Georgia Legislative Watch

State Rep. Ron Forester’s impeachment resolution is now online:

WHEREAS, Article V, Section I, Paragraph VI of the Constitution of the State of Georgia states: “The Governor and Lieutenant Governor shall, before entering on the duties of office, take such oath or affirmation as prescribed by law.”; and

WHEREAS, Official Code of Georgia Annotated Section 45-3-1 provides that as a part of the oath of office, every public officer shall swear that he or she will support the Constitution of the United States and of this state; and

WHEREAS, Article III, Section V, Paragraph XIII of the Constitution of the State of Georgia provides that when the house of origination votes to override a veto by the Governor, the same shall be immediately transmitted to the other house where it shall be immediately considered; and

Click here to read about this bill

This afternoon the United States House of Representatives passed an economic stimulus package that would give taxpayers a “rebate” between $600 and $1,200.

Here in Georgia, State Rep. Chuck Martin has proposed legislation that would supposedly exempt the rebates from the state income tax:

Rep. Chuck Martin (R-Alpharetta) is pushing legislation co-sponsored by leaders of both parties to make sure Georgians don’t have to pay state income taxes on the stimulus checks they might be receiving from the federal government.

And, unlike the stimulus plan, Martin said his bill doesn’t have any income caps. So more affluent Georgians who don’t receive a check would also get a tax break if the measure is approved.

The savings: on average about $72 for individuals, $144 for couples without children, a little more for families with kids.

The State House has passed the new sex offender bill:

The House’s 141-29 vote aims to a fix a law adopted in 2005 banning sex offenders from living, working or loitering within 1,000 feet of just about anywhere children gather - schools, churches, parks, gyms, swimming pools or one of the state’s 150,000 school bus stops.

In November the state’s high court overturned portions of the law, ruling that it failed to protect the property rights of offenders who could be forced to move if a facility catering to children pops up near their home.

House Republican leaders quickly vowed to retool the measure in hopes of answering the court’s concerns. The proposal approved Tuesday would allow a sex offender who owns his or her home to stay there if a center where children gather later opens up nearby. It carves out a similar exception for sex offenders who work near such a center.

“This really comes down to: ‘Do you really want to reinstate residency restrictions in Georgia?’” said state Rep. David Ralston, a Blue Ridge Republican who sponsored the bill. “That’s kind of what it’s about. That’s as simple as I can put it to you.”

The article notes what I had been told by several legislators:

[T]he measure adopted Tuesday failed to address other challenges to the law that was supposed to go into effect in July 2006.

A federal judge initially delayed its enforcement by ruling that the school bus stop provision could not be enforced unless school boards officially designated them. Few boards have since done so.

That lawsuit is still pending, along with another challenge against a provision that could evict offenders who live near churches. And critics, including state Rep. Alisha Thomas Morgan, have promised the legal challenges will continue if the concerns are not addressed.

It looks like legislators may be addressing the issue in special session this year or when the new session begins next year.

Continuing in his keen interest in the operation of Grady Memorial Hospital, state Sen. David Shafer (R-Duluth) introduced a resolution, SR748, that would urge the Grady Health System to redesign its employee benefits plan to encourage use of Grady by its own employees.

“Grady spends $18 million annually providing health care for its 5,000 employees, but unlike most large hospital employers, does not encourage or require its employees to use Grady as their primary health care provider,” Sen. Shafer said.

Shafer also stated that many large hospitals encourage employees to use their own services through lower co-pays and deductibles.

SR748, which has bipartisan support, is the third Grady related resolution that Shafer has introduced during the 2008 legislative session.  The others are bills that would create a Grady legislative oversight committee  and prohibit individuals having financial conflicts-o-interest from serving on the Grady Board of Directors.

The House Judiciary (Civil) Subcommittee One will be holding two days worth of hearings on legislation designed to restrict abortions in the state of Georgia.

House Resolution 536 (also known as the Human Life Amendment) and House Bill 1, a bill that would “provide that any abortion shall be unlawful” in the state of Georgia are currently scheduled to be considered on February 18th and February 20th in room 406 of the Coverdale Legislative Office Building.

The time for the meetings is 2p.m. or after the Georgia House adjourns for the day.