LEGISLATIVE NEWS

Once the Legislative session has started, I will post news and articles that will be important to the citizens of the 8th District.

2009 Legislative Session Accomplishments

 The list below is representative of the accomplishments and initiatives entered into by Republicans during this year’s legislative session.  The list includes both House and Senate bills.

 Property Tax Relief

 In the 2009 Legislative Session House Republicans pushed multiple efforts to give Georgians property tax relief, most important among these efforts were HR 1 and SB 83

 HR 1 would have capped property tax assessments at 3% per year or the rate of inflation, whichever is less.

 SB83 would have raised the homestead exemption from $2000 to $4000.

 These bills required a 2/3 vote to pass and failed to reach that majority.

 House Democrats voted down property tax relief for property owners at least four times this session.

 Twice they voted down SB 83 to stop Georgians from voting to decide if we should increase the homestead exemption from $2000 to $4000 and provide further relief to homeowners and twice they voted down HR 1 which again prevented Georgians from deciding at the ballot box whether property tax assessments should be capped at 3%.

 To help Georgia’s property owners we passed HB 233

 HB 233 puts a moratorium on ALL property tax assessment increases for the next two years and provides much needed relief to all property owners in Georgia who are struggling in this difficult economy

 HR 1 and SB 83 are still alive for the next legislative session and House Republicans will continue to work towards meaningful and permanent property tax relief for every property owner in this state

 Income Tax Relief

 HB 481 – Jobs Opportunity and Business Success Act

Republicans used tax relief to provide an economic stimulus to Georgia’s economy.

The JOBS Act is a series of tax cuts, fee suspensions and incentives to hire unemployed Georgians.  Specific provisions of the Act include:

 - A quarterly tax credit towards unemployment insurance for each eligible employee hired off the state unemployment roles.

- A $2,400 income tax credit for each eligible employee hired off the state unemployment roles.

- A “New Business Tax Holiday.” The $100 fee will be waived for all new businesses formed over the next year.

- Phasing out the Sales Tax Deposit.

- Abolishing the Net worth Tax.

- Cutting the Capital Gains Tax in half.

 Education

 HB 149 – Move On When Ready Act

Will allow 11^th and 12^th grade students to leave their assigned high schools and attend a college or technical school to complete graduation requirements while earning college credit.  State public education funding will follow the student to the institution. 

 SB 178 – Waiver of Expenditure Controls and Building Resourceful Individuals to Develop Georgia’s Economy

This bill will allow local school boards greater flexibility to meet their students’ needs and work within their financial capacity by suspending expenditure controls on state funding to local school systems for direct instructional costs, media center costs, and staff and professional development costs for school years 2008-2010.

This legislation also will ensure that all students will have a personalized graduation plan as well as the opportunity for dual enrollment. 

The bill also seeks to increase student interest by creating programs that combine real world experience with increased academic rigor.

 HB 280 – Additional Compensation for Math and Science Teachers

Georgia has a significant shortage of certified math and science teachers.

This bill will increase the state salary schedule for certified math and science public school teachers to better attract math and science college majors and experienced professionals into these teaching fields as well as increase retention of current math and science teachers.  

 HB 193 – 180 Day School Year Provisions and Veteran’s Day Holiday

This legislation allows school boards to expand a school day in exchange for fewer school days and shorten the number of hours in a school day to flex the calendar outward if needed.

The bill also provides that schools may be closed on Veteran’s Day beginning with the 2010-2011 school year – current law allows schools to close based on a determination made by the local school board

 Governmental Reform and Ethics

 HB 228 – Department of Human Resources Reorganization

This legislation splits the Department of Human Resources into two new departments, which will create a more efficient and effective state health system. 

 SB 168 – Campaign Contributions and Income Tax Payments

This makes it easier for members to file their campaign contribution reports by eliminating Duplicate County and paper filings

It also provides that if a member has failed to file his or her personal income tax return that the Department of Revenue will inform the Chairman of the House and Senate Ethics Committees so that the problem can be corrected

 SB 200 – Transportation Governance

Creates a DOT Division of Planning that will help to focus the Department of Transportation on statewide planning and it also provides that state transportation dollars will be allocated by elected members of the legislature rather than by a transportation board.

Protecting and Promoting Families

 HB 254 – Changes to adoption provisions

This bill expedites permanency for children in state custody by lowering the amount of time required before permanent placement and using the best interest of the child standard when placing children.

 HB 388 – The Option of Adoption Act

Provides for the voluntary relinquishment the rights and responsibilities for an embryo to another person so that expectant parents can have permanent custody to implanted embryos prior to birth.

 Public Safety

 HB 123 – Clarifying Definition of Child Molestation

This bill establishes that an act of child molestation includes a person exposing a child to an immoral act through the use of electronic means of communication, such as the Internet. 

Current law requires physical presence for a conviction of child molestation. This will make it easier to prosecute individuals who use the internet to prey on and abuse our children

 SB 13 – Life without Parole Independent of a Death Penalty Conviction

This bill allows prosecutors to ask for a sentence of imprisonment for life without parole even if they choose not to seek the death penalty.

Current law requires that DAs ask for punishment either by death or life imprisonment with the possibility of parole.

This will provide an important third option for district attorneys when considering how to prosecute our state’s most violent offenders.

 Citizenship and Voting

 HB 2 – Local Government Compliance with State Immigration Policy

This bill requires that counties and cities comply with state law on hiring illegal immigrants or risk losing state funding for certain projects

It also provides a clear procedure for verifying the legal status of people who apply for public benefits to encourage better compliance by cities and counties

 HB 227 – Voter Registration Confidentiality

Allows eligible voters who have a protective order or who live in a family violence shelter to request that their address be kept confidential for protection purposes while maintaining their right to vote in their district   

 SB 20 – Prohibit Local Government Sanctuary Policies

Prohibits local governments from enacting policies that would prohibit local officials from cooperating with federal immigration authorities with regard to immigration status information

 SB 67 – Drivers Licenses Exams Administered only in English

SB 67 requires written or oral examinations for a permanent drivers' license to be administered in English. 

 SB 86 – Proof of Citizenship upon Registering to Vote

Requires that when people register to vote they provide valid proof of citizenship

This will avoid the lengthy delays some voters experienced at the polls on Election Day, and provide that when people go to vote on Election Day they will be able to if they are citizens of the United States