GEORGIA LEGISLATIVE UPDATE – July 31, 2007
Joint study committee meetings planned
This past summer, I was appointed to serve on the Joint Study Committee on Continuing Education and Collegiate Sports Programs for Students with Disabilities.
During the course of the year, the committee shall undertake a study of what alternatives are open to the General Assembly to identify and create opportunities for student athletes with disabilities at the collegiate level and explore the development of pilot programs, recruitment of athletes, and nonprofit and private sector support for different collegiate programs.
We shall also explore current high school, community, and collegiate sports programs and facilities.
Our first meeting will be on Monday, August 20, at the Roosevelt Rehabilitation Center in Warm Springs, Georgia at 1:00 p.m.
The second meeting will be held on Friday, September 28, at Georgia Southern University at 3:00 p.m. The third meeting will be on Monday, October 22, at Kennesaw State University at 11:00 a.m.
The last meeting will be on Tuesday, October 30, at the Mercer University Macon Campus at 11:00 a.m. Please spread the word so that we can have maximum participation. This is an excellent opportunitiy to hear from Georgians about an important issue.
Sales Tax Holiday This Weekend
The state's back-to-school sales tax holiday will run from 12:01 a.m. Aug. 2 until midnight Aug. 5, offering consumers the opportunity to buy certain clothing items, school supplies, computers and computer accessories without paying state and local sales tax.
Clothing and footwear up to $100 per item will be exempt, but if the price exceeds $100, then the item will be taxed at its full retail price.
School supplies bought for classroom use or classroom-related activities are exempt if they cost $20 or less per item, and purchases of personal computers and accessories are exempt up to $1,500 per transaction.
A list of exempt items is available on the state Department of Revenue's Web site, www.dor.ga.gov.
PeachCare Available to Children Again
The Community Board of Health has lifted its freeze on applications for the PeachCare and set a new cap on enrollment of 295,000 children.
The board's unanimous action allows the state to address a backlog of 22,000 applications.
I am a strong supporter of PeachCare and believe in its mission to provide quality healthcare to the children of hardworking parents.
The state of Georgia has $600 million in surplus revenue, surely some of that money can go to protecting PeachCare and assisting Georgia families with affordable health coverage for their children?
Fortunately, Congress was able to appropriate the necessary funds to support the program for several more years.
Health care should not be enjoyed by only the few, but be made available to all people who work hard and support their families.
New Laws Now in Effect
HB 147 requires that women seeking an abortion be given the opportunity to view the results of a sonogram or ultrasound scan.
SB 60 establishes the Georgia Trauma Commission that is charged with creating and administering a statewide trauma care network.
HB 429 requires physicians to test pregnant women for HIV except in cases where the woman refuses to undergo the test. The new law also makes the Department of Community Health's Health Strategies Council an advisory rather than a policy body on issues like certificate of need.
SB 95 makes it illegal for minors to buy cigarettes from vending machines.
SB 123 allows parents to decide whether twins will stay together in school or be separated.
SB 168 requires local school systems to fulfill the communications needs of hearing-impaired students and guarantee that deaf students are instructed in whatever communication mode or language is deemed necessary.
HB 655 creates a state commission for the hearing impaired.
Georgia Lottery Surpasses Previous Revenue Record
Last week the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported the Georgia lottery continues to set records by topping $3.4 billion for the first time, more than $244 million ahead of last year.
Not too long ago members of the Georgia General Assembly were demanding changes in how lottery dollars were allocated; namely to decrease HOPE scholarship spending. Obviously, those fears should be finally put to rest.
As legislators, and representatives of the people, we should not play politics with the Georgia lottery or make any rash decisions on whether to spend more or less on lottery funded education programs.
My concern is the long term sustainability of the pre-K program and the HOPE scholarship. Let us prepare for the inevitable down cycle when revenues will not be so robust.
I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House to develop a long term strategy that is fiscally responsible, fair, and beneficial to all Georgians. The education of our children depends on it.
