Lawmakers reconvened
By REP. CHARLES JENKINS

Charles Jenkins

Seizing Vehicles Driven by Illegal Immigrants -- In floor action the House adopted HB 978. The measure states that any motor vehicle registered in the state that is being driven by an illegal immigrant from any country when they are pulled over for a traffic stop, or violation, or involved in an accident, can be seized under Georgia's traffic forfeiture laws. The legislation also includes rented or leased vehicles if the owner knows or should have known the driver is an illegal immigrant. Owners could get their car back if they sign a sworn affidavit saying they did not know that the person driving their car was an illegal immigrant. In the end HB 978 was adopted in the House by 104- 51.

Speeding up Road Projects -- To help speed up road projects the House adopted HB 1124 by a vote of 158-0. It is the result of the Joint Transportation Study Committee and allows the selection of design-build contracts with the Department of Transportation. These contracts combine engineer and contracting work together which has proven to increase the completion time of road projects. It also requires, beginning in FY 2010, the Department of Transportation to use the design-build procedure to award at least 5 percent of the monetary value of all its construction contracts.

Overriding Water Rules -- The House passed SB 352, by 164-0. This law would allow the Georgia General Assembly to override water rules approved by the state Environmental Protection Division. The EPD is the agency charged with overseeing the new state-wide water plan passed earlier in the session. Many feel suspicious that the water plan adopted will allow the city of Atlanta to grab water from the rest of the state. The Senate still has to sign off on minor changes the House made to the bill.

English Only Legislation Fails - HR 413 which would amend the State Constitution making English the official language in Georgia failed to receive the necessary votes for passage. However, English is already the official language in Georgia. In 1996 the General Assembly passed and the Governor signed into law SB 519 which put into statue English as the official language in Georgia. Georgia Driver's exams are currently available in several other languages. However, limiting the driver's exam to English only could adversely affect many legal immigrants, who don't speak English, ability to get a job. If they cannot get a drivers license then they cannot legally drive to their job. When they don't have a job then by federal law, legal immigrants are entitled to welfare. The last thing Georgians want is increasing our welfare rolls or having more drivers on Georgia's road without a license. HR 413 is not consistent with the values of this state. In the end the measure failed. The Bill needed 120 votes for passage because it was amending the constitution. It only received 103.

Georgia Infrastructure Bank -- The House adopted HB 1019 by a vote of 162-1. The measure charters the Georgia Infrastructure Bank to assist financing qualified road projects for communities. Local governments could borrow from the bank at a reduced rate for infrastructure improvements allowing projects in communities all over Georgia to be funded in a timelier manner. Federal funds could be maximized easier under the legislation too also speeding up projects that have been stalled. Governor Perdue has proposed $50 million to start up the Georgia Infrastructure Bank.

Hope Scholarship -- HB 1091, received a vote 155-3. The Bill cracks down on out of state residents getting the HOPE Scholarship. It requires college students to live in Georgia for 12 consecutive months before they can qualify for in-state tuition rates or a HOPE scholarship. The legislation stems from reports that college students who are not legal residents of the U.S. have been allowed to attend public universities in Georgia while paying the lower in-state tuition rates.

Tracking Narcotic Prescriptions -- The House passed HB 455 by a vote of 149-8. Under the legislation pharmacists would have to give the state detailed records about everyone for whom they fill prescriptions for narcotics and other controlled substances. The Bill is now being considered by the Senate.

Felony Pursuits -- HB 983, which passed by a vote or 130-1 in the House, allows other law enforcement officers from Alabama, South Carolina, Florida, North Carolina and Tennessee to enter Georgia in a felony pursuit.

State Purchasing Cards -- HB 1113 passed in the House by a vote of 163-0 to set rules, regulations and guidelines for state purchasing cards.

Rep. Charles Jenkins (DBlairsville) represents the 8th District

Rabun, Towns, Union and White counties) in the Georgia House of Representatives. Contact him

At 411 Coverdell Office Building, Atlanta, GA 30334; by phone at 404- 656-0126 or by e-mail at charles.jenkins@ house.ga.gov.