Lawmakers Returns Tuesday, March 18

Lawmakers will not be seen tonight because the legislature is not in session. Join us at 7 PM on Tuesday, March 18 when the Georgia General Assembly convenes for the 32nd legislative day. In case you're wondering how to find out when a new episode of Lawmakers will be produced, we wanted to explain our schedule. Lawmakers is broadcast every night at 7 PM on Georgia Public Broadcasting when the Georgia General Assembly is in session. The Georgia General Assembly meets for no more than 40 legislative days each spring. The session commences on the second Monday after the first Tuesday in January. The legislature does not necessarily meet on consecutive days and the session often extends through March and well into April. The House and Senate set their schedule by Resolution, so, we at Lawmakers are often unaware of what the schedule will be until the Resolution is brought to the floor in one of the chambers for a vote.

On Tuesday, March 11, Senate Resolution 1145 was adopted in both chambers, setting the following legislative schedule:

Tuesday, March 11 . . . . . . . in session for legislative day 30
Wednesday, March 12 . . . . in session for legislative day 31
Thursday, March 13 through Monday, March 17. . . in adjournment
Tuesday, March 18. . . . . . . .in session for legislative day 32
Wednesday, March 19. . . . . in session for legislative day 33
Thursday, March 20. . . . . . .in session for legislative day 34
Friday, March 21 through Wednesday, March 26. . . in adjournment
Thursday, March 27. . . . . . . in session for legislative day 35

Lawmakers is broadcast on GPB television and streamed at www.gpb.org at 7PM every day that the Georgia General Assembly is in session.

Day 31- March 12, 2008

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Tonight on Lawmakers, the Senate puts the breaks on a red light camera bill, legislation dealing with alcohol sales at Gwinnett County’s new stadium is targeted as a vehicle for a repeal of the measure prohibiting Sunday Sales of alcohol and it’s the end of the shortest legislative week thus far in 2008, we’ll check in with Tom Crawford of CapitolImpact.com.

After lengthy debate, the Senate today tabled a measure dealing with red light cameras. House Bill 77 deals with the licensing of traffic-control signal monitoring devices. It would make it more difficult for local governments to install new so-called “red light cameras”. At issue: whether the cameras exist for public safety or revenue generation. Lawmakers Sandra Parrish reports.

Purveyors of alcoholic beverages may be one step closer to being allowed to sell alcohol on Sundays in Georgia. Two measures before the House Regulated Industries today have been targeted as possible vehicles for an amendment repealing the “blue law” that prohibits package sales on Sundays. Senate Bill 385 provides for the licensing of limousine carriers for alcohol sales. Senate Bill 454 allows Sunday sales of alcohol in public stadiums, coliseums and auditoriums in any county in which Sunday sale is authorized. Lawmakers Bridget Snapp brings us the latest on committee action.

It’s the end of the shortest legislative week thus far in the 2008 session of the Georgia General Assembly. David Zelski checks in with Tom Crawford, National Editor of CapitolImpact.com to discuss the highlights.

The Senate today passed legislation to make dogfighting a felony. House Bill 301 targets those who knowingly participate, wage money, promote, advertise or allow dog fighting on their property. The measure would make the offense punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of at least $5,000. Convicted owners of dogs impounded as a result of dogfighting will be required to pay the cost of spaying and neutering.

Several measures passed the House last night during the lengthy Crossover Day session. House Bill 1299 is a measure that would allow the State of Georgia to take over Grady Memorial Hospital if the hospital fails to transition to non-profit status. House Bill 515, the Lottery for Education Act, deals with the bequeathment of Georgia Lottery annuities. We’ll have the highlights of the debate on both of those measures.

Legislation targeting illegal immigrants involved in traffic accidents is expected before the Senate Public Safety Committee today. House Bill 978 would allow law enforcement to seize the vehicle of any illegal immigrant involved in a traffic accident. Lawmakers Minoo Hosseini has more.

All that and more, tonight on Lawmakers.

Legislative Schedule Change

As we first reported on Lawmakers last night, revised revenue estimates released on Monday have affected the legislative schedule. Governor Sonny Perdue announced that the State's slowing economy means changes to the amount of revenue that can be appropriated for expenditures in both the FY08 Amended Budget and the FY 09 General Budget. Instead of dipping into the State's $1.5 billion reserve fund, Governor Perdue wants to cut $65 million from the FY 08 Amended Budget and $245 million from FY 09. The Governor has recommended the reduction for this year's budget come from school technology and buses, while next year's cuts would include decreasing the proposed raise for state employees from 2.5 to 2%, among others.

In reaction to the news, the House and Senate adopted a new schedule that allows for more time to consider the changes to the State budget. Senate Resolution 1145 was adopted in both chambers yesterday, setting the following legislative schedule:

Tuesday, March 11 . . . . . . . in session for legislative day 30
Wednesday, March 12 . . . . in session for legislative day 31
Thursday, March 13 through Monday, March 17. . . in adjournment
Tuesday, March 18. . . . . . . .in session for legislative day 32
Wednesday, March 19. . . . . in session for legislative day 33
Thursday, March 20. . . . . . .in session for legislative day 34
Friday, March 21 through Wednesday, March 26. . . in adjournment
Thursday, March 27. . . . . . . in session for legislative day 35

The Georgia General Assembly meets for no more than 40 legislative days each spring. The session commences on the second Monday after the first Tuesday in January. The legislature does not necessarily meet on consecutive days and the session often extends through March and well into April. The House and Senate set their schedule by Resolution, so, we at Lawmakers are often unaware of what the schedule will be until the Resolution is brought to the floor in one of the chambers for a vote.

For all the latest from under the gold dome, join Lawmakers on GPB Television at 7pm every day that the Georgia General Assembly is in session. We will continue to update the schedule here on our blog when a new resolution is passed by both chambers!

Day 30- March 11, 2008

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Tonight on Lawmakers, it’s Crossover Day. In a surprise move, the House passes a revised version of Speaker Glenn Richardson’s tax relief plan, revised revenue estimates mean significant budget changes and the Senate passes a measure that would make it more difficult for law enforcement to secure no-knock warrants.

It’s Legislative Day 30 under the gold dome, also known as Crossover Day. This means that bills must pass out of the chamber in which they originated in order to be considered by the opposite chamber. As of 6 PM, the House is still in session but the Senate had recessed for the day.

House Resolution 1246 eliminates the annual birthday tax on vehicles and freezes property assessments, but does not include a cap on millage rates set by local governments. The measure also includes the Governor's proposal to eliminate the state portion of property taxes. Following the overwhelming passage of HR 1246, house members then passed House Bill 1158 adding a ten dollar fee to car registrations to pay for trauma care. Lawmakers Sandra Parrish reports.

Ad Valorem tax breaks also passed the Senate today. Senator Kasim Reed sponsors Senate Resolution 515 which gives local property tax breaks to service men and women and teachers who live in the district they serve.

Governor Sonny Perdue announced changes to Georgia’s revenue estimates yesterday. The slowing economy will force revisions in the FY 08 Amended and the FY 09 State Budgets. Instead of dipping into the State's $1.5 billion reserve fund, Governor Perdue wants to cut $65 million from the FY 08 Amended Budget and $245 million from FY 09. The Governor has recommended the reduction for this year's budget come from school technology and buses, while next year's cuts would include decreasing the proposed raise for state employees from 2.5 to 2%, among others. Lawmakers Bridget Snapp has the details.

The Senate today also passed two pieces of divestment legislation: one requires divestment from Iran, and the other curbs future divestment bills. Senator Don Balfour, sponsor of Senate Bill 451, says that legislation would require public pension funds to identify companies that have spent over $20 million dollars in oil and gas in Iran. Senate Bill 327 is designed to provide checks and balances for future divestment legislation. Lawmakers would need the approval from the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, or the House Speaker in writing, as well as a fiscal analysis.

The Senate today passed a measure that would make it more difficult for law enforcement to obtain no-knock warrants. Senate Bill 259 reads that a no-knock warrant cannot be obtained unless the judge finds that knocking imposes an imminent danger to the officers.

All that and more, tonight on Lawmakers.