Let me begin by thanking the wonderful staff and readers of North Fulton Family Life. It has been my sincere pleasure to write monthly articles for the past several years. This magazine has been a treasure, and I hope you will support them in their Woodstock and Canton publications.
As the legislative session continues, the Senate has remained fixed on its goal to deliver strong solutions to issues both in our community and across the state. This year has presented the General Assembly with a few challenges, including mandatory twice a week testing for COVID-19, socially distanced committee rooms, and, of course, addressing the various economic, social, and health care related priorities that have arisen due to the pandemic. However, none of the challenges inhibited our work. The following is a brief update of some of the major legislative items we've passed so far.
The most significant piece of legislation recently passed is House Bill 80, the Amended Budget for the 2021 Fiscal Year (AFY21). In total, the AFY21 Budget stands at $26.5 billion, an increase of roughly $654 million over the current budget. Like most budget cycles, education funding makes up the largest share of expenditures. More than 36% of the budget ($9.6 billion) was directed to K-12 education. Due to our improved economic climate, we were able to restore $567 million for quality basic education expenses that we were originally forced to reduce in the original FY21 Budget. Also included was $40 million to purchase 520 school buses to replace those that are well past their recommended life cycle. As originally mentioned in Gov. Brian Kemp's State of the State Address, this budget also reflects a $1,000 bonus for our educators who have worked hard to adjust to teaching amid a pandemic.
Increased internet access continues to be a priority for the General Assembly. The AFY21 Budget provides $20 million to OneGeorgia Authority to establish a broadband infrastructure grant program, which will assist rural communities in leveraging the necessary resources to target broadband needs in their area. This is one of several significant steps being taken to expand high-speed internet access in rural Georgia. While more investments will be needed, this grant program is an excellent starting point.
Over the last few years, Georgia has taken significant steps to address human trafficking including maximizing the penalties for the perpetrators while ensuring victims have access to the justice that they deserve. Senate Bill (SB) 33 allows a victim of human trafficking to file a cause of action for civil charges against his/her perpetrator. SB34 allows victims of human trafficking to petition a court for a name change and for the change to be kept under seal. Usually, name changes are available as public record, but we believe it is necessary to provide victims with this protection to better ensure their safety.
The General Assembly has passed many more bills and resolutions than can be mentioned here, so I encourage you to reach out to my office if you any questions or concerns about any legislation we are considering. Our job is to reflect the needs of our communities, and I rely on constituents' voices to help me do that.