WEEKLY LEGISLATIVE REPORT—March 9, 2007

Busy agenda awaits lawmakers’ return to Capitol

By Rep. Hugh Floyd

While the General Assembly has been in official recess since March 1, members of the House Appropriations Committee are continuing to deliberate over the proposed annual state budget.  To date, the midyear supplemental budget will add $659 million in spending through the end of the current fiscal year (June 30).  The annual budget for fiscal year 2008 is slated at $20.2 billion.

The reason for the recess is to delay final budget decisions while the state awaits action from the federal government on the PeachCare for Kids program’s current financial crisis. Meanwhile, the Georgia Board of Community Health voted Thursday to stop accepting new applications for PeachCare. This move seems to be unnecessary, however, because Democratic leaders in Congress have said they will expedite more federal funds for the children’s health insurance program.

Congressional leaders have already announced that an Iraq war appropriations bill will also include $735 million to eliminate funding shortfalls in 14 states, including Georgia, that operate state children’s health insurance programs. Georgia would be completely reimbursed for any stopgap expenditures the state would have to make to prevent any interruption in PeachCare availability.

The state government is able to keep the program running until the congressional action takes place. House Bill 620, which I am strongly supporting, would provide for the proper use of federal Medicaid funds as a bridge until federal State Child Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) funds again become available by enacting limited changes in the PeachCare program to provide for operation in the best interests of children and to prevent future funding volatility.

PeachCare serves a vital state interest by providing high quality, secure health care for children of Georgia’s working families. PeachCare has achieved national prominence by successfully enrolling previously uninsured children consistent with the goals of SCHIP, as administered by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. I firmly believe that PeachCare is essential to the health, education, and welfare of Georgia’s children who would otherwise have no reliable access to health care.

When lawmakers reconvene on March 19, the House of Representatives will have a full agenda of legislation to consider. Proposals making their way to the House floor include:

• Senate Bill 1, which would prohibit registered sex offenders from photographing minors without consent of a parent or guardian.  SB 1 has already passed the Senate.
• House Bill 185, which would allow judges to impose the death penalty if nine or more of the 12 jurors recommend it in capital cases.
• SB 10, which would provide state funded vouchers for special-needs students to attend private schools or public schools outside their resident districts.  SB 10 has already passed the Senate.
• SB 39, which has passed the Senate, would allow a school district to convert to a charter school system. This is part of Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle’s education package of legislation. 
• HB 262 would allow school systems to shorten the 180 day school year by up to 10 days, while HB 347 would provide pilot project grants to school districts that wish to add up to 40 days to their school calendar.
• HB 187 would require school systems to pay for road, bridge, and utility work associated with school construction funded by sales tax levies. 
• SB 15, which has passed the Senate, would increase penalties for driving without a valid driver’s license and empowers jailers to determine the nationality of violators. 
• SB 38 would require Georgia residents to have a Georgia driver’s license or Georgia identification card to register their automobiles and obtain a car tag. SB 38 has also passed the Senate
• HB 77 would ban the use of red light camera surveillance by local law enforcement agencies to enforce traffic laws.

Legislation has been introduced that would provide additional tax relief for disabled veterans, granting a new homestead exemption for any veteran with a total or partial service connected permanent disability, and provide that the percentage of the homestead exempted shall be the same as the percentage of disability.  HB 561 would also ensure continuation of the exemption for a non-married surviving spouse or minor children and provide for the preservation of previously granted exemptions.  It is awaiting consideration in the House Ways and Means Committee.

• 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.