HB544: HB544 Jimmy Carter Award for Civic Engagement; establish

25 LC 61 0134 House Bill 544 By: Representatives Berry of the 56 th, Miller of the 62 nd, Park of the 107 th, Hugley of the 141st, Frye of the 122nd, and others A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Code Section 20-2-310 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to1 student directory information, registering to vote and with selective service, and pledge of2 allegiance, so as to establish the Jimmy Carter Award for Civic Engagement; to provide for3 policies and procedures; to provide for related matters; to rep eal conflicting laws; and for4 other purposes.5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:6 SECTION 1.7 Code Section 20-2-310 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated , relating to student8 directory information, registering to vote and with selective service, and pledge of allegiance,9 is amended by revising subsection (b) as follows:10 "(b)(1) Each eligible student in the public schools of this state shall be apprised of his or11 her right to register as an elector and to vote in elections and of any obligation to register12 with the Selective Service System. Each eligible student shall be given an opportunity,13 arranged by the school administration, to register to vote at his or her school during the14 month of April of each year. The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules and15 H. B. 544 - 1 - 25 LC 61 0134 regulations to carry out this Code section. An excused absence of a student to register or16 vote, at the discretion of the local unit of administration, shall not exceed one school day.17 (2)(A) There is established the Jimmy Carter Award for Civic E ngagement to18 recognize public schools at which a high percentage of eligible students are registered19 to vote. In order to qualify for the Jimmy Carter Award for Civic Engagement, a public20 school shall meet the following criteria:21 (i) For a gold level award, 100 percent of eligible students at such public school shall22 be registered to vote; or23 (ii) For a silver level award, 85 percent of eligible students at such public school shall24 be registered to vote.25 (B) The Department of Education shall develop policies and procedures to recognize26 public schools which meet the criteria for an award pursuant to this paragraph."27 SECTION 2.28 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.29 H. B. 544 - 2 -