Bill passes that would require identification of rate increases tied to Obamacare
The Senate gave final passage late Thursday night to a bill that would require health insurance companies to include on consumers’ premium statements the amount of a rate increase, if any, that is a result of the federal Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.
Senate Bill 236, sponsored by Sen. Burt Jones, R-Jackson, also would require workers on the state’s health benefit program to receive the same information.
— Misty Williams
Alcohol sales could be allowed closer to colleges
Georgia college students may find more stores selling beer and wine closer to campus under a bill lawmakers passed Thursday.
House Bill 517 would let local governments decide the distance between college campuses and stores selling booze. Stores can be within 100 yards of a college campus.
The bill was amended by the Senate to require that stores set aside at least 85 percent of floor space to non-alcoholic items. The House signed off on the change.
The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Chuck Williams, R-Watkinsville, has said he filed the measure because of a grocery chain considering a store in Athens.
The University System of Georgia – which includes the University of Georgia – took a neutral stance on the bill.
HB 517 now advances to Gov. Nathan Deal.
— Laura Diamond
Bill targeting drunken drivers advances
Legislation that received final approval Thursday would lengthen the time repeat DUI offenders must use an interlock ignition device on their vehicles to a year.
House Bill 407 would double the length of time offenders must use the device, which measures a driver’s blood-alcohol content before allowing the ignition to start.
The bill was requested by the Department of Driver Services to keep Georgia compliant with federal guidelines.
— Aaron Gould Sheinin
Committee to study health agency gains passage
A bill to create a new committee of lawmakers to examine state spending on health care cleared its final hurdle Thursday.
Senate Bill 62, sponsored by Sen. Judson Hill, R-Marietta, calls for a joint legislative committee to examine the practices of the state Department of Community Health and find potential savings. It requires the group to present a report of its findings and recommendations each year.
— Misty Williams
Mug shot legislation passes
A bill that would bar anyone from charging a fee to have a mug shot removed from a website if the person arrested is not convicted is headed to Gov. Nathan Deal’s desk.
House Bill 150, sponsored by Rep. Roger Bruce, D-Atlanta, received final passage Thursday.
The bill targets websites that access law enforcement sites to collect mug shots of people arrested for various crimes. These sites sometimes charge huge sums to remove a person’s photograph. The bill makes it illegal to charge for that removal if the person arrested is found not guilty, if the charges are dropped or in other instances.
The bill includes protections for legitimate news sites.
— Aaron Gould Sheinin
Foreigners could find it easier to get driver’s licenses
A bill that would give foreigners quicker access to Georgia driver’s licenses won final passage in the House on Thursday and is heading to Gov. Nathan Deal’s desk for his signature.
Deal has already indicated support for House Bill 475, which passed the Senate on Tuesday with a few amendments. The governor has said the bill would make Georgia more business-friendly. A spokesman for the governor said his office would start reviewing approved legislation Friday.
Sponsored by Republican state Rep. B.J. Pak of Lilburn, HB 475 would authorize Georgia to enter into “reciprocity agreements” with other countries. Such agreements would allow foreigners to skip the state’s knowledge and on-the-road driver’s license tests, so long as they are legally present in the U.S. and hold valid driver’s licenses issued by their own countries. Their countries must also offer the same benefits to visitors with Georgia driver’s licenses.
— Jeremy Redmon
Special license plates for ex-legislators voted down
House lawmakers defeated a measure that would allow retired legislators to buy special license plates.
The House rejected a Senate amendment on Thursday that would have allowed ex-lawmakers to buy the plates by a 101-67 vote. It now goes back to the Senate.
The language was tacked on to a measure that also allows drivers to buy license plates supporting the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and the Atlanta Braves Foundation.
Some critics said they don’t know why ex-lawmakers need special recognition.
— Greg Bluestein
Bill to close child porn loopholes gets final OK
Lawmakers have adopted legislation to tighten restrictions on Web-based child pornography.
House Bill 156 now goes to Gov. Nathan Deal’s desk. Rep. Jay Neal, R-LaFayette, said the Georgia Bureau of Investigation asked for the bill to close a loophole dealing with the advertisement online for minor children involved in the sex trade.
“There was a loophole that did not allow them to prosecute for that,” Neal said.
The bill also includes “Romeo and Juliet” language for teens who send naked photos of each other via text message, a practice known as “sexting.” Current law could make it a child pornography felony if two 16-year-olds in a consensual relationship sent each other naked photos. HB 156 would make it a misdemeanor.
— Aaron Gould Sheinin
New gun bill awaits action in 2014
A Republican state lawmaker introduced legislation this week to ban illegal immigrants from possessing, shipping or transporting any firearms.
First-time offenders would face up to five years in prison under House Bill 667, sponsored by Rep. Barry Fleming of Harlem.
HB 667 would be considered during the next legislative session, beginning in January.
— Jeremy Redmon
About the Author
