Georgia Democratic, Republican Caucuses announce legislative agendas

ATLANTA, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Georgia Senate Republicans want to see if any improvements can be made to the state’s anti-terrorism plan while House Democrats are trying to expand Medicaid.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Cowsert released the 2016 Republican Caucus legislative agenda. It includes the following items:

1. Protecting Georgia Citizens – The Senate Republican Caucus will conduct a comprehensive assessment of Georgia’s anti-terrorism plan and any potential safety vulnerabilities.
2. Protecting Access to Care – The Senate Republican Caucus will address the rural healthcare needs by focusing on workforce development, telemedicine, improvement in EMS services and improved access and quality of care.
3. Protecting Teachers Ability to Teach – As the Senate Republican Caucus works to improve the quality of education in order to support a vibrant economy, we will look the enhance flexibility for testing requirements, allowing teachers to focus more of their time and energy on teaching.
4. Protecting the First Amendment – The Senate Republican Caucus stands united and is committed the the protection of the First Amendment freedoms for all Georgians.
5. Protecting the Future of the Disabled – The Senate Republican Caucus will ease the financial strains faced by individuals with disabilities and their families by making a tax-free account available to cover qualifies expenses such as education, housing and transportation.
6. Protecting the Unborn – The Senate Republican Caucus will work to protect the unborn by expanding women’s access to pregnancy resource centers and their counseling and family planning services.
7. Protecting Small Businesses – The Senate Republican Caucus will continue the tradition of always protecting a small business’ ability to guard against government intrusion and overreach.

The House Democratic Caucus also announced their initiatives for the 2016 General Assembly Thursday. The group wants to focus on the following bills from last session:

1. Too Young to Suspect Act (HB 135) – Prohibits schools from suspending or expelling children in pre-kindergarten through third grade.
2. Any Precinct Act (HB 26) – Allows voters to cast a ballot in any precinct in the county.
3. Fair Chance at Employment Act (HB 163) – Prohibits the use of consumer credit checks against prospective and current employees for the purpose of making employment decisions.

The House Democratic Caucus wants to focus on the following new issues:

1. Expand Medicaid NOW Act – Would compel Georgia’s Department of Community Health to expand state Medicaid eligibility up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level and provide health insurance coverage for nearly half a million Georgians.
2. Pursuing Justice for Rape Victims Act (HB 560) – Would require law enforcement to send all untested inventories of sexual assault kits to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation for forensic examination as well as mandate the prompt delivery of testing kits by law enforcement to GBI going forward.
3. Paid Sick Leave Act – Introduces a comprehensive sick leave policy for Georgia’s workers and their families under which full-time employees will accrue on hour of paid sick leave for every thirty hours he or she works.

The House Democratic Caucus will also focus on a number of bills that would help military families.