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Friday, February 9, 2024 - Day 18
Prior Legislative Updates for this Year

Bill to replace school counselors
with school chaplains was not taken up today


Although scheduled for a hearing, a bill that would allow voluntary "school chaplains" to replace school counselors was not heard this morning.

SB 379 states: "Such school chaplains may be employed or accepted as volunteers ... in lieu of employing school counselors to perform the duties required of a school counselor."  Under the bill, "school chaplains" need no formal training or education, no background checks, and need not be a certified professional.

Schedule for next week at the Capitol


The General Assembly will meet Monday through Friday of next week.  Friday will be the 23rd day of the 40-day session.

The House Education Policy Subcommittee on Policy will meet Monday to hear HB 597, regarding the Special Needs Voucher program.  The subcommittee will also hear HB 1104, a bill that provides for voluntary mental health screenings in grades 6-12 for student athletes "when a school or school district has a policy which requires students who participate in extracurricular sports to have a physical examination."

The House Education Curriculum Subcommittee has scheduled a hearing on HB 127 that would "require the State Board of Education to establish rules and regulations for local school system outreach efforts regarding the English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) program."

The Senate Education Committee will gather on Tuesday.  No agenda has been posted.

Special elections to fill two vacated seats in the General Assembly will occur on Tuesday, February 13.  House District 125 (Columbia and McDuffie counties) and Senate District 30 (Carroll, Douglas, Haralson, and Paulding counties) are open due to resignations.  A third special election will occur April 9, after this session concludes, to fill the House District 139.  The seat was formerly occupied by Rep. Richard Smith, chairman of the House Rules Committee, who passed away on January 30.

Confirmed speakers for GAE
2024 Day at the Capitol
State School Superintendent Richard Woods
House Education and House Retirement Committee, David Wilkerson, D-Cobb County
Rep. Chris Erwin, chair, House Education Committee, R-Homer
Rep. Ken Vance, former educator and GAE member, R-Milledgeville
Sen. Nabilah Islam Parkes, D-Duluth, sponsor of GAE's waiver bill, SB 268
Sen. Derek Mallow, D-Savannah

Join your colleagues and fellow GAE members at our 2024 Day at the Capitol


Join your colleagues and friends at the 2024 GAE Day at the Capitol on Thursday, February 22.  Hear and meet from legislators who are influential in the adoption of education legislation and policy.  Click on the photo below to register.
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