My AJC colleagues Jaime Sarrio and Misty Williams report the following:
Senator Renee Unterman, R-Buford, on Wednesday said she intended to tie the fates of the two disparate measures together. Her remarks came during a meeting of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, which she chairs.
SB 350 passed the Senate last month with a 31-18 vote, and would require the Division of Family and Children Services to bid out primary functions such as case management, family preservation and independent living. It was supported by the Senate's top leadership, including Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, but met resistance in the House this week. The House Judiciary Committee passed a scaled-down version, calling instead for a two-year pilot program.
Unterman decried the "pared down" version and disputed critics who have said the state was moving too fast. "We had a hearing yesterday in the House and the bill was stripped of most of its good parts," she said.
So Unterman intends to merge her foster care bill with HB 990, which is backed by the House's top leadership. House Speaker Pro-Tem Jan Jones, R-Milton, House Speaker David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge, and the governor's floor leader, Rep. Chad Nimmer, R-Blackshear are all co-sponsors. Unterman's committee is set to discuss the merger Thursday morning.
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