G-CAPP Policy and Advocacy News

2008 Georgia General Assembly Update
The state legislature reconvened today for the 6th day of the 2008 session, after taking a break for budget hearings last week.

Education
Governor Perdue released his 2008 budget proposals, which include $14.25 million for a new VIP (Very Important Parent) Recruiters program, to engage parents in their children’s education in schools with high truancy rates. The Governor is also proposing $6.4 million for 1,000 additional Pre-K slots.

HB 939 (Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver, 83rd), introduced this year, would use lottery funds to extend Georgia’s Pre-K program to 3 year-olds. The program currently serves children beginning at age 4. Studies show that investing in early childhood education is a cost-effective way to achieve long term benefits such as reduced teen pregnancy rates. The bill has been referred to the House Education Committee.

Children and Youth Agencies Restructured
Governor Perdue has announced that he is combining the Children’s Trust Fund Commission, which funds community-based child abuse prevention programs, with the Children and Youth Coordinating Council, which disburses grants to local abstinence education and delinquency prevention projects, to create the Governor’s Office for Children and Families. The Office, which is intended to provide a more unified approach to serving at-risk children, will also be the new home of the First Lady’s Children’s Cabinet. Legislation will be introduced this session to make the change permanent.

A Future, Not A Past
A coalition of organizations, A Future, Not a Past, is working to raise awareness about child prostitution in Georgia. During this legislative session, the coalition is advocating for an appropriations request of $560,000 to establish a metro-area regional assessment center, to be used instead of detention facilities, where trained professionals can keep prostituted children safe, assess their needs, and refer them to proper long-term services. For more information, visit the G-CAPP web site. The coalition is hosting a Capitol Lobby Day on January 30th from 8:30 to noon. Visit http://www.afuturenotapast.org/ for details.

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
The Georgia Presidential Primary election is February 5th. For more information visit the Secretary of State’s web site, and see the League of Women Voters of Georgia's web site for a voter's guide.