Legislative update: a briefing for faculty and staff of the University System of Georgia, No. 12 (Mar. 29, 2010)

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
A Briefing for Faculty & Staff of the University System of Georgia No. 12, March 29, 2010 "Creating a More Educated Georgia"

Gun Bill, Need-Based Aid Make Crossover Deadline

Day 30 of the current legislative session was marked off this past Friday, and on the House side of the aisle the session clock ran right up to the midnight hour. The reason for the long day of course, was that day 30 is "crossover day," the last session date that a bill may pass from one chamber to the other if it is to be considered in its original form.
This does not mean bills that do not cross over are dead; these can reappear in the form of amendments or substitutes during the final ten days of the session.
There were several pieces of legislation of high interest to the University System that did cross over; the most significant for all 35 institutions being SB308, "guns on campus."

Bills crossing Senate
SB-308, concealed weapons bill passed the Senate 41-12. In its current form, the bill eliminates the 1,000-foot school safety zone for USG campuses. In its place, it empowers the Board of Regents (BOR) to determine by rule and regulation whether weapons will be allowed on BOR property.
SB-502, expense allowance for state boards passed the Senate 40-2. The members of the Board of Regents would be included under this measure, which provides that nonelected members of state authorities, boards, commissions, councils, or other bodies shall not receive an expense allowance, per diem, or any other form of compensation whatsoever, except for actual expenses incurred during service to the

This Week ...
The legislature will be in session Tues., Wed., and Thur. for days 31, 32, and 33. The current schedule calls for the legislature to be in recess during the week of April 5th. It will return Mon., April 12th, for day 34.
The House Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee will meet at 2:00 p.m. on Tues., March 30th in Room 341 of the State Capitol. The agenda will be to vote out the House version of the FY2011 budget for the higher education agencies.
The Senate Higher Education Committee will meet at 3:00 p.m. on Tues., March 30 in the mezzanine. on the agenda is HB 1128 (the carry forward legislation) and HB 1402 (service cancelable loans).

board on which they serve.
SB-496, need-based aid passed the Senate 45-4. This would expand the HOPE scholarship to include a category for lowincome students. The grant would be made solely on family income and not based on academic performance.

SB-254, state leases passed the Senate. This would allow the State Properties Commission to enter into multi-year lease agreements. USG institutions have long advocated for the ability to enter into multiyear leases. This bill is of great interest to the University System.
Continued next page ...

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE -- March 29, 2010, Issue No. 12

Crossover Day
Continued from Page 1...
Bills crossing House
HB-307, hospital fees passed the House 141-23. This measure imposes a 1.46 percent fee on net patient revenues and will sunset in 2013.
HB-1055, specialty license plates The House passed a substitute 100-57. The new version of this legislation will now allow a portion of the revenues from sales of specialty license plates for USG institutions to go to the charitable foundation designated by the institution for scholarships, rather than going into the general fund. USG institutions support this legislation.

HB-1405, Special Council on Tax Reform and Fairness for Georgians passed the House 111-55. This legislation also would create a Special Joint Committee on Georgia Revenue Structure. Economists from the Georgia Institute for Technology, Georgia State University and the University of Georgia are named to serve on the council.

Bills that did not cross
HB 1164, which would have made USG institutions verify students' legal residency status.
HB 1227, which would have placed a surcharge on high school and college athletic event ticket sales.
HB 1352, which would have created the University System Fiscal and Administrative Oversight Commission.
HB 1406, which would have to required student-athlete recruiters residing in Georgia to provide student-athletes with certain information relating to the institution's athletic program within one week of initiating personal contact with the student-athlete, as well as require any scholarship offer be made in writing within one week of a verbal

offer and prior to a student-athlete's signing an athletic scholarship agreement with an institution of postsecondary education.
HR 1590, which would have given voters the opportunity to vote on a constitutional amendment that would move all colleges of agriculture supported by funds appropriated by the General Assembly to the jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture, including all functions relating to 4-H and the cooperative extension service.
SB 358, which would have provided tuition grant assistance for students attending Georgia Military College similar to that provided to students at North Georgia College and State University.
SB 386, which would have created a merit pay system for K-12 teachers.

-- 2 --