League of Women Voters of Georgia
Under the Gold Dome
February 1-5, 2010
Week 4
Capital
League of Women Voters of Georgia
100 Edgewood Avenue Northeast
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
404-522-4598

Nonpartisan News From The Georgia Capitol

Published weekly by the League of Women Voters of Georgia Education Fund
Editor: Tracey-Ann Nelson
 
Know the Issues.  Join the Conversation.  Make a Difference.

Democrats Put Their Transportation Proposal on the Table

 
This week, House and Senate Democrats proposed the Transportation Jobs Development Act.  Members of the House and Senate Democratic Caucuses seek a constitutional amendment levying a one percent sales tax to fund transportation projects within newly defined special tax districts.  Additionally, the amendment would dedicate the fourth penny collected on motor fuel to any general transportation purpose. 
 
This proposal, in contrast to Governor Purdue's, would allow the votes to rest with officials who have already been elected to the planning and development committees within their districts. These local committees would manage and supervise the transportation system.  The Governor's proposal calls for the state to be divided into 12 regions in a statewide referendum put on the ballot to voters.  
 
The Democrats' proposal funds projects by using half of 1% sales tax from the metro Atlanta area or special transportation districts. This tax would exclude Fulton and DeKalb counties as they already pay a 1% sales tax for Marta. The other counties would have the option of doing a 1% sales tax, so that more revenue could be generated.
 
The Governor's plan would not come before voters until 2012 and-if accepted- would not be implemented until 2014. The implementation of such plans would rest strictly on the new Governor.
 
In contrast, the Democrats' bill would be up for consideration immediately and would receive funding by 2011. With that shorter time frame, Georgia may also be eligible to receive stimulus funding from the Federal Government.
 
 
House and Senate Calendar
 
The 14th day of the Legislative session will be Monday, February 8th.
 

Violence in Georgia

GANG LEGISLATION ON HOLD

On February 4th, 2010, Rep. Rich Golick (Dist. 34) of the Judiciary Committee decided to withhold a vote on HB1015, citing that further research was needed before a decision could be reached. Provisions in the bill could potentially help the courts and criminal justice system crack down on domestic terrorism by outlining what constitues as gang activity and would help courts determine whether a criminal is part of a gang.  If the new bill is passed, it will allow the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) to have a specific database of gang members and their associates that have been convicted of crimes, which can be used by multiple law enforcement agencies.

BULLYING BILL EXPANDS PROVISIONS
 
A second bill that is having a delay is HB 927 (Jacobs Dist. 80).  This bill is set to have a decision next week.   HB 927 expands the definition of bullying provided in the Department of Education's Standards Handbook. Ultimately, this bill would hold the children, parents, teachers, and administrators responsible for negative behavior by pupils in the classroom.  If passed, all students found guilty of bullying would be sent to alternative school and may receive counseling.

According to the Georgia Department of Human Services, Although bullying is considered a problem in Georgia schools, prevention efforts across the state are seeing reductions of up to 50% as a result of model programs that engage school-age children as young as 6- years-old.. According to state surveys, 1 in 10 Georgia students report being bullied by class mates, and many experience significant psychological consequences. Also, a higher number of girls are now participating in bullying via the internet and text messaging.
In This Issue
Democrats' Transportation Proposal
Violence in Georgia
Legislative Day
Governor's Proposed Changes
Legislation
 90 

You are invited to
League Legislative Day
Tuesday, February 23, 2010  

8:00am - 12:00pm
Loudermilk Center
40 Courtland Street SE

Atlanta, GA 30303

 (404) 507-1690

 
 Invited Guests:
Governor & Mrs. Perdue
Speaker Pro Tem,
Jan Jones
Mayor of Atlanta,
Kasim Reed
 
Continental Breakfast Served
Parking Available
RSVP 404-522-4598 or
escott@lwvga.org
Governor Proposes Appointing Constitutional Offices
 

Gov. Sonny Perdue is proposing that four state constitutional officers now elected by the public should instead be appointed by the governor.

The four are state school superintendent, agriculture commissioner, labor commissioner and insurance commissioner.

The change would require two-thirds approval in each house of the Legislature, and would have to be ratified by the state's voters.

The governor elected in 2014 would be the first to appoint people to the four positions. Appointments would require confirmation by the Senate.

Quick Links
Legislation
 

EDUCATION

SB 340 - Senator Harp (Dist. 29)

Amends current HOPE eligibility regulations in Georgia Code, requiring that schools and private schools to adopt a uniform reporting system for freshmen, sophomores, and junior high school students to help determine HOPE eligibility.  Guidelines to be established by Georgia Student Finance Commission.  Electronic transcripts, test scores, and un-weighted grades would go into the calculation of grade point average.  Status:  Senate Second Reading

HB 937 - Rep. O'Neal (Dist. 146)

Prohibits the hiring of a person who has an immediate family member sitting on a board of education or serving as the local school superintendent, principal or other position. Removes the broad definition of conflict of interest to ensure limited exceptions. Status: House Second Reading

HR 1109, HR 1110, HR 1111, and HR 1112 - Rep. Sims (Dist. 169)

Proposes taxes from lottery tickets will be used in funding public education programs and services for grades K thru 12 Status: House Second Reading

HB 977 - Rep. Rynders (Dist.152)

Proposes that raises cannot be given to superintendents using state funds.  If local funds are used to provide a raise to the superintendent, there must be 30 days notice to the public and a hearing.  Status: House Second Reading

HB 980 - Rep. Lane (Dist. 167)

Allows local school board members to engage in the bail bond business, from which they are currently prohibited.  Status: House Committee Favorably Reported

HB 995 - Rep. May (Dist. 111)

Prevents local school board from starting the school years before September 1 or Labor Day.   Status: House Second Reading

SR 886 - Sen. Chance (Dist. 18)

Urges Congress and state agencies to increase nutritional quality and options to students through school meals. Status: Senate Read and Referred

HR 1203 and HB 1020 - Rep. Parrish (Dist. 156)  

CA, and the enabling legislation, to expand the Educational Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST) to be used for educational annual budgets. Status: House Second Reading

 HR 1219 - Rep. Benfield (Dist. 85)  

Urges the Georgia Department of Education and all school systems to cease military recruitment of students under age 17; and for older students such recruitment can be done with parental permission only; and to actively provide forms for parental permission to exclude schools disclosing student records to military recruiters.  Status: House Second Reading

ETHICS

SB 96- Sen. Hooks (Dist. 14)

Creates a "watch dog" for lobbyists by: giving the power to withhold state funds for noncompliance or nonperformance to the State Ethics Commission and to be prosecuted. Provides for the training of lobbyists, ethical reforms pertaining to lobbyists and the creation of ethics panels by ordinance or resolution giving them authority to enforce, create standards and procedures of lobbyist actions and behaviors. Gives compulsory or required regulations that can't be side stepped.  Status: House Second Reading

KEY
HB- House Bill  HR- House Resolution 
SB- Senate Bill  SR- Senate Resolution  CA-Constitutional Amendment
 

The League of Women Voters of Georgia, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government, works to increase understanding of major policy issues and influences public policy.