Your Georgia Desk
From Senator Bill Heath
Almost Halfway Home
This week’s newsletter is going to be more about the bills that passed the Senate this week. Last week, “the pace had picked up,” and the Senate is now moving bills through with some speed; passing 8 Senate Bills and agreeing to minor changes in the Senate’s version of the amended budget.
Here’s a brief summary of the bills that will now pass over to the House for their consideration:
Senate Bill 18 establishes policies for the Technical College System of Georgia to grant academic college-level credit for learning from military service, prior work experience or self-study.
Senate Bill 62 removes limitations on probate courts so that they now have jurisdiction over all fish and game violations. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division has historically filed these offenses with probate courts.
Senate Bill 58, called the “Georgia Leadership and Service Admission Act,” will allow every member of the Georgia General Assembly, the Governor and Lieutenant Governor to recommend a student who meets HOPE Scholarship requirements to a college in the Board of Regents system if that student agrees to participate in Reserve Officer’s Training Corps while enrolled in college.
Senate Bill 79 expands the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council’s powers and duties for victim’s compensation claims. It raises the capped payout amount for funeral costs to $6,000 and expands the list of family members that can file for compensation. The Georgia Crime Victims Compensation Program helps victims and their families through the emotional, physical and financial aftermath of a crime.
Senate Bill 51 clarifies Georgia law for the dispensing of expensive medical products called biologics. It defines the terms “biological product” and “interchangeable biological product” to better resemble definitions from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Public Health Service Act.
Senate Bill 65 updates Georgia’s property bankruptcy laws to clarify the caps on exemptions for property or properties.
Senate Bill 4 is a public-private partnership bill to expand the redevelopment of urban areas around the Atlanta Beltline with more surface transportation projects. Those projects could include improvements to current mass transit facilities, sidewalks or bike lanes.
Senate Bill 72, called “Tanja’s Law,” strengthens the punishments for crimes committed against a police dog while the dog is performing its official duties.
The Senate also agreed to some House amendments made to the Senate’s version of House Bill 75, which is the Fiscal Year 2015 Amended Budget. The budget, which was originally recommended by the Governor, has been signed into law. The highlights of the $21.1 billion amended budget have been included in previous columns.
The Georgia General Assembly has now completed 19 of our 40 legislative days. The only thing we have to do in that remaining constitutional requirement for our remaining 21 legislative days is to pass the Fiscal Year 2016 budget, which is currently being worked on in the House.
Next Monday, the Governor’s “Opportunity Schools” proposal for ensuring our students receive an adequate education will be before the Senate Education and Youth Committee. The companion resolution for SB 133, which is a constitutional amendment, will eventually require voter approval in 2016 if it is to become law.
If you’d like to read full versions of the bills as they passed the Senate, you can go to www.legis.ga.gov. Search using the abbreviation “SB” for Senate Bills then the corresponding bill number.
It is truly an honor to be chosen to represent the citizens of Senate District 31. While passion seems to prevail over principle in many of the debates, I want to hear your thoughts on the issues before the Senate. Please phone my office or better yet, email me with your ideas or concerns about issues of importance to you.
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