Representatives from Easter Seals visit the Capitol to celebrate Easter Seals Day.

Rep. Rusty Kidd (I-Milledgeville) speaks with families involved with Easter Seals.

Legislative Day Two of 2012 started early with the Georgia Chamber of Commerce Eggs and Issues Breakfast at the Georgia World Congress Center this morning.  As a result, many legislators were delayed in reaching the Capitol and both the House and Senate sessions started late. 

Rumors swirled all morning that Governor Nathan Deal brokered a peace accord with Senate leadership last evening.  In the last few years, power struggles have incurred in the Senate as to who controlled assignments to committees, etc.  The latest rumor heard by our team was that the new configuration of the Committee on Assignments will include Lt. Governor Casey Cagle, President Pro Tem Tommie Williams, Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers, and two appointees made by Lt. Governor Cagle.

Today was Easter Seals Day at the Capitol and representatives from the statewide organization were in attendance to inform legislators of their concerns such as respite services for families with children with disabilities, Champions for Children, supported employment for persons with disabilities, and other programs.  Easter Seals primarily provides high-quality services to ensure that children with disabilities or other special needs and their families have equal opportunities to live, learn, work and play in their Georgia communities.   

Legislative News

House

The House session today featured an appearance by U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson.  When given the opportunity to speak, he emphasized the need to reach across the aisle and help all Georgians through difficult economic times.  Speaker of the House David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) recognized former Representative Tim Bearden (R-Villa Rica) who accepted a new position as Director of the Georgia Public Safety Training Center last Fall.  The Doctor of the Day was Michael Hagues from St. Francis Hospital in Columbus, Georgia.   
 
Senate

The Senate convened just after 11:00 a.m. and began with several words from the Chaplain of the Day, Reverend Michael Stewart.  Senator Isakson also had an opportunity to speak in the Senate.  During points of personal priviledge, Sen. Donzella James (D-College Park) asked the Senate to observe a moment of silence for former Minority Leader Robert Brown (D-Macon) who died tragically last month.

New Legislation

SB 298 - Sen. Hardie Davis (D-Gracewood) authored this Bill which would amend Chapter 2 of Title 21 by making it so that nonpartisan elections for consolidated governments could be held in conjunction with the November general election.  www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20112012/SB/298 

SB 299 - Sen. Hardie Davis (D-Gracewood) proposed this piece of legislation which would prevent a charitable contribution made by a charitable organization from being deemed a fraudulent transfer where the charitable organization receives the contribution in good faith.  This Bill would amend Article 4 of Chapter 2 of Title 18.  www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20112012/SB/299 

HR 1096 - Rep. David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) submitted this Resolution to notify the Senate that the House of Representatives had convened.  www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20112012/HR/1096

HR 1097 - Rep. David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) offered this initiative to call a joint session of the House and Senate for the purpose of hearing a message from Governor Nathan Deal on Tuesday, January 10, 2012, at 7:00 p.m.  www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20112012/HR/1097 

HR 1098 - Rep. David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) brought forth this Resolution to call a joint session of the House and Senate for the purpose of hearing a message from the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court on Wednesday, January 25, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. 
www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20112012/HR/1098

SR 642 - Sen. Tommie Williams (R-Lyons) proposed this initiative to notify Governor Deal that the General Assembly had convened.  www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20112012/SR/642

SR 643 - Sen. Tommie Williams (R-Lyons) authored this Resolution to notify the House of Representatives that the Senate had convened.  www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20112012/SR/643

Committee News

Senate Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee

Chairman Johnny Grant (R-Milledgeville) began the Senate Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee meeting by giving all Committee members an opportunity to introduce themselves.  He then invited Rep. Doug Collins (R-Gainesville) to give an overview of HB 253.  The Bill would allow the Commissioner of Public Safety, with approval by the Board of Public Safety, to sell or trade surplus motor vehicles and use the proceeds of the sale or trade to purchase new motor vehicles.  Rep. Collins claimed that HB 253 was needed to save the state money in 2012.  Sen. Bill Hamrick (R-Carrollton) asked a question about whether the Director of the Public Safety Training Center, Tim Bearden, had been consulted about the Bill.  The answer from Rep. Collins was that Director Bearden was in favor of the Bill.  Sen. Gloria Butler (D-Stone Mountain) then asked a question as to why the Bill was moving with such haste.  Rep. Collins answered by saying that the Governor had requested that the matter be dealt with immediately.  Three amendments from Sen. John Albers (R-Roswell) were added unanimously to clean up language and allow for quick passage of HB 253.  The Bill was then voted on and passed unanimously.

Sen. Butch Miller (R-Gainesville) then appeared before the Committee and presented SB 120.  The Bill would provide a parent or guardian with an opportunity to participate in the alcohol and drug prevention course required for obtaining a driver's license for a person under 18 years of age.  Sen. William Ligon (R-Waverly) was concerned about whether participation was voluntary or required.  According to Sen. Miller, the Bill did not create a requirement, just a voluntary option.  Consuelo Campbell, from the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities ("DBHDD"), spoke to the Committee about wanting language about DBHDD to be added to the Bill.  Sen. Valencia Seay (D-Riverdale) then questioned Sen. Miller about whether there is a need to legislate parenting.  Chairman Grant then decided to hold SB 120 until some more discussions offline could take place.  SB 120 was not voted on and the meeting adjourned.

Senate Higher Education Committee

The Senate Higher Education Committee convened with an introduction from Sen. Buddy Carter (R-Pooler) who is now the new Chairman.  He replaces former Sen. Jim Butterworth (R-Cornelia).  Chairman Carter proceeded by giving an overview of the Bills that remain in the Senate Higher Education Committee after last session.  HB 52, SB 131, SB 194, SB 235, SR 345, and SR 353 were briefly explained.  HB 52 seeks to add public and private schools, public and private colleges, and public and private universities to the places where disabled persons may be accompanied by a guide or service dog.   SB 194 would make it so that students at Georgia Military College would be eligible for HOPE.  SB 235 would require that the Georgia Student Finance Commission establish the amount of HOPE scholarship and grants awards each year.  SB 345 would authorize the General Assembly to create limitations on the amount of tuition that can be charged to students receiving lottery funded scholarships and grants and attending colleges and universities operated by the board of regents or institutions operated by the Technical College System of Georgia.  Finally, SR 353 would authorize the General Assembly to impose limits on the amount that tuition and fees for institutions of the University of System of Georgia can increase on an annual basis.  Chairman Carter then suggested that a joint meeting between the House and Senate Higher Education Committees would be taking place soon and the meeting adjourned.
 
If you have any questions concerning this Report, please contact Stanley S. Jones, Jr., Helen Sloat or Taylor Janney.