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: 
 
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$3.5 million reduction in state grant money to aid local Health 
 
Departments. 
 
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$25 million cut in the Board of Regents repair and renovation fund 
 
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Removed wording that would have earmarked $12 million for the 
 
Atlanta to Macon passenger rail line 
 
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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: 
 
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$280,000 for pre-trial substance abuse and mental health treatment 
 
programs. 
 
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$300,000 to fund grants for counties to pay for indigent defense 
 
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$591,000 to create the Georgia Military Pension Fund 
 
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$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. 
 
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$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: 
 
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SB 386 (92-60)-- increases the weight limit for trucks used in the 
 
delivery of ready-mixed concrete to 46,000 pounds. 
 
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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. 
 
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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 ( 
 
).