Special to The Beacon
ATLANTA — Governor Brian P. Kemp signed multiple bills into law Monday ensuring fairness in school sports, further safeguard students and teachers, and improve the quality of education in Georgia.
The multiple bills signed into law April 28 ensure fairness in school sports, further safeguard students and teachers, and improve the quality of education in Georgia. “As the parents of three daughters, (First Lady) Marty and I know just how important it is to keep our children safe and to give them the best possible start in life,” said Gov. Kemp. “That’s why I’m proud to sign these bills that will further safeguard our classrooms, both from those with violent intentions and from out-of-touch political agendas.
“Girls should not have to share a playing field, a restroom, or a locker room with boys and vice versa, and the commonsense legislation I signed today is about what is fair and safe for our children and the well-being of our students over politics.” Speaker Jon Burns thanked Gov. Kemp for giving the two priorities received final passage.
“A secure and safe school environment fosters improved student academic performance, along with their overall well-being,” said Burns. “Additionally, Senate Bill 1 becoming law ensures the protection of women’s sports and I am proud that the Senate led the way for this bill to become law.”
Speaker of the House Jon Burns said the General Assembly affirmed the longstanding and ongoing commitment to the safety, success and wellbeing of Georgia’s children.
“Our children are our future, and their future begins in our education system,” said Burns. “That’s why securing our classrooms, strengthening school safety, and increasing access to mental healthcare for our students was a top priority for the House this session.
“The House also took a stand to restore common sense and fairness for female athletes by championing the Riley Gaines Act. Female athletes here in Georgia will never be forced to face a biological male on the court, on the field, or in the locker room.”
Governor Kemp signed seven pieces of legislation.
• SB 1 prohibits both males and females from competing on teams designated for the opposite gender and requires multiple occupancy restrooms, changing areas, and sleeping quarters be designated for use exclusively by one gender.
• HB 81 establishes an interstate compact for school psychologists, helping ease the burden on these essential employees in our schools.
• HB 307 builds on the work of the Georgia Early Literacy Act by consolidating existing statutory requirements on dyslexia screening so that we can reach students earlier and get them the assistance they need.
• HB 235 entitles public school employees and postsecondary education employees to receive a leave of absence for donation of bone marrow or organs.
• SB 82 incentivizes local boards of education to approve charter school petitions while preventing school systems from unfairly attempting to shutter these school options.
• SB 123 requires school systems with chronic absenteeism rates of 10 percent or more to establish an attendance review team to determine the underlying causes of that issue.
• HB 268 requires schools to have up-to-date mapping and mobile panic alert systems, requires student records be transferred within five school business days so potential dangers can be addressed quickly, provides for a Student Advocacy Specialist grant program to reimburse districts for hiring said position, requires local boards to offer an anonymous reporting program, and creates the offenses of “terroristic threat of a school” and “terroristic act upon a school.”
These measures are in addition to the multiple rounds of school safety grants provided for in prior years, annualized funding for school safety grants, and legislation requiring schools conduct safety audits.
