FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 26, 2010

Contact: Sen. Tim Golden, 404-656-7580 or tim.golden@senate.ga.gov

Committee OKs Golden plan to help small business

By Sen. Tim Golden

On Monday, the Senate Insurance & Labor Committee approved legislation I introduced, which would establish a state commission to review existing and future health insurance benefit and provider mandates that are imposed on Georgia's small businesses. Hopefully this legislation will prove to be a useful tool for controlling health insurance costs for small firms.

The National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB), with over 11,000 members in Georgia, is solidly in support of my legislation. David A. Raynor, NFIB state director for Georgia, said, "For over two decades, Georgia's small businesses have identified access to affordable health care as a top concern. There is indisputable evidence that health insurance mandates drive up the cost of health insurance premiums in the state. The National Federation of Independent Business/Georgia commends Sen. Golden for his continued commitment to reining in health care costs by establishing a state health mandate review commission."

Under SB 509, a 15-member Special Advisory Commission on Mandated Health Insurance Benefits would include representatives from the medical, business and insurance communities and the general public. The commission would work with the Department of Insurance to collect data and assess the impact of mandated benefits and providers, including costs to employers and insurers, effectiveness of treatment, costs savings in the health care system and other factors.

The legislation calls for the commission to evaluate existing mandated benefits and providers and report its findings to the General Assembly by Dec. 31, 2011, and conduct a similar assessment of all health insurance mandates proposed in the future. SB 509 is also supported by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, and I worked with the Georgia Chapter of the American Cancer Society and other medical groups in drafting the proposal to ensure that consumers are protected on both the health care and insurance cost sides of the issue.

Senate Action: With only 10 legislative days remaining in this year's session, the Senate dealt with a lengthy agenda this week. The following measures were approved and sent to the House of Representatives for its consideration:

SB 161, which would create a statewide autism task force to study autism spectrum disorders.

SB 385, which would provide increased monetary compensation to local law enforcement agencies for turning criminal illegal immigrants over to federal authorities.

SB 409, which I co-sponsored in an effort to ensure property tax fairness for the owners of forest land. The legislation would require that any tax break or exemption granted to a business that uses "raw forest products," such as a biomass energy plant, must also be granted to the owner of the property where that product is harvested. This is good legislation for PCA and other pulp and paper manufacturers in our district, as well as the forest industry throughout South Georgia.

SB 418, which would create a state database to help monitor the prescription and dispensing of controlled drugs.

SB 423, which would designate so-called "smash and grab" burglaries as a felony, with a penalty of two to 20 years in prison and/or a $100,000 fine. Currently, property damage and burglary are two separate crimes with less severe enforcement and penalties for juvenile offenders.

SB 458, which would end the exception to the state's seat belt laws for drivers and passengers in pickup trucks. The bill would exempt pickup trucks' off-road use and involvement in agricultural operations. This is legislation I have always supported in past years.

SB 496, which would expand the HOPE Scholarship to include a need-based category for low- income students.

SB 498, which would add products that are commonly known as "synthetic marijuana" or "K2" to the Schedule I controlled substances list, prohibiting their sale or possession in our state.

SR 821, which would amend the Constitution to authorize the Department of Transportation to sign multi-year contracts for highway construction projects. The measure needs to win a two-thirds majority in the House and then be approved by the voters in November in order to become law.

From the District: It was a pleasure to visit with students and teachers from Hahira Elementary School who visited the Capitol this week. It is always good to see "home folks," and seeing the legislative branch of government in action is a great civics lesson for our students.

Sen. Tim Golden represents District 8 (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.