This is the first of the weekly update of the Public Policy that GEDA is tracking during the 2017 legislative session. These updates will come to you via email, courtesy of Jim Finch, GEDA Legislative Monitor, and will be archived in the News & Press section of the GEDA website.
The 2017 session of the Georgia General Assembly was called to order on Monday, January 9, 2017. This session starts a new two year legislative cycle. All bills that did not pass during the previous session are no longer relevant. Bills that are introduced during the 2017 session can carry-over into the 2018 session.
The General Assembly began Day 1 of the legislative calendar on Monday, January 9, 2017 and recessed following Day 4 on January 12, 2017. The General Assemblysession consists of 40 working days. Bills must pass the chamber in which the bill was introduced on or before the 30th day of the session to be eligible for passage by both chambers and transmission to the Governor for signature. The General Assembly recessed on Thursday, January 12 until Monday, January 23, 2017; Day 5. During the recess, Appropriations subcommittees conducted hearings and meetings on the FY-2016 amended budget (HB 43). The Governor presented his proposed FY-2017 budget to a joint meeting of the House and Senate (HB 44). The Governor recommended a budget that includes $24,997,351,235 in state funds and $49,353,261,950 in total funds. The FY-2016 budget included $24,345,494,024 in state funds and $48,277,942,357 in total funds.
Representative Ron Stephens of the 164th was reappointed Chair of the House Economic Development and Tourism Committee.
Senator Brandon Beach of the 21st stepped down as Chair of the Senate Economic Development and Tourism Committee to become Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee.
Senator Mike Dugan of the 30th was appointed Chair of the Senate Economic Development and Tourism Committee.
Senate Bills
SB 2sponsored by Senators Dugan of the 30th, Shafer of the 48th, Cowsert of the 46th, Gooch of the 51st,Hill of the 32nd, and Wilkinson of the 50th
Senate Leadership got a head start on President Trump’s plan to reduce red tape and regulations by introducing SB 2; an Act that may be cited as the “The FAST Act – Fairness, Accountability, Simplification, and Transparency – Empowering Our Small Businesses to Succeed.”The bill proposes to amend Chapter 60 of Title 36, Chapter 1 of Title 43, and Title 50 of the OCGA, relating to general provisions applicable to counties and municipal corporations, general provisions regarding professions and businesses, and state government, respectively, so as to enhance accountability and notice requirements for agency rule making so as to reduce regulatory burdens on businesses; to facilitate the start of certain small businesses; to provide for schedules of fees and timelines for permits, licenses, and other regulatory requirements; to provide for reduced fees when such deadlines are not met; to prov ide for expedited processing of licenses and permits; to provide for certain provisional professional licenses; to provide for exceptions; to streamline the collection of personal information; to provide for notices and timing for certain regulatory inspections; to provide for the development of a building and infrastructure transparency score for each county and municipality by the Department of Community Affairs; to provide for further information regarding proposed rules; to provide for additional notice for rule making; to change the vote requirement for legislative objections to proposed rule making; and for other purposes.
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