Home school measure would ease HOPE standard
Home school students could see lower test score requirements for receiving HOPE funding under a bill proposed by a state representative from Gwinnett County.
Rep. Joyce Chandler’s bill, House Bill 810, would drop the standardized college admissions tests score requirement for these students from scoring in the 85th percentile to the 80th percentile. That would mean an SAT score of 1780 instead of 1850 (out of a possible 2400), Chandler said. The ACT score requirement would drop from a 26 to a 25 (out of a possible 36).
The revision would make HOPE requirements for home school students more equitable with those for public school students, who have to graduate with a B average, said Chandler, a Republican from Grayson.
The bill will be taken up by the House Appropriations Committee.
— Janel Davis
Bill aims to block access to mug shots
A bill pending in the state House would bar public access to police mug shots unless the person photographed is later convicted.
Under House Bill 845, sponsored by Rep. Brian Strickland, R-McDonough, booking photographs would not be subject to Georgia’s open records laws unless the person arrested pleads guilty, pleads nolo contendere or is convicted.
The bill mirrors recommendations from a bipartisan group of senators calling for the same thing. The Senate Expungement Reform Study Committee on Jan. 16 released a list of recommendations, including that the state should exempt mug shots from the Open Records Act.
— Aaron Gould Sheinin
South Fulton cityhood bill coming
Bipartisan legislation to create a new city of South Fulton will be introduced Monday in the state House.
House Bill 704 is sponsored by Rep. Roger Bruce, D-Atlanta, with Rep. Ed Lindsey, R-Atlanta, a co-sponsor. Lindsey is a former member of the Republicans’ House leadership who is now running for Congress.
A recent poll, however, indicates the effort faces obstacles. The poll conducted by 20/20 Insight for Sen. Vincent Fort, D-Atlanta, shows only 22 percent of respondents from the southern section of Fulton County support incorporating the new city, 56 percent oppose cityhood and 22 percent are not sure. The poll carries a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percentage points.
The bill is one of several expected attempts to create new municipalities in DeKalb and Fulton counties.
— Aaron Gould Sheinin
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