Sine Die! Without Another Day!
The Georgia General Assembly adjourned sine die just before midnight on March 28 after a legislative session that includes many twist and turns on key legislation. In these 40 days, lawmakers approved budgets for the remainder of the FY2013 and FY2014 budgets as well as legislation that addressed ethics reform, firearms, juvenile justice reform and a Medicaid provider fee extension.
Governor Deal now has 40 days to sign or veto legislation or to allow such measures to become law without his signature. Among those proposals on his desk include HB 45 which extends the USG authority to carry forward certain fees and revenue, HB 287 which transfers the Division of Archives and History to the USG and HB 232 which allows the USG to set the Optional Retirement Program employee contribution rates.
Several study committees were established this session including HR 826, which creates the House Human Embryonic Research Study Committee. This committee will meet during the interim and report its findings and recommendations for proposed legislation on or before December 1, 2013.
Bond funds for College of Law Included in Budget
Georgia State’s #1 priority this session has been to secure bond funding for construction of a new law school building on the Park Place site, near the Georgia Pacific building. The budget conference committee agreed to the recommended $58.8 million in 20-year general obligation bonds as well as other bond projects for USG institutions throughout the state. Despite the good news, the budget must be signed by the Governor within 40 days.
The FY2014 budget also addressed a $224 million dollar gap in the Medicaid program and added funds to cover higher costs from increased enrollment in K-12 schools. The latter detail is called for under the state’s school financing formula. The new funds will return pre-kindergarten programs to a full 180-day calendar.
$50 million was added to help make up the state’s contribution for the dredging of the Savannah River harbor, where state officials are hoping to get federal funding as well. The overall bond package for state construction projects totals about $850 million.
Also included is $63 million for new USG formula funds, which are critical in meeting enrollment demands along with $49.12 million in bonds for major repairs and renovation.
Firearms Legislation Dead….for this year
The clock runs out SB 101, regarding firearms. The bill as it had been written, would have allowed weapons permit holders over the age of 21 to carry guns on most parts of campus, with exceptions for sporting events, dorms and fraternity and sorority houses. Because this is the first year of a two-year session, any bill that did not pass will still be alive next session.
GSU hosts Ukrainian Delegation
The Georgia State University College of Law and the office of Government and Community Affairs hosted this week (March 27), a delegation of Ukrainian law professors on campus during their visit to Atlanta. The group also spent time at Emory University and a day at the State Capitol seeing how the Georgia legislative process works. GSU was able to be a participant thanks to GSU Alum and Dunwoody State Representative Tom Taylor.
Ethics Reform Approved
The General Assembly approved this week (March 28) a major overhaul of the state’s ethics laws. House and Senate leaders were able to come to a compromise on HB 142, that would cap lobbyist gifts at $75 per expenditure and eliminate lobbying registration requirements for volunteer advocates. Exceptions to the $75 cap include committee dinners, dinner for caucuses and lobbyist funded travel, with limitations. Anyone who is compensated by the entity for which they lobby or anyone who is reimbursed by an organization for more than $250 of lobbying expenses in a year must register as a lobbyist.
HB 143, will require greater transparency in campaign finance by requiring disclosure of all contributions of more than $100 received between January 1st of each year and the convening of the General Assembly’s regular session. These campaign contributions would have to be disclosed with five days of the beginning of the legislative session.
Passed – Awaits Governor’s Action
HB 372, lowers the minimum cumulative grade point average required for maintaining eligibility for a HOPE grant from 3.0 to 2.0 for technical colleges;
HB 487, would put the control and enforcement of video poker machines to the Georgia Lottery Corporation. A share of the profits from those machines would then go into the HOPE Scholarship program;
HB 131, provides that dual credit courses, in core subject areas, shall be treated in the same manner as advanced placement and international baccalaureate courses for purposes of determining eligibility for the HOPE scholarship;
HB 349, provides that incarcerated individuals who qualify for HOPE GED vouchers may use such vouchers within 12 months of release;
HB 345, clarifies and consolidates the definition of “teacher” in the Teachers’ Retirement System;
SB 155, changes the membership of the Georgia Higher Education Assistance Corporation and Georgia Student Finance Authority to accommodate the Fourteenth Congressional District;
HB 315, requires continuing competency requirements in order for nurses to renew their licenses and requires nurses and hospitals to report to the state Board of Nursing suspected violations of licensing regulations by other nurses;
HB 332, reconstitutes the Georgia Board Nursing. Currently, there are eight members on this board, this legislation increases that membership to 13 members to be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the State Senate;
HB 324, would remove the new requirement that HOPE scholars have to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form;
HB 517, would allow local governments to ease restrictions on beer and wine sales within 100 yards of a college campus;
HB 318, creates a new program called “Invest Georgia,” designed to increase Georgia businesses’ access to venture capital;
HB 284, creates protocols for informing parents about the dangers of concussions and for identifying and treating players with head injuries. Any student in a public or private k-12 school who shows signs of a concussion would be removed from practice and games and would not be able to return until a doctor says it is safe;
SB 136, would lower the legal Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) limit from 0.10 to 0.08 for Boating Under the Influence (BUI).
SR 378, amends the Constitution to provide that the General Assembly may provide by law for the dedication of revenues collected from the sale of fireworks for the funding of trauma care and firefighter services in the State of Georgia. ??
SB 62, establishes the Federal and State Funded Healthcare Financing Programs Overview Committee.
Helpful Links
Information on legislative activities including all bills and resolutions as well as webcast of daily sessions in both Chambers and committee meetings are available via the General Assembly website at www.legis.state.ga.us.
Government Affairs Team
Tom Lewis, Senior Advisor to the President
Julie Kerlin, Director of Government & Community Affairs
Jason Thomas, Assistant Director of Government & Community Affairs
Debbie Jones, Associate to the Director
Georgia State University
P.O. Box 3999
Atlanta, Georgia 30302
404-413-2030 (office)
404-413-1410 (fax)