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Moving along quickly is the 2012 Legislative Session of the Georgia General Assembly as we are now over a third of the way through this session.  The legislature was in session for five days this week and completed our fourteenth day of session on Friday.  The Georgia General Assembly is Constitutionally required to pass a balanced budget and the House accomplished the first step in the process this week.  On Friday, the House unanimously passed the Amended Fiscal Year 2012 budget, which will end on June 30th.  Due to an increase in state revenue, the Midyear budget was increased by $255 million.  An increase indicates that our economy is slightly improving in comparison to last year; however, we still have a long way to go.  The Amended FY 2012 budget now goes to the Senate for consideration.

On Monday, only local legislation was passed and none affected our district.  It should be noted that many times the legislature drafts bills to clarify current law and/or legislation previously passed.  In a entire bill, one word can change the entire legislation; therefore, many of the bills we passed this week were to clarify and modify certain laws already passed.  House Bill 675 passed unanimously on Tuesday and would revise the criteria for approved nursing education programs.  Also passed was House Bill 337 which relates to the retired members of the Sheriffs' Retirement Fund of Georgia.  This legislation passed 95 to 58 and would allow retired members that currently receive spousal benefits to revoke that in the event of a divorce and also allow spousal benefits to be reinstated if the member remarries.  On Wednesday, House Bill 706 passed unanimously and it revises, clarifies and repeals many code sections relating to elementary and secondary education.  Also passed was House Bill 542 by a vote of 160 to 1.  This bill relates to retirement and allows any member of the Employee Retirement System who was formerly a member of the Judicial Retirement System to have their contributions transferred by notifying the board of trustees by December 31st of this year.  The House also passed two bills on Thursday. House Bill 763 passed unanimously and would modify HB 415 which was passed last year and the new legislation relates to certain people being ineligible to serve as a juror.  For instance, a person who was convicted of a felony and has not had their civil rights restored would not be able to serve as a trial juror.  House Bill 475 passed 132 to 28 and it would change the Development Authorities Law by amending the definition of what is classified as a project by including those facilities that are owned by the public or by a private entity.

As discussed above, the House unanimously passed the Amended Fiscal Year 2012 budget on Friday.  Also passed unanimously on Friday was House Bill 806.  This legislation would allow unused funds from the motor fuel tax, which have already been collected, to be rolled over from one fiscal year to the next year.  This will speed up the process of transportation projects by allowing the unspent balance to be carried forward and used the following year.

The General Assembly will continue our work at the State Capitol on Monday, February 6th for the fifteenth day of session.  I will continue to keep all of you informed throughout the 2012 legislative session.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions, ideas, thoughts or concerns.  It is both an honor and privilege to continue serving you in the Georgia General Assembly.  If you would like to reach me, please call me at (404) 656-5099 or write me at: State Rep. Ron Stephens, 226 CAP, State Capitol, Atlanta, GA 30334 or e-mail me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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