The 2014 Legislative Session has flown by at a rapid pace. In the opening days of March, the Georgia General Assembly reached Day 30, otherwise known as “Crossover Day.” Procedurally, if a bill hasn’t passed through either the House or the Senate by Day 30, it must be re-introduced the following legislative year.On Crossover Day, the General Assembly was in session until close to 6:30 p.m. as we worked to consider 27 pieces of legislation that were placed on the Senate calendar.
In the weeks leading up to Sine Die, the Senate spent a considerable amount of time thoroughly vetting and passing a variety of House bills — and vice versa. After bills began making their way over to the House for further review, the legislature narrowed its focus on passing a fiscally responsible budget for FY 2015. On Day 33, the Senate approved $20.8 billion in funding for the FY 2015 General Budget.
One of the bills to win Senate approval and make its way to the House on Crossover Day was Senate Bill 358. I sponsored this legislation to expand who can file a missing child report with the Missing Children Information Center (MCIC) to include individuals and institutions charged with the care of foster children. When a foster child is missing, it is extremely important to take action immediately. Senate Bill 358 will ensure that information concerning a missing foster child’s whereabouts will be delivered to the appropriate authorities and allow for a more streamlined, efficient process for reporting runaways or abductions.
Another one of my bills, Senate Bill 386, was passed by the Senate and sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. This bill will help safeguard citizens from having their full Social Security numbers released in court filings. In a day and age where personal identity theft is at an all-time high, this bill will provide an extra measure of security.
Lastly, the Senate passed SB 397, which was a huge win for children with Autism in Georgia. As a longtime advocate for autism coverage and the primary sponsor of Ava’s Law, I am pleased to see the Georgia Senate take a stand for children with special needs, especially those with Autism. Senate Bill 397, which is similar to Ava’s Law, will provide a new mandate for children up to 6 years old to receive Autism coverage. Currently, 35 states provide some form of Autism coverage. If passed into law, this legislation would simply align Georgia with these states and ensure our young people have the funding necessary to seek appropriate treatment. Under this legislation, children suffering with Autism disorder would be eligible for up to $35,000 in coverage.
As always, I am available to answer any of your questions. I urge you to contact me by phone or email with any questions, concerns or feedback. For more information regarding a specific piece of legislation, you may access the Georgia General Assembly website at Legis.Ga.gov.