Georgia Legislative Watch

Here are some news stories on what’s going on in the General Assembly.

- Georgia House paves way for statue honoring former Gov. Miller
Greg Bluestein (AP), Macon Telegraph
Related to HR 16.

- O’Neal expecting talk about reforming tax code
Travis Fain, Macon Telegraph

- State grabs for more control over Jekyll Island
Greg Bluestein (AP), Macon Telegraph
Related to HB 214.

- Cagle school improvement package clears Senate committee
Dave Williams, Gwinnett Daily Post
Related to SB 39.

- Choice for special needs
Maureen Downey, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Related to SB 10.

- Voucher bill ignores system abuse, costs
Wendy Hensel, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Related to SB 10.

- Hypocrisy and politics a mixed drink
Richard Hyatt, Columbus Ledger-Enqurier
Related to SB 26.

- Minimum wage hike could have negative effects
Editorial, Gainesville Times
Related to SB 13.

The State Senate has passed Senate Bill 10 by a vote of 31 to 23, which mostly went along party lines (two Republicans voted against it):

“The children do not belong to the school board and they aren’t there to serve the government,” said Senate president pro-tem Eric Johnson, a Savannah Republican and sponsor of the plan. “It’s the other way around.”

Critics argued that the plan appears to be an opening salvo in an attempt to offer private school vouchers to all Georgia students. They say such a move would hurt public schools and leave only the children of the poorest families in those schools.

“I refuse to think or imply of my colleagues that their motivations would be anything other than the improvement of handicapped children and their education,” said Sen. Steve Thompson, D-Powder Springs. “But I would say that the program … does strike fear in the hearts of people who have spent many years working for special needs children and trying to improve their situation.”

Under Johnson’s plan, eligible students would range from blind and deaf and students with traumatic brain injuries to those with emotional and behavioral disorders.

The plan would be limited to students who had already attended public schools for at least one year.

The maximum amount parents would receive would be equal to the cost of educating their children in public school. Any school participating in the program would be required to meet the state’s standards for private schools, but would not be accountable, like public schools are, to regulations such as the federal No Child Left Behind law.

HB205 - Election day; registration; provisions
HB206 - Probate and Magistrate Courts of Clinch County;same judge; January 1, 2009; provide
HB207 - Municipal government; administration; certain fees; provide exemption
HB208 - School councils; parent members; majority; provide
HB209 - Employees’ Retirement System;narcotics agents; purchase prior service
HB210 - Certificate of need; revise provisions
HB211 - Tift County; Redevelopment Powers Law; authorize
HB212 - City of Tifton; Redevelopment Powers Law; authorize
HB213 - Deferred compensation plans; state employees; special pay plan; repeal
HB214 - Jekyll Island - State Park Authority; renewal of property lease; provisions
HB215 - State Court of Athens-Clarke County; office of the clerk; repeal provisions
HB216 - HOPE and other scholarships; state-wide standard for honors courses; provide
HB217 - County boards of health; soil reports; modify standards
HB218 - Georgia Ports Authority; employees; power of arrest; peace officers; require
HB219 - Certain local sales and use tax; motor fuels; prepayments; provisions
HB220 - Georgia Criminal Justice Improvement Council; repeal Chapter 8
HB221 - Professional malpractice charges; affidavit; change certain provisions
HB222 - County tax comissioners; purchasing certain property; prohibit
HB223 - Carroll County; sales tax; educational purposes distribution; provide method
HB224 - State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors; change certain provisions
HB225 - State income tax; certain college savings plans; change certain provisions
HB226 - Obscenity crimes; distribution of obscene materials; insert new provisions
HB227 - Consumer Choice for Television Act; enact
HB228 - HOPE scholarships and grants; remove hourly caps
HB229 - Education lottery; book allowances; fee payments; impose certain limiations
HB230 - Tax deficiencies; penalities, fees, and costs; reenact certain provisions
HB231 - Public roads; lack of removal of vehicles; liable for gross negligence
HB232 - Georgia Development Impact Fee Act; change definitions; provisions
HB233 - Long-term Care Facility Resident Abuse Reporting Act; change definition
HB234 - Greene County; board of elections and registration; create
HB235 - Incapacitated persons; medical treatment; decision-making panel; provide
HB236 - PeachCare for Kids Program; state appropriations; provide
HB237 - Sales and use tax; water pollution eliminating machinery exemptions; change certain provisions
HB238 - Malt beverages; regulations; carbon dioxide filters; provide requirements
HB239 - Board of Natural Resources; rules; game and fish criminal violations; change certain provisions
HB240 - The Retail Installment and Home Solicitation Sales Act; increase delinquency charges
HB241 - Opticians; licensure; practical training; specify certain requirements
HB242 - Insurance; certain high deductible health plans; provide exemption
HB243 - HOPE scholarships and grants; eligible postsecondary institution; revise definition
HB244 - Death investigations; certain notification requirements; provide
HR123 - Incarcerated persons; moral turpitude felonies; prohibit voting - CA
HR127 - Citizenship; urge Congress to amend birth right provisions
HR128 - Persons convicted of certain felonies; voting provisions; amend - CA
HR129 - Composite State Board of Medical Examiners; urge adoption of new rules
HR140 - Aaron, Tommy; birthday and professional achievements; honor
HR146 - Bohler, Dr. Charles Emory; designate portions of SR 26
HR147 - Erk Russell Highway; designate portions of SR 26
SB84 - Insurance; protect members of United States armed forces; unscrupulous practices; marketing/sale of insurance
SB85 - Equal Access to Extracurricular Activities; home/private school students may participate in public schools; provide conditions
SB86 - Safety Belts; passenager vehicles; eliminate certain exceptions to the required use
SB87 - Highway System; Dept. of Transportation; RV friendly markers on specific service signs for business establishments
SB88 - Care of a Grandchild Act; provide subsidy to certain grandparents raising grandchildren under certain circumstances
SR123 - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; urged to begin study of the costs/effects of raising the full pool for Lake Lanier
SR124 - U.S. Congress; urged to withdraw from the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America
SR125 - Lottery Funds; reserved only for the HOPE Scholarship Program CA
SR126 - Adjournment; relative to
SR127 - Counties/Municipalities in Georgia; urged to take proactive measures towards reducing underage drinking
SR129 - Southern Catholic College Day

SR129 - Southern Catholic College Day
Sponsored by: Pearson,Chip 51st

A RESOLUTION recognizing Southern Catholic College and proclaiming February 18th as Southern Catholic College Day in the State of Georgia; and for other purposes.