Senate Higher Education Committee, March 24, 2026

Transcript

474 turns. Select a time to play that moment of the video.

1. 0:04:13

   A late start due to, uh, good work of the Education and Youth Committee. Appreciate that. Appreciate that. Now, the best news I can tell you is we, we do have a little bit of, uh, flexibility on our end time. We may lose members along the way. I hope not. But, uh, we wanna be as efficient as possible as we work through the agenda. Right, I, I wanna pause, uh, because I certainly need a prayer today. I would ask, uh, uh, Senator Williams if he would, uh, pray for us.

2. 0:04:47

   But before you do, Senator, um, m- some of you may or may not be aware that there was an incident at Cobb County High School today-

3. 0:04:54

   Oh

4. 0:04:54

   ... where a student, uh, brought a weapon to school. And mercifully, uh, administration and law enforcement, uh, was able to, uh, take this young student into custody within about 12 minutes and everyone is safe. But I want you to know, my grandson goes to that school.

5. 0:05:11

   Oh, my goodness.

6. 0:05:12

   And so it's really personal.

7. 0:05:14

   Mm-hmm.

8. 0:05:14

   So I'd ask, Senator Williams, as, as you pray, uh, remember those students, remember those families. It's a, a traumatic day for them, but, uh, thank the Lord that, uh, no one was injured and everyone is safe. Senator Williams.

9. 0:05:27

   Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Let us pray. Oh, dear God, I come to You again today to ask for Your blessings, to ask for Your mercy, to ask for Your forgiveness. Dear God, please bless those children and touch their lives in the Cobb County and in all schools, dear Lord. We heard testimony from students yesterday that witnessed some God awful events. God, please bless our men and women in law enforcement, our soldiers in peril.

10. 0:06:03

    Please bless this world and please bring peace to this world. In Thy name we pray, amen.

11. 0:06:09

    Amen. Thank you, Senator. Um, let me, uh, preface our conversations this afternoon with a, a bit of, of housekeeping. We have four bills. Uh, we've heard 1413 in the past. We're gonna come back to that one toward the end of this, uh, discussion. But, uh, we're gonna work through House Bill 419, 1113, and 962 in order. We will take no action on any of those bills until we get to 1413, and then I'll, uh, I'll share with you the, uh, the proposed, uh, um, uh, committee substitute for 1413.

12. 0:06:47

    But the committee substitute 1413 will be combinations of these four pieces of legislation. So as we go through them, treat them as independent bills. Understand them, question them. We will take limited input. If anyone has a sign-up sheet out there, if anyone wants to provide comments on, we welcome those comments on, on senate bill ... on House Bill 419, 1113. And, and 962 actually is a, is a special- Excuse me, 1113 is a special case, uh, and I'll explain that when we get there. So first of all, Representative Hawkins, if you could take about five minutes please.

13. 0:07:21

    If you could li- limit your time to that to present your bill and make, uh, take questions after that from the committee.

14. 0:07:30

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, before you is House Bill 419, LC 6101-

15. 0:07:37

    Yes, it is

16. 0:07:38

    ... 88S. This is a bill that we've worked on for actually a couple years, and I've met with the chancellor of several-

17. 0:07:45

    If you'd pause just one second.

18. 0:07:46

    Yeah.

19. 0:07:47

    Mr. Chairman. Do you have ... Everyone have 419 in their folders?

20. 0:07:51

    Yeah. Do we have an agenda? Uh, I... That's what I don't have is the agenda.

21. 0:07:55

    You don't have an agenda?

22. 0:07:56

    No, sir.

23. 0:07:57

    Be glad to share.

24. 0:07:58

    Thank you.

25. 0:08:00

    Thank you. All right. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

26. 0:08:02

    Yeah.

27. 0:08:02

    Continue.

28. 0:08:02

    Yeah. This is a bill that's been in the working for a couple years. It addresses the, uh, deaths that we see a- a- around our universities in this state due to fentanyl and opioid poisoning. Uh, there's a couple main parts of the bill that I've worked through with Chancellor Purdue, and he was in, he is in agreement with this bill. First of all, the, as y- you will see on, beginning on line 42, it refers to community funding, so there's not a fiscal note for the state.

29. 0:08:34

    Uh, then on line around 51, it's only in buildings with AEDs. These are, these are university buildings and the technical colleges of this state. Presently, the University of Georgia has some of these, Georgia Southern, and Augusta University, our health university. Actually, when I was down there, they showed me their single ... They've, they've got a single cabinet. Here in the Capitol, when you walk in and you go past the, uh, guard shack, you will see what I'm talking about. We have one here in the Capitol, uh, a Narcan cabinet, so we, we can dispense Narcan to someone that's in need because at about two and a half minutes you start losing brain cells.

30. 0:09:13

    Uh, then on, um, the 59, we talk about liability protect- protection. This is for the university personnel, anyone that's, uh, administering Narcan. Narcan is a very safe drug. If it, if it's an alcohol overdose, it does not hurt the patient. Um, and that, that's the bill.

31. 0:09:33

    All right. Uh, a- again, if I understand correctly, this allows but does not require, is that correct?

32. 0:09:38

    Right.

33. 0:09:39

    And it, uh, is fully funded through community resources-

34. 0:09:42

    That's right

35. 0:09:43

    ... and only where there are existing AED, um, uh-

36. 0:09:47

    Correct

37. 0:09:47

    ... units. Is that not true?

38. 0:09:48

    Right. That's right.

39. 0:09:49

    Right. Uh, any questions from the committee? It protects students in a very, uh, effective way.

40. 0:09:56

    Yes, sir.

41. 0:09:57

    And I would suggest that especially in our student services area-

42. 0:10:02

    Right

43. 0:10:02

    ... our, our residence halls, our dining halls, our, um, uh, athletic facilities, our, um, uh, student, uh, student activity centers, all this is really areas where we probably need this, this-

44. 0:10:16

    Right

45. 0:10:16

    ... ability coverage.

46. 0:10:17

    Right.

47. 0:10:17

    Any questions from the committee? Do we have anyone signed up? On 14, on 413.

48. 0:10:24

    419.

49. 0:10:24

    419, excuse me. 4, uh, Jeff Breedlove. Jeff, you'll come up quickly.

50. 0:10:29

    Yeah.

51. 0:10:30

    You have, you have two minutes.

52. 0:10:32

    Three minutes.

53. 0:10:32

    Good deal.

54. 0:10:33

    Left.

55. 0:10:33

    Good deal.

56. 0:10:36

    If it please the committee, though, for the record, I am Jeff Breedlove. I'm a person in long-term recovery from addiction. Used to work for you all in the Senate, and I'm here for the American, uh, Addiction Recovery Association and the Georgia Council for Recovery. Just wanna thank Chairman Hawkins and, uh, for his leadership and Chancellor Purdue's leadership for supporting this effort. Wanna just urge you to give it your unanimous support. I will leave you with this. As emotional as we got when we heard about the shooting today, we're averaging 200 overdoses a day in the United States.

57. 0:11:08

    The number one cause of death in America for Americans 18 to 45 is overdose and fentanyl poisoning.

58. 0:11:14

    Thank you.

59. 0:11:14

    This is happening every day on our college campuses across the nation and across Georgia, and we hope you will help save lives.

60. 0:11:21

    Thank you for your input. I appreciate it. Thank you, uh, Chairman Hawkins. And for the record, there was no shooting. There was no shooting.

61. 0:11:27

    There was no shooting.

62. 0:11:27

    There was a weapon.

63. 0:11:28

    Could have been. Yeah, yeah.

64. 0:11:29

    There was a weapon found in, in a school. Okay, uh, Chairman Payne.

65. 0:11:34

    At the appropriate time, Mr. Chairman.

66. 0:11:36

    Uh, uh, it's not appropriate time. This will be suspended until we hear the remainder of the bills.

67. 0:11:40

    Okay.

68. 0:11:40

    No action at this time. Uh, we're gonna move on to 1113. Representative Barrett, you need to be as parsimonious as Chairman Hawkins.

69. 0:11:55

    Was that a good word?

70. 0:11:56

    Yes, Mr. Chairman.

71. 0:11:57

    Thank you very much. Okay.

72. 0:11:58

    It's a great word.

73. 0:11:59

    1113. We're gonna get to some, uh, a little more lively discussion in a few minutes. Keep going.

74. 0:12:04

    It's a perfect word in lieu of the fact that we're talking about higher education things.

75. 0:12:08

    Absolutely.

76. 0:12:09

    Uh, Mr. Chairman, House Bill 1113 proposes to amend the Georgia Defined Contribution Plan by excluding part-time students, uh, from being considered employees for the purpose of membership in the plan. Currently, uh, full-time students are already excluded. This extends that exclusion to part-time students, and that's all it does.

77. 0:12:26

    It adds two words, part-time and or. Is that correct?

78. 0:12:29

    That is exactly right.

79. 0:12:30

    You could count it three. Again, uh, this is current statute, and, uh, TCSG and USG are in agreement. Is that not true?

80. 0:12:37

    This is an agency bill for TCSG, yes.

81. 0:12:39

    Thank you very much. Uh, any questions from the committee? Okay, similarly to, uh, 419, we'll suspend until we gain the rest of the information.

82. 0:12:49

    No, we have a question.

83. 0:12:49

    Oh, I'm sorry. Is there a question? Forgive me. Senator Harrell. Or Se- excuse me, Senator Orrock.

84. 0:12:56

    Yeah. Uh, thank, Mr. Chair. Uh, uh, the, I wanna, I wa- I wanna see if I fully understand this. Right now, full-time sh- students are already, uh, not considered employees?

85. 0:13:15

    N- n- for retirement purposes. So that it is currently in statute, if I, if I'm correct, uh, Representative Barrett, uh, for, for retirement purposes only, the student worker is not a part of the retirement program. So currently in law, full-time students are not, uh, eligible.

86. 0:13:42

    Sorry.

87. 0:13:42

    And under this change, part-time students would be similarly not eligible. Is that not true?

88. 0:13:49

    That, that, that's exactly correct. Um, in fact, that's already what's happening, but the code is not-

89. 0:13:54

    Right

90. 0:13:54

    ... lined up exactly perfectly with what the actual, what, what's happening.

91. 0:13:58

    Sh-

92. 0:13:58

    And we designed to bring those together.

93. 0:14:00

    So currently, the code only excludes full-time student workers. And, and, and currently, part-time student workers are not enjoying a retirement benefit, and this would codify that. Is that correct?

94. 0:14:12

    That's exactly right.

95. 0:14:14

    Okay.

96. 0:14:14

    Thank you.

97. 0:14:15

    Thank you. I appreciate you. Doing real well.

98. 0:14:18

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

99. 0:14:19

    All right, we're gonna slow down, I'm sure, 'cause I have Chairman Martin coming up with a different bill. We're gonna now look at, uh, House Bill 962. Is that correct?

100. 0:14:35

     Was it, uh, I did not see. There was, by the, for the record, there was no, no, no public comment on 1113.

101. 0:14:42

     Yes.

102. 0:14:42

     All right. Uh, now we're at 962. Chairman Martin.

103. 0:14:46

     Thank you, sir. We're, we're working off 962 LC02900297. Uh, bill does two things. Um, in the first section of the bill, uh, there's a current limitation on Georgia's 529 plan, PATH to College plan, of $235,000. Once you get to that maximum, you can't contribute any- any more. Uh, what we seek to do in our bill is, um, let the board determine a reasonable maximum. I, I believe that was original five, uh, excuse me. The original 235 was the cost of a four-year degree at the time it was put.

104. 0:15:19

     Time goes by, things change. Uh, our idea was to let the board determine that. Um, there are some, uh, questions about that. I mean, I think there was, um, the, the senator may have something about a specific number, a, a number certain, um, that was introduced over in the House of 550. The, the reason we went with let the, um, com- the board decide was, um, the, the folks that are proposing that is the governor's office and the governor chairs the board. So I figured we could, uh, let, uh, you know, have our cake and eat it too, if you will, because we could, uh, let the board decide, and the governor would decide it was 550, but we wouldn't have to deal with it in statute again in the, in the future.

105. 0:15:58

     I am open to the, um, certainly the discussion if, if the, um, wisdom of the committee is to create that at 550. We'd just have to, you know, if, if things go up, we'll have to do that again in the future. The second, and, and I think the m- most important part of the bill is our, um, 529 plans started some years ago, uh, over 20 years ago. In that time, it's collected and has assets of somewhere between $7 and $8 billion. When it was put in place, only that plan, only our plan in Georgia got a state tax deduction on their income if you contributed to that.

106. 0:16:31

     Um, the, the reason for doing that is to get some synerg- synergy into that plan and to get a critical mass into that plan so the investment, um, cost would, would be low. We have accomplished that, uh, done very well at it. Our plan is probably in the top 10 in the country. It is not the top. It is certainly not the bottom. What we seek to do here is give parity. Nine states across the United States give parity. Uh, about 20 do not. Um, 12 don't have income tax, I believe, and some don't have a plan at all.

107. 0:17:01

     But of the nine states that do provide parity, provide the ability for their citizens to, um, invest in any plan and get their income tax deduction, they're n- they're only nine states, but they represent 70% of the United s- uh, US population. So what we seek to do here is allow Georgians to make their own decisions. When you, Senator Harrell, invest in your 401, you get a state and federal tax deduction, and the state of Georgia doesn't tell you with whom you have to invest. So what we seek to do here is simply that with this 529 plan. Um, in Georgia, we, we have, uh, the next bill, if the, the Senate, uh, senator so chooses to call it next, 1413, is the Dream Scholarship, where we're setting aside upwards of north of $300 million this year to help people pay for college.

108. 0:17:44

     Uh, I think it's an ample time for us to open up ways people can save for college. So that's what, uh, the bill does, Mr. Senator.

109. 0:17:51

     Very good. Uh, you have a few questions?

110. 0:17:53

     Absolutely.

111. 0:17:54

     Senator Harrell.

112. 0:17:57

     Uh, yes. Thank you. Um, so my mother and father-in-law did open 529 plans for my kids. It would've been when they were very new, um, because my kids are in their 20s now. So, um, and that has... They... It was great 'cause they've been able to use it for, um, things like rent and books, things that a lot of our scholarships don't cover but kids have to come up with the money for. So it's been a great thing. Um, my question has to do with Section 2.

113. 0:18:27

     Right.

114. 0:18:27

     Um, so it's a Georgia tax deduction. So if they take the Georgia tax deduction, then it lowers revenue coming into our state. But what you're proposing is that they be able to let that money go out of state to other plans.

115. 0:18:45

     Well, I mean, if, if I may.

116. 0:18:47

     Mm-hmm.

117. 0:18:47

     I mean, I... And thank the lady for the question. The fact that we invest, the Georgia Path to College plan, I believe is what it's called, is the only plan you can get the deduction. That does not mean that money is invested in Georgia. Our Geor- our, our Path to College plan inve- invests in a, a wide variety of stocks, the same stocks you would invest in if you've invested through Fidelity in the New Hampshire plan. They may well have a higher portfolio in investments in the state of Georgia. So it's not about where the state plan that you're sending the money.

118. 0:19:17

     The investment goes all over the country and, and really all over the world. The, the, the point is only Georgia residents would get the deduction, and you would get that because you're in- investing, um, money for college for, for people that, a- as it helps your, your students.

119. 0:19:36

     May I follow up?

120. 0:19:37

     A- absolutely.

121. 0:19:37

     Follow up, go ahead.

122. 0:19:38

     Um, so you said that Georgia

123. 0:19:42

     doesn't invest back in the plan, but don't they use some of that money to educate the populace about the availability of these 529 plans? So isn't some of that money, because it stays in Georgia, isn't it being used to benefit Georgia through ec- uh, through education and promotion?

124. 0:20:03

     I, I thank, I thank the lady for the question. Actually, some of the money, a very small percentage of, of the money, um, does stay, uh, with Georgia. In, in fact, it is... doesn't actually go through even the appropriation process, Senator. It stays in the treasurer's office. Treasurer can do as they please with it. Um, and, and they have plenty of money to do that. Um, and, and I would suggest it is more important, and, and it's a policy decision. You might differ with me. I would s- suggest it's more important to have a free market and allow people to invest where they believe they're gonna get the best return for their children and grandchildren rather than to tie their hands because we wish to, to exact some of their, their hard-earned money i- into our plan.

125. 0:20:43

     Do you mind if I ask one more question?

126. 0:20:45

     Absolutely not. It's, it's a valid discussion.

127. 0:20:45

     So it's my understanding that Georgia's plan is one of the lowest costs in the country. Like, like, uh, I think there's only one other that's lower cost than Georgia.

128. 0:20:55

     I believe-

129. 0:20:55

     Why would we want to open up the door for marketers to promote plans that are higher cost than Georgia's?

130. 0:21:03

     Well, I, I take the, the, the lady's points. I, I think you're... If, if I might, yeah, I don't think you're correct e- exactly w- with them exactly, um, because I don't think Georgia's is the second lowest plan. They certainly don't have the second highest returns. So when you take net returns, Georgia has a good plan. Not questioning that. And if Georgians wanna continue to do that, they can. My suggestion here is I trust Georgians to make the decision that's best for Georgians. And, and I would, I would suggest to the lady, my apologies, um, my... I, I don't know how to make my watch silent, Mr.

131. 0:21:35

     Ch-

132. 0:21:35

     I've seen other people with the same problem

133. 0:21:37

     ... Mr. Chairman. I apologize.

134. 0:21:37

     My phone's on silent back there. I don't know how to make the watch silent.

135. 0:21:39

     I've seen other people with the same problem.

136. 0:21:41

     My apologies, since it took me off. But I, I wo- I would suggest that we trust the Georgians to, to do that. If, if, if they get the best value in- investing with Georgia, they, they can still do that. This is not requiring them to invest. I say this is giving them the opportunity. But y- to say that we have the best plan, we have the lowest expenses, somehow doing this will cause those expenses to go up, is just factually incorrect. I, I've heard that same thing, and I can guess where the lady may have gotten that information.

137. 0:22:13

     Thank you. Uh, Senator Orrock.

138. 0:22:16

     Uh, thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, and I, too, uh, Mr. Chairman, thank you for, uh, bringing several important bills to the attention of our committee. I appreciate the, the role you're playing and your leadership. On this bill, I have big questions, and we discussed it, uh, uh, uh, offline, you know, on the side a, a bit when we've had the opportunity. But, but, uh, the, the, the problem that I have, it, it looks like out-of-state advisors wanna come here and solicit business, wanna solicit in- investment, and that may be what's behind this bill.

139. 0:22:51

     That may be who would be the real beneficiary is a- advisors coming in. And, uh, if we, if we, uh- ... create the on-ramp. They will be coming in and they'll be offering their product, which is at a higher cost, uh, and is not run by, uh, uh, a, a, a, a, a, a, a board of Georgia state leaders. It's not located here, uh, where, um... A- and, and isn't that who this benefits truly is opening up our market to advisors from other states who are gonna be marketing, um, higher cost plans.

140. 0:23:27

     I, I don't believe so, ma'am. I mean, it, it has the, um, ability for anybody to invest in any of the plans and, and get the tax deduction, absolutely. Uh, I, I personally use Fidelity because it's convenient for me. It has low expenses. It has good returns. It, it, it invests in the New Hampshire plan. I made that choice. Nobody from Fidelity called me and, and told me to do that. That was the right thing for my family. But, but it's, it's the right thing for my family even though I don't get a tax deduction for doing that. And, and quite frankly, um, I'll just sit here and tell you that I'll never invest in the Georgia plan if they want, if they need me to invest in that plan, if they need to handcuff me to do so.

141. 0:24:06

     If they wanna convent- compete for my business, then, then I'll, I'll look at that plan. But I, I find it... And, and we just differ, m- uh, Senator. We've known each other for over 30 years. Uh, so I, I certainly respect your opinion. But the, the very fact that we continue to get pushback from the gentleman that runs this plan, as if this is somehow going to devastate his plan, you know, me think the man protests too much. There, there, there's something else going on here in my opinion.

142. 0:24:36

     And I, I don't understand. I respect your, your, your thoughts and the- ... invest where you want to, and I would just, um, I would just continue to advocate most people will invest far more in a 401plan in their lifetime than they will invest in a 529 plan. And the State of Georgia gives you a state tax deduction regardless of where you put your money in a 401plan. I find it, um, at this stage of that plan, not when we started the plan, but at this stage of that plan, I, I find that to be a bit big brother-ish.

143. 0:25:08

     Why, why do we feel like we're so smart as we need to tell people where to invest for their, their kids for college? So we just differ on that policy, ma'am, and I, I appreciate your opinion and that's mine.

144. 0:25:17

     Well, let me ask another q- question.

145. 0:25:19

     One, one more follow-up and we'll move on.

146. 0:25:20

     This, well, this is, this is, this is one, and that is the fiscal note on this bill, what does it estimate, uh, would be the loss of state revenue? I, my understanding is it would be between 157 million and $249 million, uh, that would be lost in state revenue.

147. 0:25:37

     Well, well following, following that plan, ma'am, that would mean between $3 and $5 billion was invested next year to get to those numbers, 'cause it costs the state right now f- 5.19% of the dollar that goes in. So a billion dollars would cost the state $51,000,900. If, if our tax-

148. 0:25:55

     But the fiscal note. Are you, are you dealing with the fiscal note?

149. 0:25:58

     Ye- yes, ma'am. I'm dealing with the fiscal-

150. 0:25:59

     Because we don't have that in front of us, do we, Mr. Chair?

151. 0:26:02

     I, I do not.

152. 0:26:02

     Yeah.

153. 0:26:02

     Well, I mean, the, it... Here, here's what the fiscal impact is, Senator. It's a tax deduction. If you give $100, you get a $5.19 tax advantage.

154. 0:26:11

     Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

155. 0:26:11

     So it's just that simple. It's linear. So the, the... If it says it's $50 million in a year, and we have a 4.99% income tax, that means a billion dollars. If, if one thinks that changing this bill is gonna get an extra billion dollars for education, we could only hope to be that lucky. We've collected seven, between seven and eight billion over the last 25 years. If we, if we can do this bill and get Georgians to save another billion dollars for education, I say let's buy two.

156. 0:26:39

     Well, but, but, but-

157. 0:26:39

     Let, let's hope for $2 billion and, and it h- costs us $100 million.

158. 0:26:42

     Are you disagreeing with the fiscal note prepared by our experts?

159. 0:26:45

     No, I'm, I'm, r- I've read the fiscal note, but what I'm saying to you, Senator, is those numbers are over the next three to five years, or they're assuming $3 to $5 billion will be invested this year.

160. 0:26:56

     So you disagree then?

161. 0:26:57

     I'm, I, well, y- yes, ma'am.

162. 0:26:59

     With the fiscal note.

163. 0:26:59

     Yeah. I, I, I'm disagreeing with the fact that if it's anything other than-

164. 0:27:04

     Mm-hmm

165. 0:27:04

     ... at right now 5.19% of the, the money donated, or 4.99 given the bills that we have going through session, that's what the cost to the state. For every dollar donated, and taken by the way, you have to donate it and then remember to take it on your tax return. There, there's no additional fiscal impact to the state. It's linear.

166. 0:27:24

     I, I appreciate-

167. 0:27:24

     I'm absolutely sure of that.

168. 0:27:25

     Thank you, Mr. Chair.

169. 0:27:26

     Thank you. I appreciate it. Uh, Ch- uh, Chairman Hufstetler.

170. 0:27:29

     Yeah. I, actually, Senator Orrock probably got the issue, and I do... I'd, I had looked at the fiscal note. We somehow get all those in my committee, and she's a member of my committee, I guess. But anyway, I think it was over a five-year period-

171. 0:27:41

     Mm-hmm

172. 0:27:41

     ... that, that, that was that cost.

173. 0:27:43

     Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Over five years. Yeah.

174. 0:27:44

     Thank you.

175. 0:27:44

     Mm-hmm.

176. 0:27:45

     Thank you. Are any further questions for the author of 962?

177. 0:27:52

     All right, ma'am. Thank you very much. We'll set that aside momentarily and move forward to 1413. Uh, but I'll, I'm, I gotta back up just a second. I have one person signed up wanting to speak to 962. Bethany Wetzel.

178. 0:28:05

     Mr. Chairman, may I ask a quick question-

179. 0:28:07

     Certainly

180. 0:28:07

     ... about procedure?

181. 0:28:08

     Sure.

182. 0:28:08

     Since we're not taking any action on these bills, and, uh, I think, I'm not sure-

183. 0:28:14

     They're gonna combine them.

184. 0:28:14

     We, we will-

185. 0:28:15

     They're gonna combine them

186. 0:28:15

     ... we'll be working toward a, uh-

187. 0:28:17

     Will you give, um, a, a time for amendments of all four?

188. 0:28:21

     Uh, when we get to that point, uh, uh, we'll, we'll look at a consolidated bill.

189. 0:28:25

     And we'll look at amendments together.

190. 0:28:26

     And then we'll look at each other-

191. 0:28:27

     Okay

192. 0:28:27

     ... uh, independently.

193. 0:28:28

     Thank you.

194. 0:28:28

     Thank you. All right, uh, Ms. Wetzel.

195. 0:28:30

     Hello. Thank you, Chairman Burns. Appreciate the opportunity to speak. My name is Bethany Wetzel. I'm with the Office of the State Treasurer. One of the pleasures I have is overseeing, um, the program administration of Georgia's Path to College program, which is the Georgia Higher Education Savings Plan. Um, today we are here, um, to speak, um, in opposition of Section 2 of HB 962. Um, we are the lowest cost plan, um, excuse me, the second lowest cost plan in the nation. Um, w- As of March 2nd, Kansas actually, um, unseated us as the lowest cost plan, and that's provided through market industry data that's collected every single quarter.

196. 0:29:07

     Um, we currently operate at about, our average fee is 8.3 basis points, and the average annual, the average, um, fee for an advisor-sold plan is actually 10 times more that at 84 basis points. So advisor plans t- um, marketed from out of state, um, are typically, uh, much more expensive than the plan that we offer.

197. 0:29:26

     Mm-hmm.

198. 0:29:26

     Um, through the admin, the small admin fee that we collect through the Office of the State Treasurer, we are able to partner with the Department of Early Care and Learning. Over the last, um, years, we have awarded 75 families, um, seed deposits within Path to College of $1,529, totaling around $180,000. We partner for, um, pre-K and for WeCare scholarships, um, that allow individuals to get a jumpstart on their savings. We are here to encourage people early savings.

199. 0:29:57

     Um, think that's kind of the whole, the point of this committee that you're hearing a lot today is early savings is, um, is better in preparing for college because it is a huge concern. We also have been able to provide, um, funds to jumpstart, uh, Path to College accounts for, uh, children with disabilities. We have, um, given around $746,000, um, for families with disabilities. And now with the, um, expansion of 529 account expenses, that they can use those funds for educational therapies. Um, so-

200. 0:30:28

     If you could wrap up quickly, please

201. 0:30:29

     ... yes, sir.

202. 0:30:29

     She has a

203. 0:30:30

     So just, we, j- just speaking, just here to speak in opposition of tax parity. We oversee the plan with Georgians in mind and, um, with them at the forefront of everything we do. And, um, because we do have a plan that is so robust and is growing, um, we are able to benefit all Georgians. Um, so tax parity would impact some of those abilities that we would have, and it would be aggressively marketed by those advisor-sold plans that are much more expensive.

204. 0:30:53

     Thank you. Thank you.

205. 0:30:54

     Mm-hmm.

206. 0:30:56

     Okay, so we're gonna look now at 1413. Chairman, if you would j- uh, join us again. And what we wanna do here, if it's okay with the committee, is we'd like to look at it section by section and make sure everyone is clear because the sections tend to be more standalone, uh, with, with different, uh, focuses. So let's start with 1413. We've heard this in committee before, so it's not new to you.

207. 0:31:18

     Would, would the senator like, would mind sharing a copy of the, my bill?

208. 0:31:21

     Oh, no, no. This is your bill. This is 1413.

209. 0:31:24

     Oh, I thought you said you had a-

210. 0:31:26

     I will

211. 0:31:26

     ... okay

212. 0:31:26

     ... but, but, but we're gonna start with your base bill.

213. 0:31:28

     Oh, okay.

214. 0:31:29

     Okay.

215. 0:31:29

     Well let me, let me get... I was, I did see-

216. 0:31:30

     I, I'll be glad to-

217. 0:31:30

     ... 1413

218. 0:31:32

     ... I, I, I'll be glad to share one with you.

219. 0:31:34

     I, I, I wanna have one.

220. 0:31:35

     All right. I was fixin' to say, it, it's, it's, uh, LC610481S, which was the latest version of, of the-

221. 0:31:44

     Actually, I want, I wanna take you up on that

222. 0:31:45

     ... take me up on it

223. 0:31:46

     ... you had a son, so I didn't-

224. 0:31:47

     No, I, I, I will have one-

225. 0:31:49

     Thank you

226. 0:31:49

     ... but we'll, we'll start with that. The, that's the base bill, folks.

227. 0:31:52

     Yes, sir.

228. 0:31:53

     And we'll stay with that. Thank you. Everyone have a copy of 610481S?

229. 0:32:01

     Mm-hmm.

230. 0:32:01

     Which is the, uh, bill that we have heard in committee before, which, uh, provides us, uh, some structure. And I, I wanna thank the chairman for his work on this. Some structure and operationalization of the Dream Scholarship bill. So let's look, uh, carefully at section one just to answer any questions the committee may have.

231. 0:32:29

     Section one.

232. 0:32:37

     No changes, uh, to the original bill. Matter of fact.

233. 0:32:59

     Any, uh, again, the structure of section one is the operational, uh, guardrails for the Dream Scholarship. And this is the, uh, chairman's original language based upon his substitute in committee on the 17th. Is that correct?

234. 0:33:48

     Sure.

235. 0:33:52

     Senator, you're what, 16? Senator Summers.

236. 0:33:54

     16, yes. Are we m- on 14, on 1413, right?

237. 0:33:59

     We're on 1413 LC-

238. 0:34:02

     Are-

239. 0:34:02

     ... 610481S.

240. 0:34:04

     Is it gonna be combined with the others also?

241. 0:34:06

     It w- it, portions of it. If you would, l- I want the chairman to be able to address the underlying bill.

242. 0:34:14

     I sure hope he does.

243. 0:34:15

     Okay?

244. 0:34:16

     Well, that's what we're looking at right now.

245. 0:34:16

     That's, that's what we're looking at now. We're looking at the underlying bill section one.

246. 0:34:22

     We've already done this.

247. 0:34:23

     We've already done this.

248. 0:34:23

     Mm-hmm.

249. 0:34:23

     We already have. This, and, and there's no change.

250. 0:34:29

     Mm-hmm.

251. 0:34:31

     Chairman, do you have any, any comments? Do you have any questions? Is there a concern here? This was your underlying bill.

252. 0:34:36

     No, sir.

253. 0:34:37

     Uh-

254. 0:34:38

     No change

255. 0:34:38

     ... any, any questions on section one? Any questions on section one? We've, we've addressed this before. Hear none. Section two, this deals with, uh, medical, uh, an expansion of the code to provide for some medical scholarships-

256. 0:34:59

     Mm-hmm, mm-hmm

257. 0:34:59

     ... in underserved areas. I think, uh, this was a, and I've shared with the chairman, I thought this was a great idea. I think it's certainly something that we, that has merit. My concern is I haven't, uh, I can't see a, a funding source. And so that's my main question there, not necessarily operational-

258. 0:35:17

     Uh-huh

259. 0:35:17

     ... components of it. Mr. Chair-

260. 0:35:21

     Uh-

261. 0:35:21

     You have any questions from the committee on section two?

262. 0:35:25

     Um, uh, you point out, Mr. Chairman, if I could-

263. 0:35:29

     Sure

264. 0:35:30

     ... recognize. You, you, you ... That's an important point that you-

265. 0:35:34

     You're gonna need to use your mic.

266. 0:35:35

     Uh-huh. That's, that's an important point that you've made. Um, and I'm ... And, um, so it's added onto the bill, uh, a, a student who's enrolled not in, uh, a, uh, four-year college. But in-

267. 0:35:53

     It is not an undergraduate program.

268. 0:35:54

     That's right.

269. 0:35:54

     This is graduate medical-

270. 0:35:57

     Right

271. 0:35:57

     ... education. And the Dream Scholarship funding was not targeted at this opportunity.

272. 0:36:05

     Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

273. 0:36:05

     And if my understanding is, uh, the Hope Scholarship program is also not targeted at this opportunity. Is that not true?

274. 0:36:13

     Well, if I may.

275. 0:36:14

     Sure.

276. 0:36:15

     Um, the lo- lottery funds would allow for the funding of, of this opportunity. It would allow for that. The, the section one in the Constitution allows for scholarships, loans and so forth. So this would fit to that. It is my understanding that there does not currently exist in the 2027 budget, nor was there in the 2026 budget-

277. 0:36:35

     I see

278. 0:36:35

     ... an allocation from those funds for this.

279. 0:36:38

     Mm. Oh, okay.

280. 0:36:38

     But there is a funding source. There has not been an allocation.

281. 0:36:41

     Do we-

282. 0:36:42

     Sorry.

283. 0:36:42

     Do, do we have a, a ... Let me say, part of the, the concerns I've heard on this particular area w- deals with whether it's, uh, public versus private, and we have a n- we only have a limited number of medical schools, and some of our private medical schools serve substantial needs-

284. 0:36:56

     Uh-huh

285. 0:36:56

     ... in Georgia. Um, i- i- do we have an estimate of the required resources necessary to fund section two?

286. 0:37:04

     Well, I guess, um, Mr. Chairman, that would be the amount, the, um, the estimated cost on a per year basis was $30,000. So that would, uh, be the number that-

287. 0:37:15

     Okay

288. 0:37:15

     ... we would use, and that would-

289. 0:37:16

     Th- $30,000 for what?

290. 0:37:18

     For, for an individual per year.

291. 0:37:19

     For an individual p-

292. 0:37:20

     For an in- individual per, per year.

293. 0:37:21

     Per year. So per student per year?

294. 0:37:24

     Wow.

295. 0:37:24

     That's what, that's the-

296. 0:37:25

     Uh-

297. 0:37:26

     ... the estimated cost of our med- public medical colleges. Yes, ma'am.

298. 0:37:30

     But-

299. 0:37:30

     Would, would this, would this fall into a category of, uh-

300. 0:37:34

     I don't understand

301. 0:37:34

     ... uh, service cancelable loans where, where, where we already have, uh, the opportunity for them to purch- uh, to, to borrow funds and then have those loans canceled if they, uh, provide certain service requirements to the state?

302. 0:37:50

     I- it is, is my opinion from looking at the bill that this is a different mechanism to do a service can... This is a service cancelable scholarship rather than a service cancelable loan, because it does require service. But I think that-

303. 0:38:05

     But a scholarship is, uh... You wouldn't cancel a scholarship, would you?

304. 0:38:09

     No. My, my point being is, is you, you would earn, you would earn off. That you ... Th- this calls for them entering into an agreement in order to get this.

305. 0:38:18

     Right.

306. 0:38:18

     That agreement would speak to the, the place and terms of the service, but the service is listed in the bill currently at four years.

307. 0:38:26

     Four years.

308. 0:38:27

     Yes, sir.

309. 0:38:27

     Right. Which, which I-

310. 0:38:27

     So I, I, I didn't mean to, to say it was cancelable scholarship. This, this would be the, in order to get this, you would execute an agreement-

311. 0:38:35

     Agreement

312. 0:38:35

     ... that then you would have a call back.

313. 0:38:37

     Uh-huh.

314. 0:38:37

     Should you not, uh, agree to fulfill the terms of that agreement, you would owe the state money, which would then in, in fact, be a bit like a loan basically.

315. 0:38:46

     Well, well, yeah.

316. 0:38:47

     A different structure.

317. 0:38:47

     Or, or actually, unfortunately, if that, if that individual received their education and left the state, then they would have to refund those resources. Is that not true?

318. 0:38:58

     Repay.

319. 0:38:58

     They would have to repay.

320. 0:38:59

     Repay every cent.

321. 0:39:00

     Yes, sir.

322. 0:39:00

     Any and all.

323. 0:39:01

     Okay.

324. 0:39:02

     Mr. Chairman.

325. 0:39:02

     Question from Senator-

326. 0:39:04

     16

327. 0:39:05

     ... Summers. Thank you.

328. 0:39:05

     Would, would the, would this individual that gets just I, I guess this magical $30,000 if it's available, would they also be able to get the Hope on top of that? And, and-

329. 0:39:16

     The Hope-

330. 0:39:16

     The Hope does not-

331. 0:39:16

     ... is not for post-graduate work, sir.

332. 0:39:18

     No.

333. 0:39:18

     Not for post-graduate.

334. 0:39:19

     They, they could have got, they could've been a Hope graduate underground.

335. 0:39:22

     Undergrad.

336. 0:39:23

     Yes, sir.

337. 0:39:23

     That's right.

338. 0:39:23

     That's possible.

339. 0:39:24

     But i- is this, once they get this, does this preclude them from getting anything else if it's available? How's that work? 'Cause I didn't ... I mean, will, will 30,000 get them through?

340. 0:39:34

     That's the, that's the tuition and attendance. So no. But it, but it, it does not speak to this being exclusive. They would, that would be, uh, handled in, in the agreement that you would, you would sign to get this. If they're, if they needed, uh, uh, loans, if they needed other things, if they, uh, went into an agreement with a private medical... I, I am un- uh, under the impression that there are many, uh, medical practices, hospitals out there that are entering into agreements with first and second year medical students to help them finish medical school, if you'll come, you know, and work for me in the hospital and work in our area.

341. 0:40:07

     Um, those, those would not be precluded. This would be an agreement, uh-

342. 0:40:11

     Got it

343. 0:40:11

     ... be- between a private individual and, and, uh, presumably student finance would administer.

344. 0:40:17

     Mr. Chairman, if I may.

345. 0:40:18

     Sure.

346. 0:40:19

     The, some hospitals I know in rural Georgia offer students, uh, funding to go to medical school if they'll come back and work at that hospital once they achieve their, uh, doctorate to, to work that off. Would this in any way step in front of that or preclude that or cause that any issue? 'Cause that's the only way rural hospitals can attract, uh, you, would you-

347. 0:40:40

     No, I, I'm with you, Senator, and I don't mean to cut you off. But I, I think you have just identified what we hope would be a stackable funding source to help people get through medical school and get to rural hospitals. I think the gentleman, uh, Senator, I think you've i- identified it perfectly that $30,000 that this could offer w- would help pay for the tuition and, and, you know, books-

348. 0:40:59

     Right

349. 0:40:59

     ... if you will. And, and if the hospitals were adding further to that, that could, uh, perhaps pay for their, their living expenses. I, again, if I, if I might be, I, I think some of the folks that are in medical school are further down the road in family life. Many-

350. 0:41:12

     Right

351. 0:41:12

     ... may be married, many may have kids.

352. 0:41:14

     Right.

353. 0:41:14

     The $30,000 to go to school is, is not the half of what it would take-

354. 0:41:18

     Yeah. Right

355. 0:41:18

     ... to, to raise that family through that.

356. 0:41:19

     Sure.

357. 0:41:20

     So I, I think the gentleman has just identified what we hope to achieve here is a stackable financial aid package to get, uh-

358. 0:41:28

     Moving

359. 0:41:28

     ... qualified medical folks to our rural communities. Yes, sir.

360. 0:41:31

     Thank you.

361. 0:41:32

     I want to hear you say.

362. 0:41:32

     Thank you. Uh, if you would, uh, uh, uh, any other comments on section two, the medical support program? Let's look at section three. If you would please, uh, Mr. Chairman, share with us, uh, the, the, uh, the essence of section three.

363. 0:41:51

     Yeah. Yes, sir. Last year, uh, we, we changed, um, uh, some, um, reserve requirements at the HOPE so that we would spend, you know, the difference between our reserve requirements and the, and the balance down, and we'd spend 10% of that. And in so doing, um, we pegged that balance to 50% of the amount of net proceeds deposited. And I don't remember if we talked about it in this committee last time, but most times when people are talking about keeping an emergency fund for three months, personally, you talk about keeping an emergency fund of three months expenses, not three months income.

364. 0:42:24

     So what we were changing here in, in working with OPB, uh, to define what base lottery spend was, which that, that's in lines 203 and, and 211 of the bill, was we defined what those were because we didn't wanna count the spend that was caused by the, the overage for, for the reserve amount. We didn't wanna inflate it. So we suggest that you change the, the reserve requirements to the lottery spend so that if revenue starts to go down, you don't want your reserves to go down. Now, that's when reserves are important. And I would add, in talking with a colleague in the House that you, you may be fam- familiar with, uh, Representative Evans, who is, is very much a, a lottery hawk to, to help us watch this, um, she even suggested, um, that we might do the greater of net proceeds deposited or base lottery spend, whichever is, is ...

365. 0:43:11

     or the, the greater of those-

366. 0:43:13

     Mm-hmm

367. 0:43:13

     ... uh, whichever is more because we wanna protect the lottery at, at 50% of that base spend. But that, that's the reason we were changing from proceeds deposited to spend, um, in, in a, a position where lottery revenue might be going down, where it was more, even more important than ever that we take care of our, uh, base so that we can take care of pre-K and HOPE.

368. 0:43:34

     Very good. Any, any further questions on section three? All right. Uh, well, if the committee will indulge me and the chairman, uh, we're, we're gonna provide a, a comprehensive, uh, bill that we can hopefully agree to. And, uh, if we can share that with the committee at this time. I think everything you will see in the composite bill is exactly what we've talked about today. Uh, we might entertain some amendments along the way. Let me, let me explain.

369. 0:44:04

     We have, uh, four bills here. 1113, unfortunately, was not ... didn't have time to get out of the, the House, although it's a ... mostly a housekeeping bill. 419 and 962 are worthy bills, as is 1413. But we're at a posture in the Senate where if we took up four bills, some might and some might not. And what we wanna do is provide one bill that, that achieves the objective of these four, and then get that to the Senate floor and have the Senate act on that and share it with the House, hopefully for a single agree.

370. 0:44:45

     So it's really more of efficiency and, uh, consolidation. And, and let me ... I, I've s- I've given ... And make sure Chairman Martin gets a copy, please. You should've gotten one first 'cause it's gonna s- no, no, nothing's gonna surprise him. I think the most important sheet is that one little piece of paper that I gave you.

371. 0:45:05

     Yeah. Mr. Chairman,

372. 0:45:05

     It shows the crossroads.

373. 0:45:06

     I'll get a copy.

374. 0:45:07

     All right. Well, it w- it, it's, it ... I'll, I'll be happy to, to just ... When we get to those points, I'll ask the chairman and the committee where we are. So if you look at LC61-0500S, this is the substitute, committee sub for House Bill 1413. Does everyone have a copy?

375. 0:45:30

     Yes.

376. 0:45:31

     So section one is exactly the section one from House Bill 1413, exact language. This is what we just went over with Chairman Martin. The reason why the order is a little different, uh, Legislative Couns- Legislative Council advised us that we needed to put it in order by code section. So code section for 1413 comes first. There is no adjustments to 1413 section one. Section two is House Bill 962.

377. 0:46:04

     What page is that are you on? All right. I, uh, section two-

378. 0:46:11

     Section seven, line 150

379. 0:46:11

     ... is on page seven, line 150. Thank you. So section two is exactly House Bill 962, section one. Right. Okay?

380. 0:46:25

     To me, like there might be one difference.

381. 0:46:28

     Section one. Uh, I'm sorry.

382. 0:46:31

     No, section two.

383. 0:46:32

     Section two is- Line 158. Oh, I'm sorry. You are 100% correct. Thank you very much for pointing that out. Say that again. All right. There is a, there is a substantive change on section two, line 158. And as the chairman pointed out, the original discussion was to go with a, a fixed number, a, a, a, an amount certain, and that was changed from 235,000 to 550,000 in consultation with the governor's office and at, at their request.

384. 0:47:04

     Mm-hmm. So section two is the original bill with the change of 235, and we deleted the language relating to or- Yeah. That's right ... the committee, uh, the, the board's, uh, s- recommendation, and we adjusted that. Mm-hmm. So that is section two of the bill. Section three of the bill is, uh, Representative Hawkins' House Bill 419, 419. Mm-hmm. So- Representative Hawkins, we wanna make sure that we protect, uh, our students from op- opioid, uh, overdoses-

385. 0:47:42

     Thank you

386. 0:47:42

     ... and fentanyl. And then section four of the bill, that's on page ...

387. 0:47:56

     Page 13, line ni- 292. That is the, uh, House Bill 1113, which a- adds the part-time student to being ineligible for, um-

388. 0:48:13

     Retirement

389. 0:48:14

     ... retirement.

390. 0:48:15

     Mm-hmm.

391. 0:48:15

     And then finally, uh, section five is, uh, House Bill 1413 section three, section three, and, and, oh, I wanna come back to that in a second. But I, I want you to note that two sections were not included in the combined bill.

392. 0:48:36

     Mm-hmm.

393. 0:48:37

     So in H- in the original House Bill 1413, section two, which dealt with the medical education, is not included in the-

394. 0:48:45

     Wow

395. 0:48:45

     ... combined bill. And the reason for that is not that it's not a good idea. It's a good idea. The reason for that is that we're not, probably not ready yet to codify how best to operationalize that. We, we still have a lot more work to do in that area, and we wanna make sure that, uh, all of our medical schools are, uh, given the opportunity to have that conversation. And so House Bill 1413, section two is not included. House Bill 962, which deals with parody, section two, is not included.

396. 0:49:18

     Again, I think that's an area that we need to continue to have conversation about. I think we still have some opportunities to, uh, address those concerns. I appreciate the author sharing his, uh, recommendations with the committee, but in conversations with, uh, various constituencies, I'm not comfortable moving section two of House Bill 962 at this time. So we're back to, uh, committee sub, where the base bill is 1413. I do like the chairman's suggestion, uh, on a lottery shortfall reserve.

397. 0:49:53

     Yes.

398. 0:49:53

     So if you look with me, please, at section five.

399. 0:49:57

     Page 14.

400. 0:49:58

     Page 14 on line 341. And, uh, Chairman, I believe your suggestion was that we look at net proceeds deposited or base lottery spend. Is that true? How would we word that?

401. 0:50:19

     Yes, sir. I, I believe, and I would yield to our learned attorney and the members-

402. 0:50:23

     Yep

403. 0:50:23

     ... of your committee, but I, I think you would unstrike the words "net proceeds deposited into," and it would read, "Net deposit- net proceeds deposited into or base lottery spin from-

404. 0:50:36

     Mm-hmm

405. 0:50:38

     ... um, such account, whichever is greater."

406. 0:50:41

     Ve- to, uh, from such account, whichever is greater. Is that correct?

407. 0:50:45

     Yes, sir. Uh, if I may, may, Mr. Chairman, to-

408. 0:50:49

     Sure

409. 0:50:49

     ... Senator something. We, we were changing the revenue. We were changing it from de- revenue deposited to spend-

410. 0:50:57

     Yes

411. 0:50:58

     ... i- is the reason it was stricken. And I, I, I think suggest now to protect the, to best protect the lottery reserve, we can do either one, whichever is greater, and that-

412. 0:51:08

     Mm-hmm

413. 0:51:08

     ... that gives us, um, the, the most protection.

414. 0:51:11

     Perhaps some additional, uh, flexibility-

415. 0:51:13

     Yes, sir

416. 0:51:13

     ... and protection.

417. 0:51:14

     Yes, sir. And I believe that is also, if, if the Chair would entertain-

418. 0:51:18

     It's also on line-

419. 0:51:18

     ... on line 354

420. 0:51:19

     ... 254.

421. 0:51:19

     Yes, sir.

422. 0:51:20

     Right.

423. 0:51:23

     Mm-hmm, right.

424. 0:51:26

     You were adding an or. Is that correct, Representative? Yeah, or base lottery spend from such account, whichever, and after that- Whichever is greater ... whichever is greater. Uh, Ledge counsel, are you comfortable with that?

425. 0:51:37

     I, and, and she may have a better way to word it.

426. 0:51:39

     She may have a better way, yeah.

427. 0:51:40

     But I was thinking it might work better to say, put the whichever is greater after the-

428. 0:51:47

     First. Mm-hmm

429. 0:51:49

     ... um, at the end of that phrase. I-

430. 0:51:50

     So, uh, uh-

431. 0:51:51

     ... think it counts the-

432. 0:51:52

     For the, for the preceding phy- phys- three physical years? Where would you put it?

433. 0:51:56

     Right.

434. 0:51:56

     Whichever's greater. At the the end of the ph- fiscal years is, I believe, is what I heard.

435. 0:52:02

     So it would be, "Net proceeds deposited into or base lottery spend from such account for the preceding three fiscal years, whichever is greater."

436. 0:52:07

     We'll need to get you to speak in that mic. I can't hear you. You can talk in that mic.

437. 0:52:11

     Sorry.

438. 0:52:11

     Oh, it's not on. That will, that'll help. Thank you.

439. 0:52:14

     So in, in both of those places, it would read, "Net proceeds deposited into or base lottery spend from such account for the preceding three fiscal years, whichever is greater."

440. 0:52:26

     Very good. Now, so that whichever is greater comes after the comma or before? That's a parenthetical. Is that right?

441. 0:52:33

     Yep.

442. 0:52:34

     Comma, whichever is greater, comma, hereafter-

443. 0:52:36

     Right

444. 0:52:37

     ... referred. So that change on lines 341 and 342, and again on lines 354 and 355. Is that correct?

445. 0:52:48

     If, uh, we'll, we'll come back to that in a second. We'll come back to that in just a second, 'cause we can't do an amendment just yet. Uh-

446. 0:52:55

     I was ready to make the amendment.

447. 0:52:57

     Yeah, I need a motion. I'll move and do pass. A m- motion do pass on-

448. 0:53:01

     Second

449. 0:53:02

     ... thank you, on House Bill 413, LC610500S from the good chairman of finance, and a second by Senator Orrock. Is that correct?

450. 0:53:16

     That's right.

451. 0:53:16

     Now we're in a, in a, in a position to accept an amendment. Do I have an amendment to, uh, the underlying legislation? Senator Harrell?

452. 0:53:25

     Yes, I move we amend House Bill 1413, um, Part 5, Section 51, beginning, I believe it's line 431-

453. 0:53:38

     341

454. 0:53:39

     ... um, to-

455. 0:53:41

     What, what, what line?

456. 0:53:42

     341.

457. 0:53:42

     Three, line 341, and, um, I'm gonna have somebody who wrote it down read it.

458. 0:53:48

     We'll ask ledge counsel to read that. Yeah.

459. 0:53:50

     Can you have ledge counsel read how we decided to word that amendment?

460. 0:53:57

     Uh, Ledge Council, you're good. Chairwoman?

461. 0:53:59

     Let me back up. Um,

462. 0:54:05

     sorry, I clicked off of it. Okay. So on lines 341 and then the same on 354, it would read, "Net proceeds deposited into or base lottery spend from such account for the proceeding three fiscal years, whichever is greater."

463. 0:54:24

     Right.

464. 0:54:25

     So that's the motion.

465. 0:54:26

     So I have, I have amendment motion stated. Is there a second?

466. 0:54:30

     Second.

467. 0:54:30

     Second from Senator H- Howard.

468. 0:54:34

     All those in favor of Amendment One, indicate with the uplifted hand. I see, uh, unanimous support. Thank you very much. Uh, we have no one signed up for this, for this discussion. I think we took, uh, input, uh, last week on this. And so now on the underlying bill, uh, those in favor of House Bill 4th- 1413-LC610500S as amended, indicate with the uplifted hand. Thank you very much. Again, unanimous.

469. 0:55:04

     I'd like to join the team.

470. 0:55:05

     That's right, join the team. Let me, let me thank the committee and congratulate the author. Let me tell you what, for all the authors. We had four authors here. But, uh, I want you to know how important the Dream Scholarship is for our state, and I want you to know how excited I am for the Dream Scholarship to be implementable. We've got some more work to do on the Senate floor. I need your help. And then we've got more work on the House floor, but I'm grateful for the progress we've made today. Thank you for your work on this. We will cancel the higher education meeting for Thursday.

471. 0:55:38

     I appreciate it. And with no other business, we'll stand adjourned.

472. 0:55:40

     Thanks, Senator.

473. 0:55:41

     Thanks,

474. 0:55:54

     sir.