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The Sylvania Times
Wednesday, April 3, 2024 - Page 11
The Georgia House recently passed
partisan bill HB663 - No Patient
Left Alone Act
A B ill to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter
7 of Title 31 of the O.C.G.A., relating to
regulation and construction of hospitals and
other health care facilities, so as to establish
certain rights of minors and adults admitted
to hospitals; to provide for definitions;
to authorize hospitals and long-term care
facilities to limit or restrict visitation in
certain circumstances; to authorize hospitals
and long-term care facilities to require visitors
to wear personal protective equipment; to
provide for statutory construction; to provide
that certain rights may not be waived or
terminated; to require hospitals and long
term care facilities to post certain information
on their websites; to prohibit certain actions
by state agencies against hospitals and long
term care facilities; to provide for a short
title; to provide for related matters; to repeal
conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
The bill sponsors are: Rep James Hatchett,
Rep. Vance Smith, Rep. Clay Pirkle, Rep.
Todd Jones, Rep. Darlene Taylor, Rep.
Mitchell Homer, Sen. Bo Hatchett
House Bill 404: Bi-Partisan- Safe at Home
Act
A Bill to be entitled an Act to amend
Chapter 7 of Title 44 of the Official Code
of Georgia Annotated, relating to landlord
and tenant, so as to provide for a duty of
habitability for certain rental agreements;
to provide for an exception to such duty;
to provide for an exception to landlord tort
liability; to provide for definitions; to provide
for notice; to provide for a maximum security
deposit amount;
to provide
for expedited
evictions for
certain criminal
activity; to
provide for a
short title; to
provide for
applicability;
to provide for
related matters;
to repeal
conflicting laws;
and for other
purposes.
The Bill
Sponsors are:
Representatives
Kasey Carpenter,
Bmce Williams, Sharon Cooper, Omari
Crawford, Mary Oliver, Noel Williams, Sen.
Chuck Hufstetler
HB1017: Partisan - Squatter Reform Act
A bill to be entitled an Act to amend
Code Section 16-7-21 of the Official Code
of Georgia Annotated, relating to criminal
trespass, so as to include when a person
enters a land or premises for purposes of
residing on such land or premises; to provide
a short title; to provide for a definition;
to provide for a violation and penalty; to
amend Article 2 of Chapter 11 of Title 44
of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
relating to proceedings against intruders, so
as to provide for the submission of a property
affidavit in magistrate court; to provide that
proceedings regarding a writ of possession
are not required to be jury trials; to provide
for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws;
and for other purposes.
Bill Sponsors: Representatives Devan
Seabaugh, Matt Reeves, Clint Crowe
Deborah Silcox, Bill Yearta, and Senator Ed
Setzler
HB1010: Partisan - Increasing Paid
Parental Leave
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend
Chapter 20 of Title 45 of the Official Code
of Georgia Annotated, relating to personnel
administration relative to public officers and
employees, so as to increase the number of
hours permitted for paid parental leave; to
specify that individuals employed full time
by local education agencies are eligible
employees;
to provide for
related matters;
to repeal
conflicting
laws; and for
other purposes.
The Bill
sponsors are:
Representatives
Jan Jones,
Katie Dempsey,
Deborah
Silcox, Bethany
Ballard, Lauren
Daniel, Sharon
Cooper, Senator
Brian Strickland
Georgia Senate Passes Bill Targeting
Transgender Participation in High
School Sports and Sex Education
-Joe Brady. Editor
In a move that has ignited fierce debate,
Georgia's Republican state senators have
approved a bill that would enact sweeping
changes affecting public schools,
including banning transgender girls from
participating in high school sports with
other girls and imposing restrictions on sex
education.
The Senate voted 33-21 along party
lines for House Bill 1104 on Tuesday,
a measure initially focused on suicide
prevention but extensively amended in the
Senate committee to encompass various
other proposals previously rejected by
the Senate. The bill's provisions closely
resemble measures introduced by
Republicans in other states, reflecting
a broader conservative push within the
education sector.
Senator Clint Dixon, a Buford
Republican and the bill's proponent,
framed the legislation to protect children
and empower parents. Conversely, Senator
Elena Parent, an Atlanta Democrat,
criticized the bill as a collection of
misguided culture war initiatives.
The bill, championed by Republican
Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, a
potential gubernatorial candidate in 2026,
includes several contentious provisions.
It specifically targets transgender
participation in high school sports, barring
transgender girls from competing alongside
other girls. Notably, this restriction
extends to both public and private schools
competing against public schools. While
the Georgia High School Association had
previously enforced a similar ban following
earlier legislative actions, this bill seeks to
codify the prohibition into law.
Additionally, the bill restricts transgender
students' access to multi-occupancy
restrooms and locker rooms, mandating
they use facilities corresponding to their
biological sex rather than their gender
identity.
Critics ofthebill, such as Jennifer Hadley
of Bethlehem, who has a transgender son,
express concerns about the emotional toll
and uncertainties it imposes on transgender
youth.
furthermore, the bill proposes
significant changes to sex education,
requiring parental opt-in for enrollment
and restricting instruction on human
reproduction to eighth grade and above.
This provision has sparked debate over
its potential impact on comprehensive sex
education and parental involvement.
A contentious aspect of the bill also
involves parental notification of library
materials accessed by students and
grants parents’ access to various student
information, including behavioral patterns
and extracurricular activities.
Opponents argue that the bill's stringent
provisions on sex education and parental
notification could inadvertently limit
students' access to vital information and
exacerbate challenges related to mental
health and well-being.
As the bill progresses, it has drawn
mixed reactions, with proponents lauding
its focus on parental empowerment and
protection of children, while critics raise
concerns about its potential adverse effects
on transgender students and comprehensive
sex education efforts.
The fate of House Bill 1104 now
rests with the more moderate House,
where further deliberation and potential
amendments are expected before a final
decision is reached.
Gamecock Lunch Menu
April 8-12
Breakfast - Grab and Go Breakfast Offered Daily, All Meals are Served with a Choice
of Emit, Juice, and Milk.
April 8 - Breakfast on a Stick, or Cereal & Yogurt.
April 9 - Waffles, Sausage Patties, or Granola Bar & Yogurt.
April 10 - Breakfast Pizza, or Cereal & Yogurt.
April 11 - Cinnamon Roll, or Granola & Yogurt.
April 12 - Assorted Muffins, Bacon or Cereal or Yogurt.
Breakfast - All Meals are Served with a Choice of Assorted Milk, Juice, and Milk.
April 8 - Chicken Lajitas, Lettuce, Tomato, Cheese, Whole Kernel Corn, Red Beans.
E Choice: PB&J w/String Cheese.
M/H Choice: Ham Deli Sub.
April 9 - Pepperoni Pizza, Romaine Side Salad, Carrot Dippers.
E Choice: Turkey Sandwich
M/H Choice: Chicken Caesar Salad.
April 10 — Pulled Pork Sandwich, Seasoned Fries, Broccoli Dippers.
E Choice: PB&J w/Cheezits.
M/H Choice: Chef’s Salad.
April 11 - Spaghetti w/Meat Sauce, Caesar Side Salad, Whole Kernel Corn.
E Choice: Hot Ham & Cheese.
M/H Choice: Turkey Deli Sub.
April 12 - Popcorn Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Green Peas.
E Choice: PB&J w/Goldfish.
M/H Choice: Manager’s Choice Entree.
Local western wear contest
brings out the best in the
county.
Local Queens and Judges for the
Western Wear pageants
Miss Lilly Doss (2024 SC Livestock Queen), Miss Abigail Jenkins(2024 Miss SC Teen),
Miss Emma Warren (2023 SC Livestock Queen), and Miss Molly Wall SC Livestock
Queen Contestant)
This year's Western Wear Contest Winners sponsored by the GFWC Sylvania Junior
Woman's Club are:
• Lane Wells-Category 1 Cowboy Winners
• Chandler Goins-Category 1 Cowgirl Winners
• Addie Powell-Category 2 Cowgirl Winner
• Ruby Hodges-Category 3 Cowgirl Winner
• Abigail Sharpe-Category 4 Cowgirl Winner
Photos by S. Eades
OF THE SCREY0EN
COUNTY LIBRARY
Come and support our
LOCAL LIBRARY
The Friends of the Screven County Library has
resumed in-person meetings. WE need YOU to
participate and to help our Library continue to
serve Screven County with its many programs
for Children, Youth and Adults.
The next meeting will be: Thursday, April 18th
Library Meeting Room
Beginning at 5:30 PM
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU. BRING YOUR FRIENDS!
Beth Reddick received over $150 cash and prizes from
Sarah Saxon in our first annual easter hidden egg hunt.
Photo by Lori Jones
