[March 16, 2012] | We returned to the Gold Dome on Monday, March 12, to begin our 31st legislative day of the 2012 session. With ?Crossover Day? (Day 30) behind us, bills passed by the State Senate have now ?crossed over? for consideration in the House. This means that we will spend the last 10 legislative days of the session debating and voting on Senate bills and resolutions that have already passed the Senate. Before Senate bills can make their way to the House floor, however, they must first go through the House committee process. Just as we spent many weeks of session in committee meetings examining House legislation, this week we began to spend much of our time in committee meetings examining Senate legislation.
Senate Bill 312 is one piece of legislation that ?crossed over? from the Senate and is now under review in the House Judiciary Committee. SB 312 requires recipients of food stamps to engage in professional development activities, such as furthering their education, enrolling in an adult literacy class, or taking a job-training course. This requirement would not apply to those working more than 30 hours a week or part-time students, since they are already furthering their professional development. With the Georgia unemployment rate above 9 percent, this measure will help ensure that those receiving public assistance are taking the steps necessary to become successful, tax-paying workers.
Another piece of Senate legislation discussed by the House Judiciary Committee this week was Senate Bill 316. This bill extends the statute of limitations up to 20 years for offenses that harm children. After this change, adults can come forward and report cases of rape, molestation, or incest that may have occurred when they were children. With only half of child abuse cases ever reported, this measure will allow prosecutors and victims to seek justice against those that commit these deplorable acts. Reporting abuse can ultimately prevent future abuse from occurring, so these adults may be able to save countless children by coming forward. I encourage you to report any instances of suspected child abuse by calling 1-800-4-A-CHILD.
Senate Bill 469 also ?crossed over? to the House and is currently under review in the House Industrial Relations Committee. SB 469 prohibits mass picketing on private property. While all Americans have a right to freedom of speech, this measure ensures that the rights of property owners are respected during protests.
In addition to SB 312, SB 316, and SB 469, the House also received more that 100 other Senate bills and resolutions that are available for consideration. If you would like information on any of this legislation, or any House legislation that is now in the Senate, please visit the House website at www.house.ga.gov and click on the Clerk's office/legislation link at the top of that page. Once there, you can use the ?Legislation Search? button on the left side of the screen to find bills and resolutions by bill number, key words, or even the original sponsor of the legislation.
While much of this week was spent studying Senate bills, I would like to update you on the status of a House bill that you may have heard about earlier this session. As you may remember, House Bill 673 would establish a ?return to play? policy that requires youth sports coaches to take an annual course on the signs of concussions so that they can prevent youth athletes from continuing to play after receiving a concussion. As currently written, this legislation may unintentionally open parents and volunteer coaches up to potential legal liabilities and discourage parents and volunteers from coaching. HB 673 did not make it to through the House in time for Crossover Day and is thus unlikely to become law this year. However, my colleagues announced this week that the House will form a study committee to continue working on this important legislation. This will allow us to consider the issue next year, after the study committee completes its work and reveals its findings.
Appropriations Chairman, Rep. Terry England (District 108), came to the Well on Tuesday with his trademark, ?three bottles of water? to ask the House of Representatives to agree to the Senate Substitute of HB 741, the Fiscal Year 2012 Appropriations Act which began July 1, 2011 and will end June 30, 2012. This is commonly known as the ?Little Budget? or the Mid-Year Adjustment. This legislation is necessary to align last year?s budget with actual revenue receipts. This measure passed in the House originally on February 3rd, Legislative Day 14 without a single dissenting vote. It went to the Senate for consideration and returned to the House, amended as a Senate Substitute. Chairman England asked the House to agree to the House Amended version of the Senate Substitute. Chairman England began his remarks by saying ?since this bill left the House, the Governor revised the revenue estimate down slightly from $18.55 billion to $18.50 billion - a 47.1 million dollar decrease in an abundantly cautious move, since revenues in February indicated a leveling out of collections. We learned last week that revenues for the year (FY 2012) were up 7% for the month and 4.9% for the year, so we are still very close to target at this time.? Chairman England went on to say that although there appeared to be a lot of differences, ?the reality is that the Senate accepted the majority of the House version, therefore making it possible to resolve the entire mid-year budget adjustment?
Chairman England then went on to point out some of the House positions that were immediately accepted by the Senate. ?Funds for the Marcus Institute, Open Door Recovery, and $1.2 million in hold-harmless Grant-in-Aid to counties to transition to the new funding formula are unchanged from our position? Operating funding restorations for the Georgia Rural Water Association and the Soil and Water Commission were accepted by the Senate? The Senate also agreed with our position to find $694,000 to put back mid-year cuts to medical schools and medical programs, as well as the addition of slots for the Rural Area physicians? loan repayments.? The House version eliminated cuts in ?Agricultural Education, Residential Treatment Centers, RESAs, as well as accounting for the 939 math and science teachers who were inadvertently left out of the stipend program because of a computer error with a $7 million add all remain intact.? He continued by saying, ?the House restored funding to hire GBI agents to replace those who are leaving, as well as adding funds to keep seven wildlife officers in the Department of Natural Resources and two officers in Public Safety, were passed right through, as was our $500,000 increase to the fuel allowance for state troopers. The House position includes ?using $255,000 in Airport Aid to draw a 90 percent match (in federal funds), as well as the recognition of over $900 million in prior year motor fuel funds that include an additional $61.3 million for local road paving projects and $300 million for the Northwest Corridor project were easily accepted across the hall.? He concluded by saying that ?there were nominal differences - nearly half are simply housekeeping adjustments in health insurance rates or how funding is distributed among programs.?. This measure passed by a vote of 159-0.
As we continue to review Senate legislation during these last few weeks of session, I encourage you to please contact me with any concerns you might have regarding Senate bills or resolutions. Though the legislative session may be coming to an end, I still need to know your opinion on the issues that affect you and your family. You can reach me at my Capitol office at 404-656-0188 or through email at rick.jasperse@house.ga.gov.
Thank you for allowing me to serve as your Representative.