Education tops local legislation

By Ashley Speagle

Correspondent

ATLANTA -- More than half of local legislators' bills still roam the Georgia General Assembly halls, trying to become state and local law as the 2010 legislative session reaches the final days.

The legislature took a break from the Capitol this week without first passing a budget for fiscal 2011.

When legislators return, they will have to address 10.5 percent unemployment, billions in revenue shortfalls and controversial topics including tax increases, health reform and abortion.

"Only seven days remain in the session, with plenty of unfinished business, including the budget for the remainder of fiscal year 2010 and the annual budget for fiscal year 2011," said Rep. Barbara Massey Reece, D-Menlo.

Local legislators are passing their own bills, covering everything from requiring truck drivers to wear seat belts to outlawing synthetic marijuana.

Most of the bills being moved along by local legislators include education and local laws, followed by public safety and criminal legislation.

Education makes up the largest slice of the state budget, about 57 percent, and consequently takes major hits when lawmakers reduce the budget. Local legislators sponsored bills this session to give some leeway to teachers faced with furlough days and schools coping with little resources.

Retired educator Rep. Tom Dickson, R-Cohutta, is leading bills extending the deadlines in which schools can receive facility funds and allowing teachers more payment methods for certification.

Rep. Jay Neal, R-LaFayette, is sponsoring bills giving schools another month to review their budgets before delivering teacher contracts and granting raises to more teachers with leadership degrees but who don't hold commensurate positions.

Here's a summary of other local legislators' bills still on the move to the governor's desk:

* Rep. Roger Williams, R-Dalton, is sponsoring bills to raise a hotel tax in Dalton and the rest of Whitfield County, which would be used to promote tourism and trade in the area. All lodging operators, including cabins and campgrounds, would pay a tax up to 7 percent of revenue from rooms or other areas reserved to guests.

* A "Blue Alert" system, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Mullis, R-Chickamauga, would alert the public -- statewide or local, depending on the case -- when a criminal who seriously injured or killed a police officer is on the loose. The bill intends to notify the public of possible threats and to incorporate their help in catching the criminal.

* Sen. Don Thomas, R-Dalton, finally may make seat belts required for pickup drivers this session with a bill legislators turned down for years. Sen. Thomas, a doctor, said the bill not only would save lives but could bring in more transportation or Medicaid money from the federal government.

Legislators also are sponsoring bills on transportation, health, state laws, fiscal policies, insurance and retirement funds, but they must wrap up the session's bigger bills so they can get back to their businesses and begin campaigns for November elections.

"It's really been hard," said Rep. Tom Weldon, R-Ringgold, on leaving his law firm behind for Capitol work during a weak economy.

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