Legislation that has passed the Senate and is on its way to the House of Representatives:
• SB 1 - Provides insurance coverage for basic autism therapy. Exempts small businesses with 10 or fewer employees. Yearly limit-$35,000. Covers children 6 and younger.
Governor’s FY 16 budget proposals
• $2.5 million in additional funds for the Georgia Innovation Fund to award grants to local school systems to develop and implement innovative programs in public education. Also, $10 million additional funds for strategic statewide professional development initiatives for teachers.
• $16.7 million in additional lottery funds to provide a 3 percent increase in the award amount for HOPE (public and private schools) scholarships and grants over FY 2014.
• $11 million in state funds for growth in the Accel dual enrollment program.
• $6 million in additional lottery funds to expand the Low Interest Loan program for Georgia colleges. Revolving fund would be $26 million with this addition.
• $94 million to fully fund the annual required contribution for the Teachers Retirement System (TRS) in order to continue fiscal soundness and sustainability.
• $35 million for child welfare services includes $7.5 million in state funds for 175 additional new case workers to manage increasing child abuse and neglect caseloads.
• $14.8 million to annualize funding for 103 caseworkers and costs associated with the increased number of children in state custody, and $12.7 million in new state funds for improvements to the delivery of child welfare services.
• $693,333 for 11 new adult protective service caseworkers to manage increased elder abuse and neglect caseloads.
• $12 million to annualize fifth-year funding for the settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice. Included is $3.2 million of new funding for intensive support coordination services for individuals with developmental disabilities transitioning from institutional to community placements.
• $840,075 for Department of Corrections for five community coordinators, five counselors, one supervisor, and a housing coordinator to support the Governor’s Office of Transition, Support, and Reentry.
• $12 million to create two charter high schools within the state prison system to award high school diplomas.
• Medicaid funding includes $42.7 million in new funding for baseline expense growth, an additional $54.8 million for new expenses associated with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), $22.8 million for expenses associated with new Hepatitis C drugs, a $153.9 million reduction to state funds to offset an increase in the federal financial participation rate, $12.1 million for start-up expense associated with the implementation of a new voluntary case management program for the Aged, Blind and Disabled (ABD) population, $8.7 million to increase nursing home reimbursement rates.
• $17 million in additional motor fuel funds for road and bridge projects based on anticipated collections and debt service savings.
Legislation introduced in the Senate last week
SB 3 - Allows for temporary transfer of custody and power of attorney from the parent to another person providing for the care of a minor without court approval for up to one year.
SB 6 - Prevents deferred deportation status from qualifying an alien to purchase a driver’s license in Georgia.
SB 36 - Prohibits the injection of ground water into Floridan aquifer in 11 counties along and near Georgia’s coast.
SB 58 - Creates a recommendation process for legislators for qualified students who will commit to ROTC service in Georgia colleges.
SB 62 - Allows probate courts to hear game and fish violations in some cases.
SB 63 - Allows craft breweries to sell up to one 12-pack of beer per customer for carry-out.
SR 52 - Honoring the life and memory of Dr. James “Jim” Ernest Strickland.
Transportation
The House announced a transportation proposal last week with its main provisions being:
• Eliminates sales tax on gasoline, local and state.
• Expands present excise (by the gallon) fuel tax to 29.2 cents per gallon and based on last four years sales price.
• Bonds $100 million for FY 16 for transit.
• $200 fee yearly on electric autos.
• Allows local governments to add fuel excise taxes to replace sales taxes on fuel.
• ESPLOSTs, SPLOSTs are intact until expiration.
Of course, this proposal is under consideration by the House. The Senate is continuing to consider alternatives.
Legislation, meeting schedules and legislative actions may be accessed at: www.legis.ga.gov.
I may be reached at
234 State Capitol, Atlanta, GA 30334
(404) 656-5038 (phone)
(404) 657-7092 (fax)
E-mail at Jack.Hill@senate.ga.gov
Or call toll-free at
1-800-367-3334 day or night
Reidsville office: (912) 557-3811
