Loading...Legislative Bulletin - February 23, 2007
Welcome to Week 6 of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce Legislative Bulletin. Both chambers were in recess on Monday, February 19, for President’s Day, but resumed meeting on Tuesday, February 20. The House and Senate met Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday to complete the 24th day of the session. Both houses will return to work on Tuesday, February 27, for the remaining 15 days of the 2007 session of the Georgia General Assembly.
Below are among the bills that the Georgia Chamber is actively tracking, listed by category, and the status of each.
Compliance
HR 2 - Four Year Terms
Sponsors: Reps. Keown, Benton, Calvin Hill, Royal, Maddox & Jamieson
If passed and approved by Georgia voters, this resolution would allow for four-year terms of office for members of the General Assembly instead of the current two-year terms.
Status: The resolution was heard in the House Government Affairs committee on Thursday, February 22. It will be voted on in committee next week.
Georgia Chamber Position: Under Consideration.
SR 279 - Four Year Terms for Senate
Sponsors: Sens. Douglas, Harp, Williams, Brown, Staton & Mullis
This resolution would allow for a vote by Georgians, to allow for four-year terms of office for members of the Senate, with staggered election cycles for odd-numbered and even-numbered Senate districts.
Status: Passed out of the Senate Ethics Committee on Thursday, February 22.
Georgia Chamber Position: Under Consideration.
SB 179 - Public Utilities PAC
Sponsors: Sens. Staton, Powell, Unterman, Hudgens, Murphy & Butler
This bill would allow for public utilities regulated by the Public Service Commission and their employees to contribute to political campaigns.
Status: Passed out of the Senate Ethics Committee on Thursday, February 22.
Georgia Chamber Position: Support.
Education
SB 68 - Career Academies
Sponsors: Sens. Weber, Carter, Douglas, Moody, Thomas & 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: Passed out of the House Higher Education Committee on Thursday, February 22.
Georgia Chamber Position: Support.
Environmental, Energy & Natural Resources
HB 186 - Sales Tax Exemption on Bio-fuel Facility Construction
Sponsors: Reps. Cole, O'Neal, V. Smith, Golick, Maddox & Pruett
This bill provides for a five-year exemption regarding the sale of tangible personal property to, or used in or for the construction of, a new alternative fuel facility dedicated exclusively to the processing and production of ethanol, biodiesel, and butanol.
Status: Recommended Do Pass by the House Ways & Means Committee on February 22.
Georgia Chamber Position: Under Consideration. It will be discussed at the Government Affairs Committee Environmental, Energy & Natural Resources committee meeting on Wednesday, February 28.
Federal Affairs
HR 800 - The Employee Free Choice Act
Sponsors: Reps. Miller of California, King of New York, Andrews, Peterson of Minnesota, Doyle, Murtha & Olver
This bill would eliminate secret ballot elections in employee union authorizations.
Status: Recommended Do Pass by the House Education & Labor Committee, February 16.
Georgia Chamber Position: Oppose. The Georgia Chamber of Commerce supports protecting employee rights with the integrity of a secret ballot.
General Business, Technology & Transportation
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: Passed House Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications committee on Wednesday, February 21 and is awaiting action in House Rules committee.
Georgia Chamber Position: Support. The Georgia Chamber of Commerce supports the creation of a statewide video franchise that treats all market providers the same.
HB 434 - Regional Transportation Funding
Sponsors: Reps. Martin, Royal, Burns, Benfield, Fludd & C. Johnson
This bill would allow two or more counties to vote on a regional sales and use tax for transportation funding.
Status: Awaiting action in House Ways & Means committee.
Georgia Chamber Position: Support. The Georgia Chamber of Commerce has a standing position supporting significant increases in transportation funding and plans to discuss this bill further in the coming week.
Healthcare
Representative Rich Golick (R-Smyrna) has introduced HB 586, legislation from Governor Sonny Perdue’s office that would revise the Certificate of Need processes. The first hearings on the bill took place today (2/23/07) in a Joint Senate/House Health & Human Services committee and an extended House Special Committee on Certificate of Need meeting.
Small Business
HB 468 - Sunday Sales of Alcohol for Off-premise Consumption
Sponsors: Rep. Roger Williams
This bill provides counties and municipalities the opportunity to hold a referendum on the retail sale of alcohol on Sunday from 12:30 pm until 7:00 pm for off-premise consumption.
Status: Second read in the House on February 20. Currently being reviewed by the House Committee on Regulated Industries.
Georgia Chamber Position: Support. The retail Sunday sale of alcohol for off-premise consumption was included on the 2007 Georgia Chamber Legislative Agenda and is supported by the Chamber.
SB 137 - Sunday Sales of Alcohol for Off-premise Consumption
Sponsors: Sens. Harp, Stoner, Adelman, Bulloch, Fort & C. Thompson
This bill would provide counties and municipalities the opportunity to hold a referendum on the retail sale of alcohol on Sunday beginning at 12:00 Noon for off-premise consumption if the county or municipality currently allows for such on Monday through Saturday.
Status: First read in the Senate on February 10. Currently being reviewed by the Senate Regulated Industries & Utilities committee.
Georgia Chamber Position: Support. The retail Sunday sale of alcohol for off-premise consumption was included on the 2007 Georgia Chamber Legislative Agenda and will be pursued in this legislative session.
SB 138 - Sunday Sales of Alcohol for Off-premise Consumption
Sponsors: Sens. Harp, Smith, Stoner, Adelman & Bulloch
This bill would provide counties and municipalities the opportunity to hold a referendum on the retail sale of beer, wine and distilled spirits on Sunday beginning at 12:00 Noon for off-premise consumption.
Status: First read in the Senate on February 10. Currently being reviewed by the Senate Regulated Industries & Utilities committee.
Georgia Chamber Position: Support. The retail Sunday sale of alcohol for off-premise consumption was included on the 2007 Georgia Chamber Legislative Agenda and will be pursued in this legislative session.
Taxation & Business Incentives
HB 361 - Rollback of Retraining Tax Credits
Sponsors: Rep. O'Neal
This bill would alter the definition of businesses that are permitted to apply for employee retraining tax credits. Also, this bill changes the qualifying terms for employees with which this credit applies.
Status: Second read in the House, February 12. Currently being reviewed by the House Ways & Means Committee.
Workers’ Compensation, Labor & Employment
HB 424 - Workers’ Compensation
Sponsor: Reps. Coan, Reese, Hamilton, Cox & E. Carter
This bill would require any workers’ compensation hearing to be held within five years of the date of injury and would retroactively dismiss any claim made from July 1, 1985 to July 1, 2007 if action has not been taken within five years of the date of injury. The injured, while receiving compensation, would be required to undergo physical, psychiatric and psychological testing if asked by their employer. The period that an employer has to choose a rehabilitation center would increase from 15 days to 20 days if rehabilitation is deemed necessary. The maximum amount an employee can be paid in weekly benefits would increase from $450 to $500.
Status: Passed out of House Industrial Relations committee and is awaiting action in House Rules.
Georgia Chamber Position: Under Consideration. The Government Affairs Committee Workers’ Compensation, Labor & Employment committee recommends the Georgia Chamber support this legislation.
HB 443 - Statewide Reserve Ratio
Sponsor: Reps. Coan, Pruett, M. Scott, Teilhet & England
This bill adds to the exceptions for services deemed to be employment and extends suspensions of the adjustments based upon the State-wide Reserve Ratio to December 31, 2009. It also slightly changes weekly benefit amounts.
Status: Passed out of House Industrial Relations committee and is awaiting action in House Rules.
Georgia Chamber Position: Under Consideration. The Government Affairs Committee Workers’ Compensation, Labor & Employment committee recommends the Georgia Chamber support this legislation.
SB 13 - Minimum Wage Increase
Sponsor: Sen. Brown
This bill would make it mandatory for employers to pay employees no less than $7.25 per hour. The minimum wage would be increased by the increase in the cost of living each year. On September 30, 2008, and on September 20 of each successive year thereafter, the Georgia Department of Labor would measure the increase in the cost of living.
Status: The Georgia Chamber testified in opposition to this bill in Senate Insurance & Labor committee on Wednesday. The bill was defeated by a tie vote of 4-4.
Georgia Chamber Position: Oppose. The Georgia Chamber opposes an increase in the minimum wage at this time when the state’s economy is rebounding from a national economic depression. Economic stability and growth are important for the continued vitality of Georgia and its people. Mandated wages and employment benefits, which create disparities between local governments, produce an anticompetitive marketplace that has a negative effect upon job growth, business relocation and expansion.
SB 131 - Subsequent Injury Trust Fund Modification
Sponsor: Sen. Hudgens
This bill would change the payment of assessments to the fund by insurers and self-insurers. It would require that an employer who has ceased to be self-insured continue to be liable to the fund for assessments in subsequent calendar years so long as payments are made on any workers' compensation claims made while self-insured.
Status: Placed on the calendar for debate in the Senate this coming Tuesday (2/27/07).
Georgia Chamber Position: Under Consideration. The Government Affairs Committee Workers’ Compensation, Labor & Employment committee recommends the Georgia Chamber Support SB 131 with NO AMENDMENTS.
For a full listing of bills being considered for action by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, visit: www.gachamber.com/gov/hotissues.html.
