GRA President
Rhonda Thomas with Truth in Education has sounded the alarm about H.B. 268. If you remember HB 520 (one of the many egregious “mental health” bills the GA legislature entertained recently, this bill is similar.
H.B. 268 was presented under the pretense of enhancing school safety due to school shootings. However, this bill fails to mention the use of metal detectors even once.
Instead, it is a lengthy 66-page document that imposes undue control over families and our children, turning our schools into government surveillance hubs.
Major Concerns with H.B.268:
- Criminalizes Speech – Students could face felony charges for what they say online, on the school bus, in the classroom, etc.
- Parental Punishment – Parents can be punished for their child’s words and actions.
- Comprehensive Surveillance – Establishes a stealth student surveillance system (S3) that tracks children into adulthood.
- Labeling Without Consent – Identifies students as potential “threats” without parental approval and shares data with law enforcement.
- Predictive Policing – Utilizes monitoring tactics that can disproportionately impact students unfairly.
Arming teachers would be more effective at addressing the concern than implementing thought police and China-style monitoring!
The bill is scheduled to go into the full House Education Committee next week. It passed out of a subcommittee with unanimous support. Call the members of the committee and urge them to vote “no” to H.B. 268!
Call info:
- Rep. Chris Erwin, Chairman: 404-656-7850
- Rep. Carmen Rice, Vice Chair: 404-656-0188
- Rep. Scott Hilton: 404-656-0188
- Rep. Bethany Ballard: 404-656-0325
- Rep. Mike Cheokas: 404-463-7853
- Rep. David Clark: 404-656-0188
- Rep. Brent Cox: 404-656-0152
- Rep. Sandy Donatucci: 404-656-0177
- Rep. Matt Dubnik: 404-463-2246
- Rep. Rick Jasperse: 404-656-7153
- Rep. Jan Jones: 404-656-5072
- Rep. Todd Jones: 404-656-9210
- Rep. Rick Townsend: 404-656-0178
- Rep. Will Wade: 404-651-7737