Serving those who serve Georgia E RSGA Employees' Retirement System of Georgia For the Week of: January 11 - 15, 2016 Legislative Days: 1 - 5 Employees' Retirement System of Georgia Legislative Update January 15, 2016 Page 1 Inside This Update 1 Session Convenes 1 Legislative Schedule 2 State of the State 2 Legislative Log For More Information on Legislation, please visit: www.ers.ga.gov Contact Us Jim Potvin Executive Director, ERSGA 404-603-5602 jim.potvin@ers.ga.gov Kelly L. Moody Legislative Liaison and Communications Manager, ERSGA 404-603-5646 kelly.moody@ers.ga.gov Danise Thaxton Executive Assistant to the Director, ERSGA 404-603-5602 danise.thaxton@ers.ga.gov 2016 Legislative Session Convenes The House and Senate officially convened on Monday, January 11th for the first day of the 2016 Legislative Session. The week following the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday is usually reserved for budget hearings. However, legislators plan to hold budget hearings on Tuesday, and will be in session for the rest of the week. Lawmakers hope to complete session and adjourn by March 24th this year. Legislative Adjournment Schedule Announced through February 1st January 11 January 12 January 13 January 14 January 15 January 16-19 January 20 January 21 January 22 January 23-24 January 25 January 26 January 27 January 28 January 29-31 February 1 Legislative Day 1 Legislative Day 2 Legislative Day 3 Legislative Day 4 Legislative Day 5 Recess* Legislative Day 6 Legislative Day 7 Legislative Day 8 Recess* Legislative Day 9 Legislative Day 10 Legislative Day 11 Legislative Day 12 Recess* Legislative Day 13 * Recess is when the General Assembly is not in Session. January 15, 2016 Page 2 Governor Nathan Deal Gives State of the State Governor Nathan Deal gave his State of the State Address as members of the House and Senate convened for a joint session on Wednesday, January 13th, at 11AM. Governor Deal welcomed members to the 2016 Legislative Session and highlighted his budget proposal for the upcoming year. To view the full text of the Governor's State of the State Address, click here. Legislative Log Monday, January 11, 2016 No action was taken on retirement bills today. Tuesday, January 12, 2016 No action was taken on retirement bills today. Wednesday, January 13, 2016 HB 605 Georgia Judicial Retirement System; member who was serving in a full-time position on his or her retirement may use prior part-time service for vesting; provide This bill changes the vesting requirements for judges moving from part-time to full-time service and allows for an actuarial calculation of benefits upon transfer to full-time service and subsequent retirement. HB 605 received a DO PASS by Committee Substitute from the House Retirement Committee. Thursday, January 14, 2016 No action was taken on retirement bills today. Friday, January 15, 2016 No action was taken on retirement bills today.