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Representative Ron Forster |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE In Full Stride2005 General AssemblyMarch 07, 2005 -- The 2005 session of the Georgia General Assembly is moving closer to the gavel being dropped, signaling the conclusion of the session. But instead of looking toward the end, we are hitting full stride in passing meaningful legislation. By the end of last week we had finished day 25. An important piece of legislation that we passed in the House of Representatives was House Bill 197, the Woman’s Right to Know Act. The bill would impose a 24-hour waiting period on women seeking an abortion. In addition, it would require the institution providing the procedure to provide mandated counseling on baby development and abortion alternatives like adoption. The bill would also require that minors notify their parents or legal guardians and receive their permission prior to the procedure being completed. It doesn’t make abortions illegal. That decision was affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court, and state laws cannot supercede federal laws. This legislation really is about common sense. Your child or mine cannot go to a doctor and receive treatment for a cold or any other medical problem but currently, under state law, they can have an abortion. In addition, there isn’t a mechanism in place that requires full disclosure on the physical and emotional trauma that an abortion can cause. And let’s all face the facts; plain and simple, adoption is a far better alternative for all. The Senate is expected to take up the bill soon and is expected to pass it also. The House passed a bill that would restrain several city and county governments from creating their own minimum wage laws exceeding what is mandated by the federal government at this time. Local governments, trying to use the concept of a “living wage,” have been circumventing legislation passed last year that prevented the use of local governments from requiring contractors that do business with the cities or counties to pay a living wage on those contracts. The government entities tried to start using bidder qualifications and evaluation factors to get around the bill. The bill passed 105-57, but the bill will be reconsidered on a later date due to a procedural motion. We also revised the HOPE scholarship program to keep it financially sound while eliminating career students. The HOPE scholarship program was initially devised to reward the successful student — success defined as a student carrying a B average or better — to receive free tuition at a state school. It wasn’t designed to allow career students to receive unlimited free schooling in perpetuity. We also recognized the overwhelming popularity of the program thus making it more expensive to fund year after year. To help ease the financial side without diminishing the deserving high school student from receiving a college education, we have limited HOPE eligibility to 127 semester hours. Almost every baccalaureate program in the state of Georgia requires no more than 127 semester hours to graduate and the bill will not impact current students. H.B. 299 passed easily in the House and awaits consideration by the Senate. The following is a list of some of the other bills that passed this week: HB 460 - Public retirement systems; compliance with Internal Revenue Code; provisions — So as to make numerous changes throughout said title to ensure that Georgia’s public retirement systems are in compliance with the federal Internal Revenue. Yeas: 147. Nays: 0. HR 142 – Committee on the Implementation of Textile Agreements; request approval of safeguard petitions — A resolution requesting that the Committee on the Implementation of Textile Agreements approve the safeguard petitions filed by the United States textile industry. Yeas: 148. Nays: 2. SB 48 – Renal Dialysis Advisory Council; revise; dialysis facilities; eliminate certain provisions — A general intent to eliminate the future “sunset” of certain provisions relating to renal disease facilities; so as to revise certain provisions relating to membership on the Renal Dialysis Advisory Council. Yeas: 151. Nays: 1. HB 416 – Torts; asbestos or silica claims; definitions and provisions — Physical impairment shall be an essential element of an asbestos claim. A limitations period shall be set for filing a claim. Pending claims under certain conditions may be dismissed. Provides for forum non conveniens. Yeas: 151. Nays: 0. SB 34 – Georgia Master Teacher Program; Academic Coach Program; establishment; regulations — An amendment passed making the National Board Certified Teacher portion of the bill applicable for certifications prior to July 1, 2006 and those renewals thereafter. Also, those currently in the pipeline or having enrolled in the process before Dec. 31, 2004 and who obtain initial certification and subsequent renewals after July 1, 2006 will be eligible for salary increases. This would allow those who already have National Board Certification and those currently in the process of achieving National Board Certification to remain teaching in the schools in which they are currently employed and do not have to be relocated to a school not meeting Adequate Yearly Progress. Floor Amendments: AM 33 0246 by Rep. Earl Ehrhart (R-Powder Springs); Adopted by a vote of Y-110: N-59 - amendment will give teachers access to liability insurance currently available to college professors and state employees. Yeas: 169. Nays: 0. HB 50 – Criminal history background checks; authorize national exchange — This bill will allow authorized non-law enforcement agencies (i.e. nursing homes) to access the federal criminal record database. Yeas: 161. Nays: 0. HB 172 - Crime Victims Restitution Act of 2005; enact — Substantially revise the laws of this state relating to the conduct of criminal trials and the impact of the criminal justice system on victims of crime; relating to tolling of limitations in civil cases, so as to provide for a statute of repose in certain tort actions brought by victims of crimes against the persons accused of such crimes; relating to criminal procedure, so as to change the provisions relating to victim impact statements; to amend relating to definitions relating to setoff debt collection, so as to change the provisions relating to collection of restitution for victims of crime. Yeas: 143. Nays: 29. HB 206 - Assisted living facilities; Levels I and II; provisions — There is a gap in residential long-term care for seniors. This legislation’s focus is on quality of life in nursing homes or assisted living homes. This bill will enable seniors to have freedom of choice and options for long-term care. Legislation is directed exclusively at seniors at facilities that require private payments. It has no effect on Medicaid, etc. Yeas: 141. Nays: 22. HB 327 – Workers’ compensation; electronic documents; injuries; designation; computation — Requires the implementation of electronic filing for workers compensation; redefines catastrophic injuries; adjusts the weekly compensation cap (increasing it to $450 from $425). Yeas: 155. Nays: 0. HB 22 – Sales and use tax; certain motor vehicle transactions; change tax situs — Changes the tax situs for certain motor vehicle transactions; This bill requires that the taxable situs of a motor vehicle retail sale, or a motor vehicle lease or rental that exceeds thirty days, be the county of the motor vehicle registration of the purchaser or lessee. Current law requires the tax situs to be the point of delivery (i.e. the point that transfer of title takes place). Yeas: 155. Nays: 0. HB 203 – Ad valorem tax; exempt farm equipment under lease purchase agreement — Ad Valorem Tax Exemption on Lease Purchase Agreements; This bill expands the ad valorem exemption for farm equipment to include equipment held under a lease purchase agreement. This equipment includes farm tractors, combines, and all other farm equipment other than motor vehicles, whether fixed or mobile, directly used in the production of agricultural products by family-owned qualified farm products producers. Yeas: 154. Nays: 0. I am getting an inside view that I want to share with everyone. — State Rep. Ron Forster, R-Ringgold, can be reached by phone in the Atlanta office at (404) 656‑3957 or through his Web site at www.gasrd3.org.
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