House Bill 1146
By: Representatives Olaleye of the 59th, Hugley of the 141st, Townsend of the 179th,
Westbrook of the 163rd, Herring of the 145th, and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Article 1 of Chapter 1A of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
relating to general provisions relative to early care and learning, so as to establish a pilot
program to expand Georgia's Pre-K Program to three-year-old children; to provide for annual
reporting; to provide for legislative intent relating to funding for such program; to provide
for automatic repeal; to provide for related matters; to provide a short title; to repeal
conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Georgia Ready to Learn Act."
SECTION 2.
Article 1 of Chapter 1A of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
general provisions relative to early care and learning, is amended by adding a new Code
section to read as follows:
<ins>"20-1A-19.
(a) No later than July 1, 2027, and subject to appropriations, the board shall establish a
pilot program to expand Georgia's Pre-K Program to children who attain the age of three
by September 1. Such pilot program shall be subject to all current requirements for
Georgia's Pre-K Program and shall provide services in a manner similar to those currently
provided under such program, except as otherwise deemed age-appropriate by the
department for three-year-old children.
(b) No later than December 1 following each fiscal year in which funds are appropriated
by the General Assembly to conduct the pilot program provided for in this Code section,
the department shall provide a report on such pilot program to the Governor, the President
of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the chairperson of the Senate
Education and Youth Committee, and the chairperson of the House Committee on
Education.
(c) It is the intent of the General Assembly that the pilot program provided for in this Code
section be financed wholly from appropriations from the Lottery for Education Account
as a voluntary pre-kindergarten program in the same manner as Georgia's Pre-K Program.
(d) This Code section shall stand repealed on July 1, 2032."
</ins> SECTION 3.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.