Legislative update: a briefing for faculty and staff of the University System of Georgia, No. 4 (Feb. 2, 2004)

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
A Briefing for Faculty & Staff of the University System of Georgia No. 4. February 2, 2004
"Creating A More Educated Georgia"

Session Resumes Following Week of Budget Hearings

Monday, January 26 In addition to the marked the begin- Chancellor's various

ning of the second full presentations, the

week of sessions for

week also saw the in-

the General Assembly, troduction of a number

following a week of budget hearings from all state agencies.

of pieces of legislation. Below are bills with impact on the University

This past week saw

System.

Chancellor Thomas

Meredith appearing

HB 1266 will



before the House and

return the State

Senate Subcommittees

Medical Educa-

on Appropriations, as

tion Board and the

well as the House and

Physicians Work-

Senate Higher Educa-

force Board as

tion Committees.

administratitively

attached to the

These presentations

Board of Regents.

continued to focus on

the Governor's recom- HB 1210 requires

mendations for the

an agency to ad-

University System's

vise leadership of

FY'04 Amended and

the executive and

FY'05 Budgets.

legislative branch-

es of intent to

Chancellor Meredith

enter into a con-

will be asked to return

tract to privatize

to the Senate Subcom-

services 60 days

mittee on Appropria-

prior to signing

tions to conclude his

the contract.

presentation on the Governor's FY'05 Budget recommendations.



HR 1037 a resolution urging the Board of Regents



to return fees to levels set prior to the beginning of the HOPE Scholarship program.
SR 625 Honoring the New Georgia Encyclopedia was read and adopted.
SB 431 simplifies supplying reports required by the General Assembly to a process of notifying members that the reports are available should the members wish a copy.
HB 712 and HB 1020 require materials used in postsecondary schools to be available in electronic format. Meetings will be held in February to study the issue.
HB 478 requires instructors to disclose to students

if they received anything of value related to class materials required of students.
SB 52 requires the public libraries to use Internet filters.
HB 1116 would prohibit any student guilty of a misdemeanor or felony from receiving HOPE. The bill has been placed in a study committee.
And, various bills are being considered to re-write the code of ethics, which affects University System employees. More as this develops.