We returned to the Gold Dome on Monday, January 25 for the third week of the 2016 legislative session. The week was fast paced, with most action happening off the House floor. Several committees and subcommittees met to take up legislation, and the full body of the House unanimously passed out our first two pieces of legislation of the session. Chief Justice Hugh Thompson also delivered the annual State of the Judiciary Address this week to a joint session of the House and Senate.
Following the budget hearings, the House successfully passed the amended fiscal year (AFY 2016) budget, which adjusts state spending through June 30, 2016. The amended budget is very similar to Gov. Deal’s recommendations, consisting of $1.1 billion, or 5.3 percent, in “new” funds, bringing the total appropriation for 2016 to $22.9 billion with education and transportation funds accounting for approximately 85 percent of the new appropriations. As a result of the diligent work of the members of the House Appropriations Committee and the staff in the House Budget and Research Office, HB 750 passed the House last Thursday by a vote of 176-0.
A major part of the Amended budget is the appropriation of $758 million in new state general and motor fuel funds for transportation. These new transportation funds come as a result of the general and motor fuel proceeds from House Bill 170, the Transportation Funding Act, passed during the 2015 legislative session. Of those funds, $519 million are budgeted for capital construction and maintenance projects; $200 million for routine maintenance; and $336.1 million in Local Maintenance and Improvement Grants (LMIG). I encourage you to track the progress of transportation projects and view the state’s 10-year major mobility plan by visiting www.GAroads.org. With this increased funding, not only are we improving our infrastructure, but we’re also insuring the safety of our citizens on our roads and bridges.
While there is no question that investments in our transportation infrastructure were long overdue, investments in our education system are always necessary components of any budget. The AFY 2016 budget allocates $204 million to Georgia’s K-12 system, including a $109.9 million adjustment for midterm enrollment growth. This also includes $14.9 million through the OneGeorgia Authority to continue to provide grants to local school systems for wireless broadband connectivity to encourage high-tech classrooms. Funding for higher education was also included in HB 750, with an additional $30 million in lottery funds going towards the HOPE/Zell Miller Scholarships and an additional $525,808 in new funds for the North Georgia Military Scholarship Grant. The budget also allocates an additional $20.2 million for the Move on When Ready program, allowing eligible Georgia students to take advantage of dual enrollment and progress at their own pace. I am proud of the work we have done, and are continuing to do, for Georgia’s students.
In addition to the amended budget, the House and Senate convened for a joint session in the House Chamber with the Georgia Supreme Court, the Georgia Court of Appeals and other guests for the annual State of the Judiciary Address from Chief Justice Hugh Thompson. Chief Justice Thompson was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1994 and was elected by his peers to a four-year term as chief justice in 2013. Lt. Governor Casey Cagle welcomed the Chief Justice to the rostrum where he updated us on the current state of Georgia’s judicial system.
In his address, Chief Justice Thompson called Georgia the “gateway to the South” and to this country. Due in large part to our booming economy, Chief Justice Thompson noted that Georgia’s population has almost doubled since the implementation of our new state constitution in 1983. However, the number of judges in Georgia has only grown by 16 percent since then, and therefore, he applauded the legislature for the passage of House Bill 279 during the 2015 legislative session, which added three judges to the Court of Appeals. These additional judges have allowed the Court of Appeals to hear five times the number of cases each year, while also allowing the Supreme Court of Georgia to focus on the more complex cases, such as constitutional challenges and federal court questions on Georgia law.
Maintaining his theme on 21st century Georgia courts, Chief Justice Thompson talked about new technologies available within the court system. Overseeing these new projects is the newly commissioned Judicial Council Standing Committee on Technology, which was established by Supreme Court order to lead the judicial branch on all technology initiatives. One of the committee’s top priorities is to transition all of Georgia’s court systems from paper documents to electronic filings. The Supreme Court of Georgia and Court of Appeals have both transitioned to e-filing systems, with the ultimate goal of developing a statewide filing and retrieving portal to ensure efficiency throughout the court system. By providing this advanced technology, judges will have increased access to critical information they need to keep our state safe. Chief Justice Thompson commended Governor Deal for his commitment to criminal justice reform, noting that our state’s previously overpopulated prisons are at their lowest point in 10 years, and the state’s recidivism rate is the lowest in 30 years. These improvements are attributed, in part, to the expansion of our state’s now 131 accountability courts. An accountability court is a cost-effective criminal justice alternative for non-violent offenders, such as a drug and mental health treatment court, where offenders are held accountable through court-supervised treatment programs. The chief justice credited accountability courts with reducing crime by 45 percent, and with saving the state more than $51 million in prison costs in 2015. I’m proud of how the legislature has worked with the Governor and the judicial system to give our citizens a second chance, reduce crime and keep more Georgians safe.
My favorite part of the week came, when we also time to recognize some of our state’s most admirable citizens. On Monday, January 25, the House celebrated Georgia National Guard Day. Members of the Georgia National Guard were recognized on the House floor and presented with House Resolution 1007. It was an honor to have Adjutant General Joe Jarrard and members of the Georgia National Guard with us in the House, where we were also privileged to witness a new member of the Guard being sworn in. These soldiers embody the true meaning of patriotism, and I cannot thank them enough for their service to our state and to our country.
As the legislative session continues, committees will be meeting more frequently to discuss a variety of legislation. I would love to hear your input on any bills that come before these committees or before the House for a vote. Your comments help guide my decisions, and I encourage you to call my office at the State Capitol in Atlanta at 404-651-7737 to share your viewpoints. As always, thank you for allowing me the opportunity to serve you, and please don’t hesitate to get in touch if we can ever help in any way.
About the Author
Rep. Terry Rogers (R-Clarkesville) represents Georgia House District 10. His district includes portions of Habersham and White Counties.
