Powell Legislative Report – At the Midway Point

The 2014 session of the Georgia General Assembly has now passed the midway point, and there is plenty of work remaining for the House of Representatives in the days and weeks ahead. Legislation at the top of the agenda for the final 20 legislative days includes: 

Budget: The $20.8 billion annual state budget plan for fiscal year 2015 is still being scrutinized in the House Appropriations Committee. 

Medicinal Marijuana: Legislation to authorize the use of a certain form of cannibas for the treatment of seizure disorders remains under consideration in the House Health & Human Services Committee. 

Misdemeanor Probation: A proposal to strengthen the supervision of offenders found guilty of misdemeanors by public or private probation officers was tabled Monday on the House floor for later consideration. 

2^nd Amendment Rights: The Safe Carry Protection Act for licensed gun owners was favorably reported by the House Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee and awaits action by the full House. 

HOPE Grants: Legislation that would increase the HOPE Grant award for technical college students to pay full tuition remains under consideration in the House Appropriations Committee. 

Sick Leave: A proposal to require an employer who provides sick leave to allow an employee to use sick leave to care for an immediate family members was favorably reported by the House Human Relations & Aging Committee. 

Criminal Justice: Gov. Nathan Deal’s plan to assist the transition of criminal offenders into productive, law-abiding citizens upon their release from incarceration also awaits legislative action. 

Among the proposals approved by the House last week were: 

• HB 714, which would prevent employees of private companies that provide third-party educational institution services from receiving unemployment insurance benefits during breaks in the school year. 

• HB 740, which would allow active-duty military personnel in Georgia to be considered in-state residents for the purpose of obtaining hunting and fishing licenses. 

• HB 766, the Work Based Learning Act, which would create partnerships with employers to provide students with an opportunity to work and learn in a real-world environment and prepare them for future career opportunities. 

• HB 774, which would make several efficiency improvements in the operations of the Georgia Department of Transportation and authorize higher speed limits on interstate highways in the state’s urban areas. The speed limit provision would allow an increase from 65 to 70 mph on urban interstates, which is consistent with the speed limit on Georgia’s rural interstates and those on urban interstates in a majority of southeastern states.  Safety and road conditions would always be taken into consideration before a speed limit is changed. 

All of these bills now go to the Senate for its consideration. Legislation must pass either the House or the Senate by the 30^th day of the session in order to be considered by the other chamber this year. The 2014 session is currently projected to conclude by mid-March. 

Recent legislation approved by the Senate and on its way to consideration in the House includes SB 283, which would allow public schools to teach students about the history of traditional winter celebrations, allow students and school system staff to offer traditional greetings, such as “Merry Christmas,” and let schools display scenes or symbols associated with traditional celebrations, such as a menorah, nativity scene or Christmas tree, if the display includes a scene or symbol of more than one religion. 

Also, House members will consider SB 288, which would require the Georgia High School Association or any similar association to make public an annual financial statement detailing its revenue and expenses, and SB 286, which would increase the legal alcohol percentage of wines produced in Georgia to 24 percent, in alignment with federal law. 

State of the Judiciary: Also last week, Chief Justice Hugh Thompson of the Supreme Court of Georgia delivered the annual State of the Judiciary address to a joint session of the House and Senate. He told lawmakers that equal justice under the law is being denied to many Georgians who cannot afford to hire a lawyer. A growing number of citizens who find themselves in the court system are representing themselves without the services of an attorney, which, the chief justice said, often puts them on the losing end of the case.

While praising the work of attorneys who provide pro bono, or legal services at no cost, Chief Justice Thompson said only 9 percent of low-income Georgians are able to receive help from a lawyer. The problem is especially true in Georgia’s rural areas, where relatively few attorneys are located. Another issue facing the court system, the chief justice said, is a lack of interpreters for court proceedings involving those who do not speak English, who, he said, “are entitled to justice as well.” 

State Revenue Increase: Georgia’s net tax collections for January totaled almost $1.81 billion, for an increase of $76.25 million, or 4.4 percent, over January 2013, according to the Georgia Department of Revenue. Year-to-date revenues for the first seven months of fiscal year 2014 are up by 5 percent over last year. 

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• State Rep. Alan Powell (R-Hartwell) represents the 32^nd District (Franklin, Hart and Madison counties) in the Georgia House of Representatives. Contact him at 613 Coverdell Legislative Office Building, Atlanta, GA 30334; by phone at 404-463-3793; or by email at [email protected].