| 1 | 1 | | 25 LC 61 0134 |
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| 2 | 2 | | House Bill 544 |
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| 3 | 3 | | By: Representatives Berry of the 56 |
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| 4 | 4 | | th |
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| 5 | 5 | | , Miller of the 62 |
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| 6 | 6 | | nd |
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| 7 | 7 | | , Park of the 107 |
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| 8 | 8 | | th |
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| 9 | 9 | | , Hugley of the |
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| 10 | 10 | | 141 |
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| 11 | 11 | | st |
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| 12 | 12 | | , Frye of the 122 |
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| 13 | 13 | | nd |
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| 14 | 14 | | , and others |
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| 15 | 15 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 16 | 16 | | AN ACT |
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| 17 | 17 | | To amend Code Section 20-2-310 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to |
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| 18 | 18 | | 1 |
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| 19 | 19 | | student directory information, registering to vote and with selective service, and pledge of2 |
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| 20 | 20 | | allegiance, so as to establish the Jimmy Carter Award for Civic Engagement; to provide for3 |
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| 21 | 21 | | policies and procedures; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for4 |
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| 22 | 22 | | other purposes.5 |
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| 23 | 23 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:6 |
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| 24 | 24 | | SECTION 1.7 |
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| 25 | 25 | | Code Section 20-2-310 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to student8 |
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| 26 | 26 | | directory information, registering to vote and with selective service, and pledge of allegiance,9 |
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| 27 | 27 | | is amended by revising subsection (b) as follows:10 |
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| 28 | 28 | | "(b)(1) |
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| 29 | 29 | | Each eligible student in the public schools of this state shall be apprised of his or11 |
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| 30 | 30 | | her right to register as an elector and to vote in elections and of any obligation to register12 |
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| 31 | 31 | | with the Selective Service System. Each eligible student shall be given an opportunity,13 |
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| 32 | 32 | | arranged by the school administration, to register to vote at his or her school during the14 |
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| 33 | 33 | | month of April of each year. The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules and15 |
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| 34 | 34 | | H. B. 544 |
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| 35 | 35 | | - 1 - 25 LC 61 0134 |
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| 36 | 36 | | regulations to carry out this Code section. An excused absence of a student to register or |
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| 37 | 37 | | 16 |
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| 38 | 38 | | vote, at the discretion of the local unit of administration, shall not exceed one school day.17 |
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| 39 | 39 | | (2)(A) There is established the Jimmy Carter Award for Civic Engagement to |
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| 40 | 40 | | 18 |
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| 41 | 41 | | recognize public schools at which a high percentage of eligible students are registered19 |
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| 42 | 42 | | to vote. In order to qualify for the Jimmy Carter Award for Civic Engagement, a public20 |
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| 43 | 43 | | school shall meet the following criteria:21 |
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| 44 | 44 | | (i) For a gold level award, 100 percent of eligible students at such public school shall22 |
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| 45 | 45 | | be registered to vote; or23 |
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| 46 | 46 | | (ii) For a silver level award, 85 percent of eligible students at such public school shall24 |
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| 47 | 47 | | be registered to vote.25 |
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| 48 | 48 | | (B) The Department of Education shall develop policies and procedures to recognize26 |
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| 49 | 49 | | public schools which meet the criteria for an award pursuant to this paragraph."27 |
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| 50 | 50 | | SECTION 2.28 |
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| 51 | 51 | | All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.29 |
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| 52 | 52 | | H. B. 544 |
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| 53 | 53 | | - 2 - |
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