2006 LEGISLATIVE REPORTS
|
2006 LEGISLATIVE REPORTS |
| WEEKLY LEGISLATIVE REPORT – March 10, 2006 PeachCare for All Children Act would help working families
By Rep. Quincy Murphy
Stark estimates reveal that 100,000 of Georgia’s children are currently uninsured. As a remedy, bipartisan legislation was introduced this week. House Bill 1464 would provide health insurance for children whose parents make too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to afford comprehensive coverage. The “Peach Care for All Children Act” would authorize the Department of Community Health (DCH), which, in addition to awarding medical coverage, would enlist the leverage of government in negotiating reasonable premiums with insurance carriers. Besides being a great investment in our state’s future, HB 1464 symbolizes an attempt to reconcile the neglect of a demographic in long need of a break: Georgia’s working families whose only sin was making just enough to be disqualified from Medicaid services.
Addressing eminent domain, the House voted 173-1 to adopt a measure aimed at protecting private property owners from eminent domain condemnations. HB 1313 is the Georgia legislature’s answer to the Supreme Court’s ruling that upheld a Connecticut town’s ordinance authorizing the seizure property in the name of economic development. HB 1313 now awaits Senate approval.
To head off any future legislative attempts to expand eminent domain – such as Senate Bill 5, which was pushed last year by the Republican leadership – House members also approved a companion constitutional amendment reining in far-reaching condemnation powers of local government. If approved by the Senate, House Resolution 1306 would be added to the general election ballot in November. House members adopted an $18.6 billion state budget plan for fiscal year 2007 including a 4 percent pay increase for educators and a long-overdue 7 percent increase for members of the Georgia State Patrol. Budget architects made mention of a substantial state trooper shortage as the impetus for that recommendation by the House Appropriations Committee. An additional $1.1 million was put in for training more troopers, and $563,000 was appropriated for administrative staff at State Patrol posts so troopers can spend more time patrolling state highways. In light of recent revenue increases, House Democrats offered a pair of amendments proposing even higher raises, but the measure was quelled by Republican opposition. Under this measure, teachers would have received a 5 percent increase, 7 percent for corrections personnel and law enforcement, and 4 percent for all other state employees. The House budget, which now goes to the Senate, includes funding for three new rape crisis centers, $500,000 to ease the work load of the State Ethics Commission and $450,000 to aid charter schools. The House and Senate also gave final approval to the supplemental budget, which amends the $17.4 billion spending plan for the remainder of the current fiscal year ending June 30. An additional $444.6 million will be appropriated, including:
As a fiscal footnote, HR 1564 was also passed, placing a constitutional amendment on the November ballot. This would allow voters to decide if funds generated from novelty license plates should be reserved for their original intended purpose. The House also overwhelmingly approved HB 1320, which is litter control legislation aimed at keeping Georgia’s roadways and waterways clean. The bill, which heads to the Senate, would protect our waters by including specific penalties for dumping litter into any Georgia stream, river, lake or coastal water. It also would close clarify existing laws, close legal loopholes and stress personal responsibility in this important quality-of-life issue.
The House also unanimously approved a measure that expands the definition of “criminal gang activity” to include graffiti, violations against U.S. laws, and any offense involves violence, or the use or possession of a weapon. HB 1302 carries a five-year minimum jail term in addition to increased fines for convicted gangsters. The measure would also require all school visitors to check in at a designated location upon arrival. Failure to check in and leave when requested would result in a misdemeanor charge.
Monday will be the 30th legislative day of the 2006 session of the General Assembly. This is also known as “cross-over day” because it is the final day for bills to be passed by the House in time for them to be considered by the Senate this session, and vice versa. Any bills or resolutions failing to receive approval by then will have to be reintroduced in 2007. It will be a long day for lawmakers as the sponsors of dozens of pieces of pending legislation attempt to get their bills approved before adjournment.
|