Questions on Appropriations? You can access both the amended 2011 and FY 2012 general budgets on the Senate Budget and Evaluation Web site at: www.senate.ga.gov/sbeo/en-US/AppropriationsDocuments.aspx.
Legislative review — Week 1
Since 2011 is the first year of the two-year term, any bills that did not pass this session are returned to committee and will be considered next year. After a slow start, plenty of ideas for new legislation were ginned up and there was the usual flurry of bills being amended and crossing between the two bodies on the 40th day. So, looking at legislation that passed in 2011, here is a review by committee area:
Appropriations
HB 77 is the amended 2011 Appropriations bill, totaling $18.052 billion. HB 78 contained the FY2012 general budget totaling $18.299 billion.
Legislation that passed through the Appropriations Committee and eventually passed both bodies included:
HB 414: Moves the assets and personnel originally belonging to the Department of Public Safety back to that agency from the Aviation Authority.
HB 140: Increases the amount of bonding authority for the Georgia Higher Education Facilities authority from $300 million to $400 million and requires either the State Board of Technical Colleges or the Board of Regents to certify that projects funded with these bonds are self-liquidating. This authority finances the construction of virtually all dormitories in Georgia public colleges.
Agriculture and Consumer Affairs
HB 223: Exempts farm buildings or structures from state and local minimum building codes. Buildings must be designated by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service and can’t be used for residential purposes.
HB 225: Creates a new Georgia Code section stating that “It shall be the policy of this state to promote sustainable agriculture.” This policy covers the improvement of future generation’s ability to meet human needs “while advancing progress toward environmental, social and economic goals and the well-being of agricultural producers and rural communities.”
HB 485: Outlaws the releasing of feral (wild) hogs into open lands. If caught and removed from private property, the hogs cannot be released into unfenced areas.\
Banking
HB 239: Department of Banking “housekeeping bill” that addresses several definitions, clarifies the departments’ dissolution powers and also the licensing and registration process of mortgage loan originators.
HB 323: Extends the time allotted to deliver a notice of security interest in motor vehicles to tag agent from 20 days to 30 days.
Economic Development
HB 264: Moves the Georgia Council for the Arts from the Governor’s office to the Department of Economic Development and places the agency under the direction of the commissioner of the department.
Education and Youth
HB 186: Requires technical colleges and DOE to develop standards for career academies and insure the core curriculum is aligned with DOE .
HB 192: Creates the State Education Finance Commission to study the Quality Basic Education (QBE) funding formula that is 26 years old. Consists of 20 members of the Legislature, including appointments from the governor, speaker of the House and lieutenant governor.
If you would like additional information regarding a specific piece of legislation, you may access the Georgia General Assembly Web site at www.legis.ga.gov/
I may be reached at
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E-mail at Jack.Hill@senate.ga.gov
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