The Advance. (Vidalia, Ga.) 2003-current, February 24, 2021, Image 9

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The Advance., February 24, 2021, Image 9

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Newspaper Page TextShe Aiiuancg The ADVANCE, February 24,2021 /Page 9A Please submit photos and announcements by Thursday at 12 noon to have your engagement or anniversary published. PEOPLE Governor Kemp Signs Amended Fiscal Year 2021 Budget @ OFFICE OF GOVERNOR BRIAN P. KEMP AMENDED FY2021 BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS FULLY FUNDS ENROLLMENT GROWTH FOR BOARD OF REGENTS AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM. OVER $610 MILLION IN QBE FUNDING FOR K-12 SCHOOLS. ONE-TIME S1,000 BONUS FOR STATE EMPLOYEES MAKING LESS THAN $80,000 ANUALLY. $20 MILLION TO EXPAND RURAL BROADBAND ACCESS. $1 MILLION IN MARKETING FUNDS TO REVIVE GEORGIA TOURISM INDUSTRY. NEARLY $300,000 FOR GEORGIA COORDINATING CENTER TO SUPPORT HOSPITALS AND HEALTHCARE HEROES. NO NEW AGENCY CUTS, NO FURLOUGHS, NO LAYOFFS, AND NO NEW TAXES. i-Ur- Today, Governor Brian P. Kemp joined Lt. Gov ernor Geoff Duncan and other legislative leaders to sign the amended fiscal year 2021 budget. "Today I am signing a budget that reflects our val ues as a state. By restoring education funding, making key investments in expand ing internet access, priori tizing public health, giving 57,000 state employees a well-deserved bonus, and spurring economic devel opment in every corner of our state, this budget en sures Georgia will continue being the best state to live, work, and raise a family As other states look to fur lough workers, cut essential services, or raise taxes, we acted early in the pandemic to budget conservatively and protect both lives and livelihoods. I thank Lt. Governor Duncan, Speak er Ralston, members of the General Assembly, and the House and Senate budget staffs who worked closely with my office to get this budget across the finish line. By working together, we will make sure Georgia's best days are still ahead." — Governor Brian Kemp “While other states continue to make budget cuts, or are preparing for looming deficits, Geor gia is a testament that states can prioritize both lives and livelihoods. This amended budget not only restores critical funding, but provides a founda tion for continued growth - even in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Georgians should be proud of the teamwork their state leaders exhibited to get this budget to the finish line. I want to thank Chairman Tillery, and the Senate Budget staff, who worked tirelessly to ensure a con servative, balanced bud get." — Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan “Working together, we have arrived at an amended budget that prioritizes the state’s response to CO- VID-19 and helping our people through this pan demic. We have allocated additional funding to the Department of Public Health for more staff and technology. We have added more than half a billion dollars to public schools, and we have provided teachers and many state employees with a $1,000 bonus to reward their ef forts. With our AAA-bond rating and strong reserve fund, the nation’s #1 state for business continues to budget conservatively, and we can be proud that our budget reflects our shared commitment to keep Georgia healthy and grow ing. I want to thank Gov ernor Kemp, Lt. Governor Duncan and the members of the Senate for working with Chairman Terry Eng land and the rest of our House members on this budget.” — Speaker David Ralston See above for high lights from the Amended Fiscal Year 2021 Budget: Summary for Sixth Week of 2021 Session By Rep. Robert Pruitt (District 149) The sixth week of the 2021 leg islative session began on Tuesday, February 16. By the end of the week, we completed our 19th day in ses sion and passed more legislation on the House floor and in our respective committees. The House unanimously passed legislation that seeks to automatically enroll thousands of Georgia’s most vulnerable children in health insurance. House Bill 163 would require the Georgia Department of Community Health to submit an amendment to implement “express lane” eligibility in Medicaid and the PeachCare for Kids Program. Upon federal approval, the Georgia Depart ment of Human Services would automatically enroll and renew eligible children who have already qualified for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. There are approximately 120,000 children enrolled in SNAP, however, some miss out because they have to submit a separate application with the DHS. This leg islation would close this coverage gap and ensure unin sured children receive health care coverage. H. i Happy Heavenly Birthday in memory & celebration Rosa Marie Asberry ^ February 15, 1960 With all our love. Husband - Bruce. Children - Jerrell, Daniel, Derrek. Grands - Dekenley, Kasen, Raya & Coach. A sister & friend to all. Enjoy your birthday with your sister Lynn, who resides up there with you. Additionally, another bill was unanimously passed that was inspired by Grade Joy Nobles, a Georgia child with Down syndrome. House Bill 128 will help safe guard against organ transplant discrimination for chil dren living with disabilities. If Grade’s Law is enacted, individuals who are candidates for anatomical gift or or gan transplant would not be deemed ineligible or denied insurance coverage or medial referral solely based on the individual’s physical or mental disability. Children’s Health Care of Atlanta, which performs most of the pe diatric solid organ transplants in the state, has expressed support for this legislation and also reported that there is no medical reason to warrant such discrimination. House Bill 146 passed on the floor last Tuesday with a vote of 155-2. This legislation provides eligible full-time state employees an additional three weeks of paid parental leave. To be eligible, one must have been employed for six continuous months. Parental leave is given to employees experiencing the life event of giving birth, adoption, or foster care. House Bill 154 passed on the floor last Wednes day with a vote of 164-4. This bill is part of the ongo ing efforts started in 2016. House Bill 154 makes several changes to the state adoption code in hopes of making the adoption process smoother by identifying and cor recting multiple inefficiencies in the system. This in cludes lowering the age an individual can adopt from 25 to 21 years old. Always keeping in mind that the safety and well-being of children is the top priority, this bill simply increases the speed and efficiency of adoptions, thus improving the rate of adoption and foster care. Another notable legislation that passed on the floor is House Bill 168, which concerns district attorneys ac cessing inmate’s files. This bill is an amendment to the Official Code of Georgia that protects the confidenti ality of inmates. The main breakdown simply gives the privilege for District Attorneys to request and receive confidential inmate conduct files from the Department of Corrections for inmates who have been convicted of a serious felony or dangerous sexual offense who are eligible for parole. House Bill 168 passed last Thursday with a vote of 99-66. We will reach the halfway point of the session when we return for Legislative Day 20 on Monday, February 22. The last day that House bills can be passed in the House Chamber and be eligible to become law during this session is Day 28. We will continue to work diligent ly to meet this upcoming deadline. If you have any con cerns or questions about legislation, then please do not hesitate to contact me. You can reach my office at 404- 656-0116 or email me at robert.pruitt(a)house.ga.gov. As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your representative and I look forward to seeing you soon.. As the State Representative for District 149, Robert Pruitt serves Dodge County, Telfair County, Wheeler County, Cadwell, and Hazlehurst. During the second week of the 2021 Legislative Session, Rep Pruitt was appointed to serve on the Industry and Trade, Economic Development, and Small Business committees for the next two years. Robert and his wife Kelly have been long time residents of Eastman. Reach thousands of potential buyers! ADVERTISE HERE! CALL 537-3131 Birth Announcement Wil and Whitley Ledford of Vidalia announce the birth of their daughter, Izzy James Ledford, bom on February 3, 2021. Her sisters are Paisley, Kendall, and Sawyer, who is pictured with Izzy. Izzy's maternal grandparents are Paul & Tina Williamson of Vidalia. She is the paternal grand daughter of William Ledford of Vidalia and Melanie McLemore of Vidalia. Her maternal great-grandparents are Bobby & Editha Brigman of Vidalia, Larry Clark of Ailey, and J Bird & Ruth Williamson of Vidalia. She is the pater nal great-granddaughter of William F. & Rose Led ford, Sr., of Vidalia and James Harold & Ocala Morris ofVidalia. Toombs Home Destroyed by Fire on February 14 A Toombs County residence was destroyed by fire Sunday, February 14, and an HVAC air handler is believed to be the origin of the blaze. Cause of the fire is undetermined at this time, but an investigation is under way. Toombs County vol unteer firefighters respond ed to a 911 call reporting the fire on Aimwell Ex tension in rural Toombs County around 1:05 p.m. No one was at home at the time the fire broke out and neighbors alerted authori ties. The house was fully in volved by fire when the fire crews arrived on the scene, said Volunteer Chief John ny Moser. He said one fire fighter sustained a minor injury to his hand while fighting the fire. Firefighters were un able to save the structure but provided exposure protection, salvage, over haul and scene safety. Moser said the Red Cross was contacted to lend as sistance to the family who resided in the home. ODDS Oends TCREA Meeting— The TCREA March meeting will be in person at Grace Community Presby terian Church, 274 S. Washington Street, Lyons, on March 4 at 10:30 a.m. Donations will be accepted for their state charity, Al zheimer's Associa tion. COVID guidelines will be observed. Firearm Safety Course— The Vidalia Police Department is ac cepting applications for the Women's fire arm Safety Course scheduled March 13, 20 and 27. Visit the police department or go to the depart ment web site for more information and an application. (Vidaliaga.gov/po- lice/page/taking-it- streets.) COVID Vaccines— Meadows Health COVID Vaccine Cen ter is now open de pendent on vaccine supply. Vaccine ap pointments are made by appoint ment only. At present only the 1A+ popula tion is eligible for the vaccine. To make an appointment, 912- 535-SAFE(7233) or email covid@mead- owsregional.org.