Legislation Under Watch

TRANSPORTATION
HB 1218- Rep. Cole (Dist. 125)
Proposes to further define the role of the Director of Planning and allow the formulation and implementation of information about money spent and gained throughout the department. The bill will also allow special districts to further develop innovative transportation projects that promote public interest. Under the proposal, 90% of proceeds collected within a district are to be used within that district based on the approved investment list. Status: House Second Readers

HB 1252- Rep. Jacobs (Dist. 80)
Creates the Transit Governance Study Commission, which would conduct research on the effectiveness of combining public transportation systems throughout the state and how to better allocate resources for regional traffic congestion in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Status: House Hopper

HB 1047- Rep. Butler (Dist. 18)
Creates a fine for every driver of a motor vehicle blocking the flow of traffic. A person may drive a reduced speed when necessary. This will not apply to managed lanes or HOV lanes. There will be a minimum of a $75 fine for anyone blocking the flow of traffic in the left lane. Status: House Committee Favorable

CHILDREN AND YOUTH
HB 922- Rep. Cox (Dist. 102)
Provides funding for therapy services to children who are medically fragile or disabled. Those who are under 21 maybe eligable for public assistant funding which is provide by medicare. Status: House Second Reader

ENVIRONMENT
HB 1028 – Rep. Roberts (Dist. 154)
Defines the word contiguous and give specific meaning to what actions classify as forest land conservation use. It further details what the penalties are if conservation contracts are breached and who is held liable if breaches do occur. This bill also gives the commissioner the power to make any additional laws deemed necessary for the implementation and enforcement. Status: Senate Read and Referred

HB 244- Rep. Pruett (Dist. 144)
Changes the name of the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority to the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA). Also provides GEFA with the authorization to transfer any excess funds to the state to sell off. This legislation would most prominently affect the Georgia Fund, a state revolving loan fund. If enacted, Perdue proposes that Georgia sell off, as a bond package, as much as $450 million in current water loan funding to provide $290 million towards the state budget shortfall. This bill could potentially have far-reaching consequences: it could harm counties’ ability to comply with clean water and drinking water laws, lead to higher water bills, and eliminate job opportunities. Status: Pending in the Senate Rules Committee

JUDICIARY
HB 972- Rep. Mitchell (Dist. 88)
Changes the period in which a property owner is notified of a possible foreclosure, extending it from 30 days to 90 days to allow debtors more time to pay off their debt. Status: House Second Reader

HB 1009- Rep. Marin (Dist. 96)
Seeks to curtail racial profiling by law enforcement officials. Requires policies that would prohibit officers from impermissibly using race or ethnicity in determining whether to stop a driver or pedestrian. Also provides that officers have training on unethical behavior of racial profiling, mandates preparation in foreign language instruction, and requires them to document the race, gender, and age of passengers in a car every time they make a traffic stop. Status: Assigned to the House Committee on Judiciary.

ECONOMY
HB 1259- Rep. Reese (Dist. 98)
Enacts the Georgia Employer and Worker Protection of Act of 2010, which would require all Georgia businesses to sign an affidavit agreeing to participate in the federal citizenship verification program, called E-Verify, in order to obtain a business license or occupational tax certificate. Currently, only state agencies and municipalities are required to participate in E-verify. Failure to comply with E-verify would be a misdemeanor, and annual audits of e-verify reporting agencies would ensure that businesses are following the set regulations. If passed, this bill would be effective on July 1, 2010 and would apply to all business licenses of occupational tax certificates issued after that date. Status: House Hopper

HB 1125- Rep. Stephens (Dist. 164)
Enacts the Georgia Tourism and Development Act. Grants Georgia Department of Economic Development and local governments the ability to enter into agreements with new tourism attractions, allowing them to refund the sales and use tax accrued from the attraction. New attractions that qualify for this tax refund include historical and cultural sites, sports facilities, scenic areas or natural phenomena, hotels and conference centers, golf courses, water parks, boat marinas, and other tourism amenities. This sales and use tax refund would be granted to new tourist attractions for ten years, commencing upon attraction opening date. Status: House Second Reader

TAXATION
HR 1- Rep. Lindsey (Dist. 54)
Proposes constitutional amendment to cap annual property assessment increases of property value at 3% or the rate of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), whichever is less. Would become effective in 2011. The purpose of this resolution is to ensure that sold or transferred property is assessed for tax purposes at fair market value, which is defined as no more than the sales price of the property value in an arms length transaction. Status: Pending in House Ways and Means Committee

Work Going On During Adjournment

The General Assembly will have joint appropriations committee hearings next week Tuesday and Wednesday. House Speaker David Ralston has indicated that only three other committees will be able to meet during this recess — Transportation, Natural Resources & Environment, and Ways & Means.

Department Of Education is being heard Tuesday, Feb 23, from 8:00am – Noon. Public Comment at 11am.

More Time, More Options

This is the motto of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. On Wednesday June 27, 2010 the Senate Natural Resources Committee had a meeting further addressing the water conservation crisis in Georgia.  In this meeting the department, which is also working closely with those in the business community, projected the cost to be between 26 to 39 billion dollars. This is needed within a working time frame from now until at the latest 2020.  The Department of Natural Resources has two options proposed for congress with a time frame of 2015 and 2020. 2015 deadlines would focus more on incentives to conserve water within the state and the transference of water from other sources. The water transfer systems would only be temporary until new construction or other alternatives came to pass. The 2020 options looks for expanding existing reservoirs and building new ones as well as large focus on dredging .It was also discussed to look into possibly transferring water from Lake Burton.

A big idea that is picking up wind in the General Assembly is that of sub-metering, which is used to more accurately measure and charge water consumption in multi-family residential communities. Members of the business community spoke today and developed a strategy of CONSERVE, CAPTURE and CONTROL. They would like to help the environment by promoting conservation through building materials, and turning some of those incentive programs proposed by the Department of Natural Resources into mandates for the general population. They want to focus on capturing as much water as possible through innovative ideas and new sources. From there the plan would be to control the water by transferring it to places that need it. Obviously the road to conserving water in Georgia is not one that will be easy but at least progressive discussions by our legislators, business leaders, and state departments are being made so that Georgians can have more time and more options for better environmental sustainability.

Why Not Fund Marta Governor?

Governor Perdue is currently seeking approval in the legislature to borrow 300 million dollars to fund new transportation projects statewide. His plan is to fund road improvements statewide with specific regard to major interstates and highways providing commerce for the state of Georgia. Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle has also voiced his interest in such an endeavor maintaining that more jobs in Georgia are a must. However, where the money will come from to re-pay this debt is unclear.
The Governor’s proposal is to divided the state into twelve regions and put the penny sales tax to a vote. If passed, Perdue has assured that this tax increase will only fund the repairs and improvements needed in that region where the tax was passed. Such a vague proposal makes it difficult to understand where and what will actually be improved. Especially since in terms of road construction, such a large sum of money may only realistically improve three to four interstate or highway projects. Alternatively, these funds could go towards expanding Marta. In which case transportation issues will continue to be solved, a consistent job market will open up, and a greener environment is sure to follow.