Weekly wrap-up [House] [No. 8 (Mar. 19, 2002)]

GEORGIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE ROOM 131, STATE CAPITOL 30334 404-656-5082 1-800-282-5800
Weekly Wrap-up #8
Back to PIO The House reconvened on Monday, March 18, 2002 at 10:00 am. The recess gave lawmakers time to work out a compromise on the state's mid-year budget, which is a revised spending plan for the remaining fiscal year ending June 30th. It also gave House budget writers time to complete their version of the FY 2003 budget that begins July 1st. Lawmakers also voted to recess after business on Tuesday, March 18, 2002 and reconvene on Monday, March 25, 2002 at 10:00 am. This will allow the Senate to work on the FY 2003 budget. It is also a continuing effort to save days for possible redrawing of district lines so the General Assembly can avoid a special session. Nine days remain in the 40 day session.
State Budget - On Tuesday the House passed HB 1002 by a vote of 144 - 29 . The bill is a $16.1 billion spending plan that provides appropriations for the State Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 2002, and ending June 30, 2003. There are no new bonds in the document and it reflects 5 percent reductions in state agency spending requests called for by the Governor. The FY 2003 budget is now in the Senate where they will adopt their own version. Highlights include $2.2 million in restored funding for foreign language programs, $2.7 million in restored funding for school libraries, a 3.25 percent teacher pay raise and a 2.25 percent state employee pay raise, $3 million for retired teacher benefits, 3.5 percent salary increase for certified and 4-year degree Pre-K teachers, $4.2 million to reduce child protection worker's caseloads, over $2 million to develop an integrated statewide trauma system, $3 million to improve retirement benefits of school bus drivers, lunchroom workers and school janitors, $3.5 million for homeland security $537,000 in restored funding for the Babies Born Healthy program and $600,000 for 30 additional vehicles at the Department of Motor Vehicle Safety.
Supplemental Budget Final Version - On Monday the House passed the conference committee's report on HB 1001 by a vote of 134 to 39. This is a revised spending plan for the current fiscal year. It takes state spending from $15.5 billion to $16.2 billion for the next three months ending June 30th. Tying to stimulate the state's economy and taking advantage of low interest rates the measure contains $709 million in bonds for construction projects on technical schools, colleges and roads. It is $16 million less in bonds than what the Governor had originally proposed. Reflected in the plan as well are the 2.5 percent in spending cuts called for by the Governor earlier in the year. Contained in the document is $137.5 million for rural road projects, $54 million for electronic voting equipment in every Georgia precinct, $8.5 million for cleaning up the Tri-State Crematory where hundreds of bodies were found, $5 million in grants for rural hospitals, $2.6 million to purchase land in downtown Atlanta for a multi-modal passenger terminal, $10 million for improving the satellite campuses at Macon State College and Fort Valley State College, $5 million for a riverfront development in Albany and $600,000 for the Indigent Defense Council. To view spending proposals click here To go to the Legislative Budget Office click here

Natural Gas - HB 1568 the "Natural Gas Consumers' Relief Act;" passed on Tuesday by a vote of 173 - 3. This is a part of the Governor's Legislative Package. It effects approximately 1.5 million natural gas customers in Georgia. Most of those reside in metro Atlanta. Some provisions of the plan include a consumers bill of rights that says selling natural gas must be on reasonable terms and at reasonable prices, a gas supplier of "last resort" for low income consumers and those with bad credit, allows electric membership corporations (EMCs) to become natural gas marketers, requires full disclosure by marketers of how prices are figured and terms of service, gives the Public Service Commission authority to impose emergency price regulations in limited situations, allows consumers to switch marketers once every 12 months without charge, establishes a late fee cap of $10 or 1.5 percent of past due balance, establishes a $150 limit on deposits, which must be refunded to consumers who pay on time for six months, allows consumers who can not pay their bills to enter into a payment plan with their marketers, gives marketers 30 days to correct billing errors and prohibits penalties to be imposed while a billing error are being challenged, prohibits marketers from charging consumers when a meter is turned off, requires performance standards for AGL and marketers for meter reading, call center response times, billing and meter turn-ons and turn-offs and establishes fines of up to$15,000 for gas marketers not meeting customer service standards. To go to HB 1568 click here
MARTA - HB 1245, which passed on Monday 98 - 64, allows the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority to use up to 55 percent of its sales tax revenue for operating expenses. The law states now it can use only 50 percent of its sales tax revenue for operating expenses, and the rest for capital projects. The difference equals about $15 million a year. Changing the funding formula is intended to help the transit authority avoid layoffs and cutting routes. The bill also puts a five year limit on the changes and the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority would be allowed to audit MARTA.
Promoting Breast Cancer Awareness - On Monday the House passed HB 1402, 162 - 0. It is a part of the Governor's Legislative Package and creates a special license plate having a picture of the U.S. Postal Service's breast cancer stamp in the left corner and the message, "Fund the Fight, Find a Cure." The tags would go on sale starting next year and the $25 annual fee would go into the state's Indigent Care Trust Fund to pay for cancer screening and treatment programs.
Referendums on Beer and Wine Sales - HB 1433, which passed on Tuesday 134 - 28, changes the wording cities and counties must use on ballot referendums for Sunday beer and wines sales in restaurants. It replaces the required language of "distilled spirits" with "malt beverages and wine".
Garbage Trucks - HB 1398 passed on Monday 108 - 23 and requires strobe lights to be mounted on garbage trucks to make them more visible to oncoming motorist.
Reducing Drivers Licenses Lines - HB 1368, which is a part of the Governor Legislative Package and passed on Monday 154 - 4, allows drivers to seek renewal of their licenses through the mail or over the Internet.
Illegally Practicing Dentistry - HB 1622, that passed Monday 149 - 8, makes practicing

dentistry without a license a felony. To view legislation click here
Other Legislation Passed this Week
Monday, March 18, 2002 - 30th Day of the Session HB 961, A bill to amend Code Section 20-3-519 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to definitions applicable to HOPE scholarships and grants, so as to change the definition of the term ""eligible high school""; passed 161 - 0. HB 1080, A bill to amend Code Section 24-9-101 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to definitions regarding certain interpreters in administrative and judicial proceedings, so as to change the definition of 'qualified interpreter'; passed 143 - 0. HB 1111, A bill to amend Article 3 of Chapter 6 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to uniform rules of the road relative to driving on the right side of roadways, overtaking and passing, and following too closely, so as to change certain provisions relating to trucks using multilane highways; to provide lane usage restrictions for certain vehicles or combinations of vehicles on multilane highways; passed 158 - 0. HB 1162, A bill to amend Chapter 5 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Department of Administrative Services, so as to change a definition relating to ""The Small Business Assistance Act of 1975""; to change provisions relating to qualifications for certification as a minority business enterprise by the Department of Administrative Services; passed 147 - 16. HB 1204, A bill to amend Part 2 of Article 10 of Chapter 5 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to ad valorem taxation of motor vehicles, so as to provide for an exemption with respect to certain motor vehicles owned by recipients of the Medal of Honor; passed 159 - 0. HB 1291, A bill to amend Article 2 of Chapter 7 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state court judges and solicitors, so as to provide for reimbursement of travel and educational expenses; to amend provisions relating to the Council of State Court Judges of Georgia; passed 168 - 0. HB 1400, A bill to amend Title 37 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to mental health, so as to change the provisions regarding the transportation of mentally ill, mentally retarded, and alcoholic or drug dependent individuals who are patients or clients in a facility; to authorize a facility to arrange for transportation of an inpatient or client under the care of the facility by means other than the county sheriff; passed 165 - 0. HB 1457, A bill to amend Chapter 1 of Title 10 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to selling and other trade practices, so as to repeal Article 6 thereof, relating to interstate purchase of rifles and shotguns; passed 163 - 0. HB 1482, A bill to amend Code Section 50-8-191 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to application for regional economic assistance project (REAP) designation, minimum criteria, and reciprocal use agreements with adjacent facilities, so as to change the provisions relating to the minimum criteria for application for designation as a regional economic assistance project; passed 122 - 36. HB 1489, A bill to amend certain laws and provisions of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, and certain codified and uncodified laws based upon classification by population so as to revise and change the population and census application; passed 153 - 1.

HB 1542, A bill to amend an Act known as the ""West Georgia Regional Water Authority Act,"" so as to remove Douglas County as a member county of the West Georgia Regional Water Authority; to change the membership of the authority; to change the provisions relating to quorums; to change the definition of the term ""member county""; to change the definition of the term ""West Georgia region""; passed 152 - 0. HB 1548, A bill to amend Article 2 of Chapter 3 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to proceedings to determine disputed county boundary lines, so as to provide that, subject to certain conditions, the affected counties may by mutual agreement determine where the disputed boundary line should lie; to provide that upon making certain findings the Secretary of State may accept such agreement and determine that it resolves the matter; passed 147 - 1. HB 1564, A bill to amend Article 3 of Chapter 13 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to county and municipal taxation of hotel and motel and other rooms, lodgings, and accommodations, so as to provide for felony punishment for the failure to pay; passed 101 - 17. HB 1575, A bill to amend Code Section 15-12-122 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to demand of jury panels from which to select a jury in civil actions in the state courts and the superior courts, so as to change the monetary limit for a jury of 12 in state courts; passed 163 - 1. HB 1582, A bill to revise provisions of law relating to the recording of records by clerks of superior court; to amend Article 2 of Chapter 6 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to clerks of superior court, so as to change provisions relating to types of records required to be maintained; to provide that clerks shall not be required to refund certain excess sums tendered to them; to amend Code Section 34-8-167 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to collection of delinquent employment security contributions, so as to change provisions relating to recording of liens for such delinquent amounts; to amend Article 1 of Chapter 2 of Title 44 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to recordation of deeds and other instruments; passed 147 - 1. HB 1604, A bill to amend Code Section 15-6-3 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to terms of the superior courts, so as to change the terms of court of the Tifton Judicial Circuit; passed 160 - 0.
Tuesday March 19, 2002 - 31st Day of the Session HB 885, A bill to amend Chapter 9 of Title 42 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to pardons and paroles, so as to enact The Interstate Compact for Adult Offender Supervision; to provide for implementation of such compact; to provide for the Georgia State Council for Interstate Adult Offender Supervision; to provide for a compact administrator; to repeal the ""Uniform Act for Out-of-State Parolee Supervision""; passed 109 - 58 HB 1040, A bill to amend Part 8 of Chapter 14 of Title 44 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to hospitals and nursing homes, so as to allow a traumatic burn care medical practice to have a lien on a cause of action accruing to an injured person for the costs of care and treatment arising out of the cause of action; passed 155 - 13. HB 1083, A bill to amend Chapter 5 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to athletic trainers, so as to change the provisions relating to licensing, licenses, and requirements for licenses; to change the provisions relating to qualifications for applicants; passed 156 - 1.

HB 1182, A bill to amend Chapter 45 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, known as the ""Structural Pest Control Act,"" so as to change certain definitions; to regulate preconstruction termite treatments; to provide for additional powers and duties of the State Structural Pest Control Commission and the Commissioner of Agriculture; passed 165 - 5. HB 1206, A bill to amend Code Section 16-5-91 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to aggravated stalking, so as to include a good behavior bond as an order which, if violated, is included in the aggravated stalking statue; passed 166 - 0. HB 1306, A bill to amend Code Section 45-10-25 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to exceptions to prohibitions on transactions with state agencies, so as to allow an appointed public official of the executive branch or employee of the executive branch to serve as an instructor of an evening or night course or program for a unit of the University System of Georgia or the Department of Technical and Adult Education in certain circumstances; passed 167 - 4. HB 1350, A bill to amend Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to health, so as to authorize the Department of Community Health to award grants, as funds become available, to rural hospitals for public health purposes; to provide for the Department of Community Health to promulgate rules and regulations for effective administration of such grants; passed 167 -0. HB 1667, A bill to amend Chapter 2 of Title 28 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to apportionment of the House of Representatives and Senate and qualifications of members, so as to provide for the composition and number of state senatorial districts; passed 104 - 69. Uncontested Resolution Calendar - HR 1074, A resolution creating the Joint Local Assistance Road Program Study Committee; HR 1105, A resolution creating the Joint Construction Codes Study Committee; HR 1215, A resolution designating the Veterans Parkway; HR 1308, A resolution creating the House Tourism and Sports Marketing Study Committee; passed 167 - 0. To view legislation click here
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