Under the Gold Dome

HB 1218- Rep. Cole (Dist. 125)
Proposes to further define the role of the Director of Planning and allow the formulation and implementation of information about money spent and gained throughout the department. The bill will also allow special districts to further develop innovative transportation projects that promote public interest. Under the proposal, 90% of proceeds collected within a district are to be used within that district based on the approved investment list. Status: House Second Readers
HB 1252- Rep. Jacobs (Dist. 80)
Creates the Transit Governance Study Commission, which would conduct research on the effectiveness of combining public transportation systems throughout the state and how to better allocate resources for regional traffic congestion in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Status: House Hopper
HB 1047- Rep. Butler (Dist. 18)
Creates a fine for every driver of a motor vehicle blocking the flow of traffic. A person may drive a reduced speed when necessary. This will not apply to managed lanes or HOV lanes. There will be a minimum of a $75 fine for anyone blocking the flow of traffic in the left lane. Status: House Committee Favorable

CHILDREN AND YOUTH

HB 922- Rep. Cox (Dist. 102)
Provides funding for therapy services to children who are medically fragile or disabled. Those who are under 21 maybe eligable for public assistant funding which is provide by medicare. Status: House Second Reader

ENVIRONMENT

HB 1028 - Rep. Roberts (Dist. 154)
Defines the word contiguous and give specific meaning to what actions classify as forest land conservation use. It further details what the penalties are if conservation contracts are breached and who is held liable if breaches do occur. This bill also gives the commissioner the power to make any additional laws deemed necessary for the implementation and enforcement. Status: Senate Read and Referred

HB 244- Rep. Pruett (Dist. 144)
Changes the name of the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority to the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA). Also provides GEFA with the authorization to transfer any excess funds to the state to sell off. This legislation would most prominently affect the Georgia Fund, a state revolving loan fund. If enacted, Perdue proposes that Georgia sell off, as a bond package, as much as $450 million in current water loan funding to provide $290 million towards the state budget shortfall. This bill could potentially have far-reaching consequences: it could harm counties' ability to comply with clean water and drinking water laws, lead to higher water bills, and eliminate job opportunities. Status: Pending in the Senate Rules Committee

JUDICIARY
HB 972- Rep. Mitchell (Dist. 88)
Changes the period in which a property owner is notified of a possible foreclosure, extending it from 30 days to 90 days to allow debtors more time to pay off their debt. Status: House Second Reader

HB 1009- Rep. Marin (Dist. 96)
Seeks to curtail racial profiling by law enforcement officials. Requires policies that would prohibit officers from impermissibly using race or ethnicity in determining whether to stop a driver or pedestrian. Also provides that officers have training on unethical behavior of racial profiling, mandates preparation in foreign language instruction, and requires them to document the race, gender, and age of passengers in a car every time they make a traffic stop. Status: Assigned to the House Committee on Judiciary.

ECONOMY
HB 1259- Rep. Reese (Dist. 98)
Enacts the Georgia Employer and Worker Protection of Act of 2010, which would require all Georgia businesses to sign an affidavit agreeing to participate in the federal citizenship verification program, called E-Verify, in order to obtain a business license or occupational tax certificate. Currently, only state agencies and municipalities are required to participate in E-verify. Failure to comply with E-verify would be a misdemeanor, and annual audits of e-verify reporting agencies would ensure that businesses are following the set regulations. If passed, this bill would be effective on July 1, 2010 and would apply to all business licenses of occupational tax certificates issued after that date. Status: House Hopper

HB 1125- Rep. Stephens (Dist. 164)
Enacts the Georgia Tourism and Development Act. Grants Georgia Department of Economic Development and local governments the ability to enter into agreements with new tourism attractions, allowing them to refund the sales and use tax accrued from the attraction. New attractions that qualify for this tax refund include historical and cultural sites, sports facilities, scenic areas or natural phenomena, hotels and conference centers, golf courses, water parks, boat marinas, and other tourism amenities. This sales and use tax refund would be granted to new tourist attractions for ten years, commencing upon attraction opening date. Status: House Second Reader

TAXATION

HR 1- Rep. Lindsey (Dist. 54)
Proposes constitutional amendment to cap annual property assessment increases of property value at 3% or the rate of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), whichever is less. Would become effective in 2011. The purpose of this resolution is to ensure that sold or transferred property is assessed for tax purposes at fair market value, which is defined as no more than the sales price of the property value in an arms length transaction. Status: Pending in House Ways and Means Committee