2013 Session Just Ended
Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, April 5, 2013 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler
Good morning, Jim. After a long, hard 40 days, this year’s session ended March 28th. During those 40 days, well over 2500 bills were introduced – some good, some bad, some passed, some didn’t. It’ll be some time before we have a final analysis of what actually happened this year. But, one thing I know. We’re in a battle for the very soul of our country.
Maybe that’s why I’m so thrilled that Representative Barbara Sims’ legislation passed. Her simple 32-line bill was prompted by two very important facts: (1) Georgia’s children are not being taught United States history or The Constitution of the United States. (2) So, unless they have an exceptional teacher, Georgia’s public school students have no idea how important the Constitution is or why it should be studied and followed as the founding document of our great nation.
H.R. 218 asks that all local school superintendents recognize that learning the Constitution is a vital part of education, beginning in kindergarten. If Representative Sims’ request is implemented by local superintendents and teachers in their respective districts, Georgia’s future high school graduates should be well informed about the United States Constitution and its monumental importance to our country.Representative Sims does NOT suggest a separate course to get this done. Instead, she suggests that the study of U.S. history and the Constitution be integrated into the entire curriculum to help students understand the unique government of our one-of-a-kind country.
Although the author of H.R. 218 represents only two counties, her bill encourages superintendents across the state to initiate an enhanced school curriculum that teaches the U.S. Constitution. Then, she asks superintendents to REQUIRE educators in their districts to make it happen. H.R. 218 passed the House 160 to 1. 10 didn’t vote and 9 were excused. I’d like to know the reason behind that NO vote.
Another good bill that passed was Senator Ligon’s 52-line S.B. 1 to create a law requiring health insurance information and records to be equally available to both parents in all types of custody arrangements. Under current law, both parents have had access to all of their children’s records and information, including, but not limited to, education, health, extracurricular activities and religious communications and, now, S.B. 1 added “health insurance” to that list.
So, these important documents will be available to the custodial parent AND the noncustodial parent UNLESS a court order specifically stops access to the documents or their parental rights had been terminated. S.B. 1 passed the House 164 – 0 and the Senate 49 – 3. Again, I would like to know the reason behind the NO votes. For Georgia Insight I’m Sue Ella Deadwyler, your Capitol correspondent.