Gov. Perdue announced last week that for the first time since November 2008, the monthly collection of state revenues reflected an increase in March.

Net revenue collections grew by $10.5 million last month, to $998.2 million from $987.9 million in March 2009.

While representing only a 1 percent increase, it was the first positive piece of economic news in well over a year for Georgia lawmakers and is hopefully the sign the downturn in state revenues is beginning to level off.

Year-to-date collections through nine months of FY 2010 are still down by $1.3 billion, or 11.5 percent.

Transportation Funding: After failing to agree on a legislative solution to the state's transportation funding crisis for the past two years, House and Senate leaders have begun a third attempt at negotiations with only seven days remaining in the 2010 session. After the governor's proposal, HB 1218, failed to come up for a vote in the House of Representatives, Transportation Committee conferees are reportedly using HB 277, which passed the House but not the Senate in 2009, as a vehicle for the new plan, which calls for a special transportation sales tax to be used on a regional basis and flexibility for MARTA to use a higher percentage of its sales tax revenues on operational purposes. The Republican majority has discarded bipartisanship in these negotiations, failing to appoint any House or Senate Democrats to the conference committee.

English-Only License Exams:Legislation that would require Georgia driver's license exams to be conducted only in English is facing increasing opposition from the immigrant community. While promoted by its sponsors as a public safety measure, opponents say the enactment of SB 67 would deter international investment and economic investment in our state, as well as hamper the ability of immigrants and refugees to travel to and from work due to a lack of public transportation in many areas.

House Action: Prior to the legislature's Easter recess, House members voted to approve legislation that would require school officials to notify parents when their child is involved as either the victim or instigator of bullying.

Under an amended version of SB 250, the state Department of Education would have until January 2011 to develop an anti-bullying policy that can serve as a model for local school systems.

The policies would include age-appropriate consequences for bullying in grades K-12. Current policies deal with bullying only in grades 6-12.

The measure passed as an amendment to legislation dealing with disruptive behavior on school buses. SB 250 now goes back to the Senate for final action.

In other action , House members approved:

SB 206, which would require the Department of Audits and Accounts to conduct a yearly review of the financial impact of tax breaks and exemptions on the state budget and provide a report to the governor's Office of Planning and Budget for inclusion in his annual budget report. SB 206 goes back to the Senate for final approval of House changes to the bill.

SB 296, which would change the name of the Office of Treasury and Fiscal Services to the Office of the State Treasurer.

SB 319, which would expand the definition of textbooks to include computer hardware and technical equipment to support the use of non-printed or digital content.

SB 341, which would require recipients of the $500 HOPE Scholarship voucher awarded to high school dropouts who obtain their GED and want to continue their studies to have lived in Georgia for at least 12 months. The bill now goes to the governor for his signature.