Rep. Bethany Ballard

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 12 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to effectiveness of educational programs, so as to require the administration of a nationally recognized multiple-aptitude battery assessment that measures developed abilities and helps predict future academic and occupational success in the military to public school students in grades 11 and 12 who choose to participate; to prohibit the use of assessment results in education accountability programs; to provide for parents and guardians to opt their children out of participating in such assessments; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 15-9-2.1, Title 16, Title 19, Title 20, and Chapter 2 of Title 38, Chapter 2 of Title 40, of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to appointment, compensation, authority, qualifications, training, and other limitations of associate probate court judges, crimes and offenses, domestic relations, education, military affairs, and registration and licensing of motor vehicles, respectively, so as to add appropriate references to the United States Space Force; to make conforming changes; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 15-6-2 of the O.C.G.A., relating to the number of judges of superior courts, so as to provide for a fourth judge of the superior courts of the Houston Judicial Circuit; to provide for the appointment of such additional judge by the Governor; to provide for the election of successors to the judge initially appointed; to prescribe the powers of such judge; to prescribe the compensation, salary, and expense allowance of such judge to be paid by the State of Georgia and the counties comprising said circuit; to authorize the judges of such circuit to divide and allocate the work and duties thereof; to provide for the manner of impaneling jurors; to provide for an additional court reporter for such circuit; to authorize the governing authorities of the counties comprising the Houston Judicial Circuit to provide facilities, office space, supplies, equipment, and personnel for such judges; to declare inherent authority; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 4 of Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Realizing Educational Achievement Can Happen (REACH) Scholarship, so as to provide that victims of human trafficking are eligible for such scholarship; to provide for the designation of REACH scholars; to provide for funding; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 47-4-101 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to retirement benefits payable upon normal, early, or delayed retirement in the Public School Employees Retirement System, so as to revise the minimum and maximum allowable benefit multiplier for current and future retirees; to provide for related matters; to provide conditions for an effective date and automatic repeal; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to create the Mid-State Energy Authority as an institution performing an essential governmental function; to provide for a short title; to provide for definitions; to provide for purpose; to provide for members of the Authority and meetings; to provide for powers of the Authority; to provide that the Authority replaces the Commission; to provide for tort immunity; to provide contracting requirements; to provide for supplemental powers; to deny taxing powers; to provide for construction and severability; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to secondary and elementary education, so as to provide for funding requirements to apply to local education agencies; to provide for one superintendent for each state charter school; to provide for funding for local and state charter school principals; to increase opportunities for students to attend and be enrolled in the public schools where their parents or guardians are employed, including charter schools, regardless of school attendance zone or school system residency; to limit the application of certain state charter school conflict of interest provisions to executive-level employees, rather than all employees, of local boards of education or local school systems; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 5 of Title 19 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to divorce, so as to provide for a process by which individuals may change their married surname to a prior surname or the given surname on their birth certificate following a divorce; to provide for applicability; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A RESOLUTION honoring the life and memory of Matthew Christopher "Matt" Littlefield; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 48-7-40.1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to tax credits for business enterprises in less developed areas, so as to revise the military zones that qualify for designation as less developed areas; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.