Sen. John Albers Files School Safety Legislation as Re-Appointed Chairman of the Senate Public Safety Committee

ATLANTA (January 15, 2019) | Sen. John Albers (R – Roswell) recently filed two pieces of legislation resulting from the Senate School Safety Study Committee, which Sen. Albers chaired during the 2018 interim. In addition, Sen. Albers was re-appointed today to serve as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Safety and to serve on several influential committees for the 2019 Legislative Session by the Senate Committee on Assignments.

“The School Safety Study Committee was one of – if not the most – impactful and important study committees that I have been a part of,” said Sen. Albers. “The issues discussed and testimonies heard were not just a way of procedure, rather, words that were turned into action through the pieces of legislation filed. I am looking forward to seeing this legislation move through the legislature and becoming law to help our students, teachers, parents and school personnel feel safe everyday they go to or send their children to school. I will continue my devotion to the safety of all Georgians as Chairman of the Public Safety Committee as we address safety concerns during the Legislative Session.”

In addition to serving as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Safety, Sen. Albers will serve as Vice-Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and as a member of the Senate Appropriations and Regulated Industries and Utilities Committees.

“I am incredibly excited to work alongside Sen. Albers and the entire Public Safety Committee during the upcoming session of the Georgia General Assembly,” said Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan. “The committee process is extremely important to producing sound public policy and we’re confident that Sen. Albers’ leadership as a committee chair will be an invaluable asset to the Georgia Senate. We’re excited for the opportunity to serve and look forward to delivering on reforms that benefit Georgians in every part of our state.”

The three pieces of legislation filed by Sen. Albers address:

  • Proposing a Constitutional Amendment to allow ESPLOST funds to be allocated towards the security of schools, including additional staffing, such as specialized mental health counselors.
  • The “Keeping Georgia’s Schools Safe Act” which would address offenses for minors in possession of a firearm, as well as school safety plans including performing threat assessments, drills and coaching on prevention, reporting and appropriate action to take when a threat or suspicious behavior arise.

The first session of the 155th Georgia General Assembly convened on January 14, 2019, at the Georgia State Capitol.

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For Immediate Release:
Jan. 15, 2019

Ines Owens, Director
ines.owens@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028