Under the Gold Dome

Midpoint of the Session - Feb. 20 was the 20th day and the midpoint of the session. Two of the most important bills adopted so far are: HB 989, the Supplemental Budget, which is a revised spending plan for the current fiscal year that ends June 30; HR 1022, a comprehensive statewide water plan, intended to help the state better conserve its water resources; the state's $21.4 billion budget that would begin July 1; HR 1226, legislation calling for a one cent statewide sales tax for transportation that would have to be approved by voters; HR 1246 and HB 979, legislation that would also have to be approved by voters that would replace most property taxes with 174 new sales taxes on goods and services .

Restoring education cuts - Last week House Democrats lauded efforts by House Republicans to finally, after five years, begin restoring the austerity cuts to Georgia's public schools, but urge full funding. This year the Governor proposed an additional $141.5 million cut to the Quality Basic Education Act that funds public education bringing the total to $1.5 billion in cuts since 2003.

For the last five years our schools have been deprived of even their basic level of funding and as a result local tax payers have had to pick up the tab from the state not living up to its obligation for education. In total, public education cuts by the GOP are as follows: Proposed fiscal year 2009, $141,510,679; Fiscal year 2008, $142,968,687; Fiscal year 2007, $169,745,895; Fiscal year 2006, $332,835,092; Fiscal year 2005, $332,838,099; Fiscal year 2004, $283,478,659; Amended fiscal year 2003, $134,594,245; Total, $1,537,971,356.

Moving the state border - With Georgia's current drought taking center stage in the General Assembly the House adopted HR 1206 last week by a vote of 136-26. Because of a surveying mistake in 1818 the Georgia-Tennessee border is actually 1.1 miles south of where it should be located which is the 35th parallel. An accurate state border would take in a portion of the Tennessee River giving Georgia another valuable water source to tap into. HR 1206 creates the Georgia and North Carolina and Georgia and Tennessee Boundary Line Commission. The legislation directs the Governor of Georgia to communicate with the Governors of North Carolina and Tennessee to have joint surveys and settlements of disputed boundary questions. The legislation requires the commission to report its findings and recommendations to the 2009 General Assembly.

Combining State

Children's Agencies - A measure that drew controversy last week was HB 1054, which would combine the Children and Youth Coordinating Council and the Children's Trust Fund Commission into a new Governor's Office of Children and Families. Duties of the new agency include serving as a clearinghouse for child information and research; coordinating with children's service systems to develop legislative proposals and execute policy for child abuse injury prevention, treatment, and juvenile justice systems; developing an integrated plan for services to children and youth; and advising the governor on issues impacting the state's children's service systems. The legislation creates a 15 member advisory panel, appointed by the governor. Many thought these agencies should remain separate and the new office would have too much political influence taking away from the goal of keeping the best interest of children in mind. In the end HB 1054 passed 99-67.

State Bridges - HB 1123 passed last week by a vote of 164-0 mandating DOT submit an annual report on the condition of roads and bridges to the Governor, Lt. Governor and Speaker of the House, including an analysis of inspections of bridges already performed by the Department of Transportation.

Specialty Tags - HB 1165, passed 142-0, authorizing the Department of Driver's Services to enter into reciprocity agreements with other states on behalf of the state of Georgia when issuing a specialty license plate tag.

The legislation requires that when the state of Georgia issues a specialty license plate tag for a university, such as University of Florida or Auburn University, the state where the university is located must do the same for Georgia.

Fingerprinting Childcare Employees - HB 904 passed 159-1 which requires a state and national fingerprint records check for childcare employees. Currently, the national fingerprint records check is not required.

Rep. Gerald Greene represents the 149th District in the Georgia House of Representatives. Contact him at 611 Coverdell Office Building, Atlanta, GA 30334; by phone at 404-656-0314; voicemail at 404-656-0317 or by e-mail at gerald.greene@house.ga.gov

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