Report for January 25, 2012

A rally for School Choice on Wednesday at the Capitol.

Middle school students from all over the State of Georgia stormed the Capitol on Wednesday in support of School Choice Week.  A rally was held on the front steps of the Capitol in support of the School Choice cause and Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock) gave a speech.  Legislators also heard from Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Carol Hunstein in a Joint Special Session at 11:00 a.m.  Many House and Senate meetings took place this afternoon as Committee action has kicked into high gear.     
Legislative News
House
The House session began on Wednesday morning just after 10:00 a.m.  Representatives from Southwest Airlines were honored for the decision to bring air service to Atlanta beginning on February 11, 2012.  Rep. Paulette Braddock (R-Powder Springs) announced the opportunity to view a short film about how giving school choice to Georgia's students would fix many of the education issues in the State.  Rep. Rashad Taylor (D-Atlanta) commended President Barack Obama on his State of the Union Address last night and spoke about his desire to raise the compulsory school attendance age to 17 years old.  Rep. Tom Taylor (R-Dunwoody) also recognized those people in attendance who were at the Capitol to celebrate Georgia Code Enforcement Day.  The first Bill to be discussed was HB 351.  It was presented by Rep. Howard Maxwell (R-Dallas) and would change the portion of fines paid to the Judges of the Probate Courts Retirement Fund of Georgia to a $3.00 amount.  Without debate, HB 351 passed 137 to six.  The next item to be discussed was SB 223.  The Bill was presented by Rep. Billy Horne (R-Sharpsburg) and would create the Legislative Sunset Advisory Committee to review and evaluate State agencies' productivity, efficiency, and responsiveness.  Rep. Horne put forth a motion to insist on the House's position and appoint a conference committee. Without objection, Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) appointed Rep. Horne, Rep. Stephen Allison (R-Blairsville), and Rep. Chuck Martin (R-Alpharetta) as the conferees.
Shortly thereafter, the Special Joint Session began and Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court Carol Hunstein gave her annual State of the Judiciary Address.  She spent time talking about criminal justice reform, the goal of reducing the number of mentally ill people in prisons, accountability courts, conditions at YDCs, court backlog, and a rise in domestic violence homicides.
Senate
The Senate session got started with Sen. Bill Cowsert (R-Athens) introducing the Doctor of the Day.  Dr. Byron Thompson is an Emory University professor and he works with urgent care in Alpharetta.  Sheriff's Day at Capitol was recognized by Sen. Johnny Grant (R-Milledgeville) and he emphasized the importance of cooperation between sheriffs and legislators on vital issues like the budget.  Another event to be formally recognized was Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist's Day at Capitol.  The Senate then adopted the consent calendar of privileged resolutions and there were no objections to the local consent calendar.  Sen. John Albers (R-Roswell) took a moment during points of personal privilege to speak about HOPE scholarship funding.  Sen. Grant assumed a position in the Well and acknowledged the death of an Atlanta Police Officer killed in the line of duty last evening.  Senators then proceeded to the House chamber for the Joint Session.
New Legislation
SB 339 – Sen. Butch Miller (R-Gainesville) authored this Bill which would amend Titles 6 and 12 by authorizing the transfer of personnel, aircraft, and other assets from the Georgia Aviation Authority to the Department of Natural Resources and the State Forestry Commission.  www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20112012/SB/339
SB 342 – Sen. Lester Jackson (D-Savannah) submitted this piece of legislation which would repeal the imposition of the death penalty in Georgia.  www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20112012/SB/342  
SR 730 – Sen. Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock) offered this Resolution to recognize the destructive and insidious nature of the United Nations Agenda 21.  www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20112012/SR/730
SR 731 – Sen. Jack Hill (R-Reidsville) introduced this Resolution to recognize the Ogeechee Technical College.  www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20112012/SR/731
Committee News
House Science and Technology Committee
The House Science and Technology Committee met on Wednesday morning to hear from State CIO Calvin Rhodes.  He is the Executive Director of the Georgia Technology Authority and he began there back in January 2011.  Mr. Rhodes provided an update on the GETS Program and the ongoing transformation of the State’s IT System.
House Regulated Industries Committee
The House Regulated Industries Committee met on Wednesday morning to adopt new rules.  Chairman Roger Williams (R-Dalton) then gave Committee members a chance to introduce themselves.  However, no legislation was discussed and the meeting adjourned.
House Appropriations Committee- General Government Subcommittee
The House General Government Subcommittee held a meeting on Wednesday afternoon to continue budget discussions regarding the following State government organizations:  the Department of Audits and Accounts, the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Administrative Services, the State Accounting Office, the State Properties Commission, the State Personnel Administration, and the Department of Banking and Finance.
House Retirement Committee
The House Retirement Committee examined two Bills today.  HB 542 was presented by Rep. Jay Powell (R-Camilla) and would allow the transfer of funds and service credit from the Georgia Judicial Retirement System to the Employees' Retirement System of Georgia.  Chairman Howard Maxwell (R-Dallas) and Rep. Coach Williams (D-Avondale Estates) had questions about whether vested or non-vested options were involved.  HB 542 passed unanimously.  The next item on the agenda was HB 635 and it was presented by Rep. Nikki Randall (D-Macon).  The Bill would amend the Macon Water Commissioner's Pension Plan by changing the normal retirement age for certain employees and the definition of the term "disability."  Without objections, HB 635 passed easily.
House Judiciary (Civil) Committee- Lane Subcommittee
There were four Bills on the agenda for the Lane Subcommittee on Wednesday afternoon.  The first was HB 121 and it was presented by the author, Rep. Doug McKillip (R-Athens).  The Bill would prohibit the use of discretionary clauses in health and disability insurance contracts.  Several representatives from the insurance community spoke against the Bill.  In the end, no vote was taken and it remains in the Lane Subcommittee.  The next Bill was HB 245.  Rep. Rusty Kidd (I-Milledgeville) authored this initiative which would make it so that the surety or cosigner of a loan would be entitled to notice of a default by the principal.  Representatives from some of Georgia's banking communities stated that they felt their concerns had been addressed in the Committee substitute.  After being put to a vote, HB 245 passed unanimously.  Despite being on the agenda originally, HB 558 was pulled by the author, Rep. Jason Spencer (R-Woodbine).  The final Bill to receive consideration was HB 594.  It was introduced by Rep. Jon Burns (R-Newington) and would create a new organizational status for some limited liability and low profit companies.  After some initial questions, the Bill passed unanimously.
House Human Relations and Aging Committee
The House Human Relations and Aging Committee held an organizational meeting on Wednesday afternoon.  Chairman Tommy Benton (R-Jefferson) gave Committee members a chance to introduce themselves to those individuals in attendance.  They adopted rules and the meeting adjourned.
House Health and Human Services Committee
Chairman Sharon Cooper (R-Marietta) hosted a House Health and Human Services Committee meeting on Wednesday afternoon.  The first person to present was Rep. Katie Dempsey (R-Rome) on her Bill, HB 479.  The initiative seeks to address a loophole in current law for the private home health care providers.  It would further alter law permitting the use of "independent contractors" to provide this care generally by CNAs in the home.  There was a lot of discussion on whether these independent contractors are not complying with licensure requirements by not having criminal background checks and tuberculin skin tests.  After a motion to pass the Bill was rescinded, HB 479 was held by its author for some further discussion and work.
House Judiciary (Civil) Committee- Jacobs Subcommittee
There were two Bills that received attention from the Jacobs Subcommittee today.  HB 100 was the first on the agenda and it was presented by Rep. Allen Peake (R-Macon).  The Bill would create the Georgia Tax Court as a pilot project.  After much discussion from both Committee members and other stakeholders, no action was taken.  HB 711 was then taken up.  It was authored by Rep. Edward Lindsey (R-Atlanta) and would provide confidentiality of communications between a family violence or sexual assault victim and agents providing services to such victims at family violence shelters and rape crisis centers.  After being put to a vote, HB 711 passed easily.
Senate Health and Human Services Committee
The Senate Health and Human Services Committee held its first meeting for the Session.  Today's meeting took up no legislation but did receive a presentation from the Georgia Charitable Care Network.  There are 90 free clinics in the State as well as hundreds of physicians and other healthcare providers providing care to Georgians at no cost.  Dr. Nancy Stanley from Vidalia (and sister to Sen. Tommie Williams (R-Lyons)) testified about her work providing care to 360 folks annually with a budget of $150,000.  Her agency has 400 individuals on a waiting list for services.  Two new Committee members were also welcomed.  Sen. Miriam Paris (D-Macon) and Sen. John Wilkinson (R-Toccoa) are the latest Senators to serve this Committee.
Senate Interstate Cooperation Committee
With Chairman Hardie Davis (D-Gracewood) presiding, the Senate Interstate Cooperation Committee held its first meeting of the Session.  The only other members of the Committee in attendance were Sen. Ed Harbison (D-Columbus) and Sen. Gail Davenport (D-Jonesboro).  The single Bill up for discussion was SB 216.  Sen. Judson Hill (R-Marietta) presented the Bill and acknowledged its similarity to HB 47 from Rep. Matt Ramsey (R-Peachtree City) that passed last Session.  According to Sen. Hill, SB 216 ignites competition in the health insurance marketplace when it comes to the buying and selling of policies across State lines.  A member of the audience noted that he wants States that are demographically similar to Georgia to be thought of when considering aspects of the Bill.  There was some discussion about the ability to have autism coverage in Georgia health insurance policies.  Chairman Davis decided to hold the Bill until some more work on it could be done.
Senate Ethics Committee
The Senate Ethics Committee met on Wednesday afternoon with Chairman John Crosby (R-Tifton) hosting.  The Committee adopted rules but did not discuss any legislation.
Special Committee on Small Business Development and Job Creation
The Special Committee on Small Business Development and Job Creation held its first meeting this afternoon with Rep. David Knight (R-Griffin) serving as chair of this Committee.  Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) formed this Committee to look at State regulations and what they cost.  The goal is to identify the rules and regulations which are unduly burdensome or pose a hardship to businesses.  Speaker Ralston requested the development of a "test" for rules and regulations to see if they should or should not be implemented.  The Speaker also expressed the desire to create an economic climate that would foster job growth.  Behind the budget, tax reform, education reform, and criminal justice reform, he claimed that this was a major priority.  On the legislative website, there is a link to the "Red Tape Watch" which will allow businesses to actually sign up to testify before this Committee and outline the rules and regulations that they find problematic.  NFIB and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce supported this new Committee and have pledged to work with lawmakers to identify issues currently causing problems for small businesses.  The Committee will hold its next meeting on February 2, 2012.
Joint House and Senate Higher Education Committee
With Rep. Carl Rogers (R-Gainesville) and Sen. Buddy Carter (R-Pooler) hosting, the Joint House and Senate Higher Education Committee met to hear from the President of the Georgia Student Finance Commission, Mr. Tim Connell.  He spoke at length about projected lottery revenues and expenditures through fiscal FY2016 and their effects on HOPE scholarship award levels.  Sen. Carter began a round of questioning by asking about the current status of the loan program.  Rep. Kathy Ashe (D-Atlanta) then asked about which schools most Zell Miller scholarship students attend.  Mr. Connell stated that 86% of them go to Georgia Tech or UGA.  Rep. Ashe also wanted to know more about the geographic breakdown of where HOPE scholarship students actually come from.  Both Senators Nan Orrock (D-Atlanta) and Lester Jackson (D-Savannah) voiced concern about the current criteria that must be met in order to qualify for the HOPE scholarship.
If you have any questions concerning this Report, please contact Stanley S. Jones, Jr., Helen Sloat or Taylor Janney.

Printable Version