31 March 2021
LWVAF, Report from the Capitol, Week 12
This week the legislature met for two days and one committee day, completing Day 40, Sine Die. It’s all over, folks. ‘Till next year, that is.
The budget, which is the only bill that must pass, didn’t get to the floor of either chamber until after dinner. The hang up was never disclosed. For the first time many years, the conference committee met on the last day of the session. After everything is ironed out, at least 236 copies have to be printed (56 for the Senate and 180 for the House) and there are rules that have to be followed, one of which requires the budget to be on the legislators’ desks for an hour before it can be brought up for debate and a vote.
Of the bills LWV was tracking, 50 passed on Day 40, and about half that passed on Day 39. What is reported here may not be what is in the version that passed. That will be corrected in the FINAL report which will be available after the governor has his opportunity to sign or veto.
Any bill that did not pass this year is eligible for consideration next year. None will be considered in the special session that will be called this fall to redraw elector districts as a result of the 2020 census unless it is reintroduced in that special session. If the census is later than 120 days from the November municipal elections, cities cannot redraw their own lines, so candidates will file and run in the existing electoral districts.
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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
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In CHAMBERS
BUDGET
HB 81 Ralston – 7 TGFS The FY22 budget covers July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022. Revenues are expected to increase a tad, most of which goes to Education and Transportation. Changes made in the amended budget are carried forward. Federal moneys have helped fill holes throughout the budget and allowing state funds to be used for other things. The total budget is a 200-page document. Reported here are items reconciled between the House and Senate versions in the version adopted. Most were not recommended by the governor.
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.
Millions
$ 1.5 Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, additional for respite services, emphasis on rural areas
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Mental health telehealth, partner with counties
43.0 Community Health, Skilled nursing home reimbursements, updates to liability and property insurances, and 10%
Rate increase for home and community- based service providers
12 Supplemental quality incentive payments to eligible skilled nursing facilities
8 One year hold harmless for skilled nursing home facilities to meet quality standards
2.2 Driver Services, Increase in salaries to address high turnover
1.2 Construct and equip a new Commercial Driver License testing pad in southeast GA
1.6 Education, Dyslexia screening program and a specialist
5 School nutrition staff increases
35 State Charter School funding formula
2.3 Testing, GA Milestone administration according to federal requirements
1 Governor’s Office, Establish the Office of Health Strategy and Coordination
4.7 After School Care, to stem learning loss due to COVID-19 for K-12 students
2.8 Natural Resources, state parks and outdoor recreational areas
.8 Public Health, screening for leading cancers, care coordination and prevention education; Sickle Cell Foundation
of GA; to support nurses recovering from substance use
1.5 Public Safety, a 75-person trooper school
5.5 Regents, Funds for operations of Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service
2.0 Partnership for Inclusive Innovation grants and Advanced Technology Development Center services
15.4 GA Research Alliance sickle cell research, Venture program grans and start-up loans, recruit Eminent
Scholars into research field with focus on rural GA and historically black colleges and universities
5.3 Medical College of GA, matching funds for 3+ program and Clark Atlanta for prostate cancer research
.8 Revenue, Hire six tax examiners, three auditors, three criminal investigators and three call center contractors
1.5 Secretary of State, to implement overt, covert, and forensic ballot security protocols
5.4 Student Finance, HOPE grant, projected need
10.4 Transportation, Athens-Clarke County transit, MARTA, consultant for Freight and Logistics, Airport Aid, and
State railroad clearing
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Veterans Services, new veterans cemetery in Augusta
(12.3) Debt Service, reduction due to prepayment in FY21 amended budget
9 Bonds, for construction of College and Career Academies statewide
CHILDREN
SB 20 Payne – 54 TGFS Adds to the Child Advocate Advisory Committee a former foster child appointed by the Lt. Governor, a current or former foster parent appointed by the governor, and a CASA, court appointed special advocate, appointed by the Speaker of the House. This brings committee membership to 10. The advisory committee meets at least three times a year with the child advocate and his or her staff to review and assess: (1) patterns of treatment and service for children; (2) policy implications; and (3) necessary systemic improvements. The advisory committee also provides for an annual evaluation of the effectiveness of the Office of the Child Advocate for the Protection of Children."
SB 28 Hatchett – 50 TGFS Requires annual training for jury court intake officers of 8 hours the first year and 2 hours per year thereafter. Permits juvenile courts to consider hearsay evidence. Makes clarifying changes to procedures of the juvenile court.
HB 154 Reeves – 34 TGFS 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. Non-residents may appear in court virtually relative to the placement of a child. A governor’s bill, and very extensive.
HB 258 Sainz – 180 TGFS A defense in a sexual assault cannot be made of victim consent if victim is under age 16.
HB 548 Dempsey – 13 TGFS The Administrative Office of the Courts shall enter into agreements with Department of Family and Children Services to insure compliance with federal law (HIPPA) relative to information regarding the termination of parental rights for the safety of the children involved. Requested by DFCS.
EDUCATION – PREK – 12
HB 32 Belton – 112 TGFS A refundable income tax credit for teachers who agree to teach for 5 consecutive years in a rural area or low-performing school. The credit is $3000/year for one thousand teachers. A low performing school is in the lowest 5% of achievement on the state-wide accountability system; a rural school is more than 2.5 miles from an ‘urban cluster’ and 5 miles from an urbanized area.
SB 42 Mullis – 53 TGFS The school climate rating of local schools by the Department of Education, on the College and Career Ready Performance Index, shall not include discipline data. The data will be recorded with the department. The discipline report will be on the school web site and the district will make available print copies if requested. The definition of good school climate includes how safe the students and teachers/employees feel being in the building. Very often unsafe conditions are reflected in discipline data reflecting unruly students. [House] Home school students in grades 6 through 12 may participate in extracurricular and interscholastic activities at the public school serving their residence by taking one qualifying course in the semester of participation, such as a dual enrollment course, one required to participate in that extracurricular or interscholastic activity, or a virtual course offered by the public school system. Students must abide by all rules for participation as any other student, including tryouts, training, fees and behavior. Parent must attest to home student’s grades, to satisfactory progress towards advancement, and if the student meets the requirements for the activity. Requires the student enroll in school at least 30 days before school starts in that semester of the activity. If student withdraws from the public school class, the student must wait 12 months before enrolling again.
SB 47 Gooch – 51 TGFS 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 59 Albers – 56 TGFS In FY23 local charter schools will be funded at the same differential, 3.75%, as charter school systems. Charter schools can opt in to the state health benefit plan at time of renewal. Federal money will go to the charter schools in the same way they go to non-charter schools in the school district. Requires the local school system to provide space for a local charter school or provide a stipend for facilities.
SB 153 Dolezal – 27 TGFS 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 213 Harper – 7 TGFS ESPLOST funds can be used to pay for guaranteed energy saving contracts of a local school system including training programs incidental to an energy contract, equipment used in a building project designed to reduce energy or voter consumption or wastewater production.
SB 246 Brass – 28 TGFS Learning Pod Protection Act. Home school parents not to be subject to additional restrictions or regulations of the local school district. Any student not enrolled in a primary education option shall be considered a home school student.
HB 287 Rich – 97 TGFS Tobacco and vaping are added to the Health curriculum K-12 in schools. Those who vape are 3 times more likely to take up cigarette smoking, 69% will develop emphysema, and 57% will develop COPD, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. A recent survey of high school students indicated that 31% have vaped, with 21% having vaped within the last month. In Grades 6-12, the health curriculum will now include information about and signs of human trafficking. Sponsor indicates this will begin to educate potential victims of this crime. In GA, 7200 men have sex with a minor each month.
HB 392 Ridley – 6 TGFS Alcohol sales for consumption off the premises can be by local regulation located 100 yards or more from school buildings, and education buildings, and school grounds. Rural counties find that schools are usually located on a corner, and they cannot develop the other corners with commercial business that want to sell liquor. They want the local control.
HB 606 Nix – 69 TGFS Adds GA Independent School Association to list of accrediting organizations for HOPE scholarships. Effective 7-1-21.
EDUCATION – POSTSECONDARY
SB 81 Mullis – 53 TGFS The new name of the Office of College and Career Transitions within the Technical College System of Georgia is Office of College and Career Academies. TCSG will assist in recruitment of new industries to GA by demonstrating the preparation of high school graduates who are technically skilled as potential workers because ‘technical skilled attainment’ in addition to student achievement is required for college and career academy certification of local schools by the Department of Education in concert with TCSG.
SB 85 Albers – 56 TGFS Hazing in postsecondary institutions is ingesting anything in sufficient quantities to create risks of vomiting, intoxication or unconsciousness. Most if not all groups whose members are students and led by students or alumni are covered by this bill. Each school shall have policies by July 1, 2021 regarding reporting, investigating, due process, and administrative adjudication of hazing allegations. The school shall disclose these convictions within 15 days and put those actions on their websites, but not identifying the individuals involved.
SB 107 Strickland – 17 TGFS TCSG is to provide, and USG is urged to provide, a waiver of all tuition and fees including any mandatory fees for room and board for a qualifying foster or adopted student. A qualifying student has a family receiving state funded adoption assistance; is under DFAC or DHS oversight; is in the independent living program of DFCS; is now adopted but was placed by DFCS after the 14th birthday and now resides out of state. Student must be enrolled or accepted within 3 years of high school graduation for enrollment, must remain in good academic standing, under age 28, and has applied for this waiver. There are about 700 foster children in independent living. This waiver is to be available after all other sources of funding are exhausted – Pell grants, HOPE grants, etc. House adds: (HB 7) Foster care or homeless youth should get in-state tuition from the University System of GA and Technical College System of GA even if they graduated from a high school in another state, but under the age 24. Foster care assistance is not to be considered as income in calculation of financial aid or determining need for purposes of any scholarship, loans or grants.
HB 152 Wiedower – 119 TGFS Postsecondary education schools operating on military bases in GA will no longer have oversight by the Non-Public Postsecondary Commission as they are already overseen by the federal government, 17 schools. Of the other 800 non-public schools, if they have had a good track record in previous years, at the director’s discretion, they may be reviewed virtually.
SB 204 Tippins – 37 TGFS TCSG may award high school diplomas under the criteria established by DOE to students 16 and over who have enrolled in TCSG without finishing high school. Such students must have completed 6 of the 9 state required courses for grades 9 and 10: 2 English, 2 math, 2 science, 2 social studies; one health and physical education, and any state required test for these courses. A student must have received an acceptable score on the readiness assessment test required by the TCSG; have a written acknowledgement that the student may lose any allowable eligibility for special education or Section 504 services; is age 16 and over who has already dropped out of high school but wants a technical skill, or an adult in need of a high school diploma and a technical education. Upon completion of their technical program, the student can be awarded the high school diploma if the student has completed the coursework defined. This is a five-year pilot program with 5 units of TCSG participating.
HB 617 Martin – 49 TGFS Postsecondary student athletes may receive compensation for use of their name, image, or likeness. The compensation cannot be used to get the student to attend a particular school and cannot be paid if the terms of the contract are in conflict with the terms of participation at the school or terms of an athletic scholarship. The school shall have a class for student athletes at the beginning of their first and third year of at least 5 hours to present financial aid, debt management, and a recommended budget for student athletes at that school. Time management and available academic resources are also to be included. The student is entitled to have a legal advisor as well as an athletic agent. Senate adds: Effective when the national organization agrees that students can be compensated. Each school that has a team contract which will determine how much compensation the student can keep, but it shall be no less than 25%.
GOVERNMENT – GENERAL
SB 100 Watson – 1 TGFS The state shall be on daylight savings time year round if the U.S. Congress agrees. The author, a medical doctor, wants to stop flipping back and forth. He cited health risks, motor vehicle accident risks, circadian rhythms disruptions.
HB 208 Cheokas – 138 TGFS The second Wednesday of February shall be the National Swearing in Day holiday to celebrate the young men and women who are in JROTC and wish to experience a sample of military life.
SB 222 Summers – 13 TGFS The pecan shall be the official GA State Nut. It is the only edible nut native to North America and can be traced back to the 16th century. The name is derived from the Native American ‘pacane’ and translates to ‘not requiring a stone to crack’. In 2015, GA produced 37% of all pecans.
SB 236 Brass – 28 TGFS Mixed drinks can be purchased to go with a food order. The drink must be in a sealed container, placed in a locked compartment of the vehicle of the customer or behind the last seat if no trunk. Two drinks per entre, each containing no more than 3 ounces of liquor allowed.
GOVERNMENT – TECHNOLOGY
HB 98 Lumsden – 12 TGFS 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.
HB 134 Anderson – 10 TGFS Meetings of public entities where discussion of cyber security issues occur are exempt from open meetings. Any votes on these issues must be done in an open meeting. Records regarding cyber security are not open to the public. Physical security issues are already exempt from open meetings and records requirements.
HB 306 Gunter – 8 TGFS Corporations or organizations may hold annual meetings via teleconference unless the article of corporation or bylaws provide otherwise.
HB 553 Gunter – 8 TGFS Administrative hearings can be held virtually. Witnesses can appear virtually if judge agrees. Senate adds: Office of State Administrative Hearings may require documents to be filed electronically and may make transfer of hearing records electronically.
GOVERNMENT – COUNTIES AND CITIES
SB 144 Tippins – 37 TGFS City housing authorities cannot operate outside of that city’s boundaries without authorization from the other governing entity. Existing housing projects outside of the city boundaries are entitled to operate but no additional projects can be developed. Currently, housing authorities can operate out the city for 10 miles. But they are not complying with the zoning and ordinances of the entity in which they are operating. This will require them to follow the rules of the governing entity in which the project will be located.
SB 193 Mullis – 53 TGFS The decal showing that property taxes have been paid may or may not have to be displayed on the exterior near the main entrance of a mobile home, at the option of the local tax commissioner.
HR 222 Anderson - 10 NNS Creates the 5-member House Study Committee on Annexation to study the impacts on the entity from which the property is being removed, the entity to which the property is being added, the school district or districts which are relevant and on the individual properties affected. Report due December 1, 2021. The current annexation dispute resolution law was passed in 2007 and has not been changed since. In light of all the new cities being formed, it should be looked at to protect the rights of all.
HB 286 Gaines – 117 TGFS 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 rebut the Defund the Police movement.
HB 579 Oliver – 82 TGFS Bonds for public safety and judicial facilities can be issued without a public referendum, but still require an approved resolution of the governing body.
GOVERNMENT – COURTS AND CRIMES
SB 78 Jones – 22 TGFS Added to the sexting statute as felonies are transmissions or causes to be transmitted nudity or sexually explicit photos or videos of an adult, either real or manufactured, which are then posted on a website, peer-to-peer file sharing site, thumbnail gallery, movie gallery post, linked list, live webcam, web page or message board as harassment or serving no legitimate purpose. Fine is $200,000 or 1-10 years imprisonment or both. Currentl law deals with the transmissions but not the postings.
SB 105 Strickland – 17 TGFS State-wide probation may be ended early if all restitution is paid, the person has not had probation revoked within the last 24 months, and had no arrests except for non-serious traffic offenses. A judge will decide. GA has the largest number of people on probation per capita in the nation. It costs about $34 million/year to supervise people who could be off probation.
SB 117 Miller – 49 TGFS Sexually explicit conduct between an adult in a school and a minor is improper conduct by a person in a position of trust in the first degree. If the adult engages only in sexual contact, the offense is in the second degree. Punishment is incarceration for 1-25 years, a fine of $100,000 or both. Misdemeanors treated as a felony if done to a minor.
SB 163 Strickland – 17 TGFS The chief judge of the Supreme Court, each Superior Court, and each State Court may suspend the right to a speedy trial in cases of emergency such as: a volume of cases much higher than expected, case clearances are much lower than expected, the number of speedy trials requested, number of jury trials held during the latest court term, space limitations, limited availability of judges, extents of prosecuting attorneys and the court to reduce the number of criminal defendants held for trial, and any other relevant facts (like COVID). Data shall be submitted from judges to the chief judge. A plan to establish the priority of cases to be called to trial is to be formulated.
HB 231 Gaines – 117 TGFS Protective orders for victims of stalking may include those with a dating relationship, more than casual, and those living in the same household through whom a pregnancy has developed.
SB 235 Watson – 1 TGFS Mask, hoods, and other devices to hide the face so one’s identity is hidden will not be so prosecuted if the device is worn to prevent getting COVID infected or spreading the infection.
HB 255 Holcomb – 81 TGFS In cases of sexual assault cases when the victim chooses not to report immediately, the police shall maintain any physical evidence that relates to identity of the perpetrator for 12 months. Such evidence shall be in a ‘sexual assault kit’ and its location and test results done thereon shall be tracked. Every entity having custody of such evidence will participate in the tracking system. Information about the perpetrator shall be shared with the national data based maintained by the FBI. The Forensic Medical Examination Advisory Committee is created to establish by rule and regulation the criteria for certification of sexual assault nurse examiners. The GA Composite Medical Board shall refuse to license a physician who has sexually assaulted a patient. Health care professionals shall report physicians for suspected sexual assault.
HB 363 LaHood – 175 TGFS Removes most enhanced penalties for crimes against those 65 and over.
HB 479 Reeves – 37 TGFS Citizen’s arrest is now limited as to who may use it – persons on their own property and security in retail establishments against shoplifters. Brought to curb abuses like those exercised by citizens with Ahmaud Arbery near Brunwick.
HB 534 Bonner – 72 TGFS Promoting illegal drag racing and laying drag is a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature with driver’s license to be suspended for up to 12 months on the first offense, up to 3 years on the second offence, and on the third offense the person is declared a habitual violator with license suspension for up to 5 years, $100,000 fine, incarceration of 1-5 years, or both.
HB 631 Cheokas – 138 TGFS The GA Crime Information Center is to collect information on an individual’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.
HB 635 Leverett – 33 TGFS A judge should be able to rule on any issue that is within their defined powers. The ruling can be made anywhere in the jurisdiction of the court.
GOVERNMENT – EMPLOYMENT
HB 146 Gaines – 117 TGFS 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 156 Harbin – 16 TGFS The Chief Labor Officer is created under the Commissioner of Labor, appointed by the governor subject to Senate confirmation. The Chief Labor Officer will provide high level assistance to the Commissioner in these times of very high volumes of folk seeking services provided by the department. The Chief Labor Officer shall have the same powers as the Commissioner plus must develop and implement a plan to improve reliability and timeliness regarding proper payment of unemployment insurance benefits, provide timely reports regarding unemployment compensation benefits, provide timely reports and responses to any financial audits of the department. Seems to be a temporary position because this section of the code is to be repealed January 2022.
HEALTH
SB 43 Brass – 28 TGFS Insurers offering coverage for procedures for the eye cannot require an ophthalmologist or optometrist to require a discount to be offered to the patient for services not covered by the patient’s insurance plan.
SB 46 Burke – 11 TGFS Emergency Medical Technicians, EMTs, may administer vaccines upon an order of a physician during a declared public health emergency. Parental permission is not required to vaccinate a minor if required during a declared health emergency. Other clarifying changes made to the requirements for vaccinations. Sponsor is a medical doctor. Most changes make the relevant procedures more inclusive of the COVID vaccine.
HB 128 Williams – 145 TGFS Prohibits medical providers from discrimination against potential organ transplant recipients due solely to the physical or mental disability of the potential recipient. A Down’s Syndrome patient cannot be denied a kidney transplant solely because of the Down’s Syndrome condition.
SB 215 Walker – 20 TGFS Nursing homes may use certified medication aides to administer vaccines and other medications. The person must be listed in the registry already established. Must conduct an annual comprehensive clinical skills competency review of each aid. Aide shall record all medications administered and any refused. Needs on-going training. Is subject to a quarterly review of all mediations delivered by a registered pharmacist. House adds: Training and certification required for medication aides in assisted living and retirement homes. Already required for nursing homes.
SR 281 Miller – 49 NNS Creates the 9-member Senate Study Committee on Violence Against Health Care Workers. Over 80% of health care workers have been assaulted at least once during their career, and there was an increase of assaults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Committee will study causes and recommend solutions. Report due by December 1, 2021.
HB 307 Cooper – 43 TGFS Telemedicine providers may transmit from home; the patient may be at home, at workplace, or school. No insurers may require an in-person contact before a patient may receive telemedicine services from health care providers. Telemedicine cannot have more restrictions on delivery of mental health services, prescribing or utilization reviews than what is required for in-person medical care.
HB 567 Cooper – 43 TGFS 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 TGFS 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.
HB 374 Gaines – 117 TGFS A sales tax exemption for any authority which provides public water or sewer and was created by local legislation or a local constitutional amendment. Local constitutional amendments were no longer allowed with the adoption of the 1983 state constitution, under which we are still governed.
HB 498 Watson – 172 TGFS Expands the property tax exemption for agriculture to add dairy products and unfertilized eggs of poultry as qualified farm products . State referendum required. Senate adds: A sales tax exemption for sale of boats to buyers out of state.
TRANSPORTATION & DRIVING
SR 84 Harper – 7 TGFS Creates the 13-member Joint Study Committee on Airport Infrastructure and Improvements. Report due December 31, 2021. GA’s economy is dependent on the ability to move goods and people to wherever they need to go. To create efficiency and coordination of air service providers and the aviation industry, funding will be needed.
HB 165 Barr – 103 TGFS Allows use of mounts on windshields for support of wireless telecommunication devices and standalone electronic devices. Currently, nothing can be attached to the windshield that blocks the driver’s view of the road.
SB 165 Gooch – 51 TGFS Slow moving vehicles must have a strobe light while on the road. House adds: Golf carts license fee is cut in half to reflect the prohibition of them being on major highways. They can only go up to 25 mph.
LOCAL – FULTON and its CITIES
HR 130 McDonald – 26 TGFS Forsyth County to be transferred to the Atlanta Regional Commission from the GA Mountains Regional Commission. Board of Community Affairs has already approved.
HB 160 Boddie – 62 TGFS ‘Municipality’ for the MOST, Municipal Only Sales Tax, is defined as one with waste water flow of 85 million gallons per year, or one which connects to a waste water system in another municipality with a flow of 85 million gallons per year. Atlanta provides sewer service to a number of adjacent cities. The MOST tax in Atlanta is dedicated to repair and replacement of the sewer system. Currently, only sales within the city of Atlanta pay the MOST tax. This proposal would extend the tax to sales in those other cities who hook into Atlanta’s waste water system. These other areas outside of the city of Atlanta are charged more for their water than the same amount used by a city resident. East Pont, College Park, and Hapeville?
HB 445 Bruce – 61 TGFS City of South Fulton charter is amended to include additional territory, perhaps the Fulton County Industrial Park.
HB 370 Jones – 47 TGFS 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 762 Mainor – 56 TGFS Creates the Fulton Technology and Energy Enhancement Authority. In areas of high poverty, minimal or inadequate internet access, lower student achievement and graduation rates, the authority shall develop programs to address these situations, specifically the poverty in communities west of GA Tech’s main campus.
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CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR -- The Motion to agree Failed
GOVERNMENT – EMPLOYMENT
SB 218 Walker – 20 PASSED Senate PASSED House DV Senate DISAGREES
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, this could be several months before a trial, and perhaps conviction. If found innocent, the back pay would be paid. House adds: Creates the Prosecuting Attorneys Oversight Commission.
HEALTH
SB 164 Hufstetler – 52 PASSED Senate PASSED House DV Senate DISAGREES
Updates requirements for HIV patients and their responsibility to inform others of their status if both parties are to engage in sexual behavior. Declassifies syringes and hypodermic needles as drug related objects. . Kidneys may be donated by an HIV positive person to another HIV positive person.
HB 605 Cooper – 43 PASSED House PASSED Senate DV House DISAGREES
Authorizes electronic monitoring for indigent and elderly in long-term care facilities. Would use a camera and have the permission of the roommate.
TRANSPORTATION & DRIVING
SB 115 Robertson – 29 PASSED Senate PASSED House DV Senate DISAGREES
The Departments of Driver’s Services and Public Safety shall offer an instructional course or presentation to drivers and the public on the best practices when interacting with law enforcement officers. The course would also be available to other driving programs and educational institutions. The course shall include the consequences of continuous citations and habitual violations and an understanding why the law enforcement officer may ask for identification, use force, detainment, pursuits, and legal warnings.
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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.W12.31Mar