Georgia Chamber Legislative Update: February 11

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Legislative Calendar
The General Assembly recessed on Thursday and will reconvene on Tuesday, February 15, for the 14th legislative day. 

Bills of Interest

• State Budget
  For the eighth consecutive month, Georgia reported a rise in state tax revenue, with collections 8.1% higher than the same time in 2010.  Also this week, the House of Representatives passed the Fiscal Year 2011 Amended Budget, which included 4% spending cuts for most state agencies.
   
• Immigration
  Committee hearings were held in both the House and Senate on similar immigration bills. The Georgia Chamber testified to both legislative bodies; emphasizing the need for uniform standards, cautioning about the level of burden to be placed on business, and advocating for the indemnification of employers who make good-faith efforts to follow the law.  As of this time, no votes have been taken on either bill.
   
• Civil Justice
  HB 24, introduced by Rep. Wendell Willard (Sandy Springs) would make key revisions to the rules of evidence currently included in the Official Code of Georgia.  This would both modernize the Georgia Code and make it more consistent with federal rules of evidence.  The Georgia Chamber has taken a support position on this bill, which was passed by the House Judiciary committee this week. 
  
  The Georgia Chamber has taken a support position on HB 30, also introduced by Rep. Willard.  This bill passed the House Judiciary Committee this week and would clarify Georgia’s employment covenant laws, completing the changes implemented with the passage of Amendment One last November. 
   
• Existing Business and Industry
  HB 69, by Rep. Roger Williams (Dalton) was passed by the House Regulated Industries Committee this week.  The bill would allow local communities to decide for themselves whether to permit the retail sale of alcohol on Sundays.  The Georgia Chamber supports giving communities the option to remove this unfair restriction on commerce. 
   
• Health Care
  HB 132, introduced by Rep. Ben Watson (Savannah), would mandate that health insurers reimburse the cost of physician-prescribed foods for specific medical conditions.  The Georgia Chamber opposes this bill, as it does all health insurance mandates due to their impact on the cost of providing this important benefit. 
  
  HB 167, introduced by Rep. Steve Davis (McDonough), is also opposed by the Georgia Chamber as it would erode current employer protections under the federal Employee Retirement Security Income Act (ERISA) through amendments to the state’s prompt payment law.  
  
  SR 140, introduced by Sen. Greg Goggans (Douglas), would put $10 from every vehicle license fee collected in Georgia into a trauma care trust fund.  The Georgia Chamber has long supported the identification of additional funding for trauma care but has not yet taken a position on this bill.
  
  SB 17, which would create the Health Insurance Mandate Review Commission, was passed by the Senate Insurance committee this week.  The Georgia Chamber has taken a support position on this bill. 
   
• Ethics
  At the urging of the Georgia Chamber, HB 232 has been introduced by Rep. Edward Lindsey (Atlanta).  This bill would explain ambiguity in the state’s vendor lobbying laws by clarifying that bona fide commission salespersons would not be required to register as vendor lobbyists.  Additionally, the bill would exempt those salespersons from the compensation ban currently imposed on lobbyists.  The Georgia Chamber has also asked the State Ethics Commission for clarification on this important issue. 

Transportation Board Elections
Elections were held Wednesday for four positions on the Georgia Department of Transportation Board. Former Georgia Chamber Board Chair Robert Brown was re-elected to a second term representing the 4th Congressional District.  Others elected included former state Rep. Jeff Lewis (11th), Don Grantham (10th) and Emily Dunn (9th).