ATLANTA – The Georgia House of Representatives passed House Resolution 643 on Thursday, April 14, 2011, with a vote of 157 to 7.  Introduced by State Representative Harry Geisinger (R-Roswell), this legislation creates the House Study Committee on the Horse Racing Industry.

“Expanding our state’s horse industry is a simple way to bring jobs to our state, jobs that are severely needed by the thousands of Georgians who continue to struggle to find employment,” said Rep. Geisinger.  “The number of jobs created and revenue generated through expanded horse racing in our state would give Georgia the economic boost we need.  Thirty-eight other states already reap the $39 billion in economic benefits that horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering bring to our country. Recent budget cuts have made it clear that Georgia can no longer afford to miss this economic opportunity.”

Under HR 643, the House Study Committee on the Horse Racing Industry will be tasked with studying the affects that horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering would have on Georgia’s economy.  This study would include any broad financial benefits for the state and Georgians from additional employment opportunities, capital investments, and real profits from increased breeding, raising, and quartering of horses.   The committee will publish a report of its findings and recommendations, which may include suggestions for proposed legislation.  This report will be submitted to the Georgia House of Representatives by December 31, 2011.

The Committee will be comprised of six members appointed by the Speaker of the House.  Three members will be selected from the Georgia House of Representatives, two members will be other citizens of the state, and one member will be an individual involved in the horse racing industry.  The Speaker of the House will designate one of the state representative committee members to serve as chairperson of the committee.

The House Study Committee on the Horse Racing Industry will build on the work of the 2009 House Special Equine Study Committee.  This 2009 study committee heard from numerous equine experts, all of whom testified to the economic benefits that Georgia would experience if the state expanded its equine industry by allowing horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering in the state.

Dr. Fisch, President of the Florida Quarter Horse Racing Association, explained to the 2009 study committee that each horse on a race track creates seven jobs.  The average horse meet will have at least 800-1,000 horses, thus creating approximately 7,000 jobs per meet.  Some of these jobs necessary for each horse include trainers, groomers, jockeys, drivers, riders, and veterinarians.  Other employment expansion would also include racetrack employees and support for industries such as hotels and restaurants.

Other expert witnesses that testified before the 2009 study committee included the President of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, the Animal Science Director for the University of Georgia, the Executive Vice President and CEO of the United States Trotting Association, the Chairman of the Agricultural Commodity Commission for Equine, the Executive Director of the Georgia Agricultural Exposition Authority, the  Chairman of the Equine Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia, and several others.

The 2011 House Study Committee on the Horse Racing Industry will pick up where the 2009 House Special Equine Study Committee left off by conducting further in-depth reviews of the effect that an expanded equine industry would have on the state of Georgia.

A link to HR 643 can be found by clicking here.

For information about Georgia’s existing horse industry please visit: http://www.geepforgeorgia.com/.

ATLANTA – The Georgia House of Representatives today passed Senate Bill 36 with a vote of 117 to 45, showing tremendous bipartisan support for the measure.  Carried in the House by State Representative Tom Weldon (R-Ringgold), this legislation strives to help doctors and pharmacists identify prescription drug abusers.

“This bill is a step toward enabling physicians and pharmacists to share information that will allow them to better care for their patients while simultaneously tracking drug abusers and traffickers,” said Rep. Weldon.

SB 36 creates an electronic database of the prescribing and dispensing of Schedule II, III, IV, and V controlled substances in Georgia.  The database will only be accessible by doctors and pharmacists who would have to use a secure password.  As a result, doctors and pharmacists will be better able to identify prescription drug abusers.

Currently, physicians do not have the ability to know if their patients are obtaining similar prescriptions from other doctors.  This lack of information enables patients to pursue multiple prescriptions for similar medications from different doctors.  Abuse of these medications results in patients overdosing and putting themselves in life-threatening situations. Additionally, some patients abusing the system in this way obtain the medications so that they can illegally sell the drugs on the street.  SB 36 ends this abuse by giving doctors and pharmacists the tools needed to stop this abuse.

For more information on SB 36, please click here.

ATLANTA – The Georgia Senate today unanimously passed House Bill 200 by a vote of 50 to 0, showing broad bipartisan support for the measure.  Introduced by State Representative Edward Lindsey (R-Atlanta), HB 200 targets criminals engaged in the trafficking of persons for sexual servitude.

“I’m proud of the Senate for their unanimous support of HB 200,” said Rep. Lindsey. “This is a loud and clear message to those engaging in human trafficking: not in our state!”

HB 200 clarifies the definition of various terms pertaining to sexual servitude, increases penalties for individuals who are found guilty of human trafficking, provides law enforcement with additional tools necessary to combat the practice of human trafficking, and expands Georgia’s forfeiture law so that it applies to those convicted of human trafficking.

Specifically, the bill refines the definition of coercion, sexual servitude and deception as used in Georgia law.  It also adds new terms to Georgia’s code section dealing with human trafficking, including definitions for “performance” and “sexually explicit conduct” as currently used in state law pertaining to the Sexual Exploitation of Children.

Additionally, the legislation increases the penalties for prostitution, keeping a place of prostitution, and pimping or pandering.  These penalties are further increased if the offense involves a person under the age of 16.  Criminals involved in these heinous crimes could also see their property and assets seized because HB 200 allows forfeiture of any real estate or personal property that the courts find to be used, or intended to be used, for human trafficking or sexual servitude purposes.

Finally, the bill assists law enforcement by giving the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) authority to investigate crimes involving the trafficking of persons for labor or sexual servitude.  It also requires the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council, as well as the Georgia Public Safety Training Center, to establish guidelines and procedures to provide law enforcement with training materials and information concerning human trafficking and forced servitude.  This will include: methods for identifying, combating, and reporting incidents where a person has been trafficked for labor or sexual servitude; methods for providing proper holding facilities for persons who have been trafficked for labor or sexual servitude, including information on therapeutic facilities; and methods for assisting persons who have been trafficked for labor or sexual servitude, including information on social service organizations.

This bill treats those that have been subjected to sexual servitude with compassion by providing victims a pathway out of their criminally forced servitude.  Any person who suffers a serious mental or emotional trauma as a result of being trafficked for labor or sexual servitude will be eligible for victim compensation so long as they fully cooperate with law enforcement against their human trafficker.

HB 200 is the result of a collaborative effort between Rep. Lindsey, Attorney General Sam Olens, the Georgia Commission on Family Violence, prosecutors, law enforcement officials, and social service advocates.

For more information on HB 200, please click here.

ATLANTA – The Higher Education Subcommittee of the House Appropriation Committee will hold a hearing to discuss House Resolution 383 at 3:00 PM on Wednesday, March 30th in room 341 of the state capitol. Introduced by State Representative Ed Rynders (R-Albany), HR 341 would improve the function of the Board of Regents by adding oversight by elected officials.

“As we have seen in recent years with tuition increases that have wildly outstripped the rate of inflation, the actions of the Board of Regents have a huge impact on Georgia’s families,” said Rep. Earl Ehrhart (R-Powder Springs), chairman of the House Appropriations Higher Education Subcommittee. “In the current environment, it is important to reassess the relationship between the Board of Regents, elected officials, and the citizens of Georgia and improve accountability to our students.”

Among those expected to testify at tomorrow’s hearing are Virginia Galloway, representing Americans for Prosperity; Chris Patton, a student at Kennesaw State University; and Tsvetelin Tsonevski, an internationally renowned expert on higher education currently working with The Foundation for Economic Education.  Additionally, Americans for Tax Reform will provide written testimony.

“I hope this hearing will be the beginning of a dialogue that will result in a governance model that is responsive to the needs of Georgia families,” continued Ehrhart.

For more information on HR 383, please click here.

ATLANTA – The Georgia House of Representatives today passed House Resolution 341 by a vote of 139 to 23.  Introduced by State Representative Michele Henson (D-Stone Mountain), this legislation serves to increase public awareness of the dangers associated with celebratory gunfire.

“The loss of an innocent human life is always tragic, but it seems even more so when it is caused by a thoughtless random act,” said Rep. Henson. “There are times we all want to celebrate special occasions, but it is never right to celebrate in a way that endangers human life – it is never right to celebrate with random gunfire.”

Celebratory gunfire is the illegal practice of randomly firing a weapon into the air.  While the practice may be done with the best of intentions, many fail to realize the dangerous unintended consequences these actions create in the surrounding areas.  This incredibly reckless form of celebration most often occurs during holidays like the 4^th of July and New Years Eve.  During 2009 and 2010, one metro Atlanta county reported over 5,000 calls concerning people discharging firearms on these two holidays.

HR 341 seeks to end the practice of celebratory gunfire by urging governmental and private entities to promote public awareness of the dangers associated with celebratory gunfire.  The resolution further urges state and local governments as well as law enforcement agencies to better educate Georgians about the serious threats created by firing a weapon into the air during celebration.  Additionally, HR 341 calls for the Georgia House of Representatives to study and adopt tougher criminal sanctions for individuals whose celebratory gunfire results in the injury or death of another person.

HR 341 also calls special attention to Marquel Peters, a DeKalb County four-year-old that died on New Year’s Eve 2010 as a result of celebratory gunfire.  As he sat next to his mother, 4-year-old Marquel Peters was struck and killed in church by a bullet believed to have been fired by a New Year’s Eve reveler.  The stray bullet came through the roof of the sanctuary and struck Marquel in the top of his head.  Though tragic, the loss of this young boy to celebratory gunfire led to the creation of “Marquel’s Pledge.”

Marquel’s Pledge is a community campaign to reduce celebratory gunfire in DeKalb County and throughout Georgia.  Individuals who sign the pledge promise to stop celebratory gunfire by encouraging members of their community to refrain from using gunfire to celebrate.  Businesses that sign the pledge promise to refrain from or limit the sale of ammunition two days prior to the 4th of July and New Year’s holidays.  Additionally, DeKalb County works with citizens, community organizations, churches, and businesses to educate others about the dangers of celebratory gunfire and to encourage citizens to refrain from the dangerous practice.

For more information on HR 341, please click here.

Additional information on Marquel’s Pledge can be found here.

Editors note: Someone is in need of PR 101 – “We are the voice…and this kind of protest….” You could have been a little more eloquent than that. A stupid statement like this will likely only show your arrogance.

ATLANTA – State Representatives Matt Ramsey (R-Peachtree City), Rich Golick (R-Smyrna), Alex Atwood (R-Brunswick), Allen Peake (R-Macon), Christian Coomer (R-Cartersville), and Ed Setzler (R-Acworth) released the following joint statement today in response to the illegal immigration protesters at the state Capitol:

“Today several hundred supporters of illegal immigration descended on the Georgia State Capitol to rail against legislation aimed at enforcing the rule of law in Georgia.  In contrast to these angry sign waiving activists, there are millions of Georgia citizens working and raising their families, who no longer are willing to accept the loss of job opportunities to the nearly 500,000 illegal aliens in our state or to subsidize their presence with their hard earned tax dollars.  We are the voice for these common sense Georgians and this kind of protest only bolsters our resolve to see House Bill 87 signed into law.”

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Editors note…Without checking the rolls, I’ll take a wild guess that nutjob Dr. No Vote Bobby Franklin cast the one vote against. If he wasn’t, then I still stand by my statement that he’s a nutjob and east Cobb should do much better at finding a House Rep next year.

ATLANTA – The Georgia House of Representatives today passed House Bill 265 by a vote of 169 to 1, showing broad bi-partisan support for the bill.  Introduced by State Representative Jay Neal (R-Lafayette), this legislation begins the process of reforming Georgia’s criminal justice system by creating the 2011 Special Council on Criminal Justice Reform for Georgians and the Special Joint Committee on Georgia Criminal Justice Reform.

“HB 265 and the reforms that it will ultimately create will allow Georgia to stop wasting money on expensive short term prison services for drug addicts and the mentally ill. Instead, it will allow the state to provide treatment that helps the individual, relieves our overburdened justice system, and saves the state money,” said Representative Neal.  “The goal of these reforms is to improve public safety and save taxpayer dollars.  Basically, we’re trying to make criminals into law-abiding taxpayers, not tax burdens.”

Currently, Georgia has the fourth-highest incarceration rate in the nation.  As a result, the state spends more than $1 billion annually on its corrections system.  However, recent studies suggest that an estimated three-fourths of the state’s prison population is believed to have some type of drug addiction, which could be treated at much lower costs than imprisonment.  For example, Georgia pays $49 per day per inmate housed in a state prison, compared to $1.50 per day for probation supervision or $16 per day for community treatment at a Day Reporting Center.

Many states, including Texas and South Carolina, have already implemented programs that supervise some non-violent offenders outside of prison and treat the root causes of their crimes.

Under HB 265, the Special Council on Criminal Justice Reform for Georgians would be comprised of 11 members appointed by the leaders of Georgia’s three branches of government.  Specifically, the governor will appoint one member, the Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court will appoint two members, and the Speaker of the House and Lieutenant Governor will each appoint three members.  Additionally, the House and Senate Minority Leaders will each appoint one member to the Council.  The chairperson of the Council will be selected by a majority vote of Council members.

The Council will be tasked with studying the state’s current criminal justice structure and criminal sentencing procedures for nonviolent offenders, like drug users and the mentally ill.  The study would also review sentencing reforms and alternatives to imprisonment for nonviolent offenders.  Findings from the Council’s study would be submitted to the General Assembly by November 1, 2011.

Once the Council’s findings are submitted to the General Assembly, they will be reviewed and evaluated by the Special Joint Committee on Georgia Criminal Justice Reform.  This Joint Committee will ultimately use the Council’s findings to create and introduce legislation reforming Georgia’s criminal justice system.

The 17 member Special Joint Committee on Georgia Criminal Justice Reform will function in a bipartisan manner.  Committee members will include the House Speaker Pro Tempore, Senate President Pro Tempore, House and Senate Majority Leaders, House and Senate Minority Leaders, Chairman of the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee, Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Chairman of the House Committee on State Institutions and Property, and Chairman of the Senate State Institutions and Property Committee.  The remaining six seats will be with the three state representatives appointed by from the Speaker of the House and three state senators appointed by the Lieutenant Governor.  The chairs of the House Committee on Judiciary Non-Civil and Senate Judiciary Committee will co-chair of the Joint Committee.

For more information on HB 265, please click here.

ATLANTA – State Representative Lynn Smith (R-Newnan) and other federal and state elected officials will host an event to support the troops and recognize the Atlanta- based Human Resources Command (HRC) TOMORROW, Wednesday, March 16, 2011, at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport at 1:30 PM.  During the event, letters of commendation will be presented from Governor Nathan Deal, Speaker David Ralston, Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle, Senator Saxby Chambliss, Senator Johnny Isakson, and Georgia’s 13 congressmen.

This event is a way for the State of Georgia to recognize the United States Military and those who contribute to the success of the U.S. Central Command’s Rest and Recuperation (R&R) leave program and Military Personnel Assistance Point program, both of which are based in Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.  Working 365 days a year, these programs assist members of the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard with travel needs, including transportation to and from basic training, as well as Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kuwait.

WHO: Major General Terry Nesbitt, Adjutant General of the Georgia National Guard

Major General Maria Britt, Commanding General of the Georgia National Guard

Sergeant Major James Nelson, Jr., Commanding Sergeant Major of the Georgia National Guard

Brigadier General Marcia Anderson, Deputy Commander of the U.S. Army Human Resources Command

Major Mark Brown

Sergeant Major Jim Aiken

Sergeant Major Victor Allen

Rep. Lynn Smith, Georgia House of Representatives

Trey Kirkpatrick, Regional Director for Senator Johnny Isakson

Andy Bush, District Director for Congressman Lynn Westmoreland

Ben Spears, Outreach Coordinator for Congressman John Lewis

DETAILS: Question and Answer Session

1:30 PM

Small Executive Suite Conference Room

Fourth floor of the Airport’s Atrium

Main Terminal

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

(This is an open access area)

Recognition Event

2:00 PM

Gateway Conference Room

Fourth floor of the Airport’s Atrium

Main Terminal

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

(This is an open access area)

DIRECTIONS: http://www.atlanta-airport.com/GroundTransportation/directions.aspx

- Co-Authored by Senator Renee Unterman (R-Buford) and Allison Ashe of Covenant House Georgia

As we near the completion of another legislative session, time is running out for the Georgia General Assembly to enact laws that protect Georgia’s youth from the horrific nightmare of child exploitation.  We must act now so that we can help those who are already caught in this vicious cycle and prevent others from going down this dangerous path.  I would like to share a story with you that will help illustrate the severity of this problem.

At 15, Natalie ran away from home to escape the sexual advances of her mother’s new boyfriend.  A few days later local law enforcement picked her up and returned her to her mother.  The Division of Family and Children’s Services came to investigate.  Upon finding no actual physical abuse, the mother and daughter were left to sort out a very complicated situation alone.  Not surprisingly, Natalie ran again.

Unable to find shelter or food, Natalie was thankful when a seemingly friendly young man approached her and offered her a place to stay.  He was a good caretaker and boyfriend at first, but then he asked her to help pay her way by providing sexual favors to his friends, beginning the sexual exploitation and abuse that will likely haunt her for the rest of her life.

Children like Natalie see a child protection system that failed to reach them in the moments when they needed it the most.  And when they give up on waiting for those around them for help, they leave home in search of something better only to find that even those organizations that would like to protect them are unable to as a result of state law.

Nearly a third of children who flee or are kicked out of their homes each year engage in sex for food, drugs or a place to stay according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness.  Georgia is certainly not immune to these problems.

Under our current law, it is a misdemeanor to assist children who have run away because it may contribute to their continued status as a runaway and interfere with parental custody.  Children who are kicked out of their homes by their parents are turned away as well because shelters cannot reliably distinguish between a child who has run away and a child who has been thrown out.

Representative Tom Weldon has introduced legislation in the General Assembly that will help get runaways off the streets and into safe, temporary shelter.  HB 185 allows shelters to provide emergency services to runaway youth without fear of criminal liability.  Also, it provides a limited exemption from criminal liability for registered or licensed service providers that contact a child’s legal guardian within 72 hours of the child’s acceptance of services or make a child abuse report pursuant to the mandatory reporter statute. Since Georgia does not have a statewide reporting system for runaway and missing children, the Act also provides one of the only mechanisms for heartsick parents to locate their children.

Georgia currently ranks 49th in the country in child homelessness.  We can do better.  Natalie needed better.  The Georgia General Assembly needs to pass HB 185 and open the doors to shelters for the safety of our children.  I encourage my colleagues in the Senate and the House to stand with me and support this legislation.  By failing to act, we are failing to protect this state’s most valuable resource: the youth that will lead us to a brighter future.

ATLANTA– State Representative Rick Jasperse (R-Jasper) today announced his introduction of House Bill 461, legislation seeking to restore the power of states to regulate their individual health care systems.  Known as the interstate “Health Care Compact,” this legislation is aimed at protecting Georgia’s 10th Amendment right to regulate healthcare within the state.

“Our founding fathers intentionally created a federalism that reserved the states’ authority over all issues not specifically given to the federal government, because they knew it was the best way to preserve individual freedom and opportunity while still enabling individual states to safeguard jobs and prosperity,” said Rep. Jasperse.  “Unfortunately, the federal government’s encroachment on the 10th Amendment threatens states’ ability to serve and protect their citizens.  Something must be done to stop this encroachment and return the federal government to its constitutional bounds. Neither the Commerce Clause, nor any other section of the Constitution, allows Washington, DC to dictate Georgia’s healthcare regulations.”

The 10th Amendment to the United States Constitution protects the sovereign authority of our nation’s 50 states by granting them authority over all powers not given to the federal government under the Constitution.  According to Rep. Jasperse, the broad array of powers reserved for states under the Constitution includes healthcare regulation.

HB 461 would allow the state to assert its 10th Amendment right by requiring the Georgia to enter into “The Healthcare Compact,” an interstate agreement where member states work together to improve the healthcare in their respective states.  To accomplish this, the Compact will grant the legislative bodies of its member states full authority over their health care system.  The member states would also receive an annual appropriation of mandated spending funds from the federal government which could be adjusted every year based on changes to population and/or inflation.  The Compact also allows member states to leave the Compact at any time.

The Compact also establishes the Interstate Advisory Health Care Commission as a non-binding advisory body.  The task of the Commission is to collect information and data to assess the performance of various health care programs.  The Commission is comprised of members appointed by each member state, with each state limited to no more than two appointments.

Once the Compact receives Congressional approval, member states will be able to suspend federal healthcare regulations simply by adopting superseding legislation into their state laws.  However, the federal government would still have jurisdiction over military health care in every U.S. state under the Health Care Compact.

A compact is an agreement between two or more states.  Put simply, people and business use contracts to formalize agreements with one another, but states use compacts.

Interstate compacts are a way to move control from the federal government to the states.  However, any compact attempting to infringe upon the supremacy of Congress must be approved by Congress, as outlined in Article One, Section 10 of the Constitution.  The need for Congressional approval will not be a problem for The Healthcare Compact because member states will insist upon Congressional approval.

HB 461 has been assigned to the House Insurance committee for consideration.  It is co-sponsored by Representatives John Meadows (R-Calhoun), Tim Bearden (R-Villa Rica), Terry England (R-Auburn), Roger Williams (R-Dalton), Delvis Dutton (R- Glennville) and others.  For more information on HB 461, please click here.