LEGISLATIVE REPORT - 24th DISTRICT
Significant legislation passes
By SEN. BILL JACKSON Georgia District 24

On Friday, the Georgia General Assembly completed its 40th day of an exciting and successful session. Both chambers worked right up until midnight to pass as many bills through as possible, and I am proud to announce that many important initiatives were gaveled in for the people of Georgia. We began the session by identifying several legislative priorities, including education, water, healthcare, and transportation. A lot of hard work and energy went into reaching a compromise on the best way to solve these critical needs of our state, and I'd like to give you an overview of the measures we've set forth to address each of these areas.

Education

FY 09 State Budget - Includes $50 million in new education funding to repay austerity cuts to public education. When coupled with $53 million from the FY 08 amended budget, this means over $100 million in additional funding has been appropriated for education this year. This greatly helps local systems with increases in costs, such as utilities, fuel and materials. Also, the budget includes $10 million in bonds for low wealth school districts and $92 million in general school construction money.

School funding and school choice - Several bills passing this year aim to improve the way education is funded in Georgia, while offering parents more options at the same time. HB 1133 will give a tax credit to corporations that offer private school scholarships. HB 1209 modernizes the Quality Basic Education funding formula, allowing local systems more flexibility in exchange for accountability. HB 881 establishes the Georgia Charter Schools Commission that will authorize and provide full funding for start-up charter schools across the state.

Water

Statewide Water Plan - The statewide water plan (HR 1022) is the culmination of years of work by the Georgia Water Council, and it identifies a set of statewide water management policies that will guide sustainable use of Georgia's water resources. While it is not a plan to address our drought conditions, the implementation of the Water Plan will ensure that future water needs are met while protecting our environment. This measure has already been signed by Governor Sonny Perdue.

Reservoir development - The Water Conservation and Drought Relief Act (SB 342) allows communities to apply for state funding to enlarge existing reservoirs and obtain permits to construct new ones. Additionally, the bill creates partnerships between the state and local communities to secure necessary federal reservoir permits, which aims to streamline the permitting process to build reservoirs.

Healthcare

Certificate of Need - SB 433 received final passage on Friday, which significantlyreforms CON laws in Georgia to allow Cancer Treatment Centers of America to build a destination cancer treatment facility in Atlanta. This paves the way for one of the most innovative, comprehensive cancer treatment centers in America to come to Georgia.

High-deductible healthcare plans - Gov. Perdue's plan to offer an income tax exemption to companies offering high-deductible healthcare plans coupled with healthcare savings accounts was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Judson Hill (R-Marietta). The measure found its way to final passage as an amendment to HB 977.

Healthcare funding - The FY 08 and FY 09 budgets included $17.3 million in total funds for trauma care providers in the state trauma network. FY 09 also includes $98 million in state funds and $341 million total to fully fund PeachCare for Kids, $3 million for community health centers and $13.6 million in funding for mental health hospitals.

Transportation

State Transportation Infrastructure Bank (STIB) - HB 1019 establishes the State Transportation Infrastructure Bank to finance transportation projects in the state. In addition, the FY 09 budget includes $28 million for the STIB.

Statewide Transportation Plan - SR 781 urges the Georgia DOT to establish a statewide transportation plan that will incorporate all methods possible to improve our state's transportation network, including new roads, public-private initiatives, transit systems, magnetically levitated transit lines (MAGLEV), high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes and more.

New transportation funding - The FY 09 budget also includes $9.8 million in airport aid and $5 million in community improvement district (CID) grants for a congestion relief fund.

As my first legislative session in the Senate comes to a close, I must say that I immensely enjoyed working with my colleagues to bring about positive changes for the people of Georgia. I have great respect for my fellow Senators and am proud of the work we accomplished this year. I'd like to thank you, my constituents, for giving me the opportunity to serve you in this distinguished body.

Sen. Bill Jackson represents the 24th Senate District, which includes Columbia, Glascock, Lincoln, McDuffie and Wilkes counties and portions of Elbert and Warren counties.

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