On Day 27 Rep. Stovall presented her 2nd legislation for
2017-2018 session in the House Chambers
Why House Bill 493?
It is a true transparency and fairness in local government legislation for school districts, cities, and counties. This bill requires local governments which are currently video recording meetings and it is provided on the website for public viewing, now to include public commentary in the video as part of the minutes. Our democracy is designed for the people to have a voice in the type of government they desire. This bill introduced during the 2017 session will do it. It passed in the Governmental Affairs Committee but did not make it to the House Floor for a vote last year. It was recommitted to the committee for the 2018 session. Rep. Stovall requested for another hearing and once again it passed the committee and was amended in the Rules Committee. She presented the bill to her House colleagues on Monday, February 26th and it was voted and approved unanimously (170 yes 0 no). It took a bipartisan collaboration for the passage of HB 493. It move onto the next journey in the Senate Government Oversight Committee awaiting a hearing and potentially passage prior to witnessing the gavel on March 29, 2018 (official close of 2018 session)
Listen to Rep. Stovall's presentation of HB 493
Rep. Stovall has two bills in the Senate to be passed by March 29:
*HR 279 Single Parents Day in Georgia on March 21st
*HB 493 Public Comment Video Recorded
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Click to listen to her announcement speech on March 8, 2018
#StovallThatsAll
Click to listen to highlight on Lawmakers on Rep. Stovall (scroll down to her name)
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Why is Crossover Day important for legislators?
The Crossover Day is always a time when all legislators who have not passed bills in either chamber are anxiously waiting to hear the decisions of the Rules Committee in the House & Senate and for passage on the Chamber floors. This is the final day which determines which bills will have a chance to make it to the finish line to be signed into law by the Governor. It was a long day starting at 10am and ending at 1:10am. There were at least 84 bills voted on in the House Chambers during that time. Members are allowed to ask questions of the presenters. All votes are recorded by last names and district numbers on two screens for the public to view.
Random Selection of Bills passed on February 28th-Crossover Day
(for more information on bills go to House Rules Calendar
*HB 759 (co-sponsor) changes the qualifications for the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Program to allow the prior school year requirement (passed)(yes vote)
*HB 718 (co-sponsor) allows certain absences of students with parents in services of the armed forces of the US (passed)(yes vote)
*HB 482 (co-sponsor) establishes educational scholarship accounts for qualified education expenses for attendance at a private school (did not pass)(yes vote)
-All children deserve access to the best education setting for them whether public or private. This bill allows parents to determine what providers should service their children through an education savings account held in trust by the Ga Dept. of Revenue
*HB 834 provide termination of a rental or lease agreement under circumstances of family violence (passed)(yes vote)
* HB 765 "CJ Law" provides penalty for hit and run accidents (passed)(yes vote)
*HB 605 "Hidden Predator Act of 2018" extends the statute of limitations for actions for childhood sexual abuse and provides for retroactive claims (passed)(yes vote)
*HB 623 (debated heavily) allows Ga Crime Information Center to retain fingerprints of certain individuals and submit them to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (did not pass) (yes vote)
-There were concerns on why the fingerprints should be retained by FBI when used for employment purposes and not criminally related.
*HB 764 allows lawful possession of certain quantities of low THC oil and marijuana for additional conditions of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and Intractable pain, provides for licensing for cultivation of cannabis at state postsecondary educational institutions (passed)(yes vote)
*HR 993 creates a business court with state-wide jurisdiction (passed)(yes vote)
*HB 673 (debated heavily) prohibits actions which distract a driver while operating a motor vehicle, provides for the proper and safe use of wireless telecommunications devices (passed)(no vote)
-There were issues on when to allow the use of a phone in your hands, the first guilty fine of $300 and amount of points on driver's record, higher rate of convictions in lower income communities due to inability of purchasing new cars with built in devices and increase of probationers leading to incarceration
*HB 410 provides for statements of amounts owing to a condominium association, property owners' association (HOA), etc. (passed)(yes vote)
*HB 831 establishes the Employment First Georgia Council to aid with meaningful employment for working age citizens with disabilities regardless of the level of disability (passed)(yes vote)
-This bill is a result of recommendations made from a 2015 House Study Committee Rep. Stovall served on for Post Secondary Education & Employment Options for Individuals with Disabilities
*HB 732 expands the offense of trafficking an individual for sexual servitude to add the word patronizes, instead of age 16 or 17 it states 16 years of age or older
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Virginia Freeman Ford
2018 Nikki T. Randall Servant Leadership Awardee from District 74
Mrs. Ford was honored at the Georgia State Capitol by Rep. Stovall with an award and House Resolution 1360. She enjoys providing activities within the community for people with disabilities to attend, including an elaborate fashion show complete with stage, runway, and dinner, and has opened up her home to parents who seek respite while tending to the needs of their disabled child. She has served with honor and distinction as president of The Arc of Clayton County and as a member of the State Board of The Arc of Georgia. She is an active church member and participates in her local community government. She also serves as her family historian, the “Anderson “PEP” Freeman”. For over 105 years, they have met for family reunions with a portion of those years held on Freeman Road, named in honor of the “Freeman Family Legacy”. This location intertwines within the history of Henry and Clayton counties where a monument is located.
Special congratulations to other recipients (not pictured): Cartrice Myers, Dr. Georgianne Thomas, Sabrina Crawford, Arianne Weldon
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(Forest Park High PTSA w/ Gov. Deal)
(Oliver Elem. Gifted & Talented Kdg-5th grade)
(Clayton Chamber Day)
(Women Veteran Day)
hosted by Rep. Scott, Rep. Gilligan, Sen. Anderson
Thanks for your service to our country!
(Ga Connections Academy-Clayton)
(Alpha Men Mentoring-Clayton)
(Camille Zeigler- Delta Sigma Theta Day)
Rep. Stovall's high school counselor
(Brittany Bankston, Exec. Dir. Prestigious Purses)
Her organization provides new and gently used purses to women who are victims of domestic violence and/or homeless. She has been an exhibitor at Rep. Stovall's Dance on the Bridge Annual Parent recognition event.
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WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT A PARTICULAR PIECE OF LEGISLATION?
If you would like to learn more about any legislation go to http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/en-US/Search.aspx, and with using the bill number (comes after the letters “HB, HR, SB, SR”) search for legislation that you want to know about, because Knowledge is Power!
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*Click to view the report: The State of Literacy in Georgia: Action Needed For Georgia's Thriving Workforce and Economy
Rep. Stovall enjoys visiting locations in District 74, across the state and nationally. She is able to gain better insights and share these experiences with those she serves. Economic Development/Job Creation and Education (Birth to Adult) are her main focus.
Clayton Center invited Rep. Stovall as one of their Black History Speakers at the Paula Crane Life Enrichment Center in Morrow. She shared the importance of advocacy which was important in black history. She encouraged them to register and vote. She informed attendees about the benefits of WorkSource and Dept. of Labor which offer free services to Clayton County residents. She answered questions about the state's High Demand Career Initiative offering free tuition at the Technical Colleges along with Free GED classes and the impact on the jet fuel tax exemption. Click for more information on the center
Rep. Stovall hosted her 2018 Legislative Townhall Meeting on Feb. 24th at the Riverdale City Hall Chambers. She discussed and answered questions from attendees about the impact of the jet fuel tax exemption on Clayton. She was confident that a stop gap solution would be found by Governor Deal and Delta to offset $45 million. To ensure more residents and business leaders are engaged, Rep. Stovall and the attendees believed advocacy training is needed. She agreed to host a Leadership Planning Advocacy Training meeting to brainstorm ways to accomplish this goal. It is open to all leaders who want to give their talents and skills to the "cause".
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Rep. Stovall's bills introduced are eligible for passage during this 2018 session:
*HB 788- a parent or guardian may enroll a student in a school using the address of an individual residing in the school's attendance zone who has authorized such us. (in House Education, a hearing was held no decision) Click to view
Click to read article in AJC on HB788
Click to view 11Alive coverage on HB 788
*HR 279- designates Single Parents Day on March 21 in Georgia, designates Childhood Cancer Awareness Day on Sept. 1. (passed House, in Senate Rules) Click to view
*HB 423- requires local school district to offer unused facilities to state charters at no cost and if sold it must be sold for no more than $1 (tabled in House Education Committee) Click to view
*HB 493- amends the open meeting act to require public comments be included in any video recording of public meetings held by commissioners, city councils, and school boards (passed Gov. Affairs committee, in House Rules) Click to view
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 *2018 Summer Youth Job Program for ages 14-21 yrs old in District 74-
participants will be required to complete 20 volunteer hours in Clayton County
*Annual Dance on the Bridge Recognition of Parent Volunteers (May 19th)
*Annual Career-Job Fair (Sept)
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Read more information on featured articles & resources
Did you know high school students can attend high school & college simultaneously at no cost to parents?
www.mowrga.org
Adult Protective Services for Senior Adults & other resources
https://aging.georgia.gov/adult-protective-services-aps
Job Search
http://dhsjobs.dhs.ga.gov/Public
HB 614 Landon Dunson Act
http://www.news-daily.com/news/gov-deal-signs-rep-stovall-s-landon-dunson-act-into/article_5bac50f0-799c-5a84-8461-610c8fbe1489.html
Women In Politics Award
http://www.ncsl.org/legislators-staff/legislators/womens-legislative-network/women-in-politics-making-a-difference-awards.aspx
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