Fate of guns on campus now in governor’s hands
ATLANTA — Georgia lawmakers closed their 40day session early Friday morning, sending dozens of proposals for review by Gov. Nathan Deal.
The Republican governor, who has only one legislative session remaining before he leaves office, prompted some nervous laughter when he delivered a message to each chamber on Thursday evening.
“I want you to understand that I may not sign all of them,” Deal said. “I don’t want to shock you with that statement.”
Georgia law gives Deal 40 days from adjournment to sign or veto bills. He also can allow measures to become law without his signature.
Here’s a look at lawmakers’ final decisions:
Guns on campus
For the second year in a row, lawmakers backed a bill allowing licensed gun owners to carry concealed handguns on public college campuses, hoping they have made enough changes to satisfy the governor who vetoed last year’s version.
The bill includes exemptions that Deal requested last year for on-campus preschools, disciplinary hearings and areas where high school students attend college classes.
The bill also bars guns in student housing, including fraternity and sorority houses, and athletic facilities.
Georgia is among 17 states that ban weapons on college campuses. According to the National Conference of State Legislature, eight states allow concealed weapons: Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Mississippi, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Wisconsin. Tennessee allows licensed faculty members to carry concealed weapons on campus.
Deal hasn’t taken a stance on the version of the bill approved just before lawmakers adjourned. CharlieSut live, a spokesman for the University System of Georgia, said officials “believe the new exemptions improve the bill.”
“We prefer current law but are reviewing the legislation to see how it could be implemented at USG institutions,” he said.
Opponents contend that allowing guns on campus would create an unsafe environment for learning and critical thinking. Supporters say people licensed to carry concealed weapons should be able to defend themselves when on a college campus.
Easy calls
Deal’s likely to sign a $49 billion budget for the state, which largely agrees with his proposal back in January. Lawmakers signed off on 2 percent salary increases for teachers, a 19 percent bump for employees handling child welfare cases and continued 20 percent raises for state law enforcement.
The governor also has expressed support for a plan to “turn around” the state’s weakest schools. Under the proposal, a new “chief turnaround officer” will be hired by the State Board of Education to work with the lowest performing schools. Republicans had to regroup after voters in November’s election rejected Deal’s preferred strategy: a constitutional amendment letting the state take over schools dubbed chronically failing.
Supporters of expanding Georgia’s program allowing patients with certain conditions to possess an oil derived from marijuana also hope Deal will sign off on a bill adding six new conditions. It also would cover individuals in a hospice program.