Georgia Department of Labor
Suite 642 148 International Boulevard N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30303-1751 (404)656-3032

January 14, 1998

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

"FIRST OF ITS KIND" $100 MILLION TAX CUT BILL INTRODUCED IN HOUSE
ATLANTA -- State Labor Commissioner David Poythress said today that a "first of its kind" bill that could lead to a $100 million tax cut for employers and combat workplace drug abuse at the same time has been introduced in the Georgia House of Representatives.
House Bill 1140, part of Poythress' legislative package to the 1998 General Assembly, was introduced by State Rep. Larry Smith of Jackson. This is the fourth year that Poythress has engineered major employer tax cuts in the state's unemployment insurance program. The three previous tax cuts add up to $140 million.
"Our bill is a first of its kind," Poythress said. "Because, it's the first bill introduced in any state in the nation that allows unemployment insurance tax credits to be used to encourage the private sector business community to go drug free. I want to thank Rep. Larry Smith for introducing this bill that can lead to a drug-free work environment and save employers millions of dollars at the same time."
The bill calls for the employer payroll tax that funds the unemployment insurance program to be cut by two-tenths percent this year, or about $16 per employee, for businesses that have implemented drug-free workplace programs. "Our Drug-Free Georgia program will assist employers who want to establish a drug-free program," said Poythress. Employers wanting more information about the program should call (404) 657-2959.
About 1,700 Georgia employers, who already have drug-free workplace programs in place, now qualify for a 7.5 percent reduction in their workers' compensation premiums, which insure workers against injury on the job. The reduction in the unemployment insurance rates is expected to boost employer participation in drug-free workplace programs.
Poythress noted that 70 percent of habitual drug users work regularly. "Most of them still have the capacity to make the right choice and give up drugs," he said. "But, until they are required to make that choice by being in a drug-free workplace, they will try to have it both ways. They will try to work and use drugs at the same time. They will continue to endanger co-workers and undermine their employer by causing accidents, absenteeism, low productivity and lost profits. Forcing drug users to face the consequences of their own behavior -- requiring them to give up drugs or lose their jobs -- makes sense. It protects the employer and co-workers, it puts the drug user and his family on the road to rehabilitation, and ultimately it means less drug use and less crime in our state."

REP. LARRY SMITH -- LAST ADD

Smith represents House District 109, which includes Butts and portions of Henry and Lamar counties.

He is chairman of the Industrial Relations Committee, vice chairman of the Intra-Governmental Coordination Committee, and serves on the appropriations, banks and banking, and state institutions and property committees.

NEWS MEDIA NEEDING MORE INFORMATION MAY CALL (404) 656-3032 E-mail: communications@dol.state.ga.us.

FY-98-296

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