HB 217: Education; make Dual Achievement Program a permanent state-wide program - Georgia

LC 61 0210S/hcs → HB 217/AP* · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill significantly broadens HB 217's scope from exclusively focusing on the Dual Achievement Program to also address election ineligibility for local school board members and education savings authority privacy rules. The original committee substitute version focused only on extending the Dual Achievement Program, while the final version now includes provisions about who can run for school board positions and how student financial data is shared with tax authorities.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from solely the Dual Achievement Program to include election ineligibility rules for school board members and education savings authority disclosure requirements.

SCOPE

Bill title and purpose statement changed from focusing only on vocational/technical education to broader education provisions including election ineligibility and education savings authority disclosures.

ELIGIBILITY

New provisions added regarding ineligibility for election to local boards of education, with specific rules about nepotism concerns and waiver procedures for small school systems.

ENFORCEMENT

Education savings authority now authorized to share applicant names and income threshold information with the Department of Revenue for income verification purposes, with strict confidentiality protections for tax data.

DEFINITION

Removed definitions for Dual Achievement Program, eligible student, extracurricular activities, QBE formula earnings, and technical college system from the bill text.

TIMELINE

Removed pilot program provisions for the Dual Achievement Program that were set to expire after five to ten years.

LC 61 0210S/hs → LC 61 0210S/hcs · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill underwent formatting and structural changes during committee review, including the addition of sponsor names and a committee substitute designation. The substantive policy content regarding the Dual Achievement Program remains unchanged, including the five-year extension, eligibility requirements starting July 1, 2026, and provisions for QBE funding and accountability assessments.

Scope change

No substantive change to the bill's scope or applicability; changes are primarily formatting and procedural additions indicating committee review status.

TECHNICAL

Added sponsor names (Representatives Hong, Martin, Erwin, Wade, and Ballard) and committee substitute designation to identify the bill's origin and review status.

Removed blank lines and introductory committee language, streamlining the bill's presentation format.

LC 61 0160S/hs → LC 61 0210S/hs · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was revised to clarify its scope from amending 'Article 6' to amending 'Chapter 4' of Title 20, and to add new definitions and updated eligibility requirements. The changes expand the program's framework to include QBE funding and accountability assessments, clarify waiver expiration timelines, and provide clearer definitions for key terms used in the Dual Achievement Program.

Scope change

The bill now explicitly amends Chapter 4 of Title 20 (vocational, technical, and adult education) rather than just Article 6, broadening the legislative context and adding new definitions and reporting requirements.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'Eligible student', 'Extracurricular activities', 'QBE formula earnings', 'State board', 'Resident school', 'Resident school system', and 'Technical college system' to clarify program terms.

FISCAL

Added provisions for QBE (Quality Basic Education) funding and accountability assessments to be included in the program.

ELIGIBILITY

Added provisions for updated eligibility requirements beginning July 1, 2026, and continued eligibility for students already enrolled.

TIMELINE

Clarified waiver expiration timelines from 'five ten years' to 'five ten years' (likely a drafting error in both versions) and added reporting deadlines.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirements for participation agreements, reporting, and automatic repeal provisions.

LC 61 0078/a → LC 61 0160S/hs · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill substitutes a permanent version of the Dual Achievement Program with a five-year extension, changing the program from a temporary pilot to a longer-term initiative. The key change extends the program duration from five to ten years and modifies the review timeline for reporting results to state officials.

Scope change

The program scope changed from a temporary pilot program to an extended pilot program lasting ten years instead of five, with updated reporting requirements for state oversight.

TIMELINE

Extended program duration from five years to ten years for the Dual Achievement Pilot Program

Changed annual reporting deadline from February 1 to November 15 for program results to state committee chairpersons

TECHNICAL

Corrected formatting inconsistencies in section numbering and text alignment throughout the bill

SCOPE

Changed bill title language from making program permanent to extending the pilot program for additional five years

Education; make Dual Achievement Program a permanent state-wide program

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