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AJC.com > Legislature > Georgia Beat > Archives > 2005 > February > 08
Tuesday, February 8, 2005
Senate measure bans smoking in bars, most other public places
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia may soon be a smoke-free state, at least in public places.
A far-reaching measure to ban smoking in virtually all public, indoor areas unanimously passed the Senate Health and Human Services committee Tuesday with little opposition from public or business interests.
Sen. Don Thomas (R-Dalton) introduced the bill, which would prohibit lighting up in restaurants, bars, shopping malls, sports arenas. The committee approved a few minor amendments, including one that would bar residents of nursing homes and long-term facilities from smoking in their rooms, but allow them to smoke in designated areas.
“It’s a strong bill,” Thomas said. “It’s a much needed bill.”
The bill’s next stop is the Senate, where it must be approved before it can move to the House.
Several groups spoke briefly Tuesday in support of the measure, from anti-smoking organizations such as the American Lung Association and the American Cancer Association to business groups, such as the Georgia Restaurant Association.
Several Georgia counties and municipalities have laws restricting smoking in some way. Many restaurant and bar owners say they would prefer a uniform policy so that their competitors won’t have an advantage in luring either smokers or non-smokers.
Michael Hoffer, a member of the Building Owners and Management Association, also spoke in support of the bill, saying many property owners want a uniform policy and clear guidelines.
“Many of us have rules, but it’s very difficult for us to enforce without any back-up legislation,” Hoffer said.
Last year, the Senate approved a similar, though less restrictive, measure in a 45-7 vote, but the measure foundered in the House. Several other states have enacted public smoking bans, including Florida, New York and Massachusetts.
E.C. “Rusty” Kidd, a lobbyist for tobacco giant R.J. Reynolds, asked the committee not to impose regulations on individual rights.
Kay Jackson, the owner of the American Vending Company, a cigarette vending machine company, also spoke against the bill, but said she expected it to pass. She asked the committee to consider compensating her for the loss of business she will experience if the ban goes into effect.
“I see which way this is going,” Jackson said. She added: “This is taking away my living. I don’t want to lose my home. This is what this bill is doing.”
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Gwinnett State College one step closer to becoming reality
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Senate moved quickly through its busiest morning yet of the 2005 session on Tuesday by approving a slew of resolutions and passing six bills.
The effort to create a four-year standalone university in Gwinnett County cleared its first hurdle this year with a 50-3 vote.
Sen. Don Balfour (R-Snellville) introduced Senate Resolution 33, a measure that would transform the Gwinnett University Center - a facility offering a hodgepodge of post-secondary courses - into Gwinnett State College.
Balfour said Gwinnett County’s population is about 700,000 and is expected to increase to a million in 20 years. About 135,000 children are enrolled in Gwinnett County schools, Balfour said.
“There’s obviously a great need for this, a great demand for this,” Balfour said.
The Senate also approved the following bills:
SB 56 - This measure changed some laws relating to the confinement of patients with active tuberculosis who are resistant to treatment. Under the bill, patients may be confined for up to two years, up from six months.
SB 87 - The Georgia Seed Act would prohibit local governments from regulating the labeling, packaging, sale, storage, transportation, distribution, notification of use, or use of seeds.
SB 88 - The Georgia Fertilizer Act would ban local government regulation of fertilizer.
SB 89 - The bill would change the legal definition of some controlled substances.
SB 97 - The measure would allow Georgia’s juvenile courts to collect supervision fees to collect fees to provide for truancy intervention services.
The Senate meets Wednesday at 10 a.m. No bills are scheduled for debate.
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House approves mid-year budget
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Georgia House passed and sent to the state Senate a mid-year state budget today that sets aside $22 million for local projects - including some in the home counties of the new GOP leaders.
The budget, which passed 165-5, includes $1 million to upgrade rail facilities at the port in Brunswick, which is represented by state Rep. Jerry Keen (R-St. Simons Island).
It also includes money for an abused children’s program in Paulding County, home of House Speaker Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram), and $300,000 for a Georgia State University project in Alpharetta, hometown of GOP Speaker Pro Tem Mark Burkhalter.
The mid-year update of the $16.5 billion budget for fiscal 2005 is House Republicans’ first chance to make their mark on state spending priorities since winning control of the chamber in last year’s election.
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Georgia companies to get tax breaks under House plan
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
With bipartisan support, legislation to give a major tax break to Georgia-grown companies sailed through the House this morning.
The bill, which is expected to save Georgia companies almost $10 billion during the next 10 years, passed the House with only two dissenting votes.
“The message this bill sends is, we’re taking care of our own for the first time ever,” said the bill’s sponsor, state Rep. Larry O’Neal (R-Warner Robins).
O’Neal said the bill closes major loopholes that benefit out-of-state companies. He said the break for Georgia companies will be offset by the elimination of those loopholes.
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