News feed [Jan. 29, 2002]

January 29, 2002 News Feed
(Please feel free to personalize)
Greetings, this is Rep. _____________.
The House moved along at a steady pace while conducting business this morning. Eight measures were brought up for consideration, six of which received passage.
First up was HB 975, which members passed by a vote of 150-0. The noncontroversial legislation dealt with the Superior Court Clerk's Retirement system, and allowed for a one time, four percent cost of living increase in benefits.
Members addressed two items seeking to amend language in Georgia's Constitution. The first, House Resolution 126, would ban persons who refuse to pay taxes from running for public office. The measure, which passed the House by a vote of 142-7, states that any person defaulting on federal, state, or local taxation cannot qualify to become a candidate for public office.
Reasonable safeguards were installed to protect good intentioned persons from becoming subject to the legislation. The ban would only apply to those persons who: are held as responsible for payment by a court of law, are 12 months delinquent on payment, and are not involved in a payment plan to settle the debt. Furthermore, persons could only be held responsible for the tax delinquency of companies and entities over which they have control.
House Resolution 391 was the second proposed Constitutional change. The resolution sought to alter language governing the authority given to city and county governments with respect to dilapidated properties. The new wording would allow counties and cities to adopt ordinances and raise ad valorem taxation rates on rundown properties as a means of encouraging the owners to make the necessary

improvements. As an added incentive, local governments were also given the authority to extend property tax breaks to owners who agree to fix up their undesirable lots. Those in support of the plan see it as a valuable tool to aid local governments in community improvement projects, and to hold absentee landlords more accountable for such shoddy properties.
There were concerns about whether the resolution's language was too broad. Some members felt that overly aggressive interpretations could allow localities to abuse this new power. Attempting to allay some of these fears, the legislation's sponsors submitted an amendment that would allow the new code to be implemented only when the property posed and endangerment to the public health or safety. Despite this amendment, however, HR 391 fell six votes short of the 120 necessary for offering a Constitutional amendment. Proponents immediately served notice of their intentions to ask the House to reconsider its 114-49 vote, and the issue will likely resurface soon.
Another item, HB 945 is attempting to deal with Georgia's problematic stray animal population. The plan, which passed by a vote of 155-1, establishes a statewide dog and cat sterilization program to be operated by the Department of Agriculture. The program would be funded through the sale of a special license plate as well as donations and grant money. This money would then be used to spay and neuter stray dogs and cats thereby reducing the number of unwanted animals throughout the state.
Finally, HB 829 sought to increase from $25 to $35 the processing fees charged when sheriff's department personnel are used to serve notification papers in a lawsuit. Sponsors of the measure contend the $10 increase still would not pay for the cost incurred by many of Georgia's sheriff's departments in carrying out these duties.
The proposal hit a bit of resistance when it was noted that such a fee hike

would likely be passed on to the clients of the lawyers filing the suits, many of

which may be of lower income and already finding it difficult to afford court

action in the pursuit of their claims.

HB 829 was therefore set aside to allow members to further consider all

aspects and ramifications of the legislation before bringing it to a vote.

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 (

).