26 March 2021

 

LWVAF, Report from the Capitol, Week 11

This week the General Assembly met for three days plus a committee day, completing Day 38.  Next week it will return for the last two days of this year’s session and SINE DIE on Wednesday.

The legislative fire hose is at full volume.  The bills that will be given a chance for passage have already been pushed out of committee with the exception of resolutions not requiring the second chamber’s concurrence.  The FY22 budget is in conference committee, and will be on the floor next week.  Much of the governor’s priorities have passed and one has been signed.  

Of all the election bills that were proposed, the survivor seems to be SB 202, which is a compilation of many of them, including HB 531 and SB 241.  It got out of committee on Tuesday, passed out of Rules on Wednesday, passed House on Thursday, Senate agreed on the same day to all the additions, and the governor signed it in the early evening.  In his press conference, he had been in on all these changes since last June.  The House debate was very long., the vote was the closest it could possibly be, 91 to 71.  Even if it would have failed, HB 531 was out of committee in the Senate with most of the same elements, and would have been moved to the floor like lightening, giving the House enough time to bend or break arms to get sufficient votes.

Last, but not least, the governor has opened up the COVID vaccination to any person age 16 and over as of yesterday.  Get on the list and keep that appointment.  There was no adverse effect on this reporter except some swelling at the injection site, just like the flu shot.  

In the interest of length, this report contains only bills PASSED.  Next week, another update on what passed or failed.  A consolidated report of all the bills passed or vetoed this session will be available shortly after May 10, the last day the governor has to make his decisions. 

-----

BOLD Bill Number = final passage

CA = constitutional amendment.  Requires a 2/3s vote in each chamber and a majority vote in the next general election scheduled for November 2022.

DV = Differing Versions

NNS = Needs No Signature

TGFS = To Governor for Signature

-----

SIGNED

 

CHILDREN

HB 114  Reeves – 37     Increases the tax credit for adoption of a child in foster care to $6000 for 5 years, then reverts to $2000, currently $2000 for every year.

 

ELECTIONS & ETHICS

SB 202  Burns – 23   Another omnibill about elections.  It now has 94 pages.  

       Senate:

• Those that mail unsolicited applications for absentee ballots shall only mail them to registered voters who have not already requested a ballot or voted.  Does not apply to Secretary of State or local elections officials.  There is allowed a data lag of 5 days between the date of the data from Secretary of State and the mailing.  State Election Board may fine up to $100 per violation and the money goes to local election department to offset the cost of multiple applications from the same voter.  The registered voter list costs $250 and takes one or two weeks.  Applies to mailed applications, not forms handed out in person or placed on a table for voter access.  

 

House additions.

• An individual may protest an unlimited number of those registering to vote.

 

Absentee Ballot by Mail:

• Absentee ballot applications to be received between 78 and 11 days prior to the election, currently 180 days and 4 days.  Must include a driver’s license number, a state issued ID number, or a copy of another legal identification. These identification requirements are the same as for a person voting in person.

• Ballot applications mailed by other than the SOS or local election officials must be clearly identified as to sender and a notice that ‘This is NOT a ballot’.

• Each county shall have at least one drop box.  If more than one, the number is the lesser or one per 100,000 registered voters or number of advanced voting locations.  

• Drop boxes are allowed only inside advanced voting locations but at local option may be placed outside.

• A chain of custody is established for removing ballots daily from the drop boxes.

• Military and overseas voters shall receive an instant runoff ballot in case of a runoff.

• Absentee ballots shall include the driver’s license number, government ID number, last four digits of Social Security number, or a copy of any legal identification document.

• Cannot photograph a voted absentee ballot.  Current law bans photographing a voted ballot in the precinct.

• Absentee ballots may be opened beginning the third Monday prior to election day and scanned but not tabulated.  Process is open to the public.

• Counting of absentee ballots to begin after polls close, currently at 12 noon on election day.

• Those in jail awaiting trial may vote and will have access from the jailer to personal items to get driver’s license number to put on the ballot and application.

• SOS is authorized to audit absentee ballot applications for two years.

• An unauthorized person accepting ballots for return to the elections department shall be guilty of a felony.

 

Absentee In-Person Voting, Early Voting, Advanced Voting:

• Advanced voting must be in a building.  Mobile units are not allowed.

• Early voting shall be 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.  At local option can be expanded to 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.  Notice shall be posted 14 days prior to the start of early voting.

• During early voting, both Saturdays are mandatory and both Sundays are optional with the elections director.

• Statistics about number of voters during early voting to be posted daily.  This is being done now voluntarily.

 

Election Day Voting, In-Person

• Election Day workers may live in adjacent counties.

• Death of a nonpartisan candidate prior to the election will have the name appear on the ballot.  If that candidate wins, the office will be declared unfilled and a special election will follow to fill the office.

• Voters in line more than one hour in precincts with 2000 or more active registered voters will cause the precinct to be split or more machines or more poll workers to be assigned in the next general election.  The data will be collected by the poll manager at least three times on election day.

• Mobile units can be used only during emergencies declared by the governor.

• If the precinct closes, a notice must be posted at the old location and three nearby locations and shall indicate the new location.  One notice shall be at least 4 feet x 4 feet.  

• In general elections, one voting device shall be available for every 250 registered voters in the precinct.  In all other elections, the local superintendent can equip according to past turnout history and knowing how many voters have already voted early or by mail.

• Ballots shall be printed on security paper.

• Testing of ballot machines shall be noticed 5 days before and posted on the local election website, the SOS website, and in a newspaper of the widest distribution.

• Runoffs shall be 28 days after an election or primary.  In most years after the November election, this is Thanksgiving week, so there will be only 3 days and perhaps a Saturday to vote in the runoff.  If it is a very high turnout, like the one of January 2021, that will mean long, long lines in very likely cold, damp weather.

• Polls locations that did not open on time and need judicial permission to stay open past 7 p.m. only for the amount of time they could not open in the morning, and not past 9 p.m. unless there is a written order with specific findings of fact supporting an extension.

• Food and water may not be provided to those in line within 150 feet of the precinct.  This is the same restriction as for campaigning.

• Out of precinct provisional ballots will be accepted after 5 p.m.  Before then, the voter must go to the voter’s assigned precinct.   This is already done in some counties.  Federal law requires offering a provisional ballot to any voter at any time if they are not on the rolls of that precinct.

• It shall be illegal to view another’s ballot unless one is assisting that voter or a child is accompanying the voter.

 

Processing and Counting the Ballots

• Poll watchers should be able to see the process, but cannot interfere in any way.  They shall be trained by the appointing entity.  Curriculum provided by SOS. 

• Duplicate ballots to be created by a team of three – one nonpartisan, one from each political party.

• Ballot images, not the physical ballot, can be public information subject to open records request.  The SOS is to initiate a pilot program to make them available.  The ballots are stored with superior court judges after an election; the images are in the scanners at the individual counties.  

• By 10 p.m. on election day, the number of voters in each category shall be reported to the SOS.

• Counting of votes shall continue until finished.

 

State and Local Administration of Elections

• State Elections Board, SEB, shall appoint a state election superintendent.  Currently, the SOS is the chief election official.

• Attorney General may establish and maintain a hotline for voters to file complaints and allegations of voter intimidation and illegal election activity.  May accept anonymous tips. Currently, the SOS maintains a hotline.

• General  Assembly will elect the chair of the SEB.  Secretary of State, SOS, will be a nonvoting ex-officio member.

With both chambers having the same party in the majority, and each party gets one appointee, that means the party in the majority at the General Assembly will have four of the five votes on the SEB.  If the majority party in each chamber is different, this could become a real tug of war to agree on the chair.

• SEB may suspend an election superintendent and appoint a temporary replacement.  No more than 4 may be suspended at one time.

• A county commission or city council may petition the SEB for extraordinary relief based on a performance review recommendation.  The SEB shall determine if a full hearing should be held.  The SEB may suspend the election superintendent if there is evidence of 3 violations of law or rule in the last two general election cycles.

• SEB may adopt emergency rules after giving notice to governor, Lt. Governor, Speaker, chairs of legislative committees dealing with election law, the CEOs of each political party, and legislative counsel.

• The legislative committees dealing with election law may overturn an emergency rule within 10 days of its adoption.  Must the Legislature be in session for the vote to be valid?

• Vacancies and extended absences in probate court judges will allow the chief superior court judge to appoint a qualified person to conduct elections.

• A performance review may be requested by the governing authority or members of the legislative delegation. Counties with 4 or more local delegates, 2 senators and 2 House members must request; counties with fewer than 4 local delegates, 1 senator and 1 House member must request.  The SOS shall appoint the review panel of 3 – one state election department employee and two local election officials.  The larger the delegation of any county, the more a minority of the delegation can force a performance review.

• Any court settlement that the SOS may agree to has to be noticed to the chairs of the Judiciary Committees of the House and Senate at least 5 days prior to agreement.

• The SOS may belong to an organization of states that share information on registered voters.

• SOS will determine a manner in which private donations may be received and then distributed throughout the state equitably for election operational expenses.

• When the governor may appoint a person to fill a vacancy until the next general election, there shall be a special primary at the same time as the general primary.  No more repeats of the last Senatorial election.

• In 2021, the census data is late.  If not received at least 120 days prior to the July 2021 election, city elections will be done on the old district lines.  Cities can redraw their own district lines.  All other elected offices have electoral districts draw by the legislature.

 

REVENUE & TAXATION

 

HB 593  Blackmon – 146   Increases the income tax standard deduction for tax years beginning 1-1-22 and beyond for a $120 million impact.

•  Single and Head of Household -- $5400, currently $4600, increase $800.

• Married filing single -- $3550, currently $3000, increase of $550.

• Married filing joint -- $7100, currently $6000, increase of $1100.

-----

In CHAMBERS 

 

BUDGET

HB 81  Ralston – 7     PASSED House     PASSED Senate     DV          in Conference Committee

The FY22 budget covers July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022.  Revenues are expected to increase a tad, most of which went to Education and Transportation.  Changes made in the amended budget are carried forward.  

The Senate agreed with most of the House recommendations, changing a few and adding even fewer.  The net changes from the governor’s recommendations are to replace the cuts of 2020, refill vacancies unaddressed last year, readjust amounts from the retirement contribution requirement increases, and in a very few instances, start new programs.  The federal funds from the American Recovery Act of some $12 billion, are noted in the budget document.  Those funds are filling a lot of holes left from last year allowing state funds to be used for salaries and new programs.

Millions

$ 1.7,  A Pre-K classroom increase of 25% for operations

   1,      Education, computer science grants

   1.6,   Dyslexia screening and a specialist

3.7,  State Commission charter school supplemental funding

 (10 )   Governor’s Emergency Fund, to bring it down to normal level after the need during the pandemic

1.  Domestic violence shelters

2.  An outdoor recreational facility- unknown location

1.  Newborn screening for Krabbe disease

2.  University System, operational funding

2      Cooperative Extension Service

    2      Enterprise Innovation grants

    .950 Rural coding program with Dept. of Education

    .700 Venture fund

    .500 Academy of Eminent Scholars, Recruitment for rural GA and HBCUs

    .100 Clark Atlanta University for prostate cancer research

    .547 Public libraries for materials grants

   2        Aviation career path program at GA State University

   7.8     GA Medical College

   1.5     TCSG for high school diploma program,  SB 204

162       Transportation capital projects

1. Consultant for Freight & Logistics Plan

1. Airport aid

3.1     GA Transportation Infrastructure grant

5.8     GARVEE bond debt requirement

  (6)        General Obligation Bond debt service, because it was funded in FY21 amended budget

    2         GO bonds, K-12 school buses alternatively fueled

$983      Total in GO bonds.

 

Governor’s Recommendations.

Education:

• $72 million, QBE Equalization.  Given to low wealth districts to provide money to offset low property wealth

• $112 million, QBE Local 5-mill Share. Reduction in state funds to reflect higher property tax wealth in local systems

• ($166 million), QBE reduced enrollment in school year 20-21

• $113.6 million, QBE teacher training and experience and health insurance

• $58 million, QBE TRS pension premium increases

• $36.2 million, Charter School Commission

• $124 million in bonds, for construction and renovation of local schools

• $20 million in bonds, for school buses in local school systems

• $12.3 million in bonds, for career, technical and agricultural equipment

 

Transportation:

• $100 million in bonds, New Construction Projects

• $201 million for general transportation from money collected from a $5 surcharge on hotel rooms

• $45.4 million, Maintenance of existing projects

• $21.6 million, Local government grants

• $35.2 million, Local government routine maintenance

 

Teacher Retirement employer portion went up .75% and that cost is distributed to all departments which have employees so affected.  Many departments and programs got a reduction in rental expense due to the transition to a remote workforce model.  Cuts taken in legislators’ and Lt. Governor’s salaries in FY21 are restored.

 

CHILDREN

SB 28  Hatchett – 50     PASSED Senate      PASSED House     DV

Requires annual training for jury court intake officers of 8 hours the first year and 2 hours per year thereafter.  Permits juvenile court to consider hearsay evidence.  Makes clarifying changes to procedures of the juvenile court.

 

HB 154  Reeves – 34     PASSED House   sub     PASSED Senate     DV

The age of persons to which a foster child can be placed is raised to 21, currently 25.  Out of state placement is now allowed.  Certified mail is now a communication option for paperwork relative to child placement.   Non-residents may appear in court virtually relative to the placement of a child.  A governor’s bill, and very extensive.

 

EDUCATION – PREK – 12

SB 47  Gooch – 51     PASSED Senate      PASSED House     DV

Eligibility for the Special Needs Scholarship to attend private schools paid for with public education funds is extended to student with a Section 504 accommodation plan.  Special education students are those that have some innate impediment to learning as determined by several experts and require an Individual Education Plan, IEP.  Section 504 students have a condition requiring some accommodation but do not inhibit their ability to learn.  Examples of conditions requiring accommodation are loss of a limb, breakage of a bone, asthma, dyslexia, recovery from surgery. There are about 200,000 students in the state with an IEP plan of which 5000 have taken the Special Needs Scholarship.  There are about 58,000 students who have a Section 504 plan.  The sponsor is not amenable to having a means test on this scholarship for any eligible student.  LWV OPPOSES any voucher which funds private schools.

 

SB 153  Dolezal – 27     PASSED Senate     PASSED House     DV

GOAL, Graduation Opportunities and Advanced Learning are state charter schools designed to provide credit recovery for students who have dropped out but wish to get a high school diploma.  There are three in existence:  Mountain Education Charter, Foothills Charter, and Coastal Plains Charter School serving a total of 6000 students.  The bill contains a funding formula to reflect the fact that their students do not attend full time – they get materials for the class and complete it on their personal schedule – and the full time equivalent measure of QBE does not reflect the work of the schools.

 

SB 159  Gooch – 51   TGFS   DOE is to draw up specification for an 8 passenger motor vehicle to transport school children to and from school activities.  Cannot be a shared ride service, such as Uber or Lyft.   GA is the only state that does not allow alternatives to school buses to transport students.  These are to be used primarily to transport students who are low incidence and/or long distances from school, such as special ed or the homeless. Schools used to purchase their own vans for athletic purposes and DOE outlawed them because they did not have as many safety features (color, stop arms, etc.) as school buses, and drivers were often not trained school bus operators.

 

HB 173  Benton – 31  TGFS   Increases to 10% the amount of assets of large retirements systems which may be invested in alternative investments.  The Teachers Retirement System, TRS, is a very large retirement system but is specifically excluded.  It can only invest up to 5% of its assets, a provision passed in 2020. Also excluded is the Employees Retirement System, ERS, which covers a lot of state workers and school workers who are not certified educators.  Alternative investments include corporate bonds, short term IOUs, and perhaps some very conservative stock. It also includes venture capital, but that is not the intent of the proposal.   Investing for retirement system assets is done by a group of money managers, employees of the fund, whose objective is to preserve the principal of the fund for the members, i.e. very conservatively.

 

EDUCATION – POSTSECONDARY

SB 187  Tippins – 37   TGFS   Students with disabilities may request a HOPE waiver up to 10 years to earn a degree or attempt 127 semester hours, currently 7 years.  No additional funds will be forthcoming.

 

GOVERNMENT – GENERAL

HB 44  Cantrell – 22     PASSED  House     FAILED in Senate     DV     RECONSIDERED    (To be voted on again)

Daylight savings time shall be observed everywhere in GA all year long when the U.S. Congress so authorizes it.

 

HB 410  Lumsden – 10   TGFS   Transfer the administration of the bingo games offered by nonprofit organizations to the Secretary of State from the GBI.

 

GOVERNMENT – TECHNOLOGY

HB 98  Lumsden – 12     PASSED House     PASSED Senate     DV

Teleconferenced meetings by local governmental entities under emergency conditions include when a declaration of federal, state, or local states of emergency.  Participation of members in such meetings is the same as for those physically present.  Requested by Georgia Municipal Association and supported by Association of County Commissioners of GA.

 

SB 247  Anderson – 24   TGFS   The Agriculture Commodity Commission may hold public hearings virtually.

 

HB 553  Gunter – 8     PASSED House     PASSED Senate     DV

Administrative hearings can be held virtually.  Witnesses can appear virtually if judge agrees.

 

GOVERNMENT – COUNTIES AND CITIES

HB 161  Tankersley – 160   TGFS   Downtown development authorities shall no longer have perpetual existence.  Allows Department of Community Affairs to dissolve authorities which are inactive and have no debt.  

 

HB 286  Gaines – 117     PASSED House     PASSED  Senate     DV

Local governing authorities with police departments cannot reduce the funding to police departments by more than 5% unless the estimated revenues to the entity are estimated to be reduced by more than 5%, in which case the police department funding cannot be cut by a higher percent than what the entity as a whole is cut.  Exceptions are if the department can prove that a higher cut will not have a reduction in services or may even have an increase in services, if the department converted from a volunteer to a paid staff in the previous year.  Over a 10 year rolling average, the 5% limit shall apply.  Does not apply to departments with 10 or fewer employees.  If large capital outlay has been made for the department in the prior year, such as replacing autos or equipping with body cameras, the equipment expenditures are not included in the computation.  Intended to be a rebuttal to the Defund the Police movement.

 

GOVERNMENT – COURTS AND CRIMES

SB 33  Dixon – 45   TGFS    A victim of human trafficking has a cause of action against anyone who knowingly benefits from participation in a venture scheme which involves such activity (the perpetrator).  The action must be brought within 10 years of the violation or 10 years after the victim reaches 18 if the act occurred while the victim was a minor.  The state Attorney General may bring action against a perpetrator if the interest of the citizens of the state have been or are threatened or adversely affected.

 

SB 75  Jackson – 41   TGFS   A tenant who is a documented victim of stalking may terminate a residential real estate rental or lease agreement effective 30 days after providing written notice.  Victims of civil or criminal family violence already have this option.

 

HB 168  Petrea – 166   TGFS   Information within a Department of Correction inmate’s file, excluding medical information, shall be shared with the district attorney for responding to proposed action by the State Board of Pardons & Paroles.  These inmates have been convicted of sexual offenses against minors and the seven deadly sins.  The information is to remain confidential with the district attorney.  If the District attorney discloses this information, the DA can be guilty of an offence.   Such information is generally not available to anyone outside of the prison system.

 

HB 363  LaHood – 175     PASSED House     PASSED  Senate     DV

Removes most enhanced penalties for crimes against those 65 and over.

 

HB 631  Cheokas – 138     PASSED House     PASSED  Senate     DV

The GA Crime Information Center is to collect information on an person’s ability to communicate with law enforcement or emergency responders.  Information is to be voluntarily submitted.  At the individual’s option, to add motor vehicle registration information, address, and description of the condition impeding the person’s ability to communicate.

 

GOVERNMENT – EMPLOYMENT

SB 32  Brass – 28   TGFS   Public employee information, now including federal employees, which are not publicly available include an unlisted phone number and cell phone number.

 

SR 134  Walker – 20  TO BALLOT   CA to suspend compensation to a constitutional officer for indictment of a felony.  The insurance commissioner was indicted in May 2019 and the state has been paying his salary ever since because there has been a judicial order in place to not have trials.  If passed in a referendum, the salary would stop immediately thereafter. If found innocent, the back pay would be paid.

 

HB 146  Gaines – 117     PASSED House     PASSED Senate     DV

Paid parent leave of 120 hours (3 weeks) during every 12 month period for government employees, including employees of local school boards, is available to employees who have worked for 6 months and put in at least 700 hours.  The leave is for birth of a child, adoption of a child, or inclusion of a foster child into the family.  The leave is capped at 120 hours even if there are multiple events during the same 12 month period, and may be taken all at one time or in several segments.  Sponsor wants more than 3 weeks, but needs to get something on the books which can be changed later.

 

SB 218  Walker – 20     PASSED Senate     PASSED House     DV

Elected and other public officials who are suspended because of an indictment for a felony shall also have salary or compensation suspended.  Currently, the person is paid until convicted. During the pandemic when trials have been suspended, it could be several months before a trial.  If found innocent, back pay would be paid.

 

GOVERNMENT – ENVIRONMENT

SB 119  Harper – 7   TGFS   A permit to burn shall not be required if burning leaves, yard debris, or hand-piled natural vegetation on the site where they occur if:  burning is done between 9 a.m. and sunset; the person responsible shall attend the burning at all times until the burn is completely done with no risk of burning to escape control, and the person has taken necessary steps to prevent such escape; the burning is at least 25 feet from woodlands, forestland, or open fields and at least 50 feet from any structure and there is no local prohibition against burning.

 

GOVERNMENT – FEDERAL ISSUES

HR 183  Knight – 130   TGFS   Urges Congress to pass the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act.

 

SR 190  Brass – 28   NNS   Urges Congress to allow individuals to retain the right to use their image and likeness and shield them from copyright infringement.

 

HEALTH

SB 5  Kirkpatrick – 32   TGFS   Any person other than a dentist, anesthesiologist or anesthetist who administers conscious sedation without a license to practice dentistry is engaging in the unlawful practice thereof.  Medi-spas have been doing procedures requiring sedation using untrained personnel to administer it and often not having the proper equipment if the patient  needs it.  Some patients have died.  By having only trained folk administering anesthetic, the sponsor attempts to ensure patient safety. 

 

HB 234  Hawkins – 27   TGFS   A self-funded health care plan may opt into the Surprise Billing Consumer Protection Act, i.e. the medical provider cannot issue surprise bills because they are not covered by the health care plan but the hospital with whom they are contracted is.

 

HB 567  Cooper – 43     PASSED House      PASSED Senate     DV

Creates the Newborn Screening and Genetics Advisory Committee to review and make recommendations to the Department of Public Health when a new disorder is added to the federal Recommended Uniform Screening Panel.  The Committee has between 11 and 21 members, and shall make recommendations within one year after the date the disorder is recommended by the federal panel.  Currently, there are 33 conditions that can be tested on newborns. For many, if the condition is positive, corrective measures need to be taken immediately to keep the disease from harming the child and perhaps creating lifetime disabilities.

 

REVENUE & TAXATION

SB 6  Albers – 56     PASSED Senate     PASSED House     DV

The Office of Planning and Budget shall prepare an economic analysis (good faith estimate) of a proposed or passed bill if requested by either the chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee or the Senate Finance Committee before May 1 of each year.  Up to five bills may be requested by each chairman.  The analysis is to include the net change to:  revenue, expenditures including administrative costs, economic activity, and public benefit if applicable.  Bill has 17 bipartisan Senate sponsors, including many chairmen.

 

SB 193  Mullis – 53   TGFS   Counties may decide whether decals need to be displayed on mobile housing signifying the payment of property taxes.  Some counties may decide not to even give out the decals; others may give out the decals but not require display.

 

LOCAL – FULTON and its CITIES

HB 370  Jones – 47     PASSED House     PASSED Senate     DV

Board members of a joint hospital authority may serve no more than 12 years or 3 whole or partial terms, whichever is longer.  Only applies to an authority that operates or leases a hospital of 900+ licensed beds.  Grady Hospital.

 

HB 459  Martin – 49   TGFS   Cities cannot annex a territory that contains a county owned airport unless the county approves it with a resolution.  The airport is Charlie Brown Airport in Fulton County near Fulton Industrial Park which City of South Fulton is trying to annex.  The county has made a lot of improvements and they want to insure it is still going to be under their control.

 

HB 732  Dreyer – 59   TGFS    The Atlanta Public School homestead exemption of $50,000 of assessed value [$125,000 of fair market value] for property worth $10 million FMV is to continue in perpetuity.  Currently, there is a sunset of 31 Dec 2021.  Local referendum required.   This bill is written to include any homestead property of $10 million or more, but there is some indication that there is just one in existence.

 

HB 757  Nguyen – 89   TGFS   The City of Atlanta is empowered to create 10-year Urban Enterprise Zones with agreement from the County of Fulton the purpose of which are to create economic development and workforce housing within areas of poverty or blight.  In exchange for those who build, renovate, or establish businesses within, city and county property taxes are forgiven.  On real property, the abatement is $100% for 5 years, 80% for years 6 and 7, 60% for year 8, 40% for year 9 and 20% for year 10.  Taxes on businesses and service enterprises operating within the zone are forgiven up to 10%/year.  There is annual reporting by the city to the county and the Department of Community Affairs about zones in existence and new zones created.  This bill is written such that the current authority for Urban Enterprise Zones cannot be seen.  So what is changed with this proposal cannot be identified.

-----

##### 

Sally FitzGerald, Capitol Observer

sallyfitz [at] bellsouth.net

League of Women Voters – Atlanta/Fulton   www.lwvaf.org

League of Women Voters – Georgia   www.lwvga.org

Know the issues.  Join the conversation.  Make a difference.

 

21.W11.26Mar