Senate committee advances bill requiring receiving schools to enroll foster students within two days

The Children and Families Committee on the Georgia Senate floor advanced a bill aimed at shortening gaps in school enrollment for children in foster care. The committee chair, the bill
uthor and sponsoring senator, said SB 431 (LC 492569) grew from a summer study committee and that the measure would require the receiving school to enroll foster students within two school days. "This bill specifically addresses foster students, and it requires the school the receiving school to enroll within 2 school days," the chair said.

The chair told members the measure is narrowly targeted at children in state custody after the committee heard testimony that some foster children lose credits or, in one reported case, were made to repeat a grade because transfers were delayed. She said the Department of Education previously testified it lacks authority to compel local districts and noted some districts have delayed enrollment while waiting for records protected under HIPAA and other federal laws. The bill would also require districts to provide accurate contact information, including the school's student affairs officer and chief privacy officer, and would allow the Department of Education to require corrective action for noncompliance.

Supporters who testified included Darlene Lynch, legal and policy director for Georgia Appleseed, who said a Georgia Appleseed study found "35 plus counties" denying enrollment in some cases because of new record requirements tied to HB 268. Advocates from Georgia Empowerment also expressed support. After brief questioning about trade-offs between rapid enrollment and safety when records are delayed, the committee voted. Vice Chair Senator Hatchett recorded a motion to "do pass," with Senator Burns moving and Senator Parks seconding; the committee approved SB 431 unanimously. The transcript does not specify an exact roll-call tally.