Cross-over week
By REP. CHARLES JENKINS

Charles Jenkins

Eliminating the Car Tag Tax -- After proposing 175 new sales taxes on goods and services and then trying to pass legislation that would have wrecked local government's ability to provide services such as police patrols, school nurse programs, etc. The Speaker allowed the House on Tuesday to vote on acceptable tax relief for the citizens of Georgia. This on the 30th day of the session, which is Crossover Day, and the last day that bills can cross from one chamber to the other.

HR 1246, which was adopted 166-5, is a constitutional amendment that will have to be voted on by the voters in November. The legislation, as written, begins eliminating the property tax on personal vehicles on July 1, 2009. The entire car tag tax would come off by 2011 and is approximately $672 million in tax relief. State government would also stop collecting 0.25 mills on their portion of property tax collected. This comes to about $30 per homeowner and $90 million every year in tax relief. Furthermore, the legislation limits the amount property assessments could increase. We passed HR 1246 in the House. It is now pending Senate approval, and, if approved, it will be delivered to the Governor's office for his approval; however, there is some concern that the Governor will veto the bill. More on this in next week's report.

Trauma Care Funding -- Immediately following HR 1246 on Tuesday was a vote on HB 1189 which passed 164-7. The legislation is critical to trauma care in the state of Georgia which is woefully under funded. Under HB 1189 a $10 registration fee would be placed on vehicles and is expected to bring in $71 million for trauma care. HB 1189 also requires the Office of Treasury and Fiscal Services to make annual reports on the amount of funding received for the Georgia Trauma Care Network through the trauma charge on motor vehicle registration. Studies show that having a better trauma care network could save hundreds of lives every year.

BRIDGE -- To help students get an education suited to their needs and slow the dropout rate the House adopted HB 905 on Tuesday by a vote of 167-2. The BRIDGE plan, Building Resourceful Individuals to Develop Georgia's Economy would authorize incentive grants for school systems which switch to a system under which students are allowed to choose specific high school career pathways. The hope is to give students more opportunities by combining academics with on the job training. No funding has been appropriated for the measure. In Georgia only 14 out of 100 ninth graders will graduate from college and 1 out of 3 ninth graders will not graduate from High School.

HB 905 received overwhelming support but critics noted that the program is not guaranteed funding yet and is still just a grant program.

Care Maintenance Organizations -- Trying to improve the Medicaid program in the state the House passed HB 1234 on Tuesday with a vote of 165-1. Eighteen months ago the state privatized the state's Medicaid program to be contracted out to Care Maintenance Organizations. The change has led to an administrative headache with complaints by doctors and hospitals ranging from claim denials to contracting issues. The legislation says that CMOs have to follow a standardized method for reimbursing providers and places oversight over CMOs under the Department of Insurance.

Bill Boards -- House Democrats and Republicans voted on Tuesday to defeat HB 1318, which went down 74-91, which would have compensated billboard owners for the value of their signs when local governments require them to move or remove their signs. However, the legislation could also delay local road projects up to a year which was a deal breaker for many. HB 1318 was opposed by the Garden Club of Georgia and Georgia Conservancy Groups.

Grady Hospital -- Ignoring home rule the House adopted HB 1299 by a vote of 106-61 on Tuesday. HB 1299 is aimed at Grady Memorial Hospital and requires a hospital authority created by two or more counties to provide, by contract, for the management and operation by a nonprofit hospital management corporation of any hospital which it owns. It also says that hospital authorities that do not comply with this statutory provision are not eligible to receive funds from the Georgia Trauma Trust Fund until the hospital authority comes into compliance with the statute. It also will make the Nonprofit Hospital Management Corporation Board over Grady be appointed in the following manner:

4 members appointed by the Governor;

4 members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor;

4 members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

3 members appointed by the governing authority of the larger county;

2 members appointed by the governing authority of the smaller county.

School Make-Up Days -- HB 1300 which passed 166-0 on Tuesday authorizes a local board of education to elect not to complete up to four make-up days resulting from school closings due to emergencies, disasters, acts of God, civil disturbance, and shortages of vital materials, supplies, or fuel.

Mental Health -- HB 535 that passed 161-1 on Tuesday creates a Mental Health ombudsman for mental health disorders and co-occurring disorders.

Falsely Accusing Teachers - - HB 1321 which passed 160-0 on Tuesday increases penalties on students who falsely accuse teachers and school employees of inappropriate behavior.

Georgia Lemon Law -- HB 470 that passed 165-0 on Tuesday updates the Georgia Lemon Law. The measure extends coverage for new cars from 12 months to 24 months and from 12,000 miles to 24,000 miles.

High Deductible Health Plans -- HB 977 passed 122-39 on Tuesday and deducts from taxable net income 100 percent of the premium paid by taxpayers for high deductible health plans established and used with a health savings account. Concerns were raised that the high deductible plans will do away with mandatory coverage of things such as breast cancer screenings and cervical cancer screenings.

Joshua's Law -- HB 1037 which passed 97-64 on Tuesday would extend for four years the 5 percent surcharge on traffic fines used to fund "Joshua's Law," the act designed to provide funding for driver education courses.

Charter School Teachers -- HB 1277 which passed 160-2 on Tuesday allows public school teachers that work in a start up charter school to participate in the state health insurance benefit plan. The bill passed last year but was vetoed by Governor Perdue.

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.