Jack Dozier
01-19-2007, 07:14 PM
January 19, 2007
Legislative Update: The Georgia General Assembly convened its 2007 session on January 8. For the next few months, we will be tracking and reporting to you on a regular basis. As a general rule, you will receive weekly updates via e-mail every Friday for the duration of the session, and more frequently if warranted. Throughout the course of this legislative session, GAWP will identify key issues which have potential to affect Georgia’s water resources and/or our membership. These issues will surface as bills or resolutions are introduced, through meetings with the leadership of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, staff coordination with and participation in the legislative processes of a number of other organizations, news reports, and general communications. Our staff actively participates in the environmental policy processes of a number of organizations, including the Georgia Municipal Association, the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce; we make every effort to work in harmony with these groups. GAWP’s Legislative Committee, under the leadership of chair Holly Elmendorf, will be keeping a close eye on legislation introduced in the General Assembly, as well as on developments at the federal level, and will recommend positions on selected legislation for consideration by our Executive Committee. During the course of the session, if you have comments that you would like for our Legislative Committee and our Executive Committee to consider as we develop positions on these issues, or if you have other issues which you anticipate being addressed by the General Assembly, please let us know. Your input will help to guide our legislative efforts during the session and beyond.
Overview: Last Thursday (January 11) marked the 4th day of the 2007 session of the Georgia General Assembly; there are 36 days remaining. The General Assembly was in recess this week to work on the budget, and will reconvene Monday, January 22. They will typically meet Monday through Friday and adjourn on the weekends. Because this is the first year of a two-year term, there are no carry-over bills from previous sessions.
Contact information for the Georgia General Assembly can be found on GAWP's Bulletin Board at www.gawp.org (follow the link to "Bulletin Board", and then to "Legislative"), or on the General Assembly’s web site at www.legis.ga.gov/legis/2007_08/. The General Assembly site has a “Find Your Legislator” link which will enable you to find out who your State Senators and Representatives are as well.
Most of the legislation we track is assigned to the Natural Resources Committee of the House or Senate (depending, of course, on the chamber in which the particular bill or resolution is introduced). If you are a constituent or have a relationship with a committee member which would be helpful in getting his or her attention, please let me know. We’ll provide a link to the committee lists as soon as the General Assembly updates its web site. In the meantime, this year’s committee assignments are:
The Senate Committee on Natural Resources and the Environment
Senators Tolleson (Chair), Bulloch (Vice Chair), Hudgens (Secretary), Chapman, Hawkins, Henson, Hill (Jack), Hooks, Meyer von Bremen, Weber, Whitehead.
The House Natural Resources and Environment Committee
R (20)
Smith, Lynn - Chairman
Meadows, John - Vice-Chairman
Smith, Richard - Secretary
Barnard, Terry - Member
Benton, Tommy - Member
Burkhalter, Mark - Member
Cole, Jim - Member
Coleman, Brooks - Member
Geisinger, Harry - Member
Heard, John - Member
Keown, Mike - Member
Lane, Roger - Member
Manning, Judy - Member
McCall, Tom - Member
Morris, Greg - Member
Nix, Randy - Member
Pruett, Jimmy - Member
Royal, Richard - Member
Sims, Barbara - Member
Williams, Mark - Member
D (11)
Benfield, Stephanie - Member
Buckner, Debbie - Member
Davis, Hardie - Member
Drenner, Karla - Member
Gardner, Pat - Member
Hanner, Bob - Member
Holmes, Bob - Member
Hugley, Carolyn - Member
McKillip, Doug - Member
Thomas, Brian - Member
Thomas, "Able" Mable - Member
New Bills and Issues
State Budget: Governor Perdue introduced his $20.2 billion budget for FY 2008, which would increase State spending by $0.8 billion over amended 2007 levels thanks to an improving economy. The Governor’s proposed budget would provide for 6 new positions at EPD for enforcement of the State’s erosion and sedimentation control program (funding for these positions comes from the land-disturbing permit fee enacted by the passage of HB 285 in the 2003 session of the General Assembly), and $680,000 to establish Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) on Lake Lanier and Lake Allatoona. The Governor’s budget also includes $31 million for the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority’s water and wastewater loan program, $6 million for the Solid Waste Trust Fund, and $7.6 million for the Hazardous Waste Trust Fund.
HB 54 and 55: Interbasin/Intrabasin Transfer Restrictions: House Bills 54 and 55 would impose severe restrictions on interbasin and intrabasin transfers. These same approaches were included in bills in the 2005-2006 session.
Status: Assigned to House Natural Resources Committee. The Committee leadership has previously indicated that bills such as this would not be considered until the first phase of the state water planning process is completed, so these bills are unlikely to move.
GAWP Position: It has been GAWP’s consistent position that decisions on specific issues such as interbasin/intrabasin transfer restrictions as proposed in HB 54 and 55 should come out of the comprehensive statewide water management planning process rather than driving the process.
HB 59: Sales Tax Exemption for Authorities: House Bill 59 would provide an exemption from paying State sales taxes for municipal water and sewer authorities.
Status: Assigned to House Ways & Means Committee.
GAWP Position: Under review. We understand that some authorities already enjoy this exemption, but others apparently do not. We would appreciate feedback from our authority directors on this issue.
Legislative Update: The Georgia General Assembly convened its 2007 session on January 8. For the next few months, we will be tracking and reporting to you on a regular basis. As a general rule, you will receive weekly updates via e-mail every Friday for the duration of the session, and more frequently if warranted. Throughout the course of this legislative session, GAWP will identify key issues which have potential to affect Georgia’s water resources and/or our membership. These issues will surface as bills or resolutions are introduced, through meetings with the leadership of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, staff coordination with and participation in the legislative processes of a number of other organizations, news reports, and general communications. Our staff actively participates in the environmental policy processes of a number of organizations, including the Georgia Municipal Association, the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce; we make every effort to work in harmony with these groups. GAWP’s Legislative Committee, under the leadership of chair Holly Elmendorf, will be keeping a close eye on legislation introduced in the General Assembly, as well as on developments at the federal level, and will recommend positions on selected legislation for consideration by our Executive Committee. During the course of the session, if you have comments that you would like for our Legislative Committee and our Executive Committee to consider as we develop positions on these issues, or if you have other issues which you anticipate being addressed by the General Assembly, please let us know. Your input will help to guide our legislative efforts during the session and beyond.
Overview: Last Thursday (January 11) marked the 4th day of the 2007 session of the Georgia General Assembly; there are 36 days remaining. The General Assembly was in recess this week to work on the budget, and will reconvene Monday, January 22. They will typically meet Monday through Friday and adjourn on the weekends. Because this is the first year of a two-year term, there are no carry-over bills from previous sessions.
Contact information for the Georgia General Assembly can be found on GAWP's Bulletin Board at www.gawp.org (follow the link to "Bulletin Board", and then to "Legislative"), or on the General Assembly’s web site at www.legis.ga.gov/legis/2007_08/. The General Assembly site has a “Find Your Legislator” link which will enable you to find out who your State Senators and Representatives are as well.
Most of the legislation we track is assigned to the Natural Resources Committee of the House or Senate (depending, of course, on the chamber in which the particular bill or resolution is introduced). If you are a constituent or have a relationship with a committee member which would be helpful in getting his or her attention, please let me know. We’ll provide a link to the committee lists as soon as the General Assembly updates its web site. In the meantime, this year’s committee assignments are:
The Senate Committee on Natural Resources and the Environment
Senators Tolleson (Chair), Bulloch (Vice Chair), Hudgens (Secretary), Chapman, Hawkins, Henson, Hill (Jack), Hooks, Meyer von Bremen, Weber, Whitehead.
The House Natural Resources and Environment Committee
R (20)
Smith, Lynn - Chairman
Meadows, John - Vice-Chairman
Smith, Richard - Secretary
Barnard, Terry - Member
Benton, Tommy - Member
Burkhalter, Mark - Member
Cole, Jim - Member
Coleman, Brooks - Member
Geisinger, Harry - Member
Heard, John - Member
Keown, Mike - Member
Lane, Roger - Member
Manning, Judy - Member
McCall, Tom - Member
Morris, Greg - Member
Nix, Randy - Member
Pruett, Jimmy - Member
Royal, Richard - Member
Sims, Barbara - Member
Williams, Mark - Member
D (11)
Benfield, Stephanie - Member
Buckner, Debbie - Member
Davis, Hardie - Member
Drenner, Karla - Member
Gardner, Pat - Member
Hanner, Bob - Member
Holmes, Bob - Member
Hugley, Carolyn - Member
McKillip, Doug - Member
Thomas, Brian - Member
Thomas, "Able" Mable - Member
New Bills and Issues
State Budget: Governor Perdue introduced his $20.2 billion budget for FY 2008, which would increase State spending by $0.8 billion over amended 2007 levels thanks to an improving economy. The Governor’s proposed budget would provide for 6 new positions at EPD for enforcement of the State’s erosion and sedimentation control program (funding for these positions comes from the land-disturbing permit fee enacted by the passage of HB 285 in the 2003 session of the General Assembly), and $680,000 to establish Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) on Lake Lanier and Lake Allatoona. The Governor’s budget also includes $31 million for the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority’s water and wastewater loan program, $6 million for the Solid Waste Trust Fund, and $7.6 million for the Hazardous Waste Trust Fund.
HB 54 and 55: Interbasin/Intrabasin Transfer Restrictions: House Bills 54 and 55 would impose severe restrictions on interbasin and intrabasin transfers. These same approaches were included in bills in the 2005-2006 session.
Status: Assigned to House Natural Resources Committee. The Committee leadership has previously indicated that bills such as this would not be considered until the first phase of the state water planning process is completed, so these bills are unlikely to move.
GAWP Position: It has been GAWP’s consistent position that decisions on specific issues such as interbasin/intrabasin transfer restrictions as proposed in HB 54 and 55 should come out of the comprehensive statewide water management planning process rather than driving the process.
HB 59: Sales Tax Exemption for Authorities: House Bill 59 would provide an exemption from paying State sales taxes for municipal water and sewer authorities.
Status: Assigned to House Ways & Means Committee.
GAWP Position: Under review. We understand that some authorities already enjoy this exemption, but others apparently do not. We would appreciate feedback from our authority directors on this issue.