SB597: SB597 "Student Legal Literacy and Life Skills Education Act"; enact

26 LC 61 0410 Senate Bill 597 By: Senators Mangham of the 55th, Jones II of the 22nd, Wicks of the 34th, Parkes of the 7th and Orrock of the 36th A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Part 2 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Of ficial Code of Georgia1 Annotated, relating to competencies and core curriculum under the "Quality Basic Education2 Act," so as to provide for a course of instruction in legal literacy and life skills; to provide3 for the adoption of content standards for such instruction; to require that each local board of4 education and other public school governing body offer a course of instruction based on such5 content standards; to require that students complete such course of study prior to graduation;6 to provide for related matters; to provide a short title; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other7 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 "Student Legal Literacy and Life Skills11 Education Act."12 S. B. 597 - 1 - 26 LC 61 0410 SECTION 2.13 Part 2 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Co de of Georgia Annotated,14 relating to competencies and core curriculum under the "Quality Basic Education Act," is15 amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:16 "20-2-149.5.17 (a) No later than January 1, 2027, the State Board of Educatio n shall adopt content18 standards for a course of instruction for students in grades nine through 12 in legal literacy19 and life skills. At a minimum, such content standards shall relate to instruction in:20 (1) Constitutional rights;21 (2) Individual legal responsibilities;22 (3) Interactions with law enforcement;23 (4) Employment rights, workplace protections, and contracts;24 (5) Housing and tenant rights; and25 (6) Consequences of violating a criminal law.26 (b) Beginning in the 2027-2028 school year, each local board o f education and other27 public school governing body shall require all students, as a condition of graduation, during28 their ninth, tenth, eleventh, or twelfth grade years to complete at least a half-credit course29 in legal literacy and life skills which implements the course o f instruction based on the30 content standards prescribed pursuant to subsection (a) of this Code section. Such course31 of instruction may be provided within the framework of existing coursework offered by a32 local school system or other public school governing body. Such course of instruction shall33 be eligible to count toward a social studies or elective unit o f credit requirement for34 graduation."35 SECTION 3.36 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.37 S. B. 597 - 2 -