News feed [Jan. 24, 2002B]

January 24, 2002 News Feed
(Please feel free to personalize)
Greetings, this is Rep. _____________.
The Joint House and Senate Appropriations Committee wrapped up their FY 2003 budgetary hearings today.
The Georgia Courts System Justices were among those appearing today. Although their fiscal proposals were attentively reviewed, members' concerns quickly turned to the topic of indigent defense. Currently, Georgia's indigent defense program consists of a hodgepodge of systems that vary from county to county with some operating well, while others are seriously lacking. Supreme Court Presiding Chief Justice Leah Sears echoed members' sentiments, and expressed the Court's support for developing a statewide, uniform system for representing defendants who cannot afford a personal attorney. Court of Appeals Chief Justice Alan Blackburn agreed, and hinted that if lawmakers do not make some progress in this area the federal courts may decide to get involved. Many members see improving the system as a win-win situation. Providing better legal representation for low income persons charged with a crime not only helps the accused, they surmise, but improves the efficiency and effectiveness of the entire courts system.
Also appearing before members was Buddy Nix, Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Director Nix outlined the cuts in his department, and the effects those reductions could have on some of the services the GBI provides for the state. Among those effects are backlogs in updating statewide databases used for background checks by local law enforcement agencies, as well as school systems, nursing homes, and daycare

facilities. Currently, those databases are operating on a ten day lag, but the GBI head explained that the lag could grow to more than two months during the coming year.
There were, however, a couple of additions to the GBI spending plan. The first consisted of some $231,333 for the implementation and maintenance of the Georgia Family Violence Registry which would provide a statewide database for violently abusive spouses, and parents. Domestic dispute calls are among the most dangerous for law enforcement officials, and such a registry would provide vital information to officers about to enter a potentially volatile situation.
The second spends $675,792 which will draw down federal funds for a total of $1.35 million to pay for operating expenses and the creation of 22 positions within the state's new "Response to Terrorism" program.
Finally, an area of concern among a number of members has been the financial impact of the Enron collapse on Georgia's Teacher's Retirement System. TRS Executive Director Jeffrey Ezell put many of those worries to rest today. He explained to members that while the Enron debacle cost the system some $79 million, this represents only two tenths of one percent of the its $39 billion dollar worth. Furthermore, he pointed out, the state's Attorney General is currently involved in an attempt to recoup those losses in court.
The conclusion of these budgetary proceedings is merely the first step in a long and arduous process which usually is not entirely resolved until the session's last days.
Reporting from your state capitol this is Rep._________. If you have any questions or comments please do not hesitate to call me at (404) 656 ( ).