SUMMARY OF PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

Pursuant to requirements of the Georgia Constitution, Attorney General Samuel S. Olens, Secretary of State Brian P. Kemp, and Legislative Counsel Wayne R. Allen hereby provide the summaries of the proposed constitutional amendments that will appear on the November 6, 2012, general election ballot for consideration by the people of Georgia (the short headings in bold print are the same as those assigned by the Constitutional Amendments Publication Board pursuant to O.C.G.A. Sec. 50 12 101):
Provides for improving student achievement and parental involvement through more public charter school options.
House Resolution No. 1162
Ga. L. 2012, p. 1364
"YES ( )
NO ( )
Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended to allow state or local approval of public charter schools upon the request of local communities?"
This proposal authorizes the General Assembly to provide by law for the creation of public state charter schools, which would operate under the terms of charters between the State Board of Education and charter petitioners, while preserving the authority of local boards of education to establish local charter schools. Specifically, the proposal clarifies the authority of the General Assembly to provide for state wide policies for public education prior to the college or post secondary level, restates the authority of the General Assembly to establish special schools, prohibits the incurrence of bonded indebtedness or the levy of school taxes for the support of special schools without approval of the local board of education and the voters in the affected school system, provides that special schools may
include public state charter schools, preserves the authority of local boards of education to establish local charter schools, authorizes the expenditure of state funds for special schools, and prohibits the deduction of certain state funds from local school districts as a direct result or consequence of the enrollment of students in state charter schools.
The General Assembly has enacted a law to exercise the authority granted by the proposed constitutional amendment to provide for public state charter schools. This law will become effective only if the constitutional amendment is ratified by the voters. This law is published at Georgia Laws 2012, p. 1298, Sec. 1, and was enacted by 2012 HB 797, Act No. 766.
A copy of this entire proposed constitutional amendment is on file in the office of the judge of the probate court and is available for public inspection.
Allows the state to save taxpayer funds through multiyear real estate rental agreements.
Senate Resolution No. 84
Ga. L. 2012, p. 1363
"( ) YES
( ) NO
Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to provide for a reduction in the state's operating costs by allowing the General Assembly to authorize certain state agencies to enter into multiyear rental agreements?"
This proposal authorizes the General Assembly to provide by law for the State Properties Commission, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, and the Georgia Department of Labor to enter into rental agreements for the possession and use of real property without obligating present funds for the full amount of obligation the state may bear under the full term of any such rental agreement. Any such agreement shall provide for the termination of the agreement in the event of insufficient funds.
The General Assembly has enacted a law to exercise the authority granted by the proposed constitutional amendment to provide for multiyear rental agreements for real property. This law will become effective only if the constitutional amendment is ratified by the voters. This law is published at Georgia Laws 2012, p. 989, and was enacted by 2012 SB 37, Act No. 717.
A copy of this entire proposed constitutional amendment is on file in the office of the judge of the probate court and is available for public inspection.
10-17, 10-24 & 10-31ch