[March 30, 2015] | We returned to the Gold Dome on Monday, March 23, 2015, to resume business at the State Capitol. We convened on the House floor every day to continue voting on bills that have been passed through the committee process. We met on many days starting at 7:30 for committee meetings and meeting with constituents.
I had the pleasure to Honor Jack Dunn and his family. As you have seen in the Progress, Jack was named National Independent Pharmacist of the Year, and we honored him at the Capitol in the House. Jack had the opportunity to speak to the House of Representatives; you know he did a great job.
Leadership Murray was also at the Capitol; their group mixes its adults and youth, which is a novel way to do it. So all three counties I represent have had their leadership groups at the Capitol this year.
The committees I am on were very busy hearing Senate bills, and I was busy presenting my bills to the appropriate Senate committee and attending rules meetings in the House and Senate and being a Whip. I was glad to sit on my front porch on Friday night.
One of the most important bills passed this week was Senate Resolution 287, which would allow Georgians to vote on the creation of an ?Opportunity School District? (OSD) in the State of Georgia. SR 287 and its companion legislation, SB 133, were originally proposed by Governor Nathan Deal as part of his comprehensive plan to boost student achievement and create more educational opportunities for Georgia students. In November 2016, Georgia voters will have the opportunity to vote on this measure, which would allow the state to step in and intervene in chronically failing public schools. If approved by Georgia voters, this district would assume all operational and managerial responsibility for failing public elementary and secondary schools. The constitutional amendment would appear on the November 2016 general election ballot and would require support from a majority of voters. This means that you will have a chance to decide if the Opportunity School District model should be practiced here in Georgia. In making that choice, I will sponsor a few public informational meetings in 2016 to tell all sides of the issue and give you the knowledge to make an informed decision abound this and any other Constitutional amendments we pass for your decision. If you want information before then please let me know, and I will give you what I have at the time.
Another bill passed this week, Senate Bill 134, also takes measures to ensure justice is delivered fairly to the citizens of this state. SB 134 attempts to provide certain checks and balances for Georgia law enforcement by closing a loophole in Georgia?s anti-speed-trap law. Under current law, drivers can fight tickets in speed traps if the law enforcement agency derives more than 40% of their budget from speeding fines; however, current law has an exception that does not count tickets for speeding more than 17 miles per hour above the limit. SB 134 eliminates an exclusion of tickets written for speeds 20 mph over the limit so that citizens can more easily challenge tickets from speed traps. While speeding is a dangerous offense, law enforcement agencies should not create speed traps to generate their revenue.
This was also a very important week in the Senate, as our colleagues across the hall passed House Bill 1 to decriminalize the use of medical cannabis oil in Georgia in an effort to improve the lives of hundreds of Georgians. After the Senate passage of HB 1, Governor Deal issued an executive order instructing state agencies to prepare for the implementation of this legislation and stated that he would sign HB 1 into law. HB 1 will provide immunity for the possession of cannabis oil for individuals with certain medical conditions who have obtained cannabis oil legally in another state. Qualifying conditions under HB 1 include cancer, multiple sclerosis, seizure disorders, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Crohn?s disease, Parkinson?s disease, mitochondrial disease, and sickle cell disease. Now that this legislation has been passed by both chambers, Georgia?s medical refugees can come back home to Georgia. It was good to see the House and Senate chambers work together and come to a compromise to pass legislation that will help a great number of Georgians. Two years ago I didn't think it would pass like it did.
This week, we also saw the House and Senate come together, as an announcement was made on a compromise on Senate Bill 1 to address the growing number of children with autism in Georgia. In a press conference held on Thursday, House Insurance Chairman Richard Smith (R-Columbus) and Senate Insurance and Labor Chairman Charlie Bethel (R-Dalton) revealed a two-pronged plan that will allow dozens of Georgia children to receive necessary treatment for autism. First, the plan includes legislation that requires insurance companies to cover autism treatment for children 6 years of age or younger. The second element to the House and Senate compromise is a new piece of legislation that will be considered during the 2016 legislative session. This bill would create a November 2016 referendum, so that voters could decide on a fractional state sales tax that would fund autism treatment for all children under the age of 18.
Next week is the final week of the 2015 legislative session. On Thursday we will adjourn ?Sine Die,? which is Latin for ?without assigning a day for further meeting.? In this crucial last week, I hope that you will contact me with your questions and concerns. Your comments help guide my decisions at the Georgia State Capitol, and I always enjoy speaking with you. You can reach me at my State Capitol office at 404-656-0188 or through email at rick.jasperse@house.ga.us. Thank you for allowing me to serve as your Representative And Most importantly I appreciate my wife!