LEGISLATURE BRIEFS: Vote on Sunday sales delayed

A key Senate committee Wednesday delayed a vote on allowing Sunday alcohol sales at stores because not enough lawmakers showed up to vote.

The Senate Regulated Industries Committee was set to vote on Senate Bill 16 by Sen. Seth Harp (R-Midland), which would let local voters decide if they want Sunday beer, wine and liquor sales at stores.

The legislation has been stalled in the Senate the past three sessions and some lawmakers have expressed reservations about going on the record on the controversial issue.

The Christian Coalition of Georgia, which opposes the bill, has said it would include the issue in its political scorecard that goes out to voters.

Supporters of the bill had hoped to get it approved Wednesday to set up a Senate floor vote. But only two senators showed up for the committee meeting, not enough to provide a quorum.

Senate Regulated Industries Chairman David Shafer (R-Duluth) said the issue will be considered again Wednesday.

—- James Salzer

House passes education bill

Some high school juniors and seniors soon could find themselves finishing their diplomas in a college setting.

The state House on Wednesday approved House Bill 149, which would let public high school students take college classes and have those credits count toward their diplomas.

Sponsored by Rep. Jan Jones (R-Alpharetta), the bill would use state funds to help pay for the college tuition. The Department of Education would pay colleges the actual cost of tuition, materials and fees or the amount the state typically provided the student’s high school, whichever is less. Local school systems would get to keep a $200 records fee for each student who participates.

The bill now goes to the Senate.

—- Aaron Gould Sheinin

Childhood obesity bill passes House

The Department of Education must create a system for measuring students’ physical condition under a bill approved Wednesday in the state House.

House Bill 229, sponsored by House Education Committee Chairman Brooks Coleman (R-Duluth), is a second attempt at tackling childhood obesity. A similar measure failed last year —- at Coleman’s urging —- because it included a requirement that students’ body mass be measured. That proved too controversial as parents and educators worried about the effect on students.

But HB 229, which passed 116-42, still could make those measurements required, something opponents noted in limited debate on the House floor. The Education Department would be tasked with creating the physical assessment, and could choose to include body mass index testing.

The bill now goes to the Senate.

—- Aaron Gould Sheinin

Senate OKs school board legislation

Failing school boards could be removed by the governor before their system loses accreditation, according to a bill passed by the Senate on Wednesday.

Senate Bill 84, which passed 35-14, also sets standards for school boards to avoid nepotism and conflicts of interest and establishes qualifications and training for school board members.

“We want somebody to step in for the interest of these children who don’t have a voice,” said bill sponsor Sen. Bill Heath (R-Bremen).

The bill comes after the Clayton County Schools lost accreditation. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the accrediting agency, said the Clayton board was dysfunctional.

Sen. Vincent Fort (D-Atlanta) opposed the bill, saying it takes away local control and gives the governor too much authority.

Sen. Steve Thompson (D-Marietta) said the governor should have to pick from a list provided by local people and that the Legislature has given the governor increasing power.

“I’m afraid before it’s over we’ll let him pick the lottery numbers, and maybe he’ll win,” Thompson said.

—- Mary Lou Pickel

Forsyth schools bill goes to governor

Forsyth County commissioners and school board members would be elected by district, rather than countywide, under bills given final legislative approval Wednesday. As late as Tuesday, County Commissioner Jim Harrell tried to convince his commission colleagues to pass a resolution urging the county’s legislative delegation to put the County Commission bill on hold and schedule a series of town hall meetings on the proposed change.

The majority of the board balked, with County Commissioner Patrick Bell arguing that the resolution would send yet another message that the commission is not willing to work with other governmental entities.

State Rep. Mark Hamilton (R-Cumming) said a majority of voters expressed a desire to have district voting in a straw poll last July.

The bills, which passed the state Senate on Wednesday, now go to the desk of the governor, Hamilton said.

—- Nancy Badertscher