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Under the Gold Dome
March 8 - 12, 2010
Week 9 |
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League of Women Voters of Georgia
100 Edgewood Avenue, NE
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
404-522-4598 |
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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. |
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Water
 This week, Rep. Tom McCall (Dist. 30) introduced HB 1301, the River Basin Protection Act, would establish a system for regulating interbasin water transfers of 100,000 gallons or more, without prohibiting them.
Interbasin transfers have been a controversial issue for Georgia in recent years. Last year, Georgia's drought prompted Atlanta officials to look for alternative water sources of water to supplement its supply. After a federal district judge ruled last summer that Atlanta was illegally tapping Lake Lanier for drinking water, the state is looking at legislation to prevent this from happening again.
Currently, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division treats interbasin transfers much like other water withdrawals, except that it requires additional public notification via press release seven days before an interbasin transfer permit is issued. If passed, the legislation would require regulators to consider roughly two dozen criteria before allowing the transfer of water. Moreover, Georgia municipalities, especially metro Atlanta, would be required to weigh water conservation alternatives before authorizing the transfer.
Exemptions in the bill include agricultural land, mining processes and distribution of products containing water from the need to obtain an interbasin transfer permit. It also makes exceptions on an emergency basis.
Several water conservation organizations, including the Ogeechee Riverkeeper and the Georgia Water Coalition, are backing the bill because it ensures that Georgia's water quality and river levels are protected for drinking, recreation, and industry.
Critics of the bill portray it as a product of environmentalists who don't understand the state's water demands. Georgia water planners feel that the bill would hinder the state's growth and economic expansion efforts by allowing the transfer of water to regions that have not shown good water stewardship in the past.
The Senate also has its own version of the bill, SB 462 - sponsored by Senator Jim Butterworth - which has the support of 24 of the 56 senators. In comparison, the House version has gotten signatures from 66 of 180 representatives. |
Hotel-Motel-Tax bill passes House
The House passed a tax bill (HB 902) with a vote of 151 - 13 aimed at keeping the Atlanta Falcons in the city's downtown for decades. Sponsored by Rep. Mark Burkhalter (Dist. 50), the bill would extend till 2050 the 7 percent hotel-motel-tax that supports the Georgia Dome, the Georgia World Congress Center and Centennial Olympic Park.
The tax, imposed in the early 1990s when the Dome was built, is due to expire in 2020.
Falcons officials have been courted by DeKalb County Economic Development Authority to move to Doraville, site of the old General Motors plant. The Georgia Dome is the fourth oldest stadium in the National Football League
Under the bill, the tax would be extended only if the Falcons agree to remain at the Georgia Dome or a "successor facility" on the property.
Lawmakers amended the bill on the House floor Monday to allow Sandy Springs, Johns Creek, Milton and Chattahoochee Hills to opt-in the hotel-motel tax.
The bill now goes to the Senate for review and approval. |
Bill Changes Roll of Public Service Commission
HB 168 - Rep. Cox (Dist. 102)
This bill would change the ability of the Public Service Commission to mediate between consumers and the telephone companies. It would modify the ability of the Public Service Commission to operate as a mediating resource for consumers that can mandate specific actions, including the payment of fees to consumers after reviewing complaints against telecommunications companies, primarily landline phone companies. The bill would also adjust the calculation method for contributions paid by telecommunication firms for the Universal Access Fund, which was created to ensure access to reasonably priced local phone services throughout Georgia.
HB 168 strips the Public Service Commission's ability to take any action on complaints by consumers against telephone companies, an issue that has raised the concern of Governor Perdue.
Last year, the PSC helped consumers get $323,237 in credits and refunds from all utilities with nearly half, or $145,650, going to customers of AT&T. This bill is now one of the most intensely lobbied in the General Assembly this year.
The stripped PSC enforcement authority found its way into the bill last month in a Senate committee, with the amendment from Sen. David Shafer (Dist. 48)
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You are invited to the presentation of
Governor's Proclamation and
Legislative Resolutions
March 25th, 2010
10:00am
State Capitol Rotunda
Guests:
Governor Sonny Perdue
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House and Senate Calendar
Legislators will convene on March 16th for the 25th legislative day of the session.
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Governor Perdue's transportation bill was introduced in the House last week. HB 1218 (Rep. Cole Dist. 125) proposes a regional 1% sales tax, replacing congressional balancing with regional commission balancing, and suspends the restrictions on MARTA funds for three years. Attention is centered on the proposed regional sales tax, which in 2012 would ask voters in every regional commission to approve a project list and the tax to fund it. Also, the current version of the legislation would split ten percent of the funds collected in each region based upon a formula that weights rural dirt road mileage at the same level as highly traveled, paved city roads. This formula would reward rural, less-used portions of each district and reduce investments in economic hubs within each district.
This week, the transportation special local option sales tax and MARTA funding issues were discussed in the Senate Transportation Committee. SB 366 Sen. Stoner (Dist. 6) and HB 1099 Rep. Porter (Dist. 123) were introduced as alternative solutions to fund transportation in Georgia. These identical pieces of legislation create a 10-county metro Atlanta region and allow for one or more counties outside metro Atlanta to join together and ask voters to approve a one-percent regional sales tax. Half of all proceeds must go to public transit. | |
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Legislation
Local Government
HB 1341- Rep. Graves (Dist. 12)
Places on the November 2010 ballot a referendum giving Pickens County voters the option of staying with a sole commissioner or transitioning to a multi-person (three or five-person) board of commissioners. As written, the referendum will give voters the choice they requested in a nonbinding 2008 referendum. The bill does not mandate a change to a multi-person commission; it gives Pickens Countians the choice. Status: House Second Readers
State Planning and Community Affairs
HB 1260- Rep. Stephens (Dist. 164)
Clarifies that regional commissions cannot coordinate aging program planning and service areas. The Georgia The State Agency on Aging must designate planning and services areas in order for the state to receive federal dollars. With that, aging boundaries do not follow state law in determining state service boundaries, and this bill would make that clear. Status: House Committee Favorable Reported HR 21- Rep. Jones (Dist. 46) Calls for a statewide referendum to amend the Georgia Constitution to allow historically merged counties to be re-created. There are only two counties that fit this definition - Milton County in north Fulton and Campbell County in south Fulton. Status: Do Pass by Committee Substitute
Public Safety
HB 1290- Rep. Teilhet (Dist. 40)
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation will require all convicted sexual offenders to allow them access to their online accounts through their internet provider. It also puts more restrictions on sexual offenders when registering through the state or moving their residence. Status: House Second Readers
Education
HB 927- Rep. Jacobs (Dist. 80)
Allows students who have been the victim of bullying to have the right to contact authorities in any instance that a student or person employed by the school is physically harmed. The Department of Education would also be required to follow through with such policies and create a model in which school officials and teachers can all follow the same protocol. Status: House Tabled
HB 1100- Rep. Casas (Dist. 103)
Gives more discretion to local school boards concerning the administering of the CRCT in grades one and two. It also replaces the Georgia high school graduation test with the already present end of course tests; therefore cutting down on tests and fiscal strains. Status: House Committee Favorably Reported
Judiciary
SB 391- Sen. Unterman (Dist. 45)
The judiciary system will require special hearings to determine a child's mental capacity to withstand a trial. If the child is determined to be mentally incompetent then they may forego the trial and be placed by the state in a proper medical facility. Status: Senate Passed/Adopted
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KEY
HB- House Bill HR- House Resolution
SB- Senate Bill SR- Senate Resolution CA-Constitutional Amendment
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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.
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