February 22, 2008 Volume 2008, Issue 5 
 
2008 LEGISLATIVE UPDATE Technical College System of Georgia 
 
The Week Ahead: 
 Lawmakers will reconvene on Tuesday, February 26, for day 23 of the legislative session. 
 The Senate Higher Education Committee will meet on Tuesday, February 26, at 3:00 p.m. (Senate Mezzanine Room) 
 The Senate Higher Education Committee of Appropriations will meet on Wednesday, February 27, at 3:30 p.m. (Room 341, Capitol) 
 The House Higher Education Subcommittee of Appropriations will meet on Wednesday, February 27, at 2:00 p.m. (Room 415, CLOB Building) 
 
Status of Legislative Priorities for the Technical College System of Georgia 
1. Name Change Legislation: The agency's name change legislation passed unanimously out of the Senate. Companion Senate Bills 434 and 435 will now move to the House Higher Education Committee for consideration. 
2. Carryforward Legislation: The carryforward legislation, sponsored by Representative Bob Smith, passed unanimously out of the House Higher Education Committee and now awaits scheduling by the Rules Committee for consideration by the full House of Representatives. 
3. Removal of HOPE Cap for High School Students: House Bill 243, sponsored in the 2007 legislative session by Representative Bill Hembree, passed unanimously out of the House in 2007 and subsequently passed out of the Senate. However, the Senate version of the bill included language for the Career Academies. No action has been taken on this bill during the 2008 session. However, the Senate offered an amended version of the original career academy legislation from the 2007 session (SB 68) that included the removal of the HOPE cap for dually-enrolled students. The bill was assigned to a House subcommittee for further review. Both bills will remain a viable option for the passage of the HOPE cap legislation. 
4. Fiscal Year 2008 Amended Budget: The Senate passed its version of the supplemental budget, which includes no changes for the Technical College System of Georgia. Budget negotiators from the House and Senate will begin to iron out the differences in House Bill 989 (for details log on to www.senate.ga.gov then select budget reports for HB 989  Higher Education). 
 
 2008 Legislative Update 
 
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Other Information: 
For more information on House and Senate members along with contact information, log on to www.legis.state.ga.us and click on "Find your Legislator". 
For a complete list of Legislators representing each technical college, log on to www.ciclt.net/dtae. 
To access live committee meeting broadcasts in the House and live broadcasts from the House and Senate floor, log on to www.legis.state.ga.us, then select Georgia Legislative Network and chose from the menu of broadcasts. 
 
Other Legislation of Interest to the Technical College System 
1. House Bill 1156 and House Resolution 1245 - Creation of the Higher Education System of Georgia: 
Purpose: Legislation that would abolish the boards that control the TCSG and the Board of Regents and replace them with a new Georgia Board of Higher Education. The bill would also consolidate the TCSG and the University System of Georgia to form the Higher Education System of Georgia. State lawmakers from each of the 13 congressional districts would elect one member per district to the newly-created board. The Governor would appoint five, all of whom would be ratified by the Senate. 
Status: Remains under review by the House Higher Education Committee. 
2. House Bill 1091  Revise Requirements for Residency Status: 
Purpose: Strengthen the residency policy for the University System and the Technical College System. 
Status: Passed unanimously out of the House Higher Education Committee and now awaits scheduling by the Rules committee for consideration on the House floor. 
3. House Bill 891  Transfer Positions from Georgia Aviation Technical College to Middle Georgia College: 
Purpose: Housekeeping measure for the transfer of Georgia Aviation to the University System of Georgia. 
Status: Assigned to a subcommittee of the Higher Education Committee for further review. 
 
Contact information for the Division of External Affairs: 
Laura Gammage lgammage@dtae.org (404) 374-6557