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Pressure Builds as Final Days of the 2012 Legislative Session Draw Near
The General Assembly is on track to wrap up the 2012 legislative session before the end of March. Next week, legislators return for four official days (Days 34 – 37). Now is the time when ACCG and county officials must keep a watchful eye on all legislation to ensure that bills are not amended in ways that could negatively impact county operations.
ACCG has updated the legislative tracking database and is only tracking legislation at this time that has passed in either the House or the Senate (or both) and is still alive. Remember that you can track legislation by issue, policy committee, or policy staff member to get a quick snapshot of issues that interest you. The ACCG legislative database is available by clicking here.
Watch for updates from ACCG next week on major issues including criminal justice reform, juvenile justice reform and tax reform. Below are updates on other legislation representing county priorities that saw action this week.
Senate Appropriations Committee Approves Watered Down Version of HB 811
The Senate Appropriations Committee passed, but made major modifications to, HB 811 this week which will allow state budget writers to continue diverting dedicated fees for other purposes. The Committee amended the bill to allow for the unabated diversion of dedicated fees without any fee reduction until state reserves reach at least 7% percent of the previous year’s fiscal budget, or about $1.1 billion. The current total held in state reserves is $328 million, and the reserves have topped the billion dollar mark only once in the past 23 years. Also, indigent defense fees were removed from the bill. The bill now awaits action by the Senate Rules Committee.
The media has closely followed HB 811 and asked Senators tough questions this week regarding the need for transparency in the state’s budget making process. Some of the media coverage includes:
HB 811 is one of ACCG’s top priorities this legislative session. Please contact your Senators and ask that they support HB 811 and encourage an amendment to reduce the 7 percent reserve threshold to 3 percent. Without this change, the redirection of fees will continue with little, if any constraint. ACCG fully supports building up the state’s shortfall reserve, but not at the expense of fees dedicated to services local governments must carry out.
Tax Reform Legislation Expected Next Week
The Special Joint Committee on Georgia Revenue Structure is expected to take up new tax reform legislation next week. Last year, tax reform legislation was introduced early and was met with much resistance. Because this legislation will come through a Joint Committee comprised of both House and Senate members, it is not subject to the “Crossover Day” rules. Once it is passed by this committee, it will receive an up or down vote in the House. If passed, it will then receive an up or down vote in the Senate. Therefore, this legislation is expected to move very quickly once it is introduced. ACCG will provide a summary of the major components of this legislation as soon as it is available for review.
Legislation Provides More Direction for Prepaid Cellular Providers
HB 1049 clarifies the definition of prepaid cellular providers to ensure that that those who provide a monthly cell phone service, whether it is prepaid or not, are required to pay the $1.50 monthly 911 fee instead of the .75 cent fee at the point of purchase. It also clarifies that prepaid wireless providers paying the .75 cent fee are not eligible to bill local governments for cost recovery.
Ask Senators to Restore Funding for Printers and Terminals in Tax Commissioners’ Offices in FY 2012 Supplemental/FY 2013 Budget
The media has taken note, click here for a recent article in the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
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