin Doyle retired from the University of Georgia after decades long service and I was honored to sponsor a resolution thanking him for his service.

As Georgians we benefit from a wonderful system in higher education due on large part to the work and dedication of individuals like these leading great teams -- Georgia thanks you, Giff!
In This Issue...
HB 31 Conference Report
Team Higher Ed
Wecome North Futlon Council of PTAs
Recognizing Two Georgia Champions
Helpful Links
Join Our Mailing List
 
 

 OTHER HELPFUL LINKS

 

 

 

Daily Legislative Reports

 

Georgia Secretary of State Website 

 

City of Alpharetta Website

City of Roswell Website

City of Johns Creek Website 

 

Fulton County Website 

Fulton County GOP Website 

 

Georgia Republican Party Website

 

COMMITTEE ASSIGNEMENTS

 

Chairman - Higher Education

 

Appropriations

 

Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight

 

Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications

 

Regulated Industries

 

Retirement

 

Rules

 

Science & Technology

 

Ways & Means

 

Working Group on  Creative Arts and Entertainment