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Legislative Bulletins

Keeping our members informed.

GeorgiaLink Legislative Update – Day 1
The Georgia House and Senate convened at 10 am today for Day 1 of the 40 day Legislative Session. In a rare but somewhat expected move, the House considered 12 separate motions for override of vetoes by the Governor Perdue from this fast 2007 Session. All 12 motions passed by a two- thirds vote as grounded by the Constitution.

These 12 motions were received by the Senate and then assigned to the Senate Rules Committee for consideration. This Senate motion delays final consideration of these veto overrides. The Rules Committee will now decide which, if any, of the vetoes will be considered by the full Senate. A two-thirds vote is required in the Senate.

These issues on Day 1 set the stage for tomorrow's Georgia Chamber Eggs and Issues breakfast. The Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Speaker are expected to share their platform at 7:30 am to discuss their expectations for this 2008 session.

A list is included below for your review of the items under consideration for override. Of notable interest is:

• A bill widely supported by the banking community regarding taxable interest income
• A sales tax exemption for construction of an amphitheatre in North Fulton County
• A measure requiring certain Budget information for the Governor's office to be provided to the House and the Senate Budget offices
• An aquarium sales tax exception Department of Audits revenue information to be provided to the House and the Senate Budget Offices
• The assignment of lottery payments Tax credit for certain large entertainment projects developed in the State

A full list is below. Please call us if you have any questions.

HB 441: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 7 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to imposition and computation of income taxes, so as to revise provisions relative to adjustment of taxable income with respect to income from federal obligations and certain other obligations; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

HB 413: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 8 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the joint county and municipal sales and use tax, so as to change certain provisions regarding procedures for certifying additional qualified municipalities; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

HB 529: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend numerous provisions of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated so as to reflect changes in the organization of the General Assembly with respect to budgetary functions; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

HB 162: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 48-8-3 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to exemptions from sales and use taxes, so as to provide for an exemption for a limited period of time with respect to sales of certain tangible personal property used in direct connection with the construction of a performing arts amphitheater facility; to provide for a definition; to provide for procedures, conditions, and limitations; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

HB 559: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 6 of Article 17 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to health insurance plans for teachers and other school personnel in elementary and secondary education, so as to provide for teachers and employees of charter schools to be considered employees for purposes of participating in the health insurance plans for teachers and other school personnel; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

HB 807: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act creating a new charter for the City of Auburn, approved February 17, 1949 (Ga. L. 1949, p. 807), as amended, particularly by an Act approved April 19, 1989 (Ga. L. 1989, p. 5011), so as to provide that certain areas shall not be included as part of the City of Auburn; to provide for submission; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

HB 218: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 52-2-10 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the application of traffic laws and enforcement by security guards employed with the Georgia Ports Authority, so as to require that those employees of the authority who are authorized to exercise the powers of arrest shall be certified peace officers subject to the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

HB69: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 40-5-2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to records to be kept on drivers in Georgia, so as to prohibit the Department of Driver Services from charging a fee for viewing a driver's record online; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

HB91: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 4 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to organization of the executive branch generally, so as to require each department, commission, authority, and agency of the executive branch of government to provide certain reports annually to the General Assembly; to provide for the contents of such reports; to provide for the time of submitting such reports; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

HB 229: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 27 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relating to the lottery for education, so as to impose certain limitations on book allowances and mandatory fee payments under certain circumstances; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

HB 451: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 8 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to sales and use taxation, so as to provide for a program of tax refunds for companies creating certain tourism attractions; to provide for a short title; to define terms; to state legislative findings; to provide for conditions of eligibility and approval by the Department of Economic Development and a local government; to provide for agreements between that department and companies; to provide for regulations; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

HB549: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to public assistance, so as to establish requirements for basic therapy services for children with disabilities; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for definitions; to provide certain requirements relating to administrative prior approval for services and appeals; to provide for a modification to the state plan for medical assistance regarding the rate of payment to providers of medical assistance services; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.