Loading...Legislative Bulletin - February 9, 2007
Welcome to Week 4 of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce Legislative Bulletin. The state legislature resumed meeting on Thursday for the 15th day of the session after using Monday – Wednesday for committee meetings. Both chambers will meet on Saturday for “Family Day,” then return to the Capitol on Monday for the 18th day of the 2007 legislative session.
Below are among the bills that the Georgia Chamber is actively tracking, listed by category, and the status of each.
Economic Development
"Go Fish Georgia" - Gov. Sonny Perdue's economic development proposal to make "Georgia a fisherman’s paradise." A part of the Governor's proposed budget, the modest $19 million proposal would enhance Georgia's efforts to promote the state as a visitor destination.
Georgia Chamber Position: Support.
Education
SB 39 - Charter Systems Act
Sponsors: Sens. Weber, Moody, Williams, Tarver, Carter, Pearson
This bill would allow for schools and school systems to establish charter schools to give them flexibility to tailor their educational programs to meet their local needs.
Status: Read in the House for the first time on Thursday, February 8 and referred to the House Education Committee.
Georgia Chamber Position: Support.
SB 68 - Career Academies Act
Sponsors: Sens. Weber, Carter, Douglas, Moody, Thomas and Mullis
This bill would allow for career academies to be established as charter schools to increase graduation rates and potential job and educational opportunities for students by providing start-up funds through the partnership of technical colleges and local boards of education.
Status: Read in the House for the first time on Thursday, February 8 and referred to the House Higher Education Committee.
Georgia Chamber Position: Support.
SB 111 - University Revenue Protection
Sponsors: Sens. Harp, Cowsert, Davenport, Staton, Chance and Wiles
This bill would allow revenue collected by institutions in the university system from tuition, departmental sales or services, continuing education fees, technology fees, or indirect cost recoveries not to lapse.
Status: Passed out of Senate Higher Education Committee on Friday, February 9.
Georgia Chamber Position: Support. The Georgia Chamber of Commerce 2007 legislative agenda supports legislation that would make permanent University System institutions’ ability to carry forward internal funds, including tuition, from one fiscal year to the next.
General Business, Technology & Transportation
SB 59 - Social Networking Website Permission
Sponsors: Sens. Staton, Harp, Carter, Rogers, Hooks, Judson Hill
This bill would make it illegal for social networking websites to allow those under eighteen years of age to create or maintain a profile web page on a social networking website without the permission of the minor's parent or guardian and without providing such parent or guardian access to such profile web page.
Status: Senate Science & Technology committee had a hearing on this bill on Thursday, February 8. Continued meetings are expected to take place over the next two weeks before any votes are taken.
Georgia Chamber Position: Under Consideration. The Government Affairs Council General Business, Technology & Transportation committee continues to examine this bill that may have a broader reach than intended.
HB 227 - Consumer Choice for Television
Sponsors: Reps. Lewis, Martin, Stephens, Ehrhart, Watson, Loudermilk
This bill would provide franchise options for cable service providers and video service providers.
Status: Heard in a subcommittee of House Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications committee on Thursday, February 8. Still awaiting action.
Georgia Chamber Position: Support. The Georgia Chamber of Commerce supports the creation of a statewide video franchise that treats all market providers the same.
Healthcare
HB 28 - High Risk Insurance Pool
Sponsor: Rep. Knox
Creates the Georgia Assignment Pool Underwriting Authority, which will provide an alternative coverage mechanism for the availability of individual health insurance.
Status: This bill has been pre-filed, but no action has been taken on it.
Georgia Chamber Position: Oppose. The Georgia Chamber supports efforts to address issues related to uninsured and uninsurable Georgians, but will oppose efforts to pay for such programs through taxes or mandatory fees on business. The funding mechanism for this insurance pool is an additional cost on much of the business community and the Georgia Chamber strongly opposed a very similar bill in 2006.
HB 242 - High Deductible Health Plans
Sponsors: Reps Knox, Hembree, Keen, Ehrhart, Watson
This bill would create an exemption for certain high deductible health plans sold or maintained in connection with a health savings account with respect to state insurance premium taxes and provide that the taxable net income of any taxpayer of this state shall not include premiums paid for high deductible health plans established and used with a health savings account.
Status: Awaiting action in House Ways & Means committee.
Georgia Chamber Position: Under Consideration.
Judiciary
HB 119 - Judge Salaries
Sponsors: Reps Willard, Ralstn, Lindsey, Fleming, Tumlin, Porter
This bill would bring in line the annual salaries of Supreme Court Justices, Court of Appeals Judges, and superior court judges by allowing for a conservative increase.
Status: House Judiciary committee favorably reported. Awaiting action in House Rules committee.
Georgia Chamber Position: Support.
HB 120 - Judge Travel Expenses
Sponsors: Reps Willard, Ralston, Lindsey, Fleming, Tumlin, Porter
This bill would provide Supreme Court Justices and Court of Appeals Judges a budget for travel.
Status: House Judiciary committee favorably reported. Awaiting action in House Rules committee.
Georgia Chamber Position: Support.
HB 200 - Seat Belt Info in Court
Sponsors: Reps. Geisinger, Lindsey, Calvin Hill, Rice, Millar, Willard
This bill would allow for a jury in a court case to know whether or not an occupant of a motor vehicle was wearing a seat belt at the time of an accident.
Status: Awaiting action in House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs committee.
Georgia Chamber Position: Support. The Georgia Chamber of Commerce supports legislation that permits the admission into evidence of the failure to wear a seat belt as prima facie evidence of a contributory factor in considering the award of medical and other damages. Georgia law requires the use of seat belts, yet the failure to comply cannot be admitted into evidence in our courtrooms.
SB 43 - Firearms in Parking Lots
Sponsors: Sens. Rogers, Whitehead, Williams, Johnson, Heath, Mullis
This bill, an effort to diminish the rights of private property owners, would prevent employers from implementing reasonable rules for the workplace, specifically restrictions of guns on their premises.
Status: Passed Senate Judiciary committee on Thursday, February 8. Awaiting action in Senate Rules.
Georgia Chamber Position: Oppose. The Georgia Chamber of Commerce opposes attempts to pass a law requiring private property owners and employers to permit firearms on their premises.
NOTE: There is a possibility that this bill will appear before the Senate for a vote within the next week. Please be mindful of special grassroots action alerts. Your voice will be needed to prevent passage of this bill that is a clear erosion of Georgia's Employment at Will Doctrine.
Taxation & Business Incentives
HB 67 - Elimination of the Corporate Net Worth Tax
Sponsors: Martin, Royal, Collins, Knight, Scott and Mumford
This bill would repeal the State corporate net worth tax currently in place.
Status: Assigned to Tax Reform Subcommittee in the House on 2/1/07.
Georgia Chamber Position: Under Consideration.
HB 124 - Repeal of the State Ad Valorem Inventory Tax
This bill would provide an exemption from the ad valorem tax on the tangible personal property constituting the inventory of a business.
Sponsor: Stephens (164th)
Status: Assigned to Tax Reform Subcommittee in the House on 2/1/07.
Georgia Chamber Position: Support.
HB 169 - Sales Tax Exemption on Charitable Prepared Food Donations
Sponsors: Reps. Martin, Chambers, Royal, Scott and Williams of the 4th
This bill would eliminate the current sales tax placed on prepared food donated for charitable and/or disaster relief efforts.
Status: Assigned to Sales Tax Subcommittee in the House on 2/1/07.
Georgia Chamber Position: Support.
HB 195 - Georgia Taxable Net Income; Excludable Retirement Income Amount
Sponsor: Golick
This bill would phase-out all income taxes paid by Georgians on retirement income.
Status: Hearing before the Income Tax Subcommittee in the House on 2/7/07.
Georgia Chamber Position: Under Consideration.
HB 237 - The Integrated Plant Theory
Sponsors: Martin, Stephens, Lewis, Watson, Royal and Smyre
This bill would exempt the sales tax on all machinery and equipment that is necessary and integral to the manufacturing process.
Status: Assigned to Sales Tax Subcommittee in the House on 2/8/07.
Georgia Chamber Position: Support. The support and adoption of the “integrated plant theory” was included in the 2007 Georgia Chamber Legislative Agenda. The Taxation & Business Incentives Committee will be reviewing this bill to ensure that it conforms to the principles contained in the Agenda.
HB 272 - Sales Tax Exemption on Energy Used in Manufacturing
Sponsors: Reps. Lewis, Stephens, Martin, Ralston, Williams of the 4th and Graves
This bill would provide a phased-in elimination of the sales tax on energy used in the manufacturing process.
Status: Second Read in the house on 2/8/07.
Georgia Chamber Position: Support.
Workers’ Compensation, Labor & Employment
SB 96 - Drug Free Work Screening
Sponsor: Sens. Golden, Stoner
This bill would strengthen the Drugs Don't Work employer program by allowing for oral screening onsite.
Status: Read on Thursday, February 1 and referred to Senate Insurance and Labor committee.
Georgia Chamber Position: Under Consideration. The Georgia Chamber of Commerce upholds the right of employers to ensure a safe, drug-free workplace.
Many of these bills have been acted on by the Senate, House, legislative committee or the Georgia Chamber during the past week. To view other important bills the Georgia Chamber is engaging in during the 2007 legislative session, remember to visit: www.gachamber.com/gov/hotissues.
