[March 15, 2020] | We are in week nine of the legislative session, which we knew would be one of the busiest weeks of the session with Cross-Over day in this week; but boy, did it even get busier with the coronavirus threat to our state becoming bigger each day we met. Cross-Over Day means it is the last day a piece of legislation can pass out of the House and still remain eligible for consideration by the Senate and the same for the Senate passing laws for the House to have time to consider. As we were working on Thursday and into the night, everyone knew the legislative world was going to change.
During the evening Speaker of the House David Ralston, and Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan made the decision to suspend the 2020 legislative session until further notice due to the growing threat of COVID-19 (coronavirus) across the state and country. The suspension is out of an abundance of caution and in the interest of health and safety for my colleagues in the General Assembly, our staff, and the public. I know many of us were thinking about our Doorkeepers and staff who are retirees. We suspended the legislative session indefinitely after we adjourned for Legislative Day 29 on Friday, March 13. Yes, it was Friday the 13th. We will still be working on legislation that has passed and having meetings and perfecting legislation in our committees so we can act on it when we return to the capitol at a later date.
I know there is great concern about the virus and its spread and what we should do as individuals. When I am asked a question I don?t know, I go to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website to learn what I know is solid information. I know our State Dept. of Public Health is posting a lot of more Georgia-based information also for all of us to use.
For Monday morning, March 16, the Governor has called for a Special Joint Session at 8:00 am to deal with the state?s response to the virus. We will do what is needed to keep Georgia as safe as possible.
Friday night and early Saturday morning a lot of calls were coming in to me and others concerning our wonderful public safety folks and the help they may/will need. Governor Kemp and commissioner of our Georgia Emergency Management opened the Emergency Command Center to help with the declared Health Emergency.
During this time, it?s a good time to reach out to your friends and neighbors who may have special needs ?helping with kids, going to the store, pharmacy runs, or maybe just a friendly call to reassure a friend. What may be a vacation to some is a crisis to others, as it depends on our situation. I was in one of our local restaurants on Saturday for lunch, and they were being so vigilant in cleaning surfaces and even the chairs folks were using. I know they all are working to be open for us and keep us safe.
While we were learning more about this Health Emergency at the Capitol, we passed the 2021 Budget in the House. We have been working on the budget since the second week of January making sure we meet the needs of Georgians.
Our Budget demonstrates the House?s ongoing support of expanded mental health core and crisis intervention services, access to quality health care, and restoring grants for county health departments. We funded food inspectors and fully funded our schools. The Budget also includes the reinstatement of funds to ensure a fully-functioning criminal justice system, including adequate funding for public defenders, accountability courts, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) crime labs.
We did a lot more, but space limits me; I can send you a full breakdown on what we did on the Budget and the bills we passed this past week. Just call or email me, and I will get it to you. I always appreciate your input and feedback regarding legislation, as your thoughts and opinions on these critical issues are essential to my decision-making process. You can reach me by phone at 770-893-2039 or the Capitol at 404-656-7153 or by email at rick.jasperse@house.ga.gov.
We live in a great State, and together we will get through this emergency. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to serve you in the Georgia General Assembly.