For links to legislators and legislation moving through this year's session of the General Assembly, visit www.gachamber.com and click on Government Affairs.
Crossover day, the day by which bills must be passed by at least one chamber, is today. Bills that have not passed and been transmitted to the other chamber by the close of business today will be effectively stalled until next year's legislative session. Next week's legislative update will include a more extended update on where the Georgia Chamber's priority bills stand.
Trauma Care
SR277 (Senator Greg Goggans, Douglas) was passed by the full Senate on Tuesday by a vote of 48 to 8. The bill proposes a $10 vehicle tag fee, which would provide an estimated $80 million annually in dedicated funding for trauma care. A similar measure, HB148 (Representative Austin Scott, Tifton) has been introduced but not yet voted on by the House.
HB160 (Representative Jim Cole, Forsyth) which would increase fines on "super speeders" to assist with funding trauma care programs, was passed by the House and has been referred to the Senate for action. The Chamber supports this bill, as it adds an additional source of funding to address the state's trauma care needs.
Insurance Mandates
The Georgia Chamber of Commerce opposes SB161, which would mandate that insurance plans include coverage for autism spectrum disorders.
It is the standing policy of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce to oppose mandates on private insurance because of the resulting increase in cost to employers providing this important benefit. While we are sympathetic to the needs and significant costs associated with autism and know that many of our members have had personal experience with affected children, the cost of this mandate would be significant and result in fewer employers being able to afford to continue offering insurance coverage to their employees.
Medicaid Reimbursement
Health care providers who treat Medicaid and PeachCare patients in Georgia do so at a loss, receiving only pennies on the dollar from the state and federal government for their services. To make up for that loss, doctors, hospitals and others typically shift their costs to patients with private insurance and their employers. The Chamber supports higher reimbursement rates for providers to reduce such cost shifting and keep insurance rates affordable for all Georgians.
After years without an increase in reimbursement rates, the state budget proposal for fiscal 2010 would cut reimbursement even further to address the current deficit. Providers could lose $400 to $500 million or more, including hundreds of millions of dollars in federal matching funds that would be left on the table - a cost that would be directly borne by Georgia employers and employees. The Chamber cannot support this proposal and urges the General Assembly to balance the budget through other reductions in state spending.
Metal Theft
The Georgia Chamber supports SB82 (Senator Renee Unterman, Buford), which would require scrap metal buyers to maintain a record of purchase transactions and require fingerprints and non-cash payments for certain transactions, has passed the Senate. Metal theft is a growing crime in Georgia that costs businesses and property owners hundreds of thousands of dollars each year. This measure would help to ensure that metal purchased has come from a legitimate source.
Transportation
SB200, a new transportation governance plan proposed by Governor Sonny Perdue and supported by Lieutenant Governor Cagle and Speaker Richardson, was passed by the Senate. The House Transportation Committee has scheduled a hearing for this bill next week.
