Last
week the General Assembly completed four days, Days 8 through Day 11. This week they begin Monday for a 5 day week. A new adjournment resolution approved this week schedules the session through Day 40 on April 2.
The committees for this term have been named, chairmen have been appointed, offices have been assigned, and most committees have met to organize themselves. This involves adopting quorums and administrative processes, and appointing subcommittees if needed. And bills are moving. The amended budget is now in the Senate. The House will now begin its work on the FY20 budget.
Several proposals in this newsletter are issues returning to the General Assembly. Pari-mutuel betting is back and guns on college campuses. Corrections are proposed for other legislation, such as when one must stop for a school bus and when one need not bother. Driving while using electronic devices is being tweaked for minors. And what can be done about those statues some find so annoying and on whose authority is also in the hopper.
Much of the legislation reported this early in the session does not pass as introduced. Some bills never see the light of day in a committee. Others pass attached to another bill. Those that survive to get to the other chamber and then to the governor's desk have yet to be identified. Only the budget is constitutionally required to pass.
This week a special election filled the House seat vacated by Representative John Meadows, who passed away following re-election. The seat was temporarily vacated because a judge ordered a second runoff election in District 28. The first runoff was decided by just two votes. The judge ruled four voters ineligible because three had moved out of the district more than 30 days before the election and one voted twice. The second runoff has not yet been scheduled.
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In CHAMBERS
BUDGET
HB 30 Ralston - 7 PASSED House S.Appropriations
Amended FY19 budget.
EDUCATION - PREK - 12
SB 25 Health - 31 PASSED Senate
A motor vehicle must stop for a school bus unless on a highway with separate roadways for different directions which are separated by a green median, unpaved area, or a physical barrier. A bill passed last year also included a left turn lane as a divider. Both drivers and enforcement officers were confused. This proposal cleans up the language.
GOVERNMENT - CAPITOL AND GROUNDS
HR 1 Ralston - 7 PASSED House S.State Institutions & Properties
Names the new judicial building being constructed on Capitol Avenue the Nathan Deal Judicial Center. This building is being built on the site of the former Archives building.
LOCAL - FULTON and its CITIES
SR 86
Beach - 21 NNS ADOPTED
Recognizes the North Fulton Chamber of Commerce which has members from Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, Roswell, and Sandy Springs.
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In COMMITTEE
HEALTH
HB 62 Cooper - 43 DO PASS in H.Health & Human Services
A mammogram showing dense breast tissue will require a notice to the patient and the referring doctor as to its presence and the difficulty it presents of detecting cancer. Other tests may be required.
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NEW LEGISLATION
CHILDREN
SB 44 James - 35 S.Education & Youth
Youth athletes, ages 7-18, in youth sports leagues requiring registration and a participation fee shall be required annually to have a pre-participation physical exam. Excludes activities in K-12 schools, colleges and university, or an activity entered into for instructional purposes only.
HB 112 LaHood - 175 H.Juvenile Justice
A minor can no longer buy or possess any drug containing dextromethorphan. A seller can no longer sell this drug to a minor.
HB 113 Carson - 46 H.Public Safety & Homeland Security
Drivers under age 18 are prohibited from operating a motor vehicle while using a stand-alone electronic device or wireless telecommunication device unless reporting a traffic accident, medical emergency, fire, criminal or delinquent act, or road conditions which cause an immediate and serious traffic or safety hazard. Fine is $150 per violation.
HB 129 Stephens - 164 H.Judiciary Non-Civil
Knuckles may be provided to those under age 18 if it fits around one or two fingers and is sold for defensive purposes only. Currently, knuckles cannot be sold to anyone under age 18.
EDUCATION - PREK - 12
HB 12 Williams - 145 H.Education
Every public school must post a sign with the telephone number of the DFCS entity which receives reports of child abuse. The SBOE may adopt rules regarding size of type to be used and location for posting.
SB 48 Martin - 9 S.Education & Youth
Provides that all students in PreK-12 be tested for dyslexia. DOE shall produce an informational handbook for local school systems.
SR 87 Parent - 42 NNS S.Rules
Creates the 3 member Senate Committee on Digital Education and Screen Time in GA Public Schools to study research relevant to digital education and screen time for children, evaluate data privacy issues, and make recommendations. Report due 12-1-19.
HB 109 Benton - 31 H.Retirement
A revision of the Teachers Retirement System, TRS, for those who first become members as of July 1, 2019. Retirement benefits will be calculated on the 5 consecutive highest earning years, currently 2 years, not to exceed $200,000/year. This maximum is indexed to the lesser of inflation or 3%. The employee contribution rate will be 6-10%, determined annually by the TRS board, currently between 5% and 6%. Unused sick leave cannot be converted to retirement creditable service. Retirement can be no earlier than 60 years of age with at least 10 years of service. This is a non-fiscal proposal, i.e., it will not need an intersession actuarial study prior to consideration for passage. Some educators are concerned that the twice annual bump of 1.5% in benefits may be eliminated in an amendment. These increases have outstripped inflation in recent years. A recent audit found TRS to be increasingly expensive to the state and this proposal will save TRS as a defined contribution plan while reducing the rate of state expenditures.
HB 130 Nix - 69 H.Education
Allows the Georgia Foundation for Public Education to create a separate non-profit to aid the foundation in carrying out its powers. Currently, the Foundation supports programs in the state's special schools for the blind and deaf.
HB 133 Clark - 108 H.Health & Human Services
Requires any sex education course and HIV/AIDS prevention instruction to be medically accurate. This unit is required within the high school Health course.
EDUCATION - POSTSECONDARY
SB 50 Harrell - 40 S.Public Safety and
HB 122 Trammell - 132 H.Public Safety & Homeland Security
Guns will no longer be allowed on public higher education campuses.
SB 57 Rahman - 5 S.Higher Education
Postsecondary students in the university system who receive a grant for full tuition and fees from GA Student Finance Authority may repay it with a percentage of their annual adjusted gross income determined by the authority.
ELECTIONS & ETHICS
SB 42 Henson - 41 S.Ethics
Authorizes GA to join the Agreement to Elect the President by National Popular Vote.
HB 117 Bruce - 61 H.Government Affairs
County elections superintendents may permit any voter to vote in any precinct within the county. Sufficient safeguards must be in place to prevent voting more than once per election; all ballots used in the county must be available in each precinct; sufficient voting machines must be in each precinct and enough poll workers assigned to handle the possible increase in voters. In large population counties, this could become quite expensive to accomplish. The question seems to be if the taxpayers should foot such costs because some voters are unable or unwilling to vote at their assigned precinct on election day, or fail to take advantage of early voting or absentee by mail voting.
GOVERNMENT - GENERAL
HB 136 Douglas - 78 H.Agriculture & Consumer Affairs
Photographs and breeds of impounded animals are to be posted on a shelter's website as soon as possible.
HB 19 Scott - 76 H.Judiciary
Adds 'sexual orientation, gender identity, and age' to those characteristics for which housing providers may not discriminate.
GOVERNMENT - COUNTIES AND CITIES
SB 51 Parent - 42 S.Government Oversight
Local governments may relocate, remove, conceal, obscure, or alter any public monument upon the adoption of a resolution.
GOVERNMENT - COURTS AND CRIMES
SB 59 Mullis - 53 S.Judiciary
If all parties agree, the interception of wire, oral, or electronic communication shall be allowed.
HB 118 Morris - 26 H.Public Safety & Homeland Security
False alarms that result in bodily harm or death shall have a penalty of 1-10 years and/or a fine up to $5,000.
GOVERNMENT - EMPLOYMENT
SB 46 James - 35 S.Insurance & Labor and
HB 116 McClain - 100 H.Industry & Labor
Provides an increase in the GA minimum wage to $15/hour, currently $5.15/hour. Adds employers of domestic employees, farmers, sharecroppers, or land renters, and those whose compensation is partially or exclusively from tips.
[SB 46} the wage shall be increased annually by the CPI.
HB 123 Werkheiser - 157 H.Industry & Labor
Transfers the State Workforce Development Board to the Department of Labor, currently attached to the Technical College System of GA.
GOVERNMENT - ENVIRONMENT
SR 88 Jackson - 2 S.Natural Resources & Environment
Supports GA coastal tourism and fisheries and opposes seismic testing and oil drilling off GA's coasts.
HB 119 Cannon - 58 H.Natural Resources & Environment
Repeals the reward to anyone that brings the first commercial oil well to GA.
GUNS
HB 2 Gurtler - 8 H.Public Safety & Homeland Security
GA Constitutional Carry Act of 2019. Possession of a license to carry may take guns into any park, historic site, or any recreational area. Repeals all prohibitions on carrying guns of any type almost anywhere except government buildings or when restricted by federal law. No longer must the armed person carry their license on their person.
REVENUE & TAXATION
HB 13 Williams - 145 H.Ways & Means
A sales tax exemption for certain horse shows, rodeos, and livestock events or exhibits sponsored by nonprofit organizations. Exemption shall include participation and admission fees.
SB 41 Parent - 42 S.Finance
Creates a refundable earned income tax credit of 10% of the federal credit allowed. Effective on 1-1-20.
SB 45 Beach - 21 S.Economic Development & Tourism
Creates the 5-member GA Horse Racing Commission to regulate pari-mutuel horse racing to be appointed by the governor for 4 year terms. Each must be a resident of GA with no history of felonies, must have had previous ownership of horses which competed in racing. A commissioner shall be chosen by the board to govern the 3 allowed racing venues in the state. Funds raised shall be used for education, health care needs, and rural development. Location of racetracks requires approval of the local governing authority and approval in a local referendum. Enabling legislation for SR 84.
SB 54 Harbison - 15 S.Finance
The GA Lottery Corporation shall offer one or more games to benefit veterans. Enabling legislation for SR 85.
SR 84 Beach - 34 S.Economic Development & Tourism
CA to permit pari-mutuel betting on horse races. Enabling legislation is SB 45.
SR 85 Harbison - 15 S.Finance
CA to devote one or more lottery games to benefit veterans. Enabling legislation is SB 54.
HB 102 Martin - 49 H.Ways & Means
The property, ad valorem, tax exemption to charitable institutions shall also apply to buildings used for incidental revenue production as long as the income is used exclusively for the operation of the charitable institution. Currently, the exemption is allowed only for the building housing the primary operation of the institution.
HB 104 Watson - 172 H.Ways & Means
An ad valorem exemption for traps, bait, lures, pesticides or trapping supplies held in inventory by a tax exempt organization for the eradication of boll weevils or the preventing the reinfestation by same. A statewide referendum is required. Apparently, just one organization is the target for this proposal.
HB 105 Watson - 172 H.Ways & Means
An income tax exemption for funds received for Hurricane Michael disaster relief or assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture in calendar years 2019, 2020, or 2021.
HB 114 Clark - 147 H.Ways & Means
A sales tax exemption for a qualified job training organization due to end June 30, 2020, has the sunset date repealed. Goodwill.
TRANSPORTATION & DRIVING
HB 98 Cannon - 58 H.Judiciary Non-Civil
As of 1-1-20, the uniform traffic citation and complaint form shall require notation if the violation was committed by either the driver of a motor vehicle or a bicycle rider.
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Sally FitzGerald, Capitol Observer
