Upper chamber report 2009 January 29

TOP STORY Senators Focus on State Ethics Laws, the Hospital Tax & Historically Black Colleges

JANUARY 29, 2009 -- DAY 9
Upper Chamber Report

Raegan Weber, Press Director Kallarin Richards, Editor in Chief

By Raegan Weber
The Chamber opened on the eighth day of the 2009 Legislative Session with the traditional Pledge of Allegiance and daily devotional, but quickly jumped right to the hot issues for the day. State ethics laws, the Governor Perdue's proposed hospital tax and historically black colleges took center stage.

Ethics Committee ViceChairman George Hooks (DAmericus) announced he discovered a loop hole in Georgia's state ethics laws after some editorial commentators asked questions in reaction to Illinois' pending impeachment of Governor Rod R. Blagojevich. Hooks proposed a resolution to require companies and individuals that do business with the State of Georgia to report their campaign contributions to elected officials within two days of the contribution to the Senate Ethics Committee.
Inside this issue:

Focus on State Ethics

1

Laws, the Hospital Tax

& Historically Black

Colleges

Transportation Com-

2

mittee Passes Key

Transportation Legisla-

tion

Senate Higher Educa-

2

tion Committee Opens

with Comments from

Public and Private

Colleges

Legislative Process Dates

3

tions associated with the units

"My heart goes out to our of the university system to

colleagues in Illinois and merge Savannah State Uni-

what they are going through. versity with Armstrong At-

My hope is that this resolu- lantic State University and

tion is a road to openness and Albany State University with

transparency in state govern- Darton College; and for other

ment and a closing of loop purposes.

holes," said

Hooks. Each

legislator has an opportunity

"Merging Historically

"Merging Historically Black

to sign the Black Colleges...will save Colleges such

resolution.

our taxpayers and the

as Savannah State Univer-

State Senator state a significant sity and Al-

Gloria Butler (D-Stone

amount of money."

bany State College with

Mountain), a member of the

- Sen. Seth Harp

nearby whitemajority

Health and

schools, Arm-

Human Ser-

strong Atlantic

vices Committee, expressed State University and Darton

her opposition to Governor College, will save our taxpay-

Perdue's plan to tax hospitals ers and the state a significant

and health insurers to help amount of money. It is not

offset a deficit in Georgia's my intention to close any of

Medicaid budget.

these institutions, but to

strengthen them and make

"To fill a $208 million hole them better," said Harp.

with a fee on hospitals and insurers is like robbing Peter to pay Peter," said Butler. Butler called the plan a "sick tax" noting that it will make hospital bills more difficult

For more information on these resolutions and others submitted to the General Assembly, visit http:// www.legis.state.ga.us/.

to pay and it will hurt hospi-

tals and health care services

rather than help-

ing them.

Higher Education Committee Chairman Seth Harp (RMidland) dropped his resolution proposal urging the Board of Regents of the University Sys- Sen. Butler takes the well to oppose what she tem of Georgia is calling the "sick tax" on hospitals. and the founda-

Transportation Committee Passes Key Transportation
Legislation for Georgia
By Hayley Howell
ATLANTA (January 28, 2009)--The Senate Transportation Committee convened this Wednesday and began this year's legislation productively by passing 3 bills and a resolution amongst the committee and on to the Rules Committee. Vice- Chairman Chip Pearson (RDawsonville) stepped up to chair today's transportation meeting on behalf of Chairman Jeff Mullis (R- Chickamauga).
Senator David Shafer (R- Duluth) proposed Senate Bill 19 which grants the Department of Transportation (DOT) an additional tool in financing to speed up the process of road building. Under this legislation the State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA) will have the power to enter into intergovernmental agreements with the DOT for the better management of their respective finances.
"The Department of Transportation supports any means or methods through which the department can get additional funding for additional transportation projects," said DOT Commissioner Gena Evans. Sen. Steve Thompson (DMarietta) expressed his concerns on whether the bill is legal or constitutional in the state of Georgia. He supported moving the bill through the com-

mittee while getting a legal opinion from the Attorney General's office. The bill passed and is now moving to the Senate Rules Committee.
Senator Doug Stoner (D- Smyrna) proposed Senate Bill 22 which would create a Georgia Coordinating Council for Rural and Human Services Transportation. The purpose of this legislation is to coordinate programs that provide rural and human service transportation services across the state.
The federal government provides so many transportation dollars in areas such as education, labor, and health care in addition to the department of transportation that Sen. Stoner is worried about our efficiency and coordination. "We need to more efficiently and effectively utilize federal funding for transportation. This is not a diversion of money but just insurance that we are spending it wisely," said Sen. Stoner. The Federal government provides roughly 2 million dollars in transportation funds across state agencies. While the bill passed through the committee, many conservative members expressed concerns of creating another layer of government and the potential costs to the state.
Chairman Mullis is leading the effort to get Senate Bill 39, the transportation special-purpose local-option sales tax (TSPLOST) bill, passed through the Senate quickly. TSPLOST provides for

a one percent tax to be used to fund transportation projects in special trans-
portation districts within the state. The
TSPLOST bill would generate up to $850 million in funding each year for the metro area and up to $1.2 billion for the entire state. It provides greater choice and flexibility at the county level so that local areas can decide what transportation projects need funding the most. Should the bill pass in the legislature, a Constitutional Amendment question will be on the November 2010 ballot for Georgians to voice their opinion via a vote.
"There is over $185 billion dollars of private investment waiting to be used for public transportation. Georgia should not be left behind while other states move ahead," said Mullis. "Our bill would generate up to $850 million in funding each year for the metro area and up to $1.2 billion for the entire state."
Atlanta is the 2nd most congested city in the United States of America, and Georgia has lost Fortune 500 companies because of the congestion issue. Senators Kasim Reed and Steve Thompson expressed concerns over the opt-out provision but ultimately voted for the bill. The bill passed by unanimous consent and is now going to the Rules Committee before going to the Senate floor.

Senate Higher Education Committee Opens with Comments from Public and Private Colleges
By Kallarin Richards
ATLANTA (January 28, 2009) Chairman Seth Harp (R-Midland) called to order the first Senate Higher Education Committee of the 2009 session today at the Capitol. Chairman Harp welcomed Senator John Douglas (R-Social Circle) as secretary of the committee, as well as new committee members Senators John Crosby (RTifton) and Lester Jackson (DSavannah).

After the members unanimously adopted committee rules for the session, they heard from several leaders of public and private higher education institutions.
Dr. Elizabeth Kiss, president of Agnes Scott College, began by thanking the committee for securing an additional $500 in HOPE Scholarships for private colleges last year. She noted that while the state budget is tight, private colleges are again asking for the scholarship to be raised another $500, totaling $4000. President Dean Collins of Atlanta Christian College echoed Dr. Kiss' re-

quest for an increase in the HOPE Scholarship, while also agreeing that they both accept the Governor's recommendation to cut $100 from the statefunded Tuition Equalization Grant, as long as it is kept at the $1100 mark.
Chancellor Erroll Davis of the Board of Regents also delivered a brief welcome and thanked the committee for its support. The university system comprises $6.5 billion of the state budget, and will come under severe scrutiny when legislators begin to allocate funding to higher education.

Page 2

Legislative Process Dates
Important Dates in the Legislative Process
Introduction - Last day to file and/or 1st Read in Senate. 30 th day - last day to introduce General Senate bills and resolutions (even year). [Rule 3-1.2 (b)] 30 th day - last day to accept General House bills and resolutions. [Rule 3-1.2 (b)] 39th day - last day to introduce General Senate bills and resolutions (odd year). [Rule 3-1.2 (b)] *Note: Senate bills and resolutions must be filed with the Secretary before 4:00 p.m. to be 1st read on the next legislative day.
Deadlines for passage in current year
Committee Report Deadlines - Last day to read report. Report submitted to Secretary by convening. 28th day - General Senate bills and resolutions. 38th day - Local Senate bills and resolutions. 38th day - General House bills and resolutions. 40th day - Local House bills and resolutions. Calendar Management Calendar in numerical order after 2nd reading of legislation; days 1-5. [Rule 4-2.10 (a)] Rules Committee sets the calendar for days 6 - 40. [Rule 4-2.10 (b)] General Senate Bills and Resolutions 26th day - File with Secretary of the Senate. [Rule 3-1.2 (a)] 27th day - 1st Reading and referral to committee. [Rule 3-1.2 (b)] 28th day - Committee report read upon convening. (A recommitted bill already 2nd read - report day 29.) 29th day - 2nd Reading. [Rule 4-2.6] 30th day - Passage [Rule 4-2.10 (a)] and immediate transmittal to House. [Rule 4-2.14] Local Senate Bills and Resolutions 35th day - File with Secretary of the Senate. [3-1.2 (a)] 36th day - 1st Reading and referral to committee. (Cannot pass for 2 days.) [Rule 4-2.4 (c) ] 38th day - Favorable report by committee, passage and immediate transmittal to the House. [Rule 4-2.14] 39th day - 2nd Reading in House. 40th day - Favorable report and passage in House. General House Bills and Resolutions 30th day - Transmitted from House and received by Secretary. 31st day - 1st Reading and referral to committee. [Rule 3-1.2 (b)] 38th day - Favorable report upon convening and 2nd reading. (Applies to days 36 - 38) [Rule 4-2.6] 39th day - Passage. [Rule 4-2.10 (a)] 40th day - Passage of bills or resolutions tabled day 39; removed from the table on day 40. [Rule 4-2.10 (a)] Local House Bills and Resolutions 39th day - 1st Reading and referral to committee. 40th day - Favorable report by committee and passage. * Note: On the 30th day and on the last three days of session, bills and resolutions needing action from the House are automatically immediately transmitted. [Rule 4-2.14]

Page 3

UPPER CHAMBER REPORT