G-CAPP Policy and Advocacy News

2008 Georgia General Assembly Update
Governor Perdue has announced he is creating a commission to consider restructuring the Department of Human Resources, which contains the Division of Public Health, the Division of Family and Children Services and other key state agencies. This summer the panel is to issue recommendations for improving services and cost-effectiveness. The following are updates regarding other bills and issues impacting youth and public health that are currently being considered by the Georgia General Assembly. Visit the G-CAPP web site for more information about the issues we are tracking during the 2008 session.

HB 901 (Rep. Roger Bruce, 64th), the "Parent Protection Act", would allow working parents to take a more active role in their children’s education and health care by providing up to 24 hours of unpaid, job-protected leave per year to attend school conferences or to take a child to medical appointments, such as checkups or immunizations. Research demonstrates that young people with parents who are actively engaged in their education are more likely to avoid risky behaviors that can lead to teen pregnancy. The bill has been assigned to a subcommittee of the House Industrial Relations Committee, to be chaired by Rep. Tom Knox, 24th.

SB 88 (Sen. Renee Unterman, 45th), the "Care of a Grandchild Act", would provide the increasing number of grandparents who are caring for their grandchildren the power to enroll the children in school, and to authorize medical, dental and mental health care. The bill would also create a grandchild caregiver subsidy for a certain number of grandparents living at less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level. The bill passed in the Senate in 2007 and was favorably-reported by the House Judiciary Committee this month.

Contact Your Legislators
Contact your legislators to voice your opinion about these and other issues before the Georgia General Assembly. Also, visit the General Assembly web site to find contact information for bill sponsors and committee members, or to track legislation.

Register Now for the 2008 G-CAPP Legislative Reception
Join G-CAPP at our 2008 Legislative Reception, taking place on February 27th from 5:00–7:00PM at the Georgia Freight Depot. This annual event is an important opportunity to share our policy priorities with state leaders and to make youth voices heard during the state legislative session. Click here to register.

G-CAPP Fast Fact
Lawmakers on GPB Television provides in-depth updates on the state legislature at 7PM each night that the General Assembly convenes.