[March 11, 2013] | It was a busy week at the Capitol with ?Crossover Day? on Thursday, March 7, with over 40 measures on that day alone. Crossover Day refers to a Senate Rule that says the Senate will only consider measures that have passed the House no later than the 30th Legislative day. Fortunately we had a day off before Crossover so we could take time and look over and discuss the bills we would be voting on the next day.
We had a number of visitors there this past week; and as always, it is good to see a friendly face in the crowd. I had my bag stolen out of a locked car one day and the sorry person that did it was quite accomplished. They unlocked the 2009 SUV with a screwdriver and took out our stuff and locked it back at 7pm in a well-lit parking lot beside a busy restaurant. Lost was my notebook which detailed who has called me and who I was supposed to call back for the past year. Also stolen were my I-Pad and my notes for a legislative bill I was to present in a few days?..Atlanta fun!
I'd like to tell you about two notable measures we voted on this week: HB188 creates the potential for newly honorable discharged veterans who have received training in certain specialized skilled trades to receive an initial professional license for that trade from the Secretary of State. The bill does this by creating a committee that would identify military jobs with requirements that meet or exceed Georgia requirements for certification in skilled trades applicable to HVAC, plumbing, electrical contracting, utility foreman, or residential light commercial contracting. If their research shows it is appropriate, the committee could allow an exemption from some Georgia requirements for veterans with these skills. The committee could also certify military spouses living in Georgia who have a skilled trade certification from another state if the committee determines that the other state?s requirements meet or exceed Georgia?s requirements. This will help our state fill the 60,000 vacancies in these skilled trades expected over the next seven years and reduce the number of unemployed veterans in Georgia. There was a lot of debate on this issue surrounding testing and qualifications.
HB512: I was the sponsor of this bill. I have been working on it constantly for the past 2 months with a lot of help, especially from Chairman John Meadows from Calhoun. HB 512 would allow licensed weapons holders who have gone through the process of finger printing, a background check, and a mental health inquiry to obtain a Georgia Weapons License (GWL) to carry their firearms in more places in Georgia than currently allowed by State law. This bill, known as the Safe Carry Protection Act, would allow property owners - not the government - to decide whether a licensed weapon holder may carry a gun in their places of worship and bars. An important section of this bill creates uniformity throughout the counties in Georgia gun laws by making the General Assembly solely responsible for regulating possession, ownership, transfer, licensing, and registration of firearms or other weapons, as well as gun shows. Moreover, the Safe Carry Protection Act improves Georgia?s gun laws by strengthening mental health inquiries for obtaining a Georgia Weapons License. HB512 would make it mandatory for a probate judge to perform an inquiry with the Georgia Criminal Information Center (GCIC) to determine whether applicants for a Georgia Weapons License have received involuntary treatment ordered by a court or certain medical professionals. Applicants who have received involuntary treatment within the last five years could only receive a license if the probate judge determines that the applicant is mentally fit. The bill also prevents any person falling into any of the following categories from receiving a Georgia Weapons License: (1) anyone who has been under the care of a guardian or a conservator appointed to represent that person as a result of a mental illness or substance dependency within the last five years; (2) anyone who has been found mentally incompetent to stand trial; (3) anyone who has been found ?not guilty? by reason of insanity; (4) anyone who is a registered sex offender; or (5) anyone who has made a threat against another person that was reported to the GCIC within the last five years.
You may have questions about other bills I did not discuss due to my space limit. The best thing to do is to call my office at 404 656 0188 or send me an email at rick.jasperse@house.ga.gov. Be glad to hear from you.
Thank you for the opportunity to represent you in the House of Representatives.