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Under the Gold Dome
April 19 - 23, 2010
Week 15 |
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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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Healthcare
 Late Wednesday, Rep. John Meadows (Dist. 5) announced an impromptu meeting with members of the House Insurance Committee to discuss SB 407. Members quicky congregated in the meeting room, where SB 407 was then completely striped and replaced with the language of HB 1184. Originally introduced by Rep. Mat Ramsey (Dist. 72), HB 1184 (now SB 407) authorizes out-of-state insurance companies to sell individual accident and sickness policies to Georgians. The insurance plans would be regulated by Georgia's insurance commissioner, who would identify at least five other states with insurance laws similar to Georgia's to be a part of the pool. Provisions would also require a disclaimer on all out-of-state insurance policies, exempting them from Georgia health mandates and consumer protections. Currently, the state requires that individual insurance policies incorporate all of the state's health mandates, which cover a range of procedures as well as preventative screenings.
Proponents advocating the sale of insurance across state lines believe the bill would increase the pool of eligible insurance companies, thereby creating more market competition and lowering prices. SB 407 was the Senate alternative to HB 1184 and is sponsored by Sen. Judson Hill (Dist. 32). The original bill was amended to ensure that products sold in Georgia still contain almost all of the state-required coverage mandates, except for athletic trainers. However, in the new language of SB 407, these minimal coverage mandates have been removed. Opponents of the bill believe the coverage mandates that have been in place for the past 15 years have lead to enhanced health outcomes by providing Georgians with access to strong preventive care. Additionally, detractors of the bill believe the legislation would create more problems as out-of-state policies will be marketed to the most desirable and least "risky" clients. Consumers in Georgia's individual market who are the least healthy - and are therefore unattractive to underwriters - will be left in their current policies. What's more, as the state's remaining pool of customers shrinks, the remaining individuals with the more serious health concerns will ultimately face rate increases.
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General Assembly Calendar
The General Assembly will meet for the final days of the 2010 Legislative Session on Tuesday, April 27 for the 39 day and Thursday, April 29th for the 40th day.
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Transportation
 Georgia's transportation woes have been an eyesore for quite some time now. After working to pass legislation on transportation for the past three years, Georgia lawmakers may have found even ground with the passage HB 277, also called The Georgia 2020 Transportation Act, which is sponsored by Sen. Mullins of the 53rd. With this, many of Georgia's transportation difficulties may be solved. The Georgia Transportation Act of 2020 has the following tenets of principles: the state would be divided into twelve regions; each region will be allowed to hold its own referendum; a 1% sales tax for projects would be viable and an increased flexibility in MARTA spending its tax revenues. The legislation creating MARTA "handcuffed" MARTA by disallowing them to draw from funds raised via taxes to operate their daily operations. This has been a primary problem for MARTA because the money has always been there for their continued existence, but the ability to utilize the funds has always been the problem. Rep. Jay Roberts-Transportation Chair-said, "We understand the importance of transportation to Atlanta, Georgia. This is the economic engine of this state and the southeastern United States."
Furthermore, HB 277 allows various municipalities via referendum to vote for and fund their own transportation projects with a .1 cent sales tax increase. This would allow them to address their own needs where they see fit without interference from outside parties. However, opponents like State Rep. DuBose Porter said, "I didn't vote for this bill because it doesn't do anything; it doesn't take effect until 2012 and we needed something done immediately." The implementation of the vote occurring in 2012 effectively places Georgia between a "rock and a hard place" for two more years. Senate President Casey Cagle also lamented that, "We couldn't get all we wanted but it does address the needs of Georgia's transportation problems." This legislation allows for regions that vote via referendum passage to receive 90% of their funds to be matched by the state; projects that regions produce with no vote will have 70% of its funding matched by the state.
This legislation enables each region or municipality to vote for its own transportation projects. No longer will citizens have the leverage to complain about transportation; they will have to show up and vote.
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Education
HB 908 sponsored by Rep. Brooks Coleman passed the House amending Article 6 of the "Quality Basic Education Act". The measure specifically will provide budget relief to the state's 181 school districts by allowing them to increase the class size and reduce or cut particular programs.
Many school systems have petitioned the state education board for waivers from the regulations on class size. The bill gives school systems a reprieve from compliance penalties for only the next three years.
Classes for remedial education, vocational laboratory, alternative education, and early intervention programs cannot exceed the funding class size by more than 20 percent, unless specifically authorized by the State Board of Education. Classes for high school mathematics, science, social studies, and language will not exceed the funding class size by more than 39 percent. The system average maximum class size for special education, gifted, and English as a second language classes will be set by the State Board of Education. The class sizes must be consistent throughout the school system and adhere to the average maximum by no more than three students
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Attorney General Thurbert Baker says he won't sue the Department of Justice over its refusal to approve Georgia's voter checking system, a program that verifies citizenship through Social Security and drivers' licenses when voters register. In a letter delivered to Secretary of State Brian Kemp this Thursday, Baker stated there is no viable reason for a lawsuit and suggested that Kemp submit all documentation to the Justice Department for administrative review.
This is the second time in two months that Baker has rejected the governor's suggestion to sue the federal government. Last month, his refusal to file suit over the federal healthcare bill prompted House Republicans to sign off on a resolution to impeach Baker and appoint a special attorney general.
Brian Kemp said Thursday that he is still pushing for a lawsuit and is working with Governor Perdue to decide on the next course of action. |
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Legislation
HEALTHCARE
SB 418 - Sen. Carter (Dist. 1)
Establishment of a program that will monitor the act of prescribing and dispensing controlled substances. Status: House Committee Favorably Reported
PUBLIC SAFTEY
SB 345- Sen. Butterworth (Dist. 50)
Vehicle races can be held on county and municipal roads, sanctioned by that county or municipality as long as the roads are blocked off and closed to other traffic during the race. Status: House Committee Favorably Reported
SB 299 - Sen. Emanuel (Dist. 10)
Changes the provisions for juvenile procedures of the zero tolerance weapons policy. This includes any instrument used as a deadly weapon and machine guns. Status: House Committee Favorably Reported
SB 291- Sen. Shafer (Dist. 48)
Revisions to the laws concerning the carrying of concealed weapons. A person licensed or permitted to carry a firearm will now be allowed to carry a firearm in an airport as long as it is not an area regulated by the federal government. Status: House Committee Favorably Reported
TAXATION
HB 1020- Rep. Parrish (Dist. 156)
Initiates the revision of the sales and use tax for educational purposes relating to county sales and use taxes. This bill also provides for the comprehensive revision of the sales and use tax for educational purposes such as to establish special districts. Status: Senate Read and Referred
HB 1203- Rep. Stevens (Dist. 164)
Ensures that any utility franchise fees or charges imposed by and collected from residents, individuals, or property owners within the municipality or unincorporated area of the county. This will offset any obligation identified in a strategy that a county may have to municipal residents. Status: House Second Readers
AGRICULTURE
HB 529 - Sen. Bulloch (Dist. 11)
Creates limits of liability for certain landowners, who permit persons to hunt or fish on their property or allow persons on such property for agri-tourism and requires the posting of certain signs. This bill also states that no county, municipality, consolidated government, or other political subdivision of this state shall adopt or enforce any ordinance, rule, regulation, or resolution regulating crop management or animal husbandry practices involved in the production of agricultural or farm products on any private property. Status: Signed by Governor
JUDICIARY
SB 42 - Sen. Smith (Dist. 52)
Revises the Georgia Indigent Defense Act of 2003 and does the following: reconstitutes the Georgia Public defender Standards Council with new membership; to change the powers and duties of the council and provide that it shall be an advisory body to the Georgia Public Defender Agency and the Office of Alternative Defense Counsel. Status: House Withdrawn, Recommitted
SB 235 - Sen. Pearson (Dist. 51)
Prohibit the requirement of a person being implanted with a microchip. Those found guilty of implanting a micro chip on an involuntary participant will be charged with a misdemeanor. This procedure can only be done by a physician and regulated by the Georgia Composite Medical Board. Status: House Committee Favorably Reported
SB 364 - Sen. Stanton (Dist. 18)
Demands the conviction for sexual services provided at message therapist parlors. The owner or operator of the facility will be found liable as well as the employee or person soliciting the sexual acts. Status: House Committee Favorably Reported
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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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