The Governor began his speech by reminding Legislators that similar proposals, concerning an economic recession, had been undertaken by Gov. Zell Miller on January 16, 1992. He told the Legislature that "now is the time to position this state for our future." In order to accomplish such, the State must tighten its belt and cut taxes in order to give Georgians more money and take advantage of Georgia’s excellent bond rating. His 2003 Budget focuses on:

1) educating Georgia’s children;

2) keeping Georgians healthy;

3) protecting Georgians’ quality of life as well as its environment; and

4) continuing tax relief for Georgians.

Some of the specific items funded:

- $1.6 million for the Georgia Early Learning Initiative (the First Lady’s pet project)

• $240 million in Lottery proceeds to continue the pre-K program
• 3.5% pay raise for all teachers (and a 10% salary supplement for those teachers who have obtained the National Board certification)
• $1 million for the TAPP program (which utilizes folks from other professions to teach in Georgia’s schools; this new money would create another 750 teachers)
• $4.6 million for tests at "end-of-course" for high school students
• $1.5 million for an expansion of the ICAPP program into the healthcare arena (this program has been expanding skilled workers and to date has created 6,000 jobs)
• $2.8 million additional funds for Yamacraw (which has already developed 1,100 jobs)
• $65.4 million for OneGeorgia Authority to promote economic development
• $235 million for the growth in the Medicaid program
• $20.4 million additional monies for PeachCare
• additional dollars for the Division of Family and Children’s Services for the protection of Georgia’s children (including the funding of another 100 caseworkers in the amount of $4.3 million)
• $400,000 for the GBI to create 14 more positions to handle increased caseloads in the "Intelligence, Financial Investigation, and Health Care Fraud Units"
• $4.1 million for drivers’ license facilities in order that 68 positions may be funded (in the proposed 4 new facilities in the metro-Atlanta area)
• 2.5% pay raise (performance based) for employees of the executive, legislative and judicial branches effective October 1, 2002
• an additional 3% in order to bring salaries closer in line with private sector
• 2% one-time, "lump sum bonus payment for those whose job performance "exceeds expectations" upon review"

HB 1008 – Reps. Franklin, Joyce, and Coan offered this proposal to amend Chapter 5 of Title 40 concerning drivers’ licenses in order to change certain provisions relating to the issuance of licenses, contents, signature requirements, and fingerprints as well as to change additional provisions relating to the expiration and renewal of such licenses and the re-examination requirements. The bill has been sent to the House Motor Vehicles Committee.

HB 1031 – Rep. Wiles placed this one in the hopper, which proposes to amend Chapter 11 of Title 31 concerning emergency medical services in order to authorize a county or municipality to designate one or more ambulance providers to deliver emergency medical services within its jurisdiction and to inform the local coordinating entity and the board or its designee of its decision. Specifically, this will create a new Code Section at 31-11-3.1.

HB 1040 – Reps. Powell, Connell, and Harbin have authored this proposal amending Part 8 of Chapter 14 of Title 44 relating to hospitals and nursing homes in order to allow a traumatic burn care medical practice to have a lien on a cause of action accruing to an injured person for the costs of care and treatment arising out of the cause of action.

HR 801 – Rep. Sims offered this Resolution urging Congress and the President to provide for the immunization of the general population against smallpox and polio myelitis.

SB 316 – Sen. Gingrey with others have offered an amendment to the current law relating to HOPE scholarships and grants and specifically an alternative method of calculation of eligibility for recipients. This would apply to a person who has resumed his or her post-secondary education following a break in enrollment of five years or more and attempted no more than 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours during the prior enrollment. The person would have to meet residency requirements and enrollment standards.

SB 317 – Sens. Johnson and Thomas bill on colorectal cancer has now been referred to the Senate Insurance and Labor Committee.

SB 320 – Sens. Johnson and others bill concerning the enactment of the "Georgia’s Homeland Defense Act" has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

SB 324 – Sens. Cheeks, Harbison, and Brown offered this bill to amend Article 1 of Chapter 18 of Title 45 (state employees’ health insurance plan) in order to provide that any person who is otherwise eligible for coverage who declined coverage because he or she was covered under a health insurance plan offered by the federal government based upon prior military service may, under certain conditions, begin or resume coverage under the State Health Benefit Plan. This bill has been sent to the Senate Insurance and Labor Committee.

SB 329 – Sens. Hecht and Starr have authored this bill to amend Chapter 2 of Title 20 to assist elementary and secondary teachers in order to provide an incentive for "unusually experienced, well-educated, and talented teachers and principals to serve low-performing schools." This will also provide a salary increase for certain teachers and principals. This bill has been sent to the Senate Education Committee.

SB 330 – Sens. Hecht and Starr have also teamed up for this bill to help provide greater powers by local governments over airports. This proposes to allow law enforcement officers of counties containing an airport or landing strip controlled by another political subdivision to have jurisdiction over such facility for the purpose of acquiring, establishing, developing, operating, maintaining, or controlling airports or landing fields. This bill has been sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

SB 331 – Sen. Hill and others have authored this bill, which proposes to amend Article 21 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 relating to a moment of quiet reflection in public school classrooms in order to allow that a teacher, at the opening of the school day, conduct a brief period of quiet reflection for not more than 60 seconds with the participation of all pupils – it is not intended to be and shall not be conducted as a religious service or exercise.

SB 332 – Sen. Beatty and others have produced this amendment to Title 20 in order to provide for technology protection measures for school computers with Internet access. This would be known as the "Children’s Internet Protection Act."

SB 479 – Sen. Hill has authored this bill proposing an amendment to the State’s Constitution in order to provide that legislative and congressional redistricting shall be done by a commission. The bill also establishes the commission as well as qualifications and appointment of members to such along with an outline of its duties, responsibilities, and resources for the commission.

This would add a new Section IV in Article II.

SR 480 – Sen. Harp and others have proposed this Resolution which would add an amendment to the Constitution so as to allow public money to be used by religious or sectarian organizations and denominations and houses of worship for the purpose of providing non-sectarian public health or social services to people in need. This appears to be similar to HR 131, which was introduced in the 2001 Session.

In Committee news, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee held a meeting this afternoon in order for it to hear more specifics about the FY 2002 Supplemental Budget recommendations. The Committee wanted to learn more about the various cuts to services. In an effort to provide information, representatives from the Department of Human Resources, Department of Community Health, and Georgia Cancer Coalition made presentations on their respective portions of the Budget.

Rep. Horacena Tate updated the Committee on her efforts to obtain more information about a prescription drug program for seniors. Three ideas have been raised in order to address some of the drug availability issues: 1) replicate the MedBank program in Savannah around the State which would have monthly costs of approximately $8,700 at each site (after initial start up costs); 2) develop a statewide pharmacy benefit manager program (in order to negotiate drug rebates and incentives); or 3) utilize a pharmacy discount card (this was the less appealing as courts in other states have ruled against such type of product).

Also, Deborah Smith-Callahan, a representative from Pfizer, gave the Committee an overview of the new program, announced on January 15, 2002 in New York, about its new drug program, Pfizer for Living Share Card Program. More details may be obtained from www.pfizerforliving.com. This program will provide prescription drug coverage cards for persons, qualified for Medicare (there are 40,000,000 persons in the United States who qualify for Medicare and 17,000,000 without any drug coverage), which have incomes 200% below the federal poverty level ($24,000) and have no other prescription drug coverage available. In Georgia, there will be a number who can qualify (there are 900,000 Georgians on Medicare). An "800" number has been established in order for persons to call and enroll in the program which will begin on February 1, 2002 and be fully implemented on March 1, 2002. This is not a discount card. Ms. Smith-Callahan noted that the average monthly costs for prescriptions is $69. There will be a flat monthly fee for using this program of $15. Ms. Smith-Callahan explained that this was not a marketing stunt, and that Pfizer will lose money on this initiative. Additionally, she reported that fifteen Governors across the United States were supporting this initiative, including Governor Barnes. Coverage determination will be determined when a person contacts the 800 number.

Budget hearings on the FY 2003 Budget will commence next Tuesday, January 22, 2002, as Legislators will observe the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday on Monday. The hearings will commence at 11:00 a.m. in room 341 of the State Capitol. Selected agencies scheduled:

Georgia Cancer Coalition - 1:45 p.m.

Education – 2:15 p.m.

Agriculture – 2:35 p.m.

Community Health – 3:05 p.m.