HB921: HB921 Education Impact Transparency Act; enact

25 LC 61 0253 House Bill 921 By: Representatives Park of the 107th, McQueen of the 61st, Berry of the 56th, Howard of the 129th, Herring of the 145th, and others A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Article 1 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Cod e of Georgia Annotated,1 relating to the State Board of Education, so as to require the Georgia Department of2 Education to complete a study within 90 days of any action by a ny branch of the federal3 government that results in certain reductions of the scope, workforce, or budget of the United4 States Department of Education to determine the impact on publi c schools in this state; to5 provide for reporting; to authorize the department to contract with a nonpartisan independent6 entity to conduct such study; to provide definitions; to provide for a short title; to provide for7 related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.8 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:9 SECTION 1.10 This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Education Impact Transparency Act."11 SECTION 2.12 Article 1 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the13 State Board of Education, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:14 H. B. 921 - 1 - 25 LC 61 0253 "20-2-21.15 (a) As used in this Code section, the term:16 (1) 'Department' means the Georgia Department of Education.17 (2) 'Local education agency' shall have the same meaning as se t forth in Code18 Section 20-2-167.1.19 (3) 'Study' or 'impact study' means the impact study provided for in this Code section.20 (b) The department shall complete an impact study within 90 da ys of any action by any21 branch of the federal government that results in a reduction of more than 20 percent in the22 scope, workforce, or budget of the United States Department of Education; provided,23 however, that, if such federal action occurs prior to the effec tive date of this Act, such24 study shall be completed within 90 days of the effective date of this Act. Such study shall25 assess the impact of such federal action on public primary and secondary education in this26 state and shall include, but shall not be limited to, the poten tial effects of such federal27 action on:28 (1) Each local education agency and each public primary and secondary school in this29 state, including, but not limited to, effects related to fundin g, staffing, resources, and30 school operations; and31 (2) Students, including, but not limited to, academic performa nce and access to32 programs.33 (c) The department shall be authorized to contract with a nonpartisan independent entity34 with expertise in education policy and finance to conduct the study.35 (d) The department shall prepare a report on the findings of t he study, which shall be36 provided to each local education agency and shall be made available on the department's37 website in a format that is accessible and understandable by the public."38 SECTION 3.39 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.40 H. B. 921 - 2 -