09
SENATE
SUBSTITUTE TO HB 193
AS
PASSED SENATE
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to elementary and secondary education, so as to provide for a 180 day school
year or the equivalent thereof; to revise a provision relating to a full-day
kindergarten program; to revise certain provisions relating to the base pay of
school food and nutrition personnel; to revise a provision relating to the
residential high school program for gifted youth; to revise the definition of
the term "school year" relating to teacher contracts; to revise provisions
relating to unlawful disruption of or interference with the operation of public
schools or public school buses; to provide that a mental state of knowledge and
intention or recklessness may be an element of such offense; to provide for an
effective date and for applicability; to revise provisions relating to
instructional activity concerning Veterans Day; to provide that public
elementary and secondary schools shall be closed on November 11 of each year in
honor of Veterans Day; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting
laws; and for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Chapter
2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elementary
and secondary education, is amended in Code Section 20-2-151, relating to
general and career education programs, by revising subparagraph (b)(1)(A) as
follows:
"(1)(A)
All local school systems may offer a full-day kindergarten program. For purposes
of this subsection, the term 'full-day
basis
kindergarten
program' means a student is provided
classroom instruction for a minimum of four and one-half hours daily for a 180
day school
year, or the
equivalent thereof as determined in accordance with State Board of Education
guidelines."
SECTION
2.
Said
chapter is further amended in Code Section 20-2-168, relating to distribution of
federal funds, combined purchase of supplies and equipment, minimum school year,
summer school programs, and year-round operation, by revising paragraph (1) of
subsection (c) as follows:
"(c)(1)
Except as otherwise provided in this Code section, public elementary and
secondary schools of this state receiving state aid under this article may
provide each eligible student with access to no less than 180 school days of
education each fiscal
year, or the
equivalent thereof as determined in accordance with State Board of Education
guidelines. The State Board of Education
shall define a school year, which shall be no less than 180 days of instruction
in accordance with the provisions of this subsection,
or the
equivalent thereof; shall define the
length of the school day,
based on a 180
day school year, and equivalent lengths;
and shall provide that all public elementary and secondary
schools,
may
beginning in
the 2010-2011 school year, may be closed
for instruction on November 11 of each year
as
determined by each local board of
education to enable students, teachers,
and administrators to participate in Veterans Day programs to honor veterans of
the armed forces."
SECTION
3.
Said
chapter is further amended in Code Section 20-2-187, relating to state-wide
school lunch program, instruction in nutrition, hygiene, etiquette, and social
graces, and school food and nutrition, by amending paragraph (2) of subsection
(c) as follows:
"(2)
The base payment shall be calculated on the basis of
an annual
number of hours (190 days multiplied by eight
hours)
1,520 hours in
an annual school year for a full-time
equivalent school lunch position, multiplied by an amount not less than $161.00
per month for 12 months. Future annual increases in the base payment shall
reflect the same percentage increase provided by the state for other state
funded positions. The state board shall annually establish a state performance
standard and shall determine the number of full-time equivalent school lunch
positions needed to plan, prepare, and serve meals based on the state
performance standard and the average daily number of student lunches served
during the preceding school year."
SECTION
4.
Said
chapter is further amended in Code Section 20-2-306, relating to honors program
and residential high school program, by revising subsection (b) as
follows:
"(b)
The State Board of Education is authorized to inaugurate and operate a
residential high school program for highly gifted and talented youth of this
state. This residential high school program shall consist only of students in
the eleventh and twelfth grades. Enrollment shall be by student application and
on a voluntary basis; provided, however, that the parent or legal guardian of
each student must have signed an agreement authorizing enrollment in this
program. This program shall be operated during the normal school year for a
minimum of 180
days, or the
equivalent thereof as determined in accordance with State Board of Education
guidelines, in cooperation with one or
more of the state universities or colleges from funds provided by the General
Assembly. The state board is authorized to enter into cooperative agreements
with the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia concerning the
operation and sharing of costs of this program. The state board shall prescribe
policy, regulations, standards, and criteria as needed for the effective
operation of this program."
SECTION
5.
Said
chapter is further amended in Code Section 20-2-942, relating to procedure for
nonrenewal after acceptance by teacher of school year contract for fourth
consecutive school year, procedure for nonrenewal by another local board of
education, professional certificated personnel, rights of school administrators,
and tenure, by revising paragraph (2) of subsection (a) as follows:
"(2)
'School year' means a period of at least 180 school
days, or the
equivalent thereof
as determined
in accordance with State Board of Education
guidelines, beginning in or about
September and ending in or about June."
SECTION
5A.
Said
chapter is further amended by revising Code Section 20-2-1181, relating to
unlawful disruption of or interference with the operation of public schools or
public school buses, as follows:
"20-2-1181.
It
shall be unlawful for any person to
knowingly and
intentionally or recklessly disrupt or
interfere with the operation of any public school, public school bus, or public
school bus stop as designated by local school boards of education. Any person
violating this Code section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor
of a high
and aggravated nature."
SECTION
5B.
Said
chapter is further amended by revising Code Section 20-2-147, relating to
instructional activity concerning Veterans Day, as follows:
"20-2-147.
On
a school day
on
or immediately preceding or as close to
the annual observance of Veterans Day as practicable as determined by a school's
scheduled curriculum, each elementary and secondary school may provide for
instructional activity focusing on the contributions of veterans and the
importance of the armed forces of the United States.
Beginning in
the 2010-2011 school year, public elementary and secondary schools may be closed
on Veterans Day as provided in paragraph (1) of subsection (c) of Code Section
20-2-168."
SECTION
5C.
This
Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its
becoming law without such approval. Section 5A of this Act shall apply with
respect to conduct on or after that date, and conduct prior to that date shall
continue to be governed by prior law.
SECTION
6.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.