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AJC.com > Legislature > Blog > Archives > 2009 > February > 25
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Sunday sales vote delayed
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A key Senate committee had to put off a vote on allowing Sunday alcohol sales at stores Wednesday because not enough lawmakers showed up to vote.
The Senate Regulated Industries Committee was set to vote on legislation by Sen. Seth Harp (R-Midland) that would let local voters decide if they want Sunday beer, wine and liquor sales at stores.
Georgia is one of three states in the country with a total ban on Sunday sales. The legislation has been stalled in the Senate the past three sessions and some lawmakers have expressed reservations about going on the record on the issue.
The Christian Coalition of Georgia, which opposes the bill, has said it would include the issue in its political scorecard that goes out to voters.
Supporters of the bill had hoped to get it approved Wednesday to set up a Senate floor vote. But only two senators showed up for the committee meeting, not enough to provide a quorum.
Senate Regulated Industries Chairman David Shafer (R-Duluth) said the issue will be considered again next Wednesday.
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Failure to wear a seat belt could be used against you
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Failure to wear a seat belt could be used against an injured motorist in court, according to a bill that passed the Senate Wednesday.
Senate Bill 23, which passed 39 to 12, allows juries to hear about seat belt use in determining negligence in civil lawsuits.
A part of the bill that would have required seat belt usage in pickup trucks in Georgia was removed.
Sen. Seth Harp (R-Midland) spoke in favor of the truck seat belt language, saying such a requirement has historically had a hard time passing in the House of Representatives. Including the pickup truck language in this bill might “give it some legs” in the House, Harp said.
But the language was removed.
In a letter to senators, the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia supported introducing seat belt usage into evidence, saying counties are often defendants in cases involving accidents where people argue that a defect in a county road was the cause.
The bill allows counties to argue back that the motorist wouldn’t have been as severely injured if they had worn a seat belt.
The Georgia Chamber of Commerce gave talking points to senators, saying the bill would encourage seat belt use. In turn, more seat belt use could save insurance companies $55.8 million per year because injuries sustained while wearing a seat belt are less expensive to treat, according to the chamber.
Bill sponsor Sen. Lee Hawkins (R-Gainesville), a dentist, said his purpose was to encourage seat belt use.
“I want to do everything I can to influence people to wear seat belts,” he said.
Sen. John Wiles (R-Marietta), said he thought it was only fair to allow juries to hear about seat belt use, since they can now hear about distractions, such as if a motorist was applying make-up while driving.
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Perdue talks stimulus with state agency heads
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Gov. Sonny Perdue said Wednesday that the federal stimulus plan is not an “all or nothing proposal” and said he might not accept all of the $6 billion the state could collect.
Speaking to state agency heads, Perdue said if federal money would help the state, he’d take it. But if it would cost the state in the long term, he might not.
On Sunday, Perdue said he has specific concerns about money for unemployment insurance.
Georgia is expected to get about $220 million in federal aid to bolster its unemployment insurance program. But Perdue has said he’s worried that accepting that money could force the state to change its unemployment laws — and ultimately force the state to raise unemployment taxes to pay for it.
Celeste Osborn, the state’s deputy financial officer charged with overseeing the stimulus package, warned agency heads: “There are no administrative shortcuts. We have one chance to get this right.”
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High schoolers could go to college early
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
High school juniors and seniors could soon find themselves finishing their diplomas in a college setting.
The state House on Wednesday approved HB 149, which would let those public high school students take college classes and have those credits count toward their diplomas.
Sponsored by Rep. Jan Jones (R-Alpharetta), the bill would use state funds to help pay for the college tuition. The Department of Education would pay colleges the actual cost of tuition, materials and fees or the amount the state typically provided the student’s high school, whichever is less. Local school systems would get to keep a $200 records fee for each student who participates.
The bill now goes to the Senate.
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Physical assessments for students OK’d by House
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Department of Education must create a system for measuring students’ physical condition under a bill approved Wednesday in the state House.
HB 229, sponsored by House Education Committee Chairman Brooks Coleman (R-Duluth) is a second attempt at tackling childhood obesity. A similar measure failed last year — at Coleman’s urging — because it included a requirement that students’ body mass be measured. That proved too controversial as parents and educators worried about the impact on students.
But HB 229, which passed 116-42, could still make those measurements required, something opponents noted in limited debate on the House floor. The Education Department would be tasked with creating the physical assessment, and could choose to include body mass index testing.
The bill now goes to the Senate.
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Governor could remove school board members, under bill passed by Senate Wednesday
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Failing school boards could be removed by the governor before their system loses accreditation, according to a bill passed by the Senate Wednesday.
The bill comes after the Clayton County school board, which has a history of infighting, lost accreditation of the public school system.
“We want somebody to step in for the interest of these children who don’t have a voice,” said bill sponsor Sen. Bill Heath (R-Bremen).
“It’s a very touchy area,” Heath said of the removal of school board members, but he said it’s something that has to be done in a fair and effective way.
Police removed a school board member from a Clayton County school board meeting earlier this week, after an ethics commission voted earlier in the month that he should not serve on the board.
Senate Bill 84, which passed 35 to 14, sets standards for school boards to avoid nepotism and conflicts of interest. It also establishes qualifications and training for school board members.
Sen. Vincent Fort (D-Atlanta) opposed the bill, saying it takes away local control and gives the governor too much authority.
“It ought to be the decision of the local folk,” Fort said of who sits on the school board.
Sen. Gail Buckner (D-Morrow) defended Clayton County schools, saying the education the children get is good, notwithstanding a school board that micromanages.
“We got state award winners and national award winners,” Buckner said.
She introduced an amendment that would allow a local grand jury to appoint new school board members if the governor removed some members, as a way to retain local control. It failed.
Sen. Steve Thompson (D-Marietta), said the governor should have to pick from a list provided by local people.
“He doesn’t need to appoint everybody in the state,” Thompson said.
Thompson said the Legislature has given the governor increasing power, including appointing the public defender council and control over the state Department of Transportation.
“I’m afraid before it’s over we’ll let him pick the lottery numbers, and maybe he’ll win,” Thompson said.
“This is not any kind of power grab,” said Heath, who urged senators to support the bill. “This is to assure that the children of the state of Georgia get a good education.”
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