We have just concluded the sixth week of the legislative
session. Starting Monday, February 23, 2015 the General Assembly will
have entered the 20th legislative day. We are now half-way to completing
the legislative session and only ten days away from “Cross Over” Day, where all
bills in either House or Senate must pass out in order to be considered by the
either chamber. If a bill does not pass out on “Cross Over” Day, that
bill cannot pass in the other chamber directly. With the 2015 legislative
session heating up, an increasing number of bills were passed out of committees
and voted upon by the full body of the House. Here is a summary of some
of the bills that have been passed out so far:
HB 292: This legislation is the annual bill for the
Internal Revenue Code update which takes place whenever the federal IRS makes
yearly updates. It is necessary that we alter ours to coincide with theirs.
I voted “YES”.
HB 119: This legislation would allow Probate Court Judges
the discretion to waive privacy rights for HIV/AIDS patients to informed
concerned parties when they have been deemed, by the court, to be a danger to
themselves or others and may come in contact with emergency personnel. I
find this bill unnecessary because any and all individuals who are exposed to
blood borne pathogens like HIV are taught to use “universal precautions” when
potentially exposed. Healthcare professionals as well as law enforcement
are trained to use “universal precautions”. This bill would erode an
individual’s right to medical privacy. I find no compelling state
interest to override an individual’s right to privacy in the situation this bill
is trying to address; therefore, I voted “NO”.
HB 172: This bill revises Georgia code so that an
individual cannot be charged with a Boating while Under the Influence while
floating on an inner tube - or similar unmotorized device- in a body of water
in Georgia. We all have a right to be “unwise” as we live our lives.
While I do not recommend getting inebriated while floating in water, this
change in the law provides clarity and makes the punishment fit the actual
crime. This is common sense, and I voted “YES”.
HB 91: This bill would allow students who, despite
meeting every other necessary requirement were denied a high school diploma
because of Georgia High School Graduation Test failure, to petition their local
school board to obtain a diploma. We have too many tests in our public
schools all for the sake of collecting data supposedly to measure performance,
but many times these tests are not measuring what they were supposedly designed
to do. These kind of hyper-testing policies sometimes have negative
consequences and keeps people from getting jobs and entering the workforce.
Therefore, I voted “YES”.
HB 65: I voted YES on HB 65, which would require
charter schools to hold two public meetings in regard to their budgeting
process with other measures to increase transparency.
HB 117: This bill redefines language and tightens
measures for those collecting unemployment. I voted “Yes”.
HB 49: This legislation would allow local and county tax
agencies to offer tax bills electronically through email. Taxpayers would then
have the option to opt-in to receiving their bills electronically or via
regular mail. I voted “YES”.
HB 320: This bill restricts certain identifying
information collected by the Georgia Student Finance Authority, the Georgia
Student Finance Commission, and the Georgia Higher Education Assistance
Corporation. The information has to do with a student's personal identifying
information. I voted “YES”.
SB 5: This bill will enable the Georgia Ports
Authority to accept federal dollars for the Savannah Harbor deepening project.
The project, which began last month, will deepen the Savannah River from 42
feet to 47 feet, allowing the port to accommodate larger container ships. The
state of Georgia has thus far designated $266 million towards the project, and
President Obama recently requested the appropriation of $42 million in federal
funds from Congress. Thanks to the combination of state and federal funding,
the project is currently scheduled to be finished by 2020. One of the
responsibilities of the federal government is to ensure interstate commerce is
uninhibited and this project is an appropriate use of state and federal
dollars. I voted “YES”.
House Bill 100: The bill is designed to better ensure
that children are developmentally prepared to begin school. The original
version of this bill required 4 year olds, who were already in Pre-K and about
to enter the 2015 fall school year, to sit out another year before entering
kindergarten. This statute requires that a child be 5 years old by August
1 in order to be eligible to enroll in kindergarten. However, the bill
that ultimately passed the House changes the current cutoff date from September
1 and would go into effect for the 2017-2018 school year and July 1 for the
2018-2019 school year and all years thereafter. Therefore, if your child is 3
years old, you will have time to plan for his or her kindergarten year. I
voted “Yes” on this compromise language.
If you have questions or concerns about these bills or any
other pieces of legislation, I hope that you will contact me. I am your
state representative, and my job is to represent your thoughts and opinions in
Atlanta. Please stop by and visit if you are in Atlanta during the
legislative session, or call my office at the State Capitol and let me know
what I can do for you and your family. The phone number is 404-6560-0177.
You may email me at jason.spencer@house.ga.gov or at
spencer4hirega@gmail.com.
Update on HB 17, the Hidden Predator Act
HB 17 had gone through two extensive hearings in House
Judiciary. The witness testimony has been very powerful and we are now
getting close to be in a position to vote on a bill that will provide a
meaningful extension on the civil state of limitations for child sexual abuse
cases. National experts on the this topic have provided invaluable
testimony and resources to answer all questions regarding the nature of child
sexual abuse and the legal changes that are happening across the country to
unlock the court house doors for survivors of sexual abuse. I expect another
hearing this week on HB 17.
Last week, a case in Pierce County, Georgia was highlighted
as another perfect example as to why HB 17, the Hidden Predator Act, is needed
in Georgia. In this case, the Pierce County Board of Education Chairman
had serious allegations brought against him. The Pierce County Sherriff’s
had enough evidence to bring this person before a grand jury for prosecution,
but the DA in the Waycross Judicial Circuit was not able to prosecute, despite
the evidence, due to the statute of limitations. In other words, time ran
out for those victims despite the evidence. Please watch the interview
below with Action News Investigates CBS 47 out of Jacksonville, Florida to
learn more why we need the Hidden Predator Act. Click picture below to
watch.
If you are a survivor of child sexual abuse and have a story
to tell, please contact all the members of the House Judiciary Committee (click
here). Find all of your resources here at www.voicetoday.org/act to
get involved.
Transportation Bill Up For Vote on Monday, February 23, 2015
Tomorrow, it is expected that the much debated
Transportation Bill, HB 170, will come to the House floor for a vote.
This bill has gone through a few renditions and changes. Below is a
summary of the current bill that is expected to be voted on tomorrow by the
Georgia House of Representatives.
Transportation Funding Act of 2015 Summary
This bill defines “Alternative Fuel” as electricity, natural
gas, and propane and “Alternative Fueled Vehicle” as any vehicle fueled solely
by alternative fuel. Alternative fueled vehicles will be assessed an annual fee
upon registration of $200 for non-commercial vehicles and $300 for commercial
vehicles. This fee will be adjusted annually based on the National Highway
Construction Cost Index.
In regards to the power of the Governor to suspend or modify
the collection of taxes, he will now only be authorized to suspend the increase
in the event that he declares a state of emergency and the General Assembly
ratifies his actions with a 2/3 vote.
As used in this part, the term 'transportation purposes'
means and includes roads, bridges, public transit, rails, airports, buses,
seaports, including without limitation road, street, and bridge purposes
pursuant to paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of Code Section 48-8-121, and all
accompanying infrastructure and services necessary to provide access to these
transportation facilities, including general obligation debt, revenue debt, and
other multiyear obligations issued to finance such purposes.
The bill removes all state sales and use tax from the sale
of motor fuels and thus repeals the second motor fuel tax. Local governments
will continue to levy their existing taxes. SPLOSTS will continue levying 1
percent on all sales; upon renewal, revenues generated from motor fuels will be
required to be used on transportation purposes. HOST, LOST, and MOST will no
longer be levied on motor fuels but the rate on all other sales will go to 1.25
percent.
The state excise rate on a gallon of gas will be 29.2 cents;
the rate on a gallon of diesel fuel will be 33 cents per gallon. This rate will
be adjusted annually based on an aggregate of fuel efficiency standards (CAFÉ)
and the National Highway Construction Cost Index.
The Georgia Transportation Infrastructure Bank may give
preference to eligible projects in tier 1 and tier 2 counties as defined by
Georgia Code and the Department of Community Affairs. When determining
eligibility, the board shall make every effort to balance any loans or other
financial assistance among all regions of this state. The effective date of
this Act is July 1, 2015
Source: GA State Representative Jason Spencer
28 Yachtsmen Court, Woodbine Georgia 31569 United States
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