by Sen. Mike Dugan (R – Carrollton)

Week three of the 2019 session was short but our members remained productive by holding the first of our committee meetings and introducing legislation. The majority of the committees that met adopted their rules for the 2019 session, introduced new members and some even heard from experts. While many of the committees focused on administrative procedures, the Senate Public Safety Committee heard the first bill of the session. As an ex-officio on the committee, I want to commend Chairman Sen. John Albers and our committee members for their quick attention to an important issue that is a priority for not only myself but the majority caucus – keeping our students safe in and around our schools.

During our first committee meeting, we heard Senate Bill 25 which addresses when it is lawful to pass a stopped school bus if you are driving on the opposite side of the road. During the 2018 session, House Bill 978 was passed and has caused not only confusion but major safety concerns because it does not clearly define when it is legal to pass a stopped school bus if you are on the other side of the road. If SB 25 becomes law, it will be clear that instead of a turn lane divide there must be a grass median, unpaved area or physical barrier present for someone to lawfully pass a stopped school bus on the opposite side of the road.

I want to commend Sen. Bill Heath, the bill’s sponsor, for bringing this legislation before our committee and focusing on an issue that will ensure our children are safe while being transported from and to school. By being proactive and getting this important issue before a committee at the very beginning of session, we have a chance to change the law as soon as possible so further confusion can be avoided. I look forward to working with Sen. Heath, colleagues in the Senate and friends in the House to ensure this legislation passes quickly so that our citizens have a clear understanding of what to do when encountering a stopped school bus. It is a priority of ours to clarify this law in a timely manner so that we do not hear any additional stories of children getting struck by cars because someone was confused.

Along with passing SB 25 to ensure safe transportation of our students, there are two pieces of legislation that have been introduced to address the safety of our students, educators and staff within our school buildings. Senate Bill 15, entitled the “Keeping Georgia’s Schools Safe Act,”  is the omnibus school safety legislation that would put into place parameters schools have to follow to reduce the threat of violence in schools. Although guidelines would be outlined, each school board would have local control on how to implement threat assessments, drills and coaching on what action to take against a potential threat. Lastly, Senate Resolution 12 proposes a Constitutional Amendment that would enable schools to utilize funds from an ESPLOST for security projects. This could include additional staff like mental health counselors for students.

All three pieces of legislation focus on what is most important to us as parents, public servants and citizens of Georgia – the safety of our children. As we continue our working on SB 15, SB 25 and SR 12, our focus will be on passing the best version of each bill to ensure there are no unintended consequences and that our children are able to go to school without a concern for violence. Our children should focus on learning and our educators shouldn’t have to worry about violence while working hard to teach our children to be their best. It is our job and moral obligation to do all we can to ensure their safety and I believe we are headed in the right direction by prioritizing student and school safety.

As these bills make their way through the legislative process, I will keep you updated. If you have any questions, concerns or feedback on this issue or any others, please do not hesitate to reach out. My office is always open and I am here to assist.