GAINESVILLE - Georgia lawmakers are still digesting everything that occurred during the 2015 Georgia General Assembly, but Sen. Butch Miller (R-Gainesville) took some time to review the highlights of the session just hours after the Thursday night wrap-up of the session.
In an interview on the Friday edition of WDUN's Afternoon News Wrap with Derreck Booth, Miller briefly commented on a number of issues he and fellow lawmakers tackled in the 40-day session.
"Opportunity school districts, child welfare reform, continued criminal justice reform...plus transportation funding plus a very good budget plus cannabinoid oil - all these things are very good for Georgia...and I'm happy about it," said Miller.
The senator said students who attend under-performing schools will have an opportunity to excel under Gov. Nathan Deal's plan to have the state take the reins of those struggling schools.
"Fortunately, for folks in northeast Georgia, it doesn't affect us a great deal," said Miller. "However, we have chronically failing schools that have existed for multiple years."
The legislation calls for a public referendum on a constitutional amendment.
Also on the issue of education, Miller said he was happy that the $40 billion budget includes some funding for a new campus for Lanier Technical College in Oakwood.
"That's long overdue. I think the value of technical education has really grown over the years, and grown particularly in the last few years, and it'll be great for a lot of students in northeast Georgia.," said Miller.
Miller did not offer details on plans for the new school.
The senator also praised the passage of HB1, which will allow Georgians who suffer from eight different illnesses to use an oil extracted from marijuana plants for medicinal purposes. He noted that the bill has been a long time in coming.
"Last year's bill was a good bill, but I think this year's bill is much, much better," said Miller. "Again, it's very narrow in scope, but it treats more diagnoses."
To listen to Sen. Butch Miller's entire interview with WDUN's Derreck Booth, click on the link above.
