SENATE INFORMATION OFFICE 201 Legislative Office Bldg., Atlanta, GA 30334 404656-0028 / 1-800-282-5803

# 7646

January 13, 1995

HIGHLIGHTS OF MAJOR SENATE ACTION
For the Week of January 9, 1995 (Week #1)

The 1995 session of the General Assembly was called to order Monday morning signaling the start of both a new legislative session and a new two-year term.
Few, if any, bills are deliberated on the Senate floor during the first week of a legislative term. There is no carryover legislation from the previous year, and the bills which are introduced during the first week must wind their way through the committee process before facing floor debate.
Furthermore, the first week is largely ceremonial. Lawmakers are sworn in, rules of procedure are adopted, and the Senate and House routinely meet in joint session to hear the Governorts Stateof-the-State and Budget messages.
This year, the oath of office was administered to the Senators by State Supreme Court Justice Hugh P. Thompson. Senator Walter Ray, meanwhile, was elected Senate President Pro-Tempore.
Formal inaugural ceremonies were held at the Atlanta Civic Center on Monday for Governor Zell Miller, Lieutenant Governor Pierre Howard and the six other state constitutional officers.
In his inaugural remarks, Lt. Governor Howard called for a return of discipline and order to the classroom as well as a strengthening of the family.
The Lt. Governor also announced plans to work for term-limit legislation. His proposal, which was formally introduced this week, would limit the terms of state constitutional officers as well as members of the General Assembly.
The Governor presented combined State-of-the-State and Budget messages to the Senate and House this year. He placed continued emphasis on education and economic growth. He also outlined new initiatives against crime and drunk driving.
Miller's proposals include an expansion of the HOPE (Helping Our Pupils Educationally) Scholarship Program, teacher pay raises, tougher bail restrictions for suspects arrested a second time for violent crimes which would bring life sentences, and elimination of the nolo contendere plea in drunk driving cases.
The Senate and House also met in joint session to hear the annual State-of-the-Judiciary address by Willis Hunt, Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court.
Senate Republicans, including Minority Leader Arthur (Skin) Edge, Minority Whip Sallie Newbill and Senator Don Balfour outlined a legislative package which emphasizes a limit on the size, scope and intrusiveness of government.
More than 100 pieces of legislation were dropped in the hopper and began to move through Senate committees. These measures include legislation dealing with: pipeline construction, nuisance lawsuits, a local option sales tax for education, car insurance discounts, public initiative, school discipline, and the use of lottery revenues.
. more.. .I.

the Floor

Although there is little, if any, legislation considered and debated on the Senate floor during the first week of a session, there is still much accomplished. The tone of the session is set by the Governor's State-of-the-State and Budget remarks and the President of the Senate outlines his agenda for the session. More than 100 pieces of legislation are customarily introduced.

Lieutenant Governor's Remarks
In opening remarks to the Senate, Lt. Governor Howard predicted a "harmonious and good session." He urged Senators to adhere to the public demand for a "government that solves problems and does not fall into partisan g r i d l ~ c k . ~ ~
The Lt. Governor was sworn in to his second term as President of the Senate by Superior Court Judge Lawton E. Stephens of Athens, a long-time friend.
In his inaugural remarks, Howard called for a return of discipline and order to the classroom as well as a strengthening of the family.
"Our great state cannot survive unless the institution of the family is restored to its former vitality," said Howard.
"The family is the irreplaceable building block of a strong society, for it is from the family that we learn our basic values. It is from the family that we gain our sense of purpose; and it is from the family that we first learn the importance of a commitment to something other than self."
Noting that "We are Georgians first and Democrats and Republicans second,88Howard called for mutual understanding and cooperation in the legislative process.
He cautioned, however, that government alone cannot solve society's problems. He said those problems must be addressed through a government partnership with the private sector and the religious community.
The Lt. Governor also emphasized education and pledged to work toward the establishment of charter schools and increasing teacher salaries.
A New Pro-Tem
Senator Walter Ray, who previously served as Senate Majority Leader, is the new Senate President Pro-Tempore. He was nominated by Senators Hugh Gillis and Richard Marable.
Following his election, Ray told Senators that their goal should be to "improve the quality of life for all Georgians."
The Pro-Tem is the highest ranking officer of the Senate after the Lieutenant Governor.
New Members
The Senate welcomed nine new members to its ranks on the first day. The freshmen include: Eric Johnson and Diane Harvey Johnson of Savannah; Clay Land of Columbus; Floyd Griffin, Jr., of Milledgeville; Charles Tanksley of Cobb County; Donzella James of Atlanta; Connie Stokes of Decatur; Casey Cagle of Gainesville; and J.L. Black of Lookout Mountain.
Governor's State-of-the-State & Budqet Messaaes
Governor Miller delivered a combined State-of-the-StateIBudget message to a joint session of the Senate and House on Thursday.

The Governor outlined an agenda that focuses on education and economic growth, and new initiatives targeting crime and drunk driving.
Among the Governor's educational proposals are teacher pay raises of six percent in each of the next four years. The Governor is also recommending a shifting of money from the education bureaucracy to the classroom and an expansion of the HOPE (Helping our Pupils Educationally) Scholarship program.
Under the Governor's plan, the family income cap for the HOPE program would be eliminated and students who drop below their mandatory "BI1 average would get a second chance.
Gov. Miller will also propose legislation to eliminate the nolo-contendere plea for drunk driving and to adopt a "zero tolerancew standard for drivers under the age of 21.
More crime legislation is also on the agenda including a measure to make it harder to post bond for criminals charged with a second offense which could send them to prison for life under the state's @Itwo strikesw law. He outlined plans to expand correctional and substance abuse programs and increase the number of beds at state youth detention centers.
Miller noted that 73 percent of the money added to the supplemental budget is targeted for education and that 66 percent of the increased spending for Fiscal Year 1996 is earmarked for education.
Senator Richard Marable said he was impressed by the Governor's remarks and praised what he called Governor Miller's llinnovativenideas. Marable commended Miller's push for teacher pay raises and an expanded HOPE Scholarship program.
Senate Minority Leader Arthur (Skin) Edge said he supports the Governor's emphasis on education, but said many of the education reform efforts are "long overdue.11 Edge also said he would have liked to have heard the Governor address welfare reform and ways to stem increased state spending.

Committee
Action
I

With no carryover legislation from the previous year, Senate committee action was relatively slow during the first few days of the 1995 session. More than 20 committee meetings were held, but most of the activity was organizational and focused on the adoption of procedural rules. The committees were expected to begin the consideration of bills by late in the week.

Economic Develo~ment,Tourism & Cultural Affairs

One of the key committee meetings of the week was held by the Economic Development, Tourism and Cultural Affairs Committee headed by Senator Paul Broun.
The panel heard from Olympic officials, Glen Cornell and Mike Holliday, on the progress being made in Olympic planning. Their report included an update on a number of fronts including a planned travel center for downtown Atlanta which will work with Olympic sponsors, media and others in addressing the positive and negative images of Georgia that will be observed and reported.
Efforts are also underway to market and promote all areas of the state, not only Atlanta.

Former Congressman Lindsey Thomas, now an official with the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games (ACOG), told the committee that ACOG is right on track to raise the estimated $1.58 billion needed to stage the Olympic games. Over 1 million license tags have been sold, raising more than $8 million for ACOG and $4 million for the state. Over 58 percent of the revenue for the Olympics has already been reached with 90 percent guaranteed. Commemorative 1996 Olympic Gold Coins are estimatedto raise $65-70 million.
Thomas also told the committee that 75 percent of foreign and 85 percent of domestic travellers are repeat tourists. The top three factors that tourists look at when choosing to return are: transportation, accommodations, and personal greetings.
The Okefenokee Swamp is predicted to be the second most visited tourist attraction in the nation during the summer of 1996, second only to Disneyland.
Tickets for Olympic events are scheduled to go on sale to the public in May, 1995.
The panel also heard an update on the State Lottery for Education, Lottery officials reported that the games are bringing $180 million more into the treasury than they were at this time last year.
Insurance and Labor
While there were no bills to be considered by the Insurance and Labor Committee, the panel did meet Wednesday for organizational purposes. The committee, headed by Senator Jake Pollard, also heard from newly-elected State Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine.

The Senate Appropriations Committee, led by Senator George Hooks, and the House Appropriations Committee held their annual joint hearings on the proposed supplemental budget the week before the session convened.
The supplemental budget plan for the current fiscal year would increase state expenditures by $440 million. The revised budget includes $59 million as the state's portion of flood damaye assistance, much of which will be matched by federal funds.
The amended budget also includes:
-- $225 million in new lottery funding for education. -- $74 million in mid-term adjustments to pay for increased -- school enrollment around the state.
Funding to expand the capacity of the state's Youth
Development Centers and other detention facilities for juveniles.

the
Hopper

Legislation introduced during the first week of the 1995 session covered a wide range of topics and issues. More than 100 pieces of legislation were dropped in the Senate hopper during the first week, The measures dealt with issues such as: education and discipline in the schools, term limits, pipeline cor.s?ruction, public initiative, the Olympics, anmd taxes.

Term Limits
One frequently discussed issue is term limits. Legislation proposed by the Lieutenant Governor has been introduced by Senators Rene Kemp, Steve Farrow and Sonny Perdue. SR 30, if approved by the voters as a constitutional amendment, would limit members of the
General Assembly to a total of 12 years service -- six 2-year
terms. The measure would limit state constitutional officers, such as
the Governor, Lt. Governor and Secretary of State, to two consecutive four-year terms.
Frivolous Lawsuits
So-called "SLAPPW lawsuits are the target of SB 1, by Senators Mary Margaret Oliver, Steve Farrow and Jim Tysinger. Selective Litigation Against Public Participation (SLAPP) suits are often filed by developers to discourage civic associations and homeowners groups from fighting proposed developments. The bill would make it easier for courts to dismiss suits which are obviously filed to intimidate citizen opposition.
Learnfare
A bill aimed at keeping potential dropouts in school has been introduced by Senators Sallie Newbill, Clint Day and Pam Glanton. SB 13 would require teenagers in families receiving welfare benefits to stay in school or face the loss of benefits.
Protection for Olvm~icVolunteers
The thousands of people who will serve as Olympic volunteers will enjoy workersf compensation protection if they are injured on the job if SB 17 becomes law. The measure is sponsored by Senators Jake Pollard, Paul Broun and Walter Ray.
Public Initiative
Several pieces of legislation which could clear the way for public initiative in Georgia have been introduced in the Senate. Among them are SR 2 3 by Senator Steve Thompson and SR 4 by Senators Perry McGuire, Arthur (Skin) Edge and Sallie Newbill. Under public initiative, voters would be able to decide critical issues directly on the ballot.
School Disci~line
A bill targeting school discipline problems has been proposed by Senators David Scott, Walter Ray and Hugh Gillis. SB 31 would involve parents or guardians in school disciplinary action before a suspension is ordered.
Pi~elineConstruction
Legislation to better regulate the use of eminent domain by petroleum pipeline companies to condemn private property for pipeline construction has been sponsored by Senators George Hooks, Walter Ray and Harold Ragan. SB 2 4 , which would update a nearly 50-year old law, is also aimed at protecting the environment from possible pollution.
Casket Markinqs
Summer flooding in central and southwest Georgia caused major and sometimes macabre disruptions, including the unearthing of coffins from flooded cemeteries. To this day, some bodies remain unidentified. In response, Senators Terrell Starr and George Hooks have sponsored SB 43 to require some type of permanent engraving or marking on caskets to ensure that they can be identified if the need ever arises.

New Look for Home Ec
A bill to drastically change the content of Home Economics courses has been introduced by Senators Nadine Thomas, Connie Stokes and Robert Brown. SB 68 would expand the courses to include instruction on parenting and responsibility. Students would have to complete the course in order to graduate.
Other Leaislation Introduced
Other measures dropped in the hopper this week would:
Authorize the use of lottery revenues to provide computer training to personnel in the state's post-secondary technical institutes (SB 46 by Senators Paul Braun, George Hooks and Walter Ray). Expand auto insurance discounts for drivers under age 25. (SB 21 by Senators 8teve Thompson and Steve Langford). Give the Department of Revenue the authority to contract with outside agencies to collect delinquent taxes (SB 29 by Senators Johnny Isakson, David Ralston and Axthur (Skin) Edge). Offer voters an opportunity to authorize special use local option sales taxes for education to ease the tax burden on property owners (SR 20 by Senators Casey Cagle, Arthur (Skin) Edge and Sallie Newbill). Limit the number of landfills that could be opened in a given geographic area (SB 32 by Senators David Scott, Walter Ray and Hugh Gillis). Provide free drivers' licenses to motorists whose licenses are stolen (SB 37 by Senator Ron Cheeks). Make it easier for schools to qualify as charter schools with greater independence and local control (SB 54 by Senators Mark Taylor, Guy Middleton and Robert Brown). Require firearms to be kept out of the reach of children and make adults subject to criminal charges if a child is killed or injured by an unsecured gun (SB 72 by Senators Ralph David Abernathy and David Scott). Suspend the driverst licenses of teenage motorists who plead guilty or nolo contendere to a DUI charge until his or her 18th birthday (SB 65 by Senators David Ralston, Mary Margaret Oliver and Chuck Clay). Shift more money from administration directly to the schools (SB 62 by Senator Ron Slotin).

Around Capitol
Hill

While floor action in the Senate and House Chambers certainly

dominates the legislative

session, there are a number of

events that take place

elsewhere. This section of the

Weekly Wrap-Up will summarize

some of those events of

interest. Among the events held over the past week were the

annual pre-session Wild Hog

Supper I

the

Inaugural

Celebration, and a Strategic

Planning Conference.

Stratesic Plannina Conference

Legislative and executive leaders met Friday, January 6, 1995 for a Strategic Planning Conference in downtown Atlanta. The purpose of the conference was to provide those leaders with a greater understanding of the importance of strategic planning and strong management skills to make government more efficient and effective in serving the public.
Some of the issues discussed were fundamentals of strategic planning, strategic budget development, and Total Quality Management (TQM). Members of the Senate and House as well as state agency directors attended the meeting. The conference was sponsored by Governor Miller, Lt. Governor Howard, Speaker of the House Tom Murphy, and the joint Senate-House Budgetary Responsibility and Oversight Committee.

Hoa Wild

On the eve of the 1995 session of the General Assembly, lawmakers, lobbyists, journalists, and hundreds of others gathered for the annual pre-session pig pickint-- the Wild Hog Supper held at the Georgia Depot. The supper is an opportunity to socialize and talk a little shop before getting down to the rigors of legislative business in the long 40-day session.

Casual Countrv Concert

"WhisperingttBill Anderson and Doug Stone gave a free concert at the Atlanta Civic Center on Monday evening as part of the Governor's second inaugural celebration. Anderson has been a member of the Grand Ole Opry for over 30 years and Stone is a popular young country superstar. Both artists played their hit songs and there was widespread toe-tapping. Rhubarb Jones of Atlanta's Y-106 Radio was the master of ceremonies for the evening. Among the celebrants was baseball great Mickey Mantle.

ISixty
Second Interview

Newly-elected Senate Majority

Leader Sonny Perdue of Bonaire

has no worries about passing

important legislation duringthe

1995-96 legislative term because

he believes that "we all heard

a message on November 8th that

people want government to

work.

Perdue feels that

Georgians are better off now

than in the past.

"The economy i s gr-owing and Georgians are doing well," says Perdue. Itourcitizens will bg the beneficiaries of the dynamics of the political process taking place."
Speaking on behalf of other legislators, Perdue notes that most legislators ttunderstandthe dynamics of change in society. We have issues that we need to address and we plan to address them as they come to light."
Perdue foresees a major focus on legislation concerning education, welfare reform, and juvenile crime including prevention. He also says there is a need for creative ideas in order to increase Georgia's national standing in secondary education.
##Weunderstand that changes must be made and we plan to reform welfare laws in order to give people incentives to get off of welfare," said Perdue. He added that people can no longer "tolerate what has been happening in societyw concerning juvenile crime.
Perdue predicts there "will be some showmanship, some statesmanship, and some posturing on a partisan basis that is unavoidable, but our job as elected officials is to do what is right for Georgia and Georgians."

'IGoverning is tough; Sometimes decisions may not necessarily be in our short term best interest, but will be in the long term best interest for all Georgians c ~ n c e r n e d , ~P~erdue concluded.

Freshman Senator Floyd L.

Georgia Senate

Griffin, Jr., of Milledgeville comes to the State Senate with

Bios

23 years of military experience. Retiring from the U. S. Army in 1990 with the rank of Colonel,

Griffin concluded a career that

included service as a helicopter

pilot, commander of a
Brief ] construction engineer company, flight instructor, Logistics

Officer, Battalion Executive

Officer, and Director of

Engineering and Housing. His

assignments took him from

Vietnam to Germany to Ft.

Stewart, Ga.

Griffin's military service included stints as an educator in

the area of Military Science at Wake Forest University and Winston-

Salem State University in North Carolina. He also taught in the

University of Chicago's extension program in Germany. After his

retirement, Griffin was Director of Facilities and Engineering at

Georgia Military College and is currently a funeral director.

Active in the community, Griffin is a member of the Rotary

Club of ~illedgeville, the Warren-Hawkins Post of the American

Legion, the Milledgeville United Negro College Fund, the National

War College Alumni Association, the Baldwin County NAACP, the

Milledgeville Chamber of Commerce, and the Prince Hall Free and

Accepted Masons. He is a former member of the Board of Directors

of the ~ e o r g i aCollege Intercollegiate Athletic Association and was

recently inducted into the Sigma Pi Psi Fraternity.

Griffin and his wife, Nathalie Huffman h riff in, are the

-- parents of two grown sons

Brian and Eric. They have two

-- grandchildren Jamal and Brandon.