HB 0002 |
Evaluating | Provide for Pari-Mutuel Wagering on Horse Racing |
Geisinger, Harry 48th |
---|
|
2/17/2015 |
House Second Readers |
RegI |
- | - |
|
|
| This legislation details how pari-mutuel betting on horse racing would be established in Georgia if approved by the voters of this state. It provides for local referenda initiated by voters to be held before the commission grants licenses to construct, establish or operate a racetrack or satellite facility. The licensees of racetracks or satellite facilities would be required to retain up to 18% of the pool, with 2% of the retainage going to the county or city in which the racetrack is located , and 7% retainage on the legitimate breakage, with 1% going to the county or city where the satellite facility is located and 1% going to the county or city where the racetrack is located. |
HB 0348 |
Neutral | Create State Workforce Development Board |
Dickey, Robert 140th |
---|
|
7/1/2015 |
Effective Date |
I&L |
I&L |
- |
|
|
| This legislation creates the State Workforce Development Board under the Department of Economic Development, which is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations for purposes of implementing the state's workforce policy while complying with federal laws. Previously, the Georgia Workforce Investment Board was housed under the Governor's Office of Workforce Development. |
HB 0370 |
Support | Authorize Ethics Commission to Waive Certain Penalties of Local Officials |
Fleming, Barry 121st |
---|
|
5/3/2016 |
House Date Signed by Governor |
GAff |
ETHICS |
- |
|
|
| This legislation, while covering multiple issues last session, now just authorizes the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission to waive penalties improperly assessed against local elected officials who did not file, filed late, or filed an incomplete contribution disclosure report or personal financial disclosure statement from Jan. 1, 2010 to Jan. 10, 2014. Said reports may again be filed in paper format for a fee of $40. Up until December 31, 2016, there is a grace period for those who did not file, filed late, or filed an incomplete report in that four-year period whereby the public official will be deemed in compliance.
|
HB 0438 |
Evaluating | Elections- Prohibit Use of Government Email Addresses for Campaign Purposes |
Raffensperger, Brad 50th |
---|
|
2/24/2015 |
House Second Readers |
GAff |
- | - |
|
|
| This legislation prohibits public officials from using their government supplied email addresses for election or campaign purposes. |
HB 0442 |
Evaluating | Makes Abuse of Government Office a Crime |
Gasaway, Dan 28th |
---|
|
2/24/2015 |
House Second Readers |
GAff |
- | - |
|
|
| This legislation makes it a crime for a county commissioner or development authority director to vote on the purchase of property in which the commissioner or director directly or indirectly owns more than 25% of the property. |
HB 0597 |
Neutral | DeKalb County; board of commissioners; change jurisdiction of Board of Ethics |
Holcomb, Scott 81st |
---|
|
5/12/2015 |
House Date Signed by Governor |
IGC |
SLGO |
- |
|
|
| |
HB 0631 |
Neutral | Cherokee County; Board of Ethics; define a term |
Cantrell, Wes 22nd |
---|
|
5/12/2015 |
House Date Signed by Governor |
IGC |
SLGO |
- |
|
|
| |
HB 0785 |
Oppose | Townships - Create with Zoning, Land Use and Building Code Powers |
Dudgeon, Mike 25th |
---|
|
1/22/2016 |
House Second Readers |
GAff |
- | - |
|
|
| This legislation, similar to SB 272, would allow for the creation of townships via local legislation with land use, zoning, subdivision, building permit and code enforcement powers, if the voters first approve a statewide referendum approving a constitutional amendment. Companion resolutions, HR 1051 and SR 724, if passed, will call for the statewide referendum to amend the constitution allowing townships to have zoning powers. Townships could levy up to a .5 mill property tax, annex and transition to cityhood. Though counties would have no say in the above decisions, counties must continue to provide all services and infrastructure to the area as they would any unincorporated area. Counties would have an opportunity to comment on township decisions, but nothing is binding or mediated. |
HB 0860 |
Neutral | Persons Pardoned for Previous Felony Convictions Qualified to Serve as Coroner |
Bentley, Patty 139th |
---|
|
2/17/2016 |
House Committee Favorably Reported |
GAff |
- | - |
|
|
| This legislation allows convicted felons (including those convicted of a felony involving moral turpitude) to run for coroner if they have received a pardon. |
HB 1086 |
Neutral | Municipal corporations; dual government service of members of municipal councils on boards to include all local government offices within the same county; broaden the prohibition |
Martin, Chuck 49th |
---|
|
2/24/2016 |
House Second Readers |
B&FAO |
- | - |
|
|
| This legislation prohibits city council members from holding any office of any local governmental entity located in the same county (or counties) as the city. |
SB 0010 |
Evaluating | Elections- Appointment of a Temporary Replacement Officer |
Ramsey, Sr., Ronald 43rd |
---|
|
1/13/2015 |
Senate Read and Referred |
- | SLGO |
- |
|
|
| This legislation amends the process for filling a vacancy created on a board of commissioners when one member of the board has been suspended because he or she has been indicted for a felony relating to the performance or activities of their office. Under current law, unless otherwise provided in local legislation, the Governor may appoint a member of the board to serve as a temporary replacement for the suspended commissioner. The board can then select a temporary replacement to fill the suspended member's seat until the suspension is terminated or the suspended member's term expires. The commissioners must advertise the intention to select a temporary replacement in the county legal organ once per week for two weeks. This legislation allows the commissioner selected by the Governor as a temporary replacement or the chief executive officer of the county to undertake a formal and transparent process to nominate up to three qualified persons to serve as a replacement. If there are no objections from the commissioner selected by the Governor or the chief executive officer of the county, the list of nominees are submitted to the board of commissioners for a formal vote. If no nominee is selected by the commissioners within 180 days, then the Governor is authorized to select a temporary replacement from the nominee list to fill the suspended member's seat until the suspension is terminated or the term has expired. |
SB 0118 |
Neutral | DeKalb County; change the jurisdiction of the Board of Ethics of DeKalb County; appointments; terms of office; qualifications |
Butler, Gloria 55th |
---|
|
2/17/2015 |
Senate Read and Referred |
- | SLGO |
- |
|
|
| |
SB 0127 |
Neutral | Authorize Ethics Commission to Waive Certain Penalties of Local Officials |
Jeffares, Rick 17th |
---|
|
4/2/2015 |
Senate Conference Report Lost |
GAff |
ETHICS |
- |
|
|
| This legislation authorizes the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission to waive late filing fees that occurred between 2011-13. This legislation was amended in the House to include the provisions from HB 370 which prohibits a public official from qualifying if outstanding fines exist and the official is not awaiting the outcome of an appeal or hardship waiver request. The House also added the language from HB 194 which provides for a reduction in the advanced voting period bringing it from 21 to 12 days. |
SB 0148 |
Neutral | Office of Consumer Affairs - Move from Governor's to AG's Office |
Kennedy, John 18th |
---|
|
7/1/2015 |
Effective Date |
A&CA |
AG&CA |
- |
|
|
| This legislation transfers authority under the Fair Business Practices Act of 1975 from the Governor's Office of Consumer Affairs to the Attorney General.
|
SB 0199 |
Neutral | Elections - Omnibus Bill |
Jeffares, Rick 17th |
---|
|
4/26/2016 |
Senate Date Signed by Governor |
GAff |
ETHICS |
- |
|
|
| This legislation clarifies what "campaign material" may not be displayed or distributed at or near polling places.
It also allows for the reopening of qualifications in city elections under certain circumstances and provides that local legislation by the General Assembly can require candidates for the county commission to reside in their respective districts for up to 12 months prior to their qualifying for election.
Next, candidates for local office receiving between $2,500.01 and $5,000.00 in campaign contributions must file campaign reports on June 30 and December 31 (formerly June 30 and October 25).
Lastly, in 2015, the "second Saturday" of advanced primary runoff voting fell on the 4th of July, reducing voter participation and making it difficult to staff the polling stations. Under this bill, if the second Saturday of advance voting in any general, primary, or runoff election falls on a federal holiday or holiday weekend, then the third Saturday prior to these elections will become the Saturday for advance voting. |
SB 0272 |
Oppose | Townships - Create with Zoning, Land Use and Building Code Powers |
Ligon, Jr., William 3rd |
---|
|
1/21/2016 |
Senate Read and Referred |
- | SLGO |
- |
|
|
| This legislation, similar to HB 785, would allow for the creation of townships via local legislation with land use, zoning, subdivision, building permit and code enforcement powers, if Georgia voters first approve a statewide referendum approving a constitutional amendment. Companion resolutions, SR 724 and HR 1051, if passed, will call for the statewide referendum to amend the constitution allowing townships to have zoning powers. Townships could levy up to a .5 mill property tax, annex and transition to cityhood. Though counties would have no say in the above decisions, counties must continue to provide all services and infrastructure to the area as they would any unincorporated area. Counties would have an opportunity to comment on township decisions, but nothing is binding or mediated. |
SB 0356 |
Support | Animal Control - Counties to be Reimbursed for Cost of Care |
Williams, Michael 27th |
---|
|
4/26/2016 |
Senate Date Signed by Governor |
Judy |
SLGO |
- |
|
|
| SB 356 establishes a process for animal control agencies to recover costs for caring for an animal impounded for violation of the Georgia Animal Protection Act. If an animal owner refuses to relinquish custody, counties that are sheltering an animal (e.g., in dog fighting or animal hoarding cases) have the option to charge a bond to the owner to pay the costs of emergency medical care, rehabilitation, food and shelter. For more information, please click here. |
SB 0358 |
Neutral | City of Stockbridge; provide for an oath of office and its administration |
Jones, Emanuel 10th |
---|
|
4/26/2016 |
Senate Date Signed by Governor |
IGC |
SLGO |
- |
|
|
| |
SB 0359 |
Neutral | City of Stockbridge; terminate the employment of appointed officers upon such persons qualifying to seek public office |
Jones, Emanuel 10th |
---|
|
4/26/2016 |
Senate Date Signed by Governor |
IGC |
SLGO |
- |
|
|
| |
SB 0360 |
Neutral | City of Stockbridge; prohibit the mayor and councilmembers from holding any other elective/appointive office during the term that official was elected |
Jones, Emanuel 10th |
---|
|
4/26/2016 |
Senate Date Signed by Governor |
IGC |
SLGO |
- |
|
|
| |
SB 0394 |
Neutral | Campaign Contributions - Prohibitions on Vendors Doing Business with County |
McKoon, Joshua 29th |
---|
|
2/18/2016 |
Senate Read and Referred |
- | ETHICS |
- |
|
|
| This legislation prohibits businesses (as well as their affiliated entities, executive employees, and employees whose compensation is determined by the award of government contracts) from making campaign contributions to state and local elected officials or candidates for offices that are responsible for awarding the contract to the business. Specifically, businesses with more than $50,000 per year in contracts with counties, cities, school boards and local authorities may not make contributions to any candidate or campaign committee of an official (or individual seeking office) responsible for awarding contracts. The prohibition lasts for the term of office of an incumbent officeholder or for two years following the expiration/termination of the contract, whichever is longer. Any business that violates this provision three or more times within three years will have all of their contracts with the county and the state voided. Similarly, businesses (as well as affiliated entities and affiliated individuals) with a total of pending bids and offers over $50,000 to counties (or the total of existing contracts with the state and pending bids and offers to counties is over $50,000) are prohibited from making contributions to any candidate (or their campaign committee) whose office is responsible for awarding the contract for which the bid or offer was submitted. The county may void a contract with any business that violates either of these provisions related to donations to local officials or candidates within 90 days of the violation. Any business that violates the prohibition against making contributions to state officials or candidates three or more times within a three year period may not respond to any county invitation to bid or request for proposal. Any candidate or campaign committee that received a contribution in violation of this law must pay the state the amount of the contribution illegally made. |
SB 0438 |
Neutral | Telfair County; county officers; repeal the amendment to the Constitution of Georgia; ineligible to hold office under certain conditions |
Williams, Tommie 19th |
---|
|
4/26/2016 |
Senate Date Signed by Governor |
IGC |
SLGO |
- |
|
|
| |