Legislative

SB 31- which passed last Thursday by a vote of 107-66, would allow Georgia Power to raise its rates to finance the expansion of two nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle in Augusta, six years ahead of when it is scheduled to be up and running. The expansion is expected to cost $14 billion.

The 66 who voted against the bill were Roberta Abdul Salaam, Allison, Kathy Ashe, Austin, Tim Bearden, Sharon Beasley-Teague, Stephanie Stuckey Benfield. Tyrone Brooks, Roger Bruce, Bob Bryant, Debbie Buckner, Mark Butler, Jill Chambers, T. Collins, Rick Crawford, Burke Day, Dobbs, Dooley, Winifred Dukes, J. Epps, Johnny Floyd, Virgil Fludd, Bobby Franklin, Pat Gardner, Rich Golick, J. Craig Gordon, Bob Hanner, M. Harden, Mark Hatfield, Michele Henson, Penny Houston, Carolyn Hugley, Lester Jackson, Mike Jacobs, Celeste Johnson, Terry Johnson, Sheila Jones, Margaret Kaiser, Roger Lane, Ralph Long, David Lucas, Randall Mangham, Pedro Marin, Mayo, Doug McKillip, Billy Mitchell, Alisha Thomas Morgan, Mary Margaret Oliver, Bobby Eugene Parham, DuBose Porter, Alan Powell, David Ralston, Barbara Massey Reece, Bobby Reese, Carl Rogers, Ed Rynders, Austin Scott, Martin Scott, Robin Shipp, Georganna Sinkfield, M. Stephens, Taylor, Rob Teilhet, Brian Thomas, Thompson, Don Wix.

HB 385- was passed by the House Appropriations Committee. The bill would repeal the date on which the State Commission on Family Violence would cease to exist.

HB 118- is the $19 billion supplemental budget, which is a revised spending plan for the current fiscal year that ends June 30th. The measure passed last Thursday by a vote of 168-5 and accounts for millions in federal funding to plug budget gaps because of a revenue shortfall due to the current economic recession. Originally the measure did not contain $428 million for the homeowner tax relief grants that go to local governments which would have cost property owners an additional $200 to $300. But, due to the stimulus package, Georgia budget writers were able to use freed up monies to fund the grants. The measure also includes $145 million in federal funds for Georgia's schools and $40,000 for additional inspectors at the Department of Agriculture after the recent salmonella outbreak at a peanut butter processing plant in Blakely Georgia. The spending plan also accounts for the furloughing of state employees in the Department of Human Resources and Department of Corrections.

HB 100- was adopted last Monday in the House by a vote of 98-69. Last session the General Assembly adopted HB 1133, which gives private citizens and corporations income tax credits for donating money to nonprofit scholarship organizations that provide scholarships. HB 100 seeks to expand on the provisions of HB 1133, by making it easier for small business to take advantage of the tax credit program. Furthermore, it streamlines the process to create scholarship organizations and for donors to get approved for the tax credits. Under HB 1133 there is a $50 million cap on the total amount of credits available.

HB 149- was adopted by the House by a vote of 154-6. The bill would allow high school juniors and seniors to attend, if accepted, post secondary colleges or school and receive high school credit that would count towards their graduation. Unlike joint enrollment, this legislation allows students to leave high school entirely to complete the necessary graduation requirements. The Georgia Department of Education would use state funds to pay for the tuition, or the amount the school pays for the student's high school education, whichever is less.

HB 120- was unanimously adopted by the House and would continue the annual sales tax holiday for school supplies and energy and water efficient products. The dates for the school supplies exemptions are July 30 - August 2. The products which will be exempt from state and local sales taxes during this time are clothing and footwear with a sales price of $100.00 or less, computers and computer accessories with a sales price of $1,500.00 or less, and general school supplies with a sales price of $20.00 or less. The sales tax exemptions for energy and water efficient products with a sales price up to $1,500.00 when purchased for home or personal use are October 1 - 4, 2009.

HB 229- was adopted in the House by a vote of 116-42. The bill would keep students fit by requiring local school systems to have an annual fitness assessment and to comply with state physical education instruction requirements. Results would be reported annually to the Governor.

Legislative Information Provided by the League of Women Voters of Georgia

Transportation

SB 39- The bill, and a companion measure SR 44, would create Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) districts to fund transportation. Under the legislation, Atlanta-area counties could vote for a SPLOST district, then hold a referendum on a list of transportation proposals to be funded by a 1% (or less) regional tax.

A competing House plan, HB 277, along with HR 206, call for a statewide 1% sales tax for transportation, but there is no guarantee any of the money raised would go for transit. SB 39 and HB 277 are both scheduled for debate and a vote on the House Floor on Tuesday, March 3, 2009.

SB 120- was adopted in the Senate by a vote of 39-9. The bill would allow a transportation services contract to authorize the extension of or addition to the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority's existing rapid rail system.