Legislative Update Number 2008.13 - April 18, 2008

The Good:

Homestead Exemption: HB 1190, 1191 and 1192, which I co-sponsored, increase the homestead exemption from $15,000 to $50,000 for property taxes in the City of Atlanta, Atlanta City Schools and Fulton County, phased in over three years beginning in 2009. HB 1205 gives a property tax exemption for 50% of county taxes in Fulton County for seniors and lower-income taxpayers. SB 325 increases the homestead exemption to $40,000 for folks 65 and older with $40,000 and under income. SB 159 extends the homestead exemption filing from March 1 to April 1.

Grandparents' Rights: SB 88 provides grandparents and greatgrandparents revocable legal authority and a power of attorney to raise children when the parent is unable to because of illness, military service or hardships.

Pre-K Study: HR 791 creates a House study committee to review and make recommendations regarding Georgia's pre- kindergarten program.

Child Exploitation: HR 1701 would create the House Study Committee on Prostitution and the Adult Entertainment Industry. It will do its work in combination with SR 445.

Water Plan: SR 701 creates a statewide water management plan, a good start toward ensuring the state has enough water in the future.

CON Reform: SB 433 is a major revision of the state's outdated certificate of need law, which regulates the construction of new health care facilities.

Budget Items: The fiscal year 2009 state budget increases the Tuition Equalization Grant from $1,100 to $1,200 and increases HOPE Scholarships from $3,000 to $3,500 for students in private colleges. Also added are start up costs for federally qualified community health centers (FQHCs) including adding some mental health slots. Georgia medical schools received help from this year's budget though additional slots for Morehouse Medical School and increased state funding for residents.

Medicaid Care Management Organizations: HB 1234 provides additional oversight and appeal requirements for the CMOs caring for our Medicaid and PeachCare families.

Jekyll Island: The private developer overhauling the island will not be allowed to place hotels and condominiums on a half- mile stretch of open, public beach.

Student Loans: SB 169 authorizes the Georgia Student Finance Authority to provide direct loans to students at an annual interest rate of 1 percent.

'Merlot to Go': SB 55 allows Georgians to take wine home from restaurants, as long as it is resealed and put in the trunk or locked glove compartment of their vehicles. HB 1061 allows Georgians to order wine directly from wineries by phone or the Internet.

Foreclosure Help: SB 531 prevents lenders, trustee banks and investment houses from hiding their involvement in foreclosures by requiring a public record naming the owner of a home loan.

Jury Duty: HB 188 provides a jury duty exemption for a primary care giver of a person with physical or cognitive limitations.

Billboards Failed: HB 1318, which would have made it harder for local governments to restrict or eliminate billboards, was defeated in the House.

Vouchers Failed: SB 458, which would have provided private school vouchers for students in public schools deemed to be "failing," was not approved.

TAD Funding: SR 996 calls for a statewide referendum to allow cities and counties to tap school property taxes to help pay for redevelopment projects.

Credit Freeze: HB 130 requires credit reporting agencies to create an Internet-based system for consumers to keep their information safe from identity theft.

Study Committee on the State Retirement System, which I authored, will take a look at what is being done with retiree benefits to ensure the fairness of all the systems with regard to fiduciary management and COLAs.

Dog Fighting: HB 301 increases prison sentences and fines for those convicted of dog fighting.

Right to Choose: For the first time in three years, no blatant anti-women legislation passed. Especially extreme proposals like HR 536 and HB 1 thankfully failed even to get out of committee.

Arts Support: HB 291 creates the Georgia Arts Alliance to foster a public private partnership for support of the arts.

The Bad:

Concealed Weapons: HB 89 expands the gun law to allow concealed weapons to be carried into restaurants, state parks and MARTA trains.

Voucher Credits: HB 1133 provides up to $50 million per year in tax credits for donating to organizations providing vouchers for private school tuition.

Foreclosure Bills Failed: SB 519 and SB 465, which would extend the foreclosure notice requirement from 15 to 60 days, or 90 days for adjustable-rate mortgages, failed to pass.

School Contracts: HB 1209 allows schools to sidestep state standards in exchange for agreeing to meet specific academic goals. Those that fall short could be forced to convert to charter schools or placed under private management.

The Undone: (ugly)

Transportation Funding: SR 845 would have allowed multiple counties to join together and implement a special purpose local option sales tax for transportation projects on a regional basis, if approved by voters.

Trauma Care: HB 1158 would have established: an annual $10 car tag fee to produce revenues for the state's trauma care network, including Grady Memorial Hospital.

Tax Relief: HR 1246 would have eliminated the ad valorem tax on automobiles. HB 1244 would have reduced state income taxes by 10 percent over five years.

Sunday Sales: SB 454 would have authorized cities and counties to legalize Sunday package sales.

PeachCare for all Kids: HB 324 would expand eligibility for Medicaid and make the PeachCare program more available to those who pay premiums. I hope to introduce some version of this bill next session.

Seat Belts in pickup trucks: Georgia will continue to lose lives and federal dollars because this exemption continues.

Psychiatric Advance Directives: HB 343 would set up a process for those with mental illness to determine their treatment when in crisis. I hope to introduce this bill again next year in some form.

Education Funding: The Legislature restored only $50 million of the Governor's proposed $141 million in local school funding cuts this year. That's another $91 million in tax shifts from the State to local property owners. The total shift is over $1.5 billion.

  

• Rep. Pat Gardner (D-Atlanta) represents the 57th District (Atlanta and DeKalb County) in the Georgia House of Representatives. Contact her at 604 Coverdell Office Building, Atlanta, GA  30334; by phone at 404-656-0265 or by e-mail at pat@patgardner.org.