WEEKLY LEGISLATIVE REPORT—February 29, 2008

VSU’s national champs honored by state Senate

By Sen. Tim Golden

The Valdosta State University Blazers were the honored guests of the Georgia Senate on Wednesday as the players and coaches were recognized for winning the 2007 NCAA Division II national football championship.

The team and the university were in the legislative spotlight, as three resolutions were approved in the Senate and House of Representatives acknowledging their accomplishments.

SR 712 commends the Blazers for winning their second national title in the past four years and for their outstanding 13-1 overall record. Cedric Jones and Sherard Reynolds earned special recognition as first-team All-America selections, while Jones, Reynolds, Gerald Davis, William Montford, Maurice Leggett, Michael Terry and Travis Harrison were all named All-Gulf South Conference.

SR 713 recognizes VSU head football coach David Dean as the American Football Coaches Association Division II National Coach of the Year, an award voted on by his peers, and as Division II Coach of the Year by American Football Weekly and the Touchdown Club of Atlanta. Coach Dean is only the second NCAA Division II coach in history to lead his team to the national championship in his first season.

SR 904 recognized Dr. Ronald Zaccari, who is retiring after six years, for his many accomplishments as President of VSU.  The Resolution praises “Dr. Z” for his exemplary service to VSU, our community and state.  He truly transformed the campus and changed lives in a positive, sensitive and lasting way.

Meanwhile, SR 659 commends VSU head baseball coach Tommy Thomas on the occasion of his 40th season in that capacity. The senior statesman of the VSU Athletics Department has become a legend in the ranks of great baseball coaches, producing more than 1,300 victories, two conference championships and a national championship while also serving as a professor in VSU’s Kinesiology and Physical Education Department for 37 years.

It was a great day for Valdosta State University in the State Senate. Congratulations, Blazers, for all of your success.

On Tuesday, the Senate adopted two measures related to the sale of alcoholic beverages. SB 385 would allow the sale of alcoholic beverages within licensed limousines, while SB 454 would authorize such sales on Sunday at the new baseball stadium being constructed in Gwinnett County for the Braves’ AAA team moving from Richmond, Va.

It has been speculated that either bill might be amended in the House of Representatives to authorize Sunday package sales in Georgia, a proposal that has been under consideration for two years now.

A majority of Senators ignored the opposition of Georgia hospitals and the business community Wednesday and voted to allow an out-of-state specialty cancer treatment hospital to skirt the state’s Certificate of Need process.

SB 433, which passed by a 31-23 vote after a lengthy debate, would allow the Cancer Treatment Centers of America to build a facility near the Atlanta airport that would primarily treat cancer patients from other regions. I voted against the legislation because of the precedent it could set for setting aside the CON rules and procedures.

Here is a statement from the Georgia Chamber of Commerce on the issue:

“It is important to protect one of Georgia’s most critical existing industries – our hospital employers – from potential competitors that wish to change the rules in mid-stream, especially at a time when many of our community providers are at financial risk. Georgia’s existing cancer treatment facilities provide outstanding, first-class service to our state and region – and they have invested millions and millions in the very same treatment technologies as CTCA. It is only fair and equitable that all new entrants into this area be subject to the same procedures as their predecessors.”

SB 433 now goes to the House for its consideration.

On Thursday, the Senate approved legislation aimed at cracking down on Internet predators. SB 474 would require sex offenders to submit their e-mail addresses to authorities and require Internet service providers to offer parents the ability to block certain web sites.

The bill, which now moves to the House for consideration, would also require schools to offer an annual course on online safety to all students starting in the third grade.

• Sen. Tim Golden represents the 8th District (Brooks, Cook, Lowndes, and Thomas counties) in the Georgia State Senate.  Contact him at 121-A State Capitol, Atlanta, GA 30334; by phone at 404-656-7580; or by e-mail at tim.golden@senate.ga.gov.