Week 8 -- March 10 - 12, 2009



 

This Thursday marked the 30th legislative day of the 2009 session.  Known as “Crossover Day,” it marked the deadline for legislation to pass at least the House or Senate.  Any legislation that did not pass either body will be considered again next session.  Because of the “Crossover Day Deadline,” this week was filled with long days full of key votes as we deliberated different bills that would cut taxes, stimulate the economy, fund trauma care or even offer our students greater educational opportunities.  Some of the more noteworthy legislation passed this week includes:



HB 118 (Supplemental Budget) -- First and foremost this week was the adoption of the conference committee report of HB 118, the supplemental budget, by a vote of 153-3 on Tuesday, March 10.  This is the $19 billion revised spending plan for the current fiscal year that ends June 30.  The measure now goes to the Governor and includes: $428 million for the Homeowner Tax Relief Grants that go to local governments (the grants are not expected to be in the 2010 budget and would be the largest property tax increase in Georgia history) which saves property owners about $200 to $300 per year, $40,000 for food inspectors at the Department of Agriculture in response to the latest salmonella outbreak in Early County,  $14 million for hospitals to draw down federal funds, $2 million for four primary start up health clinics, and $145 million in federal stimulus money for the Quality Basic Education funding formula that goes to Georgia’s public schools. 



HB 44 -- Zero Based Budgeting -- On Thursday March 12 the House approved a zero-based budgeting bill.  HB 44, which passed 156-0, would require at least a fourth of all state departments to justify their entire budgets to the Legislature in a given year. Now they just report increases and decreases in their budgets.



HB 481 and 482 -- the Jobs, Opportunity, and Business Success (JOBS) Act of 2009 -- The legislation gives a $2,400 tax credit to businesses for each unemployed person hired and kept on the payroll for two years (there are over 400,000 Georgians unemployed right now).  It provides a credit against unemployment taxes for hiring jobless Georgians, does away with start-up fees for new businesses, and gives businesses back $160 million to $180 million they have sent the state in sales tax deposits.  As companion legislation the House also passed HB 482 on Thursday, March 12.  HB 482 eliminates the state’s tax on business inventory through a statewide referendum.  This legislation will allow small businesses to create, expand and attract jobs for Georgians. 



HB 160 -- Super Speeder legislation -- To help fund a much needed trauma care network in the state of Georgia the House adopted HB 160 on Monday, March 9, by a vote of 113-53.  This was the Governor’s “Super Speeder” legislation that puts an additional $200 fee on speeders going over 85 mph on a four lane highway and 75 mph on a 2 lane road.  The fee is on top of the local jurisdiction fine and is levied by the Georgia Department of Drivers Services.  Money collected will go to trauma care where new fees are expected to raise $23 million in 2009 and $31 million in 2010.  Offenders would have 90 days to pay the super speeder fines.  Those in support said the additional fee is intended to modify speeding behavior plus fund trauma care in the state.  There are 1,700 fatalities a year from vehicle crashes and a majority of those are in rural areas where there is no trauma network.  Opponents said fines should not be revenue generators and the additional levy will not stop speeding.  They also claimed that money raised by the additional fines will not do much to help trauma care in Georgia which needs $140 million.  Instead, the only way to stop speeders is to budget more for the Georgia State Patrol, which has approximately 800 officers and is well below neighboring states in the amount patrolling our highways and interstates.



HB 261 -- Income Tax Credit -- This short tax window will immediately improve Georgia’s real estate market by creating an incentive to buy homes now rather than later.  The legislation provides up to $3,600 in income tax credits for buying homes for 6 months after this legislation is signed by the Governor. The hope is to help alleviate the large amount of homes on the market.  The positive effects of increasing home sales will ripple out to many other areas of Georgia’s economy, including construction and manufacturing. 



HB 480 -- removes all ad valorem and sales taxes from automobiles purchased in Georgia after December 31, 2009 -- House members voted to phase out the car tag tax on Thursday, March 12, and replace it with a new title fee. HB 480, which passed 133-39, eliminates the car tag tax on vehicles purchased next year and also does away with the sales tax when purchasing an auto from a dealership. Replacing the tax is a new 7 percent title fee for buyers, up to a maximum of $2,000, when they title their new vehicle.   At issue was the fact that “casual sales” or person to person sales don’t have a sales tax but the new title fee will apply to those transactions.  The hope is the new fee will provide extra money for local governments and $100 million to $150 million for a new state trauma care system which is something we desperately need in rural Georgia.



HB 381 -- Food Inspections -- In response to the salmonella outbreak in Early County, the House adopted HB 381 Tuesday, March 10 by a vote of 163-1.  Under the bill, the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture could deputize county health inspectors to conduct inspections in their local area.  If a problem is found the inspectors would have to immediately contact the Department of Agriculture.  A recent salmonella outbreak has been devastating to the peanut industry in Georgia which is the state’s largest crop. 

HB 306 -- Electronic Monitoring Devices -- An electronic pre-trial release and monitoring program was passed on Monday, March 9 with the passage of HB 306 by a vote of 153-0. Defendants awaiting trial could be monitored with an electronic device that fits around one’s ankle under the bill. Local governments could save an additional $1.3 million because keeping a defendant locked up costs $45 per day versus an $8 cost per day to monitor with a device outside of the jail. The bill also establishes penalties for violating the terms of the program.



HB 484 -- Helping Military Families -- The House helped out the children of military families with the passage of HB 484 on Tuesday, March 10.  The measure exempts the one year residency requirements for the HOPE Scholarship for children of active duty military personnel. Georgia has a number of military bases with families whose children can’t take advantage of the HOPE scholarship because they have not lived in Georgia for at least a year. HB 484 passed unanimously 162-0.

HB 400 -- the Building Resourceful Individuals to Develop Georgia’s Economy (BRIDGE) Bill -- This legislation ensures that all students will have a personalized graduation plan as well as the opportunity for dual enrollment.  The bill also seeks to increase student interest by creating programs that combine real world experience with increased academic rigor.



HB 193 -- Amount of School Days required -- HB 193 passed on Thursday, March 12 by a vote of 155-1.  It allows school systems to shorten the school year below 180 days, as long as they have the same amount of instruction time.  This measure is being offered for budgetary reasons.

HB 23 -- Banning Teenagers from using wireless devices while driving -- Likely disappointing to my students at Lowndes High School, the House voted on Thursday, March 12 to ban teenagers from using wireless devices while driving with the passage of HB 23, 138-24.  Under the bill, it is illegal for minor drivers under 18 to talk or text on cell phones, PDAs or other devices while driving.  Also included are “hands-free” devices like Bluetooth microphones.  There is an exception for emergencies for when one’s life is in danger or reporting road hazards.  First offenders would see fines up to $100 and if the offense results in an accident, offenders could see their license suspended for 90 days.  Seventeen other states and the District of Columbia have passed cell phone restrictions for teen drivers.



HB 228 -- Department of Human Resources Re-Organization -- Up on Tuesday, March 10 was the reorganization of the Department of Human Resources, one of the largest agencies in Georgia’s state government.  HB 228 downsizes the Department of Human Resources by moving Public Health and Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Addictive Diseases to a new Department called the Department of Health and Behavioral Health Services.  A board of nine people would oversee the new department which would be appointed by the governor.  In addition, a new commissioner of public and behavioral health would oversee the day-to-day operations.  The remaining Department of Human Resources will be renamed the Department of Human Services which will include DFCS and Aging.  The Department of Community Health will continue as a regulatory and payer agency for Medicaid, Peachcare, and the State Health Benefit Plan similar to an insurance company.  The implementation date of this new plan is July 1, 2009 and it is also revenue neutral, which is to be reflected in the 2010 state budget. HB 228 passed 147-12. 

HB 189 -- Collecting Child Support -- On Thursday, March 12, the House passed HB 189, by a vote of 120-45. The bill will allow private citizens to use a private firm to collect child support they are owed. It requires the collection agents to register with the state. Additionally, the fee charged by the private firm would be capped at one third of the amount collected. To be eligible, a parent must be owed more than three months child support before contracting with a collector.       



HB 639 -- Specialty License Tags -- On Thursday, March 12, the House passed HB 639 by a vote of 162-8. The legislation creates a special license plate for dolphins.  HB 639’s goal is to protect wild dolphins in Georgia waters.  Funds raised by the sale of the plate would go to an environmental firm for scientific research, conservation and educational programs.

As you can see, this week was marked by the legislative race to beat the Crossover Day Deadline, but we passed some great legislation that will help Georgians.  To read more about these or any other bills, go to www.legis.ga.gov.  It is my absolute honor to serve as your state representative.  Please feel free to contact me with your concerns.

 

Rep. Amy A. Carter represents District 175 (Lowndes County) in the Georgia House of Representatives. Her contact information is amy.carter@house.ga.gov; PO Box 4930, Valdosta, GA 31604 or 18 Capitol Square, CLOB Suite 612, Atlanta, GA 30334; office (229) 245-2733 or (404) 656-0325; FAX (229) 245-8890 or (404) 657-4868.