Loading...Legislative Bulletin - March 1, 2007
Welcome to Week 7 of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce Legislative Bulletin. Both chambers were in recess on Monday, February 26, but resumed meeting on Tuesday, February 27. The House and Senate met Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday to complete the 27th day of the session. They will be in recess until Monday, March 19 and will resume with the 28th day 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
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 the Senate on Thursday, March 1.
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 to make political contributions to members of the General Assembly.
Status: Read for a second time in the Senate on Wednesday, February 28.
Georgia Chamber Position: Support.
SB 243 - Ethics in Government
Sponsor: Sen. Unterman
This bill would make changes to the current laws relating to campaign committee disclosures and increase fines for lobbyist registration and disclosure filing late fees.
Status: Referred to the Senate Ethics Committee on Wednesday, February 28.
Georgia Chamber Position: Under Consideration.
Economic Development & Tourism
HR 323 - Georgia Bioeconomic Commission
Sponsors: Reps. Byrd, England, Lunsford, Rogers, Forster
This resolution would create the Georgia Bioeconomic Development Commission consisting of members of the life sciences industry, government and universities to make Georgia a leader in the bioeconomy.
Status: Heard in the House Science and Technology Committee on Thursday, March 1, but no action was taken.
Georgia Chamber Position: Support.
HB 374 - Hotel Motel Tax
Sponsors: Reps. Mills, Stephens, Parrish, Shaw
This bill moves all of the definitions related to appropriate uses of the funds to the front of the code section. Currently, the most important definitions are difficult to find.
Status: Passed in the House on Thursday, March 1.
Georgia Chamber Position: Support.
HB 451 - Georgia Tourism Development
Sponsors: Reps. Lewis, Stephens, Parrish
This bill would provide a tax refund for companies creating certain tourism attractions.
Status: Reported favorably out of the House Ways and Means Committee on Thursday, March 1.
Georgia Chamber Position: Support.
SB 80 - Public Retirement Investments
Sponsors: Sens. Judson Hill, Thompson, Hudgens, Heath, Jack Hill, Tolleson
This bill would allow for public retirement systems to invest in private investment funds, such as venture capital funds.
Status: Read in the Senate for a second time on Thursday, March 1.
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: Passed the House Education Committee on Thursday, March 1.
Georgia Chamber Position: Support.
Environmental, Energy & Natural Resources
HB 463 - Soil Erosion & Sedimentation Control
Sponsors: Reps. McCall, Powell, Burns, Roberts, Lunsford
This bill defines operator responsibility on sites in which land-disturbing activity occurs. In such case if the prime contractor has operational control and meets the applicable operator training, the subcontractor shall be exempted.
Status: Second read in the House Committee on Natural Resources & Environment on Tuesday, February 20.
Georgia Chamber Position: Support.
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: Adopted by the House of Representatives on Thursday, March 1.
Georgia Chamber Position: Oppose. The Georgia Chamber of Commerce supports protecting employee rights with the integrity of a secret ballot. Please contact Senator Saxby Chambliss and Senator Johnny Isakson and ask them to OPPOSE H.R. 800 and save the secret ballot in union organizing elections.
Senator Saxby Chambliss:
Phone: 202.224.3521
Fax: 202.224.0103
Senator Johnny Isakson:
Phone: 202.224.3643
Fax: 202.228.0724
General Business, Technology & Transportation
HB 130 - Credit Freeze
Sponsors: Reps. Calvin Hill, Mills, Meadows, England, Benton
This bill would allow a consumer to place a security "freeze" on his or her credit report.
Status: Heard in a subcommittee of House Banks & Banking committee on Wednesday, February 28, but no action was taken.
Georgia Chamber Position: Oppose. This legislation is being modified in committee and most Georgia Chamber members suggest that many provisions in the bill would serve to stifle commerce.
SB 203 - Metals Theft
Sponsors: Sens. Harp, Staton, Mullis, Shafer, Hamrick, Stoner
This bill would increase penalties for those convicted of crimes involving metal theft.
Status: Passed out of Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities committee this week and now awaiting action in Senate Rules committee.
Georgia Chamber Position: Support. Metal theft is a growing trend and a problem that robs businesses of products and forces expensive repairs. The issue was introduced to the Georgia Chamber during this year's Grassroots Listening Sessions.
Healthcare
SB 151 - High Risk Pool
Sponsor: Sen. Judson Hill
This bill would create a new underwriting authority and includes "Risk Pool" language.
Status: Passed Senate Insurance & Labor committee this week and now awaiting action in Senate Rules committee.
Georgia Chamber Position: Oppose.
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: Though scheduled for debate in the House this past Thursday, March 1, the bill was recommitted to House Rules committee.
Georgia Chamber Position: Support as currently written.
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 the House of Representatives unanimously this week and now moves to the Senate where it has been read & referred to Senate Insurance & Labor committee.
Georgia Chamber Position: Support.
HB 572 - Artificial Wage Mandate
Sponsors: Beasley-Teague, Brooks, Mitchell, Mangham, Stephenson
This bill would require the State of Georgia and certain employers who contract with or receive financial assistance from the state or a state agency to pay its employees a "living wage."
Status: Read & referred to House Industrial Relations committee.
Georgia Chamber Position: Under Consideration. The Government Affairs Council Workers’ Compensation, Labor & Employment committee will meet soon to recommend a position on this legislation.
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: Passed the Senate this week and now moves to the House where it has been read and referred to House Industrial Relations committee.
Georgia Chamber Position: Support 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.
