WEEKLY LEGISLATIVE REPORT – March 13, 2009

Senate approves funding system for trauma care

By Sen. Tim Golden

The state Senate voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to approve a proposal that would provide a dedicated revenue source for the Georgia Trauma Trust Fund to expand and enhance trauma care in our state.

SR 277, which I co-sponsored, calls for a constitutional amendment authorizing a $10 annual fee on motor vehicle registrations, with the proceeds going directly to the trauma trust fund. The legislation, which passed the Senate 48-8, still needs a two- thirds vote of approval by the House of Representatives and then must be approved by a majority of voters in the next general election in order to change the constitution.

Vast areas of the state are not presently served by Georgia's trauma care network, and the trauma facilities that do exist constantly run short on funding. It is estimated that between 700 to 1,000 lives per year could be saved by expanding and improving the system. If enacted, SR 277 would provide about $80 million in trauma care funding each year.

As chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus, I was proud that our members showed unanimous support for this critical, live-saving measure.

While voting to provide sufficient funding for trauma care is a step forward for health care in Georgia, the Senate unfortunately took a giant step backward on Thursday. SB 169, passed 34-22 on a strict party- line vote, would criminalize potentially life-saving medical research in Georgia. The bill, if approved by the House in its present form and signed into law by the governor, would prohibit embryonic stem cell research in our state, even though many in the medical and scientific communities believe such research could lead to treatments for major diseases, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, and spinal injuries.

SB 169 was rushed through the Senate this week as a knee-jerk reaction to President Barack Obama's lifting of the ban on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. The bill was opposed by the University System of Georgia and some of its leading researchers. While the research will go on in other states, this is the wrong message for Georgia to be sending to sufferers of these diseases and their families, who are holding out hope for effective treatments and potential cures.

In addition, this also sends the wrong message to scientists and bio-medical firms seeking to locate in our state.

Both the Senate and the House approved final versions of the supplemental budget for fiscal year 2009, which ends June 30. The $18.9 billion proposal reflects approximately $2 billion in spending cuts due to a severe downturn in revenues over the past year. Additional cuts would have been necessary if not for the federal stimulus funding making its way to Georgia.

The new budget restores the $428 million in homeowner tax relief grants that had been cut by Gov. Perdue, saving the average Georgian $200 to $300 in property taxes. Also, $145 million in federal stimulus money was included to offset the governor's cuts to local school funding. HB 118 was signed into law Friday. Meanwhile, work continues in the legislature on the annual budget for fiscal year 2010.

Thursday was the 30th day of the 2009 legislative session, also known as "cross-over" day because it was the deadline for legislation to pass the Senate and still be considered by the House this year, and vice versa. Some of the measures receiving Senate approval this week were:

SB 7, which would give legislative committee chairs the option of having people testify under oath to the committee, under penalty of false swearing.

SB 17, which would provide the joint Legislative Ethics Committee with the names of state lawmakers who have not paid their taxes. The panel could then move to sanction the legislator.

SB 67, which would require driver's license examinations in Georgia to be administered in English only.

SB 82, which addresses the growing problem of metal theft in our state. The bill would require metal recycling dealers to photocopy or scan the driver's license of anyone selling them metal, and to take pictures of the metal being sold. For copper, any transaction over $100 would have to be paid by check instead of cash.

SB 114, which would assist military families by easing the transition for their children in transferring from one school to another due to their parents' reassignment. The bill would help approximately 40,000 military children in Georgia by reducing the red tape requirements associated with such transfers.

SB 155, which would remove buffer zones from streams carrying mostly rainwater.

SB 160, which would require school systems to observe Nov. 11 as the Veterans Day holiday.

SB 246, which would require 48 hours' notice be given to victims who request it before a violent juvenile offender is released from custody.

The Senate will return to the Capitol on Tuesday, March 17. The session is scheduled for final adjournment on Friday, April 3.

Sen. Tim Golden represents District 8 (Brooks, Cook, Lowndes and Thomas counties) in the Georgia State Senate. During the legislative session, 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.