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The ADVANCE, February 24,2021 /Page 9A
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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.
