Sen. Hill Recaps the 2014 Legislative Session

The 2014 Legislative Session of the Georgia General Assembly adjourned at midnight on Thursday, March 20. It was a moment of celebration that closed months of hard work at the Capitol.

Although many people simply refer to the last day as Day 40, it is also known as Sine Die. The last day of the legislative session can be very long, but it is also full of tradition. At the stroke of midnight, members of both chambers ceased work and ceremoniously tossed bills into the air. Since this year marked the end of the second term of the 152nd biennial session, any bills that did not receive final passage in either the House or the Senate will have to be re-introduced next year.

Among the 90 pieces of legislation that were approved by the Senate last week, the final version of the Fiscal Year 2015 Budget passed both chambers. A point of pride for our state is we are required to pass a balanced budget, unlike the federal government. 

After spending countless hours in Appropriations meetings, the General Assembly carefully analyzed each line item to ensure every penny of the $20.8 billion allocated for the upcoming fiscal year is spent responsibly. The FY ’15 budget accounts for around $535 million of the new revenue for the Department of Education that will finance enrollment growth and provide more funds to local school systems than in recent years. It also adds a $16 million increase to technical education in the Technical College System of Georgia. As an important economic development note, the budget allocates $35 million to complete the state’s portion of the $652 million Savannah Harbor project.

Last week, House Bill 770, which I carried in the Senate, was sent to the Governor’s Office for final approval. If signed into law, HB 770 would create the crimes of home invasion in the first degree and home invasion in the second degree to add to both the criminal and juvenile codes. Under this legislation, home invasion in the first degree happens when a person unlawfully enters a home, while the inhabitants are present, carrying a deadly weapon with the intent of committing a felony. Home invasion in the second degree involves the same circumstances with the intent of committing a misdemeanor. By inserting these crimes into the criminal code, the bill clears up any confusion pertaining to breaking and entering crimes and strengthens the public safety standards for all Georgians.

One measure that will not make it to the Governor’s Desk is Senate Bill 255, which I sponsored. Although it passed the Senate a few days before Crossover Day, the House never took it up. The intent of the bill is to clear out some red tape that gets in the way of a partnership between private businesses that fulfill contracts for their local governments. These are projects like infrastructure improvements that city and county leaders are attempting to find companies to complete. This measure is an example of the small government, local control ideas that I’m proud to represent and will continue to work toward in the future.

Other Legislative Action

Below is a list of legislation passed by the Senate during the last two days of the 2014 Legislative Session. This legislation touches on many important areas, including taxes, federal government, Medicaid, public safety, government efficiency and children and families.

Taxes

House Bill 295 is a comprehensive revision of requirements for ad valorem taxation, assessments and appeals.  Such revisions include, but are not limited to: allowing the use of electronic tax bills and requiring ad valorem taxes be posted to local government websites.  Measures included in the bill will make it easier for taxpayers to access property values. 

Reign in Federal Government

House Bill 794 calls for a convention of states to impose fiscal restraints on the federal government. Once approved by ¾ of states, the Compact will issue a formal declaration petitioning Congress to call for a Convention to adopt a balanced budget amendment to the United States Constitution. 

Medicaid

House Bill 973 changes the penalties relating to Georgia Medicaid Program fraud and also states that the Georgia Medicaid Program includes any contractor, subcontractor, or agent of the program.

House Bill 990 gives oversight of expanding Georgia’s Medicaid Program to the state legislature through the passage of a bill or a joint resolution.

Public Safety

House Bill 749 makes it a crime to steal commercial transport vehicles and any cargo inside. The bill establishes a schedule of fines and imprisonment limits based on the value of the stolen cargo.

House Bill 826 makes several comprehensive changes to the code pertaining to carrying weapons within school safety zones. The bill also gives local school boards the authority to regulate punishments for students who bring hazardous objects within a school safety zone.

House Bill 828 prohibits law and emergency personnel and attorneys from soliciting, releasing or selling any information involving a motor vehicle accident for financial gain.

Government Efficiency

House Bill 1000 expands the scope of setoff debt collection to courts. All debts must be submitted through the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC). The AOC will impose a fee for the debt collection, but cannot exceed $20 per debt.

Children and Families

House Bill 885, also known as the Kids Care Act, passed in the Senate, however, the bill failed to receive passage in the House on Sine Die. This bill would have provided health insurance coverage for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. In addition, the bill would have enabled further research to be conducted on the viability and benefits of cannabinoid oils for certain medical conditions such as Glaucoma, children’s seizure disorders and cancer. These two issues are extremely important to the welfare of children and families in Georgia, and, if not dealt with on the executive level, will likely be re-introduced during next year’s legislative session.