WEEKLY LEGISLATIVE REPORT – February 16, 2007
Legislative session passes midway point
By Rep. Hugh Floyd
Thursday, February 15, was the 21st legislative day of the 2007 session of the Georgia General Assembly, meaning we are now past the halfway point. Frankly, very little has been completed so far on the major issues, but I would expect the pace to pick up when we return to the Capitol on Tuesday, February 20.
Still up in the air is the fate of the funding issue for PeachCare for Kids, which will have a significant impact on finalizing both the midyear adjustment to the fiscal year 2007 state budget and the annual budget for fiscal year 2008.
This week, a majority in the House of Representatives voted to approve legislation that would allow motorists to conceal loaded firearms in their cars without a permit. State law now requires motorists who do not have concealed handgun permits to keep their loaded firearms “fully exposed to view” or in the glove box, console or similar compartment.
House Bill 89 would allow people to hide guns under seats or wedge them between seat cushions and center consoles. Opponents voiced concern this measure would circumvent the state’s concealed handgun background check requirements and endanger children and or law enforcement officers. The legislation is now under consideration in the Senate.
Legislation that I co-sponsored this week includes:
HB 432, which would direct the state to make the required statewide assessments of effectiveness of educational programs under the Quality Basic Education Act available in languages that are the primary language of 2 percent or more of the state’s population. Limited English-proficient students would be permitted to take the assessments in their native language.
HB 438, which would provide income tax credits for the purchase or lease of business property or renewable energy property.
HB 478, which would require the terms of phone cards to be disclosed to the consumer at the time of purchase.
HB 479, which would clarify provisions in Georgia law allowing local governments to condemn buildings that are unfit for occupancy, dilapidated or being used in connection with criminal drug activity.
HB 480, which would change the City of Norcross from a mayor-council form of government to a city manager-council system.
House members unanimously passed HB 91, which would require each executive branch department and agency in state government to provide annual financial reports to the General Assembly. The bill would take effect September 30, 2007. Too often, some state agencies have become unresponsive to legislative inquiries into their use of taxpayer dollars. This legislation, which also goes to the Senate, would help ensure proper legislative oversight over departmental spending habits.
To help attract and retain the best and brightest legal minds in the state to serve as judges in our courts, House members overwhelmingly approved legislation that would implement the first state pay raise for judges since 1999. Under HB 119, state Supreme Court justices and Court of Appeals judges would realize a 5 percent increase, and Superior Court judges would receive a 10 percent boost in their state pay. HB 120, also passed and sent to the Senate, would reimburse appellate judges who live outside metropolitan Atlanta for their weekly travel expenses when court is in session.
- Rep. Hugh Floyd (D-Norcross) represents the 99th District (Gwinnett County) in the Georgia House of Representatives. Contact him at 611 Coverdell Office Building, Atlanta, GA 30334; by phone at 404-656-0314 or by e-mail at hughfloyd@mindspring.com.
