2007 LEGISLATIVE UPDATE 
Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education 
 
The Week Ahead: 
 House Higher Education  Tuesday, February 20 (agenda includes HB 243, removal of the HOPE cap for dually enrolled students) 
 
Week of February 12, 2007 
The legislature passed the mid-point of the 2007 session on Thursday, February 15. Lawmakers will meet Tuesday through Thursday of this week to complete day 24. Highlights for the past week include: 
 House and Senate leaders are slowing down fiscal year 2007 amended budget negotiations in light of the potential funding crisis over the PeachCare program, the state's health insurance program for children of low-income parents. The current PeachCare budget is in danger of running out of money next month without the infusion of an additional $131 million from either the federal or state government. 
 Several House members testified before the House Higher Education Committee on Tuesday to request favorable consideration on the following legislation: 
 
Useful Links: 
For more information on House and Senate members or to track legislation, logon to www.legis.state.ga.us 
To access live committee meeting broadcasts in the House, logon to www.legis.state.ga.us, click on House, then select Georgia Legislative Network from the Daily Update which will provide a menu of broadcasts 
 
 Representative Alan Powell spoke on House Bill 63, legislation which creates a loan program awarded at a 1% interest rate for students who have at least a 2.5 GPA and have exhausted all other means of financial aid. The loan program would be funded by private donations and administered by the Georgia Student Finance Commission. 
 Representative Billy Horne testified on House Bill 131 which adds surviving spouses to the eligibility list for the HERO (Helping Educate Reservists and their Offspring) Scholarship. 
 Representative John Lunsford presented House Bill 152, a bill that extends the HOPE scholarship to students who complete a home study course and score in the ninetieth percentile or higher on a standardized college admissions test. 
 According to testimony from Representative DuBose Porter, House Bill 228 would remove all hourly caps for the HOPE scholarship and grant program. 
 Representative Porter also testified on House Bill 216, regarding the methodology used for calculating HOPE eligibility. Effective May 1, 2007, the Georgia Student Finance Commission will determine HOPE eligibility based on a Grade Point Average (GPA) system rather than a numerical system. HB 216 delays implementation of the GPA system until statewide standards have been established for honors courses. 
 Representative Carolyn Hugley testified on House Bill 246, creation of the HOPE Literacy Scholar Program, which would allow students who participate in the program and fail to meet grade requirements one additional quarter or semester on the HOPE scholarship. 
 
 Senate Bill 68, legislation that would allow for career academies to be established as charter schools, passed out of the Senate and awaits a hearing in the House Higher Education Committee. 
 
For questions regarding information contained in this bulletin, contact Laura Gammage  lgammage@dtae.org  (404) 374-6557