Legislative update: a briefing for faculty and staff of the University System of Georgia, No. 1 (Jan. 11, 2010)

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
A Briefing for Faculty & Staff of the University System of Georgia No. 1, January 11, 2010
"Creating a More Educated Georgia"

General Assembly Convenes; House Elects Ralston as Speaker

The Georgia General Assembly convened for the 2010 Legislative Session at 10 a.m. this morning under the Capitol's gold dome in Atlanta.
This is the second year of the biennium, the two-year term of office that all Georgia legislators are elected to serve. Legislative matters left pending at the end of the first session of a biennium can be carried over to the second year, so bills and resolutions not acted on in last year's session will be given consideration during this session.
Regular sessions of the General Assembly last 40 "legislative days." The actual length of the session varies depending on the number of recesses called during the session, when the clock stops on the "legislative days" meter.
The calendar calls for the legislature to remain in session throughout this week, recess Monday, Jan. 18, for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday and Jan. 19-22 for a series of joint hearings on the Fiscal Year 2010 and 2011 budgets. The regular session will resume on Jan. 25.
Session Schedule for Jan. 11-22:

Speaker of the House a USG Alum
The first order of business for lawmakers in the House of Representatives was to elect Rep. David Ralston of Blue Ridge, a product of the University System of Georgia (USG), as Speaker of the House.
Ralston, a graduate of North Georgia College & State University and the University of Georgia School of Law, is an attorney who is currently serving his third term in the House of Representatives and had chaired the Non-Civil Judiciary Committee. He served as a Georgia State Senator from 1993-1999.
Ralston was chosen by the Republican caucus to serve as speaker after former Speaker Glenn Richardson resigned late last year.
The House Speaker is a powerful person in state government. He controls committee assignments and the flow of legislation and debate; he also rules on issues of law and devises strategy. The speaker has the power to settle votes on legislation by breaking ties and can direct the budget plan presented by the chamber. Q

Monday, Jan. 11 10 a.m. Legislature convenes for first day of session
Wednesday, Jan. 13 10 a.m., House of Representatives Chamber Gov. Sonny Perdue's annual budget address to the General Assembly (highlights in next week's issue)
Questions? Suggestions? Comments?
We welcome your thoughts on this publication. To share them, just send an e-mail to the editor at Diane.Payne@usg.edu

Monday, Jan. 18 In recess for Martin Luther King Jr. holiday
Tuesday-Friday, Jan. 19-22 In recess for joint hearings on FY 2010-2011 budgets
Tuesday-Friday, Jan. 19-22 In recess for joint budget briefings
Wednesday, Jan. 20 2 p.m., Room 341 of the Capitol Chancellor Erroll B. Davis Jr. addresses the Joint Appropriations Committee (highlights in the Jan. 25 issue) Q