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Under the Gold Dome
April 5 - 9, 2010
Week 13 |
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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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General Assembly Reconvenes
The General Assembly will reconvene on Monday, April 12 for the 34 day of the 40-day legislative session.
One of the critical pieces of legislation that will come up for a vote in the Senate is HB 168 , the Telecom Jobs and Investment Act. It has three main thrusts: (1) it deregulates AT&T and other phone companies; (2) the fees paid to each company for local exchanges is reduced and will disappear of after five year period; and (3) it increases the Universal Access Fee (UAF) over a period of ten years from $10M to $126M. What is voided in HB 168 is any consumer protection protocols and no consumer savings. Created in 1995, when Georgia deregulated telecommunications, the state's subsidy fund was meant to keep service affordable in rural areas that are more costly to serve because of the small number of customers per line. All phone and cable companies pay into the UAF fund. The subsidy over time has, in effect, cost urban customers to contribute to a slush fund for 32 phone companies and does not go to state, provided services. Rural companies tap the fund to close gaps between revenue and spending. It also funds other activities that have no value on service improvement.
The bill cleared the House in 2009 but didn't make it through the Senate until last month, when it emerged with different language and no consumer protection.
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Healthcare
Below are two healthcare bills that deal with allowing insurers from other states to write policies in Georgia as an incentive to bring competition and lower
cost.
- HB 1184, sponsored by Representative Matt Ramsey (District 72), authorizes insurance companies to offer individual accident and sickness insurance policies in Georgia that have been approved for issuance in other states. Policies will be regulated by Georgia's insurance commissioner, who would identify at least five other states with insurance laws consistent with Georgia laws to be a part of the pool. Provisions would also require the issuance of a disclaimer on all out-of-state insurance policies, exempting them from Georgia laws governing required benefits and consumer protections.
- SB 407 is the Senate alternative to HB 1184, and is sponsored by Senator Judson Hill (District 32). Recently, an amendment was added to the bill to ensure that products sold in Georgia still contain almost all of the state-required coverage mandates, except for athletic trainers. HB 1184 has gained recent traction as it passed the House 108-55 on March 26. It does not include Georgia's healthcare mandates and would rely on the issuing state in which the policy is governed. Georgia instituted these mandates some 15 years ago. HB 1184 would dismantle those mandates.
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Commemorative Activities
In recognition of the League of Women Voters of Georgia's 90th anniversary of education and advocacy in Georgia, Governor Sonny Perdue issued a Proclamation recognizing the League on March 25th. Members joined the Governor in his office for a historical photo.
Then April 1st, the League was hosted by Senators Nan Orrock and Ron Ramsey for lunch at the state Capitol, followed by the presentation of SR 1202. Accepted by the national League's First Vice President and Former state League President Elizabeth MacNamara, the majority of the Senate joined in supporting the Resolution that was issued to the League on the Floor of the Senate. |
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Legislation
Education & Youth
SB 250- Sen. Hamrick (Dist. 30)
Expands the definition of 'bullying' to include electronic bullying that physically harms a person or damages the property of another, has the effect of substantially interfering with a student's education, creates an intimidating or threatening education environment, or substantially disrupts the orderly operation of the school. Those who bully can be transferred to an alternative school. DOE is required to develop a model policy and make it available on the department's website for use by local school systems. Status: Passed Both Chambers
SB 426- Sen. Buckner (Dist. 44)
When a school or school system has its accreditation revoked, suspended, or placed on probation, or on the level immediately preceding loss of accreditation, any named school board members of the identified system shall not earn a salary or per diem. The local board member can appeal to the state Board of Education. Status: House Second Readers
Taxation
HB 1023- Rep. Graves (Dist.12)
Provides a one year waiver from Secretary of State filing fees for corporations, limited partnerships, and LLCs. Firms hiring workers receiving unemployment benefits can get a credit against required unemployment contributions of $25 to $125/employee/quarter. There is an income tax exclusion for long-term capital gains in the year following a year where revenue shortfall reserve is at $500 million or more; the exclusion amount is 25%; 50% for all years thereafter; and a $2500 income tax credit per unemployed worker for at least 13 weeks if the person hired thru June 2011 and stays on the job for at least 2 years. Angel investors get an income tax credit in tax years 2010 thru 2014 for up to 50% of the investment in Georgia domiciled businesses that employ 20 or fewer people, and have gross sales of less than $500,000/year. There is a state cap of $10 million on these tax credits. Status: Passed Both Chambers
TransportationHB 938- Rep. Peake (Dist. 137)
Bans people from sending or reading text messages while driving. Anyone found guilty of writing, sending, or reading a text message while driving would be fined $50 to $100 and have two points placed on their driver's license. HB 945 places the fine at $300. Status: Senate Read and Referred
HB 1019- Rep. Morgan (Dist. 39)
Permits, licenses, certificates, driver's licenses, or identification cards issued to citizens of Georgia shall be replaced free within 60 days following a federal declaration of disaster if citizen is a resident of the affected area. Status: Senate Read and Referred
Healthcare
HB 361- Rep. Stephens (Dist. 164)Creates a database for Schedule I prescriptions available to doctors and dispensers of the drugs, dosages, and frequency for all patients. Status: Senate Read Second Time
Public Safety
HB 1015- Rep. Golick (Dist. 34)Criminal street gang activity is further defined. GBI will set up a Criminal Street Gang Database to track these offenders and share such information with law enforcement agencies at all levels. Status: Senate Read Second Time HB 1322- Rep. Chambers (Dist. 81)Disclosure of crime scene materials depicting a known dead person in a state of partial or complete nudity, or a state of dismemberment of any body part, is not required of law enforcement except to the counsel of a defendant or an extraordinary motion for a new trial. GBI and Board of Public Safety shall develop rules and regulations for viewing by the media. Status: Senate Committee Favorably ReportedHB 1002- Rep. Willard (Dist. 49)One who commits aggravated assault upon a judge, attorney, clerk or deputy clerk of the court, court reporter, or probation officer while performing they are duties shall serve 5-20 years. A terroristic act against such a court officer shall be a felony with imprisonment up to 10 years or a $100,000 fine or both. Status: Senate Committee Favorably Reported
Judicial
HB 567 - Rep. Parsons (Dist. 42)
Expands the provisions of a victim's participation in the juvenile and state court systems. It shall be the duty of the juvenile court to advise the victim of the right to address the court prior to the entry of a dispositional order for a delinquent child. Status: Senate Committee Favorably Reported SB 423 - Sen. Smith (Dist. 52)
Increases the penalty for burglary when over $500.00 of damage is done to that of retail property. If a person knowingly and willingly sell a weapon to a minor, who then goes and commits such a crime, is also charged with assisting the burglary. Status: House Second Readers |
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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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