HB1146: HB1146 Georgia Ready to Learn Act; enact

26 LC 61 0357 House Bill 1146 By: Representatives Olaleye of the 59 th, Hugley of the 141 st, Townsend of the 179 th, 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 Co de of Georgia Annotated,1 relating to general provisions relative to early care and learn ing, so as to establish a pilot2 program to expand Georgia's Pre-K Program to three-year-old children; to provide for annual3 reporting; to provide for legislative intent relating to funding for such program; to provide4 for automatic repeal; to provide for related matters; to provid e a short title; to repeal5 conflicting laws; and for other purposes.6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:7 SECTION 1.8 This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Georgia Ready to Learn Act."9 SECTION 2.10 Article 1 of Chapter 1A of Title 20 of the Official Code of Geo rgia Annotated, relating to11 general provisions relative to early care and learning, is amen ded by adding a new Code12 section to read as follows:13 H. B. 1146 - 1 - 26 LC 61 0357 "20-1A-19.14 (a) No later than July 1, 2027, and subject to appropriations, the board shall establish a15 pilot program to expand Georgia's Pre-K Program to children who attain the age of three16 by September 1. Such pilot program shall be subject to all cur rent requirements for17 Georgia's Pre-K Program and shall provide services in a manner similar to those currently18 provided under such program, except as otherwise deemed age-app ropriate by the19 department for three-year-old children.20 (b) No later than December 1 following each fiscal year in which funds are appropriated21 by the General Assembly to conduct the pilot program provided for in this Code section,22 the department shall provide a report on such pilot program to the Governor, the President23 of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the chairperson of the Senate24 Education and Youth Committee, and the chairperson of the House Committee on25 Education.26 (c) It is the intent of the General Assembly that the pilot program provided for in this Code27 section be financed wholly from appropriations from the Lottery for Education Account28 as a voluntary pre-kindergarten program in the same manner as Georgia's Pre-K Program.29 (d) This Code section shall stand repealed on July 1, 2032."30 SECTION 3.31 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.32 H. B. 1146 - 2 -