News feed [Apr. 10, 2002]

April 10, 2002 News Feed

(Please feel free to personalize)

Greetings, this is Rep. _____________.

Day 39 brought the final incarnation of the FY 2003 budget before House

members. House and Senate negotiators spent the better part of the last week

working out a compromise position which resolves the differences in their

respective versions. This year's compromise, however, was somewhat more

difficult than past years due to the effects of the current nationwide recession.

Tight financial times always bring cuts and this year is no different as the

Governor instructed state department heads to submit 5 percent across the board

spending reductions for their respective departments. A majority of the trimming

was absorbed by methods such as leaving positions vacated, neglecting to purchase

new government vehicles, or reducing daily operating costs. Still, some

substantiative cuts were unavoidable.

Because the Department of Education comprises such a large percentage of

the overall budget, it contained a number of reduction items. Some $13.3 million

was cut from their budget by reducing the staff development funding formula.

Another $10 million was removed from the DOE's student transportation funding.

Finally, one Education Department cut which lawmakers reluctantly accepted was

the $14 million decrease to their school library funds. It is estimated, however,

that much of this money can be recovered through federal funding maximization

efforts. Lawmakers sincerely hope this is the case.

Other spending reductions include:

<

$3.5 million reduction in state grant money to aid local Health

Departments.

<

$25 million cut in the Board of Regents repair and renovation fund

<

Removed wording that would have earmarked $12 million for the

Atlanta to Macon passenger rail line

<

Reduced from 16 to five the number of positions to be hired for the

Georgia Emergency Management Agency at a savings of

approximately $163,000

There were other areas where, despite having to reduce funding, House and

Senate lawmakers were able to find the money to minimize, and in some cases

eliminate the spending cuts. Conferees were able to find some $97,000 for the

Babies Born Healthy Program, and the Georgia Asthma Initiative was saved from

the chopping block with $75,000. Finally, realizing the extremely difficult plight

of Georgia's homeless House and Senate lawmakers were able to find $224,000 to

allow the Department of Human Resources to continue providing services for these

unfortunate men and women.

Despite this year's budget crunch, members did choose to increase spending

in certain key areas. Although education received a considerable portion of the

cutbacks in this year's budget, the Governor and the General Assembly are united

in their conviction that none of the cuts affect classroom instruction. As a

testament to this, one of the largest additions in this year's budget has the purpose

of ensuring that Georgia remain at the forefront in teacher salaries in the Southeast.

Lawmakers earmarked more than $150 million to provide a 3.25 percent pay raise

for teachers.

Realizing the new and dangerous reality forced upon this nation by the attacks of September 11th, some $2 million was added to aid in Georgia's effort to

shield its citizens from the actions of terrorists. This money would be used to pay

for three epidemiologists, a state emergency coordinator, a state molecular

biologist, and six positions within this state's Response to Terrorism Program.

House and Senate negotiators were also able to find another $6.6 million for

the widely popular and highly successful Peach Care for Kids Program which

provides medical coverage for children in lower income families who do not

qualify for medicaid. Furthermore, $1.5 million was included to pay for the

increased cost of providing vaccinations for uninsured children.

Having recently passed legislation giving the Public Service Commission

new responsibilities with respect to natural gas industry monitoring and oversight,

members agreed to set aside some $450,000 to be used by the PSC to fill nine

positions. It is hoped that this money will help the PSC in the implementation of

the duties laid out in the new code.

Other additions include:

<

$280,000 for pre-trial substance abuse and mental health treatment

programs.

<

$300,000 to fund grants for counties to pay for indigent defense

<

$591,000 to create the Georgia Military Pension Fund

<

$1.6 million (which will draw down federal funds for a total of $3.5

million) to facilitate the transition of 65 mentally retarded children

from state hospitals to community-based care.

<

$2.2 million to be used to support an economic development project

While there were concerns among some members over certain spending

items, a majority of House members felt that HB 1002, while not perfect,

represents a solid financial plan which is anchored in Georgia's tradition of sound

and responsible fiscal management. The compromise position on the FY 2003

budget was therefore passed by a vote of 144-27.

After dispensing with the budget, lawmakers tackled a docket containing

more than twenty Senate items along with dozens of House measures returning

from the Senate bearing changes and requiring House approval. One such proposal aims to ensure the safety and well being of Georgia's
students throughout their academic career. SB 433, which passed by a vote of 1410, seeks to expand the violent sex offender registry reporting requirements to include persons attending or working at any of Georgia's institutions of higher learning. Sex offenders would be required to notify local law enforcement officials of their presence at the post-secondary institution, and such information would then be made available to that institution. House lawmakers overwhelmingly saw the merit in making this type information available to post-secondary schools. In fact, they decided to extend the same protection to day care facilities, pre-schools, elementary schools, middle schools and high schools by attaching language previously passed in HB 1054 onto SB 433 in the form of an amendment. Supporters of the amended bill touted it as a security measure which will create a protective shield that will extend from a child's first day of school until their last.
Shifting from the protection of children to the protection of one's own identity, House lawmakers undertook SB 475. Under the proposal, a person commits the crime of identity fraud if they record, steal, or otherwise obtain personal information without the person's permission and with the intent of gaining access to said person's resources such as money, credit, or property of any kind. Persons guilty of using false documents and illegally gained information to hijack another person's identity and resources would be guilty of a felony, punishable by up to ten years imprisonment and a $100,000 fine for a first offense. Second and subsequent offenses would earn up to fifteen years in prison with a $250,000 fine.
People would also be given greater power to sue businesses who compromise their personal information by negligently discarding the collected info without attempting to either shred, or otherwise alter the document with the

purpose of rendering the information irretrievable.

Finally, the legislation stipulates that anyone who manufactures, sells,

possesses, or distributes false identification documents would be guilty of a

misdemeanor on the first offense and a felony upon the second or subsequent

offense.

There were some concerns with a provision in the measure which allows for

the seizure of private property which was involved in the crime of identity fraud.

Supporters of SB 475, however, pointed to the fact that Georgia ranks tenth in the

nation in cases of identity theft saying the protection of the property and actual

identity of Georgia's citizens demands both decisive and stern action. Members

overwhelmingly agreed, voting 164-2 in favor of passage.

Other items passing the House today include:

<

SB 386 (92-60)-- increases the weight limit for trucks used in the

delivery of ready-mixed concrete to 46,000 pounds.

<

SB 449 (135-0)-- allows state officials who are military reservists and

have been called to active duty to perform certain aspects of their

duties via teleconferencing through the use of telecommunications

devices.

<

SB 476 (107-34)-- require medical insurance companies to pay the

claim for any medical procedures which have been pre-approved by

the insurance company or any agent thereof. Lawmakers will be in recess tomorrow, but will return on Friday, April 12th for the 40th and final legislative day of the 2002 session. With big ticket issues

such as predatory lending and natural gas deregulation still awaiting final passage,

it looks to be another long and busy day on the House floor.

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 (

).