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September 10, 2010
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Legislature ends 2009 session
Published April 8, 2009
The state’s General Assembly adjourned April 3 after completing the 40 legislative days required for the 2009 session.
While wrestling with the $2 billion budget deficit facing the state was the centerpiece of the session, Sen. John Douglas, R-17, who represents southern Walton County in the state Senate, told us about a number of other initiatives he considers important passed by the General Assembly during the session:
•Employment relief was approved by both chambers and sent to Gov. Sonny Purdue for his signature. The Jobs, Opportunity and Business Success Act of 2009 is designed to stimulate Georgia’s small business climate with tax incentives and credits.
The JOBS Act includes a new business filing fee holiday, a $500 credit towards the unemployment insurance tax for each eligible employee hired, a $2,400 income tax credit for each eligible employee hired and the elimination of the sales tax deposit.
•Several bills passed this year to improve the way education is funded in Georgia, while at the same time streamlining the education system. For example, public school systems will have greater flexibility to meet the required 180 days of the school year under House Bill 193, which would allow schools to extend the school day to cut down on the number of days the school is in session, saving fuel and energy costs.
Other initiatives passed allow juniors and seniors to finish their high school diploma requirements while attending a college or university full time, and $29.1 million in funding for school nurses in the Fiscal Year 2010 budget.
•The Transforming Transportation Investment Act will allow for a new transparent model for funding transportation projects and now gives the General Assembly and the governor direct appropriation powers, much like the way other agencies in Georgia are funded, meaning legislators will have the ability to more effectively represent constituent needs on local transportation projects by having a larger say in the appropriations process.
Look for a wrap up of the 2009 session from members of the local legislative delegation in Sunday’s edition of The Tribune.
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