Session Ends
The 2014 session officially came to an end on March 20 as the Senate adjourned Sine Die. The term “Sine Die” is Latin for “without assigning a day for a further meeting or hearing,” therefore, when the gavel came down late Thursday night, the General Assembly adjourned until January 2015.
Legislators and staff remained busy working until the midnight cut-off time to deliberate over 50 pieces of legislation.
Members of the Senate and the House came together in a conference committee to agree to the $20.8 billion Fiscal Year ’15 budget. The budget encompasses state spending from July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015 and is a 4.6 percent increase from last year’s budget.
Around $916 million of the new revenue is budgeted for education expenses that will help finance enrollment growth, disseminate more funds to local school systems and increase opportunities for technical education.
The budget also allocates $35 million to complete the state’s portion of the $652 million Savannah Harbor project. Last but not least, Georgia College will receive $3.9 million in funds to repurpose the historic Mayfair and McIntosh Halls, as well as $1 million for renovations to Beeson Hall.
This week I carried two House bills through the Senate. House Bill 610 expands the definition for public adjusters while clarifying their contracts, licensing, roles, powers, duties and prohibited acts. A public adjuster is an insurance claims adjuster who advocates for the policyholder in appraising and negotiating an insured’s insurance claim.
House Bill 947 simply authorizes employers to pay employee wages and salaries by credit to a prepaid debit card. Both bills will provide better government efficiency and usability for Georgians.
The next step in the legislative process is to transfer all passed bills to the Governor Deal’s desk for his review. By law, once the bill is transferred to the Governor, he may sign the bill into law or veto the bill. During the legislative session, he has six days to deliberate the bill, after session, he is given 40 days from Sine Die to consider action on all passed legislation.
If the General Assembly does not agree with the veto, they may override the decision with a 2/3 vote and the measure will then become a law. If no action is taken with the bill, then it automatically becomes a law after the 40 day time period.
Legislative Actions:
House Bill 697 establishes the Zell Miller Grant and defines additional opportunities for taxpayer contributions towards educational assistance nonprofits.
House Bill 251 regulates alternative nicotine products and vapor products for minors.
House Bill 60 will allow places of worship to specifically opt-in or state that worshippers can carry in the sanctuary or on church grounds. Licensed carry holders who violate a church’s gun carry policy will be subject to a $100 fine. Individuals without Georgia gun carry licenses may be subject to a fine and misdemeanor charge. Additionally, permit license holders may legally carry firearms in bars unless otherwise stated by the property owner.
House Bill 773 creates exceptions to discharging a gun or pistol near a public highway or street for certain places and persons engaged in legal hunting.
House Bill 914 requires the Department of Human Services (“DHS”) and child protection agencies to acknowledge the receipt of a report made by a school employee of suspected child abuse and disclose to certain school personnel whether the suspected child abuse was confirmed by an investigation.
If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact my office at 404.656.0082 or via email at burt.jones@senate.ga.gov.