Legislative News Bulletin

Legislators have completed 21 of 40 legislative days. Gov. Sonny Perdue announced last week that he was lowering the state’s revenue estimate for FY09 by $450 million. The FY09 budget shortfall has grown to $2.65 billion. Perdue directed state agencies to cut another $130 million from the FY09 budget. Only four months remain in the current fiscal year to make these additional cuts.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, signed by President Barak Obama last week, will bring to Georgia an estimated $1.7 billion in increased Medicaid match funding between FY09 and FY11, more than $1.26 billion in an education block grant, and $280 million in a flexible block grant. Perdue has proposed using some of the Medicaid match funding to free up enough state funds to proceed with the Homeowner Tax Relief Grants in FY09, which will require $428 million.

Work is proceeding on the FY09 budget. Most House Appropriations Subcommittees, including those that deal with funding for the departments of Community Health, Human Resources, and Education, met on Feb. 23 to finalize their recommendations. The House is expected to vote on the FY09 budget this week.

LEGISLATION

Healthy Children
HB 39 (Rep. Ron Stephens, 164th) would increase tobacco tax by $1 per pack of cigarettes. Status: The Ways and Means Public Finance Subcommittee will hold a hearing on HB 39 on Feb. 25 at 1 p.m. in Room 341 of the Capitol.

HB 229 (Rep. Brooks Coleman, 97th) creates the SHAPE (Student Health and Physical Education) Act. Beginning in 2011 -12, students in grades 1 – 12 enrolled in physical education must have an annual fitness assessment approved by the State Board of Education. Status: In House Rules awaiting placement on calendar for a vote in the House.

HB 474 (Rep. Pat Gardner, 57th) increases the PeachCare income eligibility limit from 235 percent of the federal poverty level to 300 percent. Status: Assigned to House Appropriations.

SB 5 (Sen. Don Thomas, 54th) requires seat belts in all passenger vehicles, including pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, used for transporting people, but excludes vehicles “used on a farm in connection with agricultural pursuits.” Status: Passed Senate. Assigned to House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs.

SB 92 (Sen. Judson Hill, 32nd) would dismantle current Medicaid and PeachCare programs, and provide low-income families with assistance to purchase private-sector health-insurance plans. Status: Discussion by Senate Insurance & Labor scheduled for Feb. 17 was postponed until Feb. 24. EDITOR’S NOTE: One to watch.

School Success
HB 193 (Rep. Tom Graves, 12th) would allow the requirement for a 180-day school year to be defined as an hourly equivalent. School districts could lengthen the school day and have a four-day school week. Status: Passed House Education Committee. In House Rules. HB 198 (Rep. Mark Williams, 178th) contains the same language. Status: Scheduled for discussion in House Appropriations Education Subcommittee on Feb. 23.

HB 215 (Rep. Steve Davis, 109th) creates the Graduating Everyone Matters Act, which establishes three diploma options for high-school students: a general diploma, a career/vocational/technical diploma and a college prep diploma. This would return Georgia to high-school graduation requirements abandoned in the late 1990s. Status: Amended to offer two diplomas: Career/Vocational/Technical and College Preparation. Passed House Education. Assigned to House Rules.

HB 400 (Rep. Fran Millar, 79th), titled Building Resourceful Individuals to Develop Georgia’s Economy Act, would develop programs to improve graduation rates and the preparedness of students for postsecondary education and careers, and provide for model programs for students at risk of dropping out of high school. Status: Assigned to House Committee on Education. Discussed on Feb.18 but with no action taken.

Stable, Self-Sufficient Families
HB 237 (Rep. Ed Lindsey, 54th) provides financial assistance to families adopting “hard-to-place” children with physical, mental, or emotional disabilities.
Status: Passed House. Assigned to Senate Health & Human Services.

HB 290 (Rep. Doug McKillip, 115th) increases minimum wage and provides for cost-of-living increases. Status: Assigned to House Industrial Relations.

Strong Communities
HB 245 (Rep. Wendell Willard, 49th) allows juvenile court to suspend the driver’s license of a child below age 17 charged with a delinquent act. Status: Assigned to House Committee on Judiciary Non-Civil.