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Greetings from The People's House, your Georgia State Capitol!
Cross-Over Day, where a bill has to pass one chamber to become law, was last Monday, March 6, and we have five legislative days left until Sine Die on March 29. The House has passed 275 bills and the Senate passed 208. Which ones will make it to Sine Die and become law?
Unfortunately, we know the status of two of the three bills you have written to me most about. As of today, SB 140, that bans lifesaving gender affirming care for trans youth under 18, will likely become law, as the House fast tracked it and passed it 96-75 along partisan lines, with only two Rs walking. And HB 171, Protection of the Okefenokee Swamp, failed advance in Natural Resources committee before Cross Over. We don't know yet what will happen with SB 233, School Vouchers. We are hearing it in Education Sub-Committee this morning.
The Big Question - Also unfortunately, the big question I posed in my last newsletter - what about the unallocated $3.6 Billion in surplus - will it be used for one-time capital projects, like the Housing Trust Fund, to help address the Housing Crisis in Georgia? Regrettably , the answer is NO. But there is always the hope of Next Year.
We had a slow start to the session, with our new Speaker and 47 new members out of 180, and many new committee chairs, with plenty of opportunities to build relationships. I’m starting my third term, so I have been focused on trying to get some legislation passed and reducing the harm in legislation I am concerned about. As my minister prayed for me at the beginning, this has required lots of humility, patience and love.
The new Speaker and leadership teams of both parties began the session setting a tone of mutual respect and we can agree to disagree in the chamber, for which I am grateful. For the most part, people seem to be really listening to concerns about bills and the speakers in the well are focusing on the merits of their perspective and persuasion, without being divisive or maligning others. That said, the one time when the rhetoric and tone were angry and accusatory, it was jarring.
For the first ⅔ of the session, this has also been more of a think for yourself type session for me, where the answers are not often partisan.
But the senate sent us some very troubling legislation, so after Crossover that dynamic has changed. I write to you today with a heavy heart after Thursday's rushed house passage of SB 140, a dangerous bill that disregards standards of medical care for gender-affirming health care. Many of us fear that this law will harm vulnerable children . A parent should have the right to know what is best for their child.
While we have passed a lot of good bipartisan legislation, frustrations also continue with the focus on safety, but no voting on safe and responsible gun ownership laws to reduce gun violence. (although we did have a hearing only on the Pediatric Safe Storage Act last Thursday!.) Also, minimal progress on the housing and healthcare crises, and no progress on protecting the most valuable natural resource in our State and arguably the Southeast - the precious Okefenokee.
In this issue:
- The Good
- The Bad
- The Mixed votes that weren't partisan
- My Legislation
- DeKalb News
- In the Community
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We can have one floor pass for our interns, so on March 2 , the day we passed the Mental Health Reform and the Safe Housing Act, my intern Maysa Osman joined me on the House floor chamber. She is a freshman at Georgia State and wants to major in Public Health. She was excited to meet Dr. Imani Barnes, and Dr. Jasmine Clark, who are both role models for her!
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The Budget: How are your Tax Dollars Spent?
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As I have often stated, the Budget is the only legislation we are required to pass, and it is a moral document of our state’s values. I voted for both the amended final 2023 Budget and the 2024 Budget.
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Buckhead Stopped - Thank God on March 2 the Senate defeated the Buckhead Cityhood legislation, with 10 R Senators joining Democratic ones. This financially irresponsible movement would have destabilized the bond markets for all Georgia cities and the state of Georgia. Thank you to Governor Kemp and his attorney David Dove for issuing the memo detailing the incredible hurdles of this proposal. The Atlanta Delegation meeting we held after the bill passed in committee, before it failed on the floor, was one of the most somber and depressing committee meetings I have participated in. Read more: The rise and fall of the Buckhead cityhood movement: An updated timeline
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Behavioral Health Reforms Expand
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HB 520 builds upon the momentum of the bipartisan passage of 2022’s Mental Health Parity Act. This bill authorizes:
- Studies and task forces focused on a range of issues from workforce to homelessness—the results of which will guide future legislation and appropriations to strengthen Georgia’s behavioral health system.
- A student loan repayment program for mental health or substance use professionals; however, the Governor’s proposed FY24 budget only includes $850,000 to establish the repayment program and reduces the previous years’ service cancelable loan program by about $1.6 million.
- The Department of Community Health to request approval from the federal government to use Medicaid funds to address health-related needs through housing, employment and nutrition supports. “
(This bill) is essential for us to move forward for the additional services and additional accountability the taxpayers of Georgia expect us to apply when we’re delivering service to families in crisis,” said Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver, a co-sponsor of the bill.
Read more: Georgia Senate next stop for House bill that aims to expand access to mental health services - Cobb County Courier
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Safe Housing Act: Tenant Protections Improve
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HB 404: Safe Housing Act protects the rights of both Georgia’s renters and landlords and ensures that rental properties are kept in a safe and healthy condition. Thank you to the AJC for their outstanding investigative series Dangerous Dwellings. HB 404 is a step in the right direction to improve protections for Georgia’s tenants. This bill requires:
- Requires rental properties to be “fit for human habitation” upon signing a lease, and landlords are required to maintain their properties throughout the duration of the lease. P
- Prohibits landlords from turning off a rental home’s air conditioning system prior to an eviction to force tenants to move out.
- Prohibits landlords from requiring a security deposit that exceeds two months' rent.
This legislation also seeks to balance the needs of landlords and their tenants during an eviction process.
- If a tenant fails to pay rent or charges owed to the landlord, the tenant has a three business day period prior to an eviction proceeding being filed, which gives tenants time to try and resolve the issue before being evicted. (We wanted at least 7 but 3 is better than none…)
- Requires an eviction notice to be posted visibly on the tenant’s front door in a sealed envelope or delivered based on stipulations in the rental agreement to ensure that the tenant is aware of the eviction proceeding and has an opportunity to respond.
Georgia renters have the right to live in homes that meet certain minimum health and safety standards, and overall, this bill would provide greater protections for tenants under state law and hold landlords accountable for keeping their properties safe for renters.
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Life Saving Glucagon Stocked in Schools
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House Bill 440, allows public and private schools to keep life saving medications on hand for students who have diabetes. This bill will allow:
- Public and private schools in Georgia to stock and administer glucagon, a medication used to treat severe hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, in people with diabetes.
- Prescribers, such as physicians and nurse practitioners, to provide standing orders or prescriptions for ready-to-use glucagon to schools so that this medication can be rapidly administered to students in an emergency.
- A public or private school to work directly with glucagon manufacturers or third-party suppliers to obtain the products for free or at fair market or reduced prices.
Severe hypoglycemia can be life-threatening and may require immediate treatment with glucagon, especially in situations where a student with diabetes does not have their medication with them. By allowing schools to stock glucagon, this bill would improve access to treatment for students who have a diabetic emergency at school.
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Electric Vehicle Energy Bill - charge by kw, and convenience stores get to sell
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HB 406 establishes the regulatory framework for Georgia’s electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, which could encourage more businesses, such as convenience stores, to offer EV charging stations across the state. The sale of electricity at EV charging stations would be similar to the sale of gasoline, and the bill would give the Georgia Department of Agriculture regulatory authority over EV charging stations, including inspecting these stations.
- Requires all EV charging stations to provide accurate readings of electricity charged to each vehicle on a per kilowatt-hour basis as a retail sale and include meters to record the total kilowatt-hours.
- Establishes an excise tax set by the Georgia Department of Revenue to ensure that our state collects revenue similar to revenue that is typically produced from gasoline sales.
The number of EV drivers in Georgia has skyrocketed in recent years, along with EV manufacturing, and it’s imperative that we lay the groundwork for a statewide EV charging infrastructure. HB 406 ensures that EV charging stations operate efficiently and fairly to support the growth and development of EVs in Georgia, which could have numerous benefits for the environment, public health and the economy.
I read after the fact that the Sierra Club was opposed to the bill and believes we shouldn’t be charging for commercial electric charging, so I will need to learn more if this bill returns to us in the House.
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Easier for College Students to get Needs-Based Aid
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College Completion: HB 249 lowers the threshold of courses that must be completed for a student in need to receive a “completion grant” to finish their degree. Under HB 1435 passed last year, individuals must have completed 80 percent of their degree requirements. HB 249 lowers that threshold to 70 percent for individuals in a four-year program and provides that individuals in a two-year program complete 45 percent of their courses to qualify for a completion grant. HB 249 also raises the maximum award per eligible student from $2,500 to $3,500.
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Raise the Age from 17 to 18 for some Juveniles
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HB 462 Creates a plan to move some 17-year-olds who are accused of a crime to the state’s juvenile court system.
- would not apply to 17-year-olds who are charged with gang-related offenses or serious crimes like murder or those who are not first-time offenders.
- Georgia is currently one of three states where the cut-off for juvenile court is 16 years old.
- Creates an implementation committee that would map out a plan for absorbing the new age group into the juvenile court system and identify the costs, which will be picked up by the state.
- The new age cut-off rules would expire in 2030 if left unfunded.
“Our 17-year-olds in the state of Georgia do not go to juvenile court. They go to state or superior court. They’re adjudicated just like adults,” Ballinger said Monday. “Anybody who’s ever known a 17-year-old knows how far from adulthood that 17-year-old really is.”
The bill cleared the House with a 145-to-22 vote, sending it over to the Senate for consideration.
Ballinger has championed a so-called raise the age proposal for several years.
This year’s push comes at a time when lawmakers have taken more of a law-and-order response to crime concerns. Her bill overcame opposition from the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association, which raised concerns about new demands on local staffing and the state Department of Juvenile Justice.
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Breaking the Medical Marijuana Logjam
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The House passed a Medical Marijuana bill back in 2019, my first session of the House, but it was not well crafted, and has been caught up in the courts. Georgia law has allowed registered patients to use low THC oil since 2015, but they’ve never had a legal way to buy it. I am hopeful that HB 196 will address the issue: Georgia House approves bill to break medical marijuana logjam
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Asking a parliamentary inquiry before voting on a bill to prevent deaths by drowning -" Isn't it true, Mr. Speaker, that while I am glad we have legislation to help address death by drownings of children - drowning is the #1 cause of death for children ages 1 to 4 - that gun violence is the # 1 cause of death for children and teens, and many of us in this body wish we could pass safe, responsible gun ownership laws to protect our children - isn't that true, Mr. Speaker?"
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Ban on Gender Affirming Care for Children and Youth
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SB 140 – Ban on health care for transgender youth that would prevent health care providers from offering patients safe, effective, and life-saving forms of healthcare. Gender-affirming care saves children’s lives. We have heard from so many of you against this bill. Over 500 Doctors wrote to us in opposition to this bill. After a deeply moving floor debate, here from 1:19 - 2:47) the House passed 96-85 and fast-tracked back to the Senate. Two R female legislators walked on the bill. SB 140:
- Bans gender-affirming care for transgender youth, including hormone replacement therapy. .
- Harms children – bullying them from the highest level of state government to score political points - amidst a mental health crisis
- Amounts to state-mandated malpractice. Why should politicians be able to pass laws that supersede established medical care standards? And what patient would prefer their medical care to be directed by a politician rather than a doctor?
- Makes physicians criminally and civilly liable for following accepted and scientifically-backed standards of care.
- Nothing more than a radical governmental overreach into Georgia families’ most private decisions.
From a physician constituent, who is also an epidemiologist, and parent of a transgender child who transitioned as a young adult:
- From personal experience –
- Adult transitioning can be/often is/certainly is more difficult than adolescent due to (1) more distance from support system (family), (2) employment and insurance challenges, (3) greater challenges in navigating a crowded and poorly organized/vetted/competent behavioral support workforce, (3) more opportunity for self-medication for associated depression with alcohol or other drugs, (4) more opportunities for suicide and self-harm.
- Transitioning while still living with a support system, health insurance, stable healthcare and relationships is a powerful advantage to adolescents
To all the trans youth out there, we want you to know that you are loved. Your lives matter. And to their parents, we know you want to take care of your children. The bill is back in the Senate today.
Senate Bill 140 advances during a Georgia House Public Health Committee hearing – WABE
Georgia House approves bill to limit treatment for transgender children
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Should Georgia Give Public Tax Dollars to Private Schools?
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Today in the House Education Policy committee, we will hear Georgia’s third private school voucher program with SB 233, the Georgia Promise Scholarship Act. I hope and pray we can keep this bill from advancing in committee. Thank you to the countless hard-working educators, parents, and school faculty that have written to me with concerns about this bill. SB 233:
- Sends public funds to private school without accountability for student achievement, scant transparency, and no estimate of the program’s cost.
- Available to students in the lowest performing 25% of schools, as determined by the state’s accountability system.
- The vast majority of students served by these schools are low-income, a factor closely linked to poor academic outcomes.
- Pulls public funds that could be used for public schools serving these vulnerable students and send them to private schools that choose which students to serve and which to reject.
- There is no guarantee that these students would be better off if they used a voucher to attend a private school.
- High-quality evaluations of voucher programs found voucher students did worse academically than students in public schools.
- Provides funds for private school tuition or other educational expenses to pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and first grade students who never attend public school.
Georgia’s two existing voucher programs carry an annual price tag of about $150 million. Instead of diverting more public funds to private schools with a new voucher program, lawmakers can assist low-income students far more effectively by investing in:
• Literacy enhancements, including increasing literacy coaches and specialists, professional learning for educators, and high-quality curriculum materials
• Supplemental funding for low-income students to provide additional academic and non-academic supports
• Increasing the number of school counselors, school psychologists, and school social workers to meet recommended best practices for the number of students each position should serve
• Paraprofessionals for first and second grades
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The House passed HB 231, which lowers the threshold for a DA recall election.
- Creates a five-member commission appointed by the Georgia Supreme Court with the power to investigate, punish and remove the state’s 50 district attorneys and solicitors general for a range of violations, including “willful misconduct” in office.
- Joins a coordinated rightwing effort to undo the will of voters after historic elections of progressive, reform-minded District Attorneys.
- Similar to SB 92, which is a part of this effort to silence and oust pro-criminal justice reform District Attorneys from office. Republicans demand oversight of prosecutors amid Trump probe
Backers say the panel would pursue both Democratic and Republican prosecutors, but sides are definitely forming along ideological lines.
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Will Anti-Riot Bills Chill Free Speech?
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In reaction to the protests against the new Atlanta Police Training Center that turned violent at the beginning of the year, we passed two laws, HB 500 and HB 505.
While I stand in favor of the right for peaceful protest and against violence, and I believe people should be held accountable for their actions, I voted no on HB 505 because the definition of a riot has not been updated since 1933, and courts have interpreted it to include bystanders, and the penalty is increased from a misdemeanor to a felony, with a minimum prison time of a year.
I voted no on HB 505 because it is already a felony to put a government vehicle on fire, and the minimum penalty is increased from 1 year to 5 up to 20 years. Georgia is already the leading state for people under correctional control, at nearly 4 times the national rate and 3 times the rate of any state in the southeast.
Learn more:
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No Movement on Protecting the Okefenokee Swamp from Mining
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I joined Representatives Mary Frances Williams and Debbie Buckner at Manuel's Tavern to participate in the last night of public comment to Protect the Okefenokee Swamp.
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The Okefenokee Swamp is a 438,000-acre state treasure, the largest Blackwater swamp in America, a designated Wetland of International Importance, and 93% of which is protected by National Wildlife Refuge. The future of the swamp is at risk. A titanium dioxide mine has been proposed adjacent to the swamp. Mining near the swamp threatens the health, safety, and economy of Southeast Georgia and the wildlife of the Okefenokee. Unfortunately, HB 71, a bipartisan bill to permanently protect the swamp from mining, was not heard in committee before Cross Over, despite having 91 signatures.
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The Mixed Up, Vote Your Conscience Bills
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Here I am sharing my concerns with Rep Gullet and Chairman Don Parsons about HB 73, a Solar consumer protection bill, that has the Public Service Commission in charge of approval of solar installation companies instead of the Secretary of State or the Attorney General. Solar installers fear that the Public Service Commission is in the pockets of Georgia Power, and that approval process will be slow walked. Even though I was in favor of the disclosure requirements for consumer protection, I voted no on this bill. The bill passed 125 - 44.
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HB 30 - Using IHRA Definition for Anti-Semitism - Passed 136 - 22, with 22 walking.
This bill has been complicated for me. I am alarmed by the pervasive epidemic of hate, especially the rise of antisemitism, going on in America and the world. I have been listening, watching, reflecting, praying, and wondering what I can say that can be healing.
For my Jewish friends, I acknowledge your pain. Tree of Life shootings in Pittsburgh. Shootings leaving Synagogue in Los Angeles. Shooting in Kosher Market in New Jersey. Stabbing at Hanukkah House Party. Anti-Semitic flyers on lawns and driveways here in Georgia. Paying for security at your synagogues. And Kanye West using the power of his social media for anti-Semitic tropes.
Each person is a beloved child of God. Every individual is sacred. Attacks and murder of Jewish people are an affront to all of us.
This sickness of anti-Semitism and hate and white national supremacy is rising in our culture. We must heal this sickness.
Anti-Semitism, Anti-Asian, Anti-Hispanic, Anti-Islamic Anti-Black hate and bigotry are a part of our hard history and our current culture. We must confront this hate.
I am an ally with Jewish Georgians in the work in fighting antisemitism and other forms of bigotry. And I understand that many of you believe HB 30 is an important step to fight antisemitism. However, I believe that the IHRA definition of antisemitism is not the right strategy to combat antisemitism and would, instead, negatively impact free speech in Georgia and further conflate antisemitism and legitimate criticism of Israel.
I am not worried about the use of the law to actually criminalize speech against Israel. What I am worried about is the charge of antisemitism that will be levied against folks who speak out against the human rights abuses of Israel, especially students and professors on college campuses who work for justice in Palestine.
If the IHRA definition were to be put into the Georgia code, then state agencies, universities, employers, and others will be able to point to the definition and call people anti-Semitic if they are criticizing Israel. The sponsors of this bill claim that it will only be considered when addressing unlawful or discriminatory conduct. This may be what the words of the bill say, but I am concerned the actual impact of the law will be to give some supporters of Israel an “official” definition of antisemitism as defined by Georgia law to use against criticisms of Israel.
My concerns were confirmed by the bill sponsor on Cross Over, when he sarcastically attacked opponents of the bill like J Street, T’ruah, Jewish Georgians and others as “quote unquote Jewish”, which was extremely painful, for I know many of the Jewish opponents and challenging their faith was offensive to me. This reinforced my fear that people using this IHRA definition, even without the examples codified, may well label those who love Israel but criticize its human rights abuses as anti-Semitic. I voted no on the bill.
Has the Fight Against Antisemitism Lost Its Way? - The New York Times
Hate Crimes Increased Sharply in 2021, FBI Data Show - WSJ
We need a better definition of anti-Semitism.
How do we define antisemitism? And how do we fight it? : It's Been a Minute : NPR
Looking at Anti-Semitism on the Left and the Right: An Interview with Deborah E. Lipstadt | The New Yorker
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Limiting the Ability of local governments to stop home building
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HB 514, limiting the ability of local governments to stop home building: Passed 127 - 43
- Bars local governments from putting a moratorium on new single-family homes for more than 180 days. The measure included exemptions for state of emergency declarations, natural disasters, or when the local government has contracted with a third party to complete a study on public utilities.
- Allows local governments to waive “impact fees,” which are tied to costs for public infrastructure on residential housing under 2,500 square feet, as an incentive for homebuilders.
This is very unusual for me to vote yes on a preemption bill. GMA and ACCG were neutral on the bill. I voted yes because certain counties have only allowed new commercial, but have put a moratorium on building new residential, because they want the revenue from the taxes for commercial buildings, and neighboring counties have had to bear the brunt of the cost of building the new residential. I am hopeful this will help more homes to be built more quickly in Georgia.
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HB 189 Increasing the Weight of Trucks on State and County Roads
This was the closest vote we have had in the House - the bill passed 93 to 81. This was not a partisan vote - the votes were all over the place. I voted No primarily due to safety and cost to state and county concerns - we are already the 4th highest in truck crash fatalities and maintenance costs of the roads will greatly increase. Proponents of the bill argue it is about the small business livelihoods of our trucking businesses. Heavy trucks debate: Lives vs. livelihoods
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Certifying Teachers are Properly Instructed in How to Teach Reading
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Thank you to Chairwoman Sharon Cooper, who was a lead sponsor for HB 537.
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HB 537 - Literacy Instruction Certification - Requires age appropriate evidence based literacy instruction (EBLI), aka the Science of Reading, training requirements for childcare providers and school teachers.
This bill was passed out of the Education committee and presented in the Rules committee, but did not make it to the House Floor on Cross Over. This bill was a part of a trio of Literacy Bills for this session - HB 538 and SB 211 are the two others that will hopefully pass. I have given permission for language from HB 537 to be incorporated into HB 538 on the Senate side.
The pace of automation and the switch to high-tech jobs is accelerating. 60% of jobs are STEM related, and 60% of those job holders do not need a bachelor’s degree. Georgia needs a literate workforce that can up-skill, re-skill, and grow the skilled workforce as the economy changes. However, unfortunately, unbelievably, and regrettably, Two thirds of Georgia’s 4th graders are NOT able to read proficiently, or are not fully literate. One of the key reasons is that Georgia's teacher preparation programs and Professional Standards are not aligned with evidence-based practices, aka the Science of Reading.
Former education journalist: How I missed the phonics story
HB 537 is a Critical Step to improving literacy outcomes for Georgia students.
“There are at least 44 different programs used to prepare teachers to teach reading in Georgia. Most…are not backed by evidence-based practices.” - Sonny Perdue, Chancellor of the Georgia University System, on Feb 1st, 2023, to the Senate Joint Committee on Education and Youth.
What are Evidence Based Best Practices?
An evidence-based best-practice is generally agreed upon by researchers to be a scientifically-based practice that is studied via rigorous trials, replicated in multiple settings, and withstands the test of peer-review.
Address the pipeline: Evidence-based best-practices to improve reading outcomes all along the pipeline are not just instruction methods, but rather programs that address at least one of Get Georgia Reading Campaign’s Four Pillars: language nutrition, access, positive learning climate, and teacher preparation and effectiveness. (examples: Talk With Me Baby, Broadband Access, Reading Resource Coordinators).
Instruction: As people learn to read, they are building mental muscle that enables them to read words and sentences with speed, accuracy, and comprehension. Evidence-based literacy instruction utilizes the “muscle building” techniques: building from letter sounds, to combination sounds, to whole words, to entire sentences. At the same time, it builds a library of defined words. By the end of third-grade, when given a block of text, proficient readers have the mental muscle to easily read the words and know what those words mean; therefore, they can comprehend the block of text to learn.
Definition: EBLI means education practices that address all of the following: the acquisition of language, phonological and phonemic awareness, phonics and spelling, fluency, vocabulary, oral language, comprehension, the intersection of writing and reading, and utilization of literacy instruction methods in other subjects such as science and history.
Many thanks to Dr. Amy Sharma with Science for Georgia for her work as a policy advisor on literacy. I hope HB 538 passes the Senate Education Committee this week! And please join me this Wednesday night for this important film!
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In Georgia, Bloated Costs Take Over a Nuclear Power Plant and a Fight Looms Over Who Pays:
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Legislators say "Don't Put Those Costs on Customers' Bills!"
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Do you want to pay a profit to Georgia Power on their billions of dollars in mistakes and construction corrections made at plant Vogtle 3&4?
Here is illumination and action on the costliest financial situation for Georgia in modern Georgia history: HR 323 and SR 300
A Bi-Partisan Group of over 25 Legislators warn the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) to “protect 2.7 million electricity customers from unjustly paying for construction mistakes, delays and work corrections” at the Vogtle nuclear power plant.
HR 323 is now at the Natural Resources and Environment House Committee. It may not be heard, but you can stand up for yourselves as ratepayers, and write your Public Service Commissioners.
The PSC Statement of Purpose
"The Georgia Public Service Commission has exclusive power to decide what are fair and reasonable rates for services under its jurisdiction. It must balance Georgia citizens' need for reliable services and reasonable rates with the need for utilities to earn a reasonable return on investment. The Commission protects consumers' interests while abiding by legal standards in setting rates. All matters scheduled for public hearing are heard by the Commissioners or in special cases, by an appointed hearing officer in open session."
- Patricia Pridemore, Chairman
- Tim Echols, Vice-Chairman
- Fitz Johnson
- Lauren “Bubba” McDonald
- Jason Shaw
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Write your Public Service Commissioners:
Subject Line:
Keep Costs of Plant Vogtle Out of My Power Bill
Message:
Keep the costs of GA Power's mismanagement of Plant Vogtle out of our power bills! Do your job and advocate for GA citizens rather than GA Power. |
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Remember: this is not about if nuclear Vogtle is a good idea, if it is clean, if the electricity is needed. This is about who pays for mistakes and pays a profit on mistakes of a regulated utility.
Here’s who needs protection from paying for mistakes at Plant Vogtle 3&4:
Elderly, schools, food banks, restaurants, churches, tire stores, car repair shops, households, gas stations, doctor’s offices, print shops, apartment renters, house renters, dentists, synagogues, beauty parlors, dry cleaners, shoe stores, insurance offices, meals-on-wheels, homeless shelters, colleges and universities, Salvation Army stores, banks, bicycle shops, credit unions, coffee shops, drug stores, police stations, nursing homes, car washes, sheet metal shops, music stores, pet stores, fast-food restaurants, veterinarian offices, loan offices, county governments, machine shops, caterers, welding shops, small manufacturing businesses, hospitals, recycling centers, lawnmower repair shops, animal shelters, hardware stores, grocery stores, YMCA & YWCA, nail shops, bookstores, health food stores, consignment stores, rehab centers, phone stores, barbershops, grocery stores, warehouses, urgent care centers, franchise businesses, clothing stores…
Many thanks to Robert Searfoss and Pam Woodley for their advocacy on this issue.
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Burial Purchaser Protection Act
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Burial Purchaser Protection Act HB 486 This is a Basic Consumer Protected Bill! This bill was heard in the Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee last week, after Cross Over, so it won't be able to pass this year, but will be "live" for next year. Above you see the Jordan Family and friends, who have brought this legislation to us, as they don't want anyone else to go the the over decade of trauma they have been through.
Problem: Consumer purchases a pre-need burial plot and burial vault on an installment plan in 2001. Consumer makes the last payment in 2005 and a deed is issued for the burial plot on December 1, 2005. The cemetery resold the burial plot in 2009. Consumer died on July 1, 2010. Consumer's family then learns that the pre-need burial plot is now occupied by another person.
Under the current law, Consumer's or Consumer’s family has a two statute of limitations to bring suit against the cemetery from the date of issuing the deed for the burial plot,i.e., November 30, 2007.
Under the current law, Consumer's family has no recourse against the Cemetery because the statute of limitations expired on November 30, 2007 for any claims against the cemetery even though the breach of contract didn't occur until after November 30, 2007.
Solution: The proposed statute change would provide for the start of the two year statute of limitation to commence at the time the Consumer or Consumer's family requests the use of the pre-need burial plot or burial merchandise. In the instant case, the Consumer's family would have had until June 30, 2012 to file an action in a court of competent jurisdiction.
Background: Alderwoods Cemetery, DeKalb County
Many cemeteries are family owned, and conglomerates have bought them out. Old records never got transferred. The conglomerate takes authority out of local hands. S.C.I. is one of the biggest funeral home conglomerates in the country.
When the family discovered someone else was buried in their plot, initially the funeral home offered a space in a similar lot. But the family wanted their mother to be buried in the lot they purchased, next to other family members. The funeral home refused to move the body. The family hired an attorney and went to court. The body was in the funeral home for 2 years. Showed the jury photos of the casket wrapped up . The funeral home finally went to court and got permission to disinter the person buried in the space, so the grave became available. The family still pursued the court case, and they originally won court cases, with $100,000 for suffering, $200,000 attorney’s fees, and the actual amount of money the family paid for the lot - $7,000 to $9,000. But the court of appeals overturned the verdict, stating that state law only allows a cause of action to be brought within two years from the date of the scheduled completion of the contract. Which doesn’t make sense in cases like this - it is unreasonable to think that a family member would go to the burial site every two years to make sure someone else wasn’t buried in their space. Hence this request to extend the time period for cause of action to be two years from the purchaser requesting use of the contract.
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It is so wonderful to have Pages back at the Capitol! From the top: George Davis III, Bottom L: Matthew Sapiano and Bottom R: Connor Willingham.
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DeKalb - Call for Nominations for DeKalb Ethics Board
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I am pleased to serve as Treasurer for the DeKalb Delegation with Secretary Long Tran, Vice Chair Viola Davis, and Chair Karla Drenner
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DeKalb Officials Issue a Call for Nominations to the DeKalb Ethics Board
ATLANTA – State Representative Karla Drenner (D-Avondale Estates) and State Senator Kim Jackson (D-Stone Mountain), co-chairs of the DeKalb County Legislative Delegation, joined with DeKalb County Clerk Debra DeBerry and DeKalb County Tax Commissioner Irvin Johnson to issue a call for nominations to the DeKalb Ethics Board in light of the recent resignations from the board.
“As representatives of the appointing authorities for the DeKalb Ethics Board, we were disappointed to read recent press coverage about events leading to the resignation of five members of the Board of Ethics,” said Rep. Drenner and Sen. Jackson. “Because the board is an independent agency, our only role here is to fill the vacancies. Therefore, we are actively seeking nominations for candidates to fill the five vacant positions. We look forward to filling these positions in an expedient manner and expect all board members to return to their very important work in good faith.”
The DeKalb County Board of Ethics was reconstituted in 2021 after an overwhelmingly successful ballot referendum updated the appointment process. The referendum enacted House Bill 1243, which passed during the 2020 Legislative Session. HB 1243 most notably updated the appointment process for the Ethics Board, granting appointing authorities to the House and Senate legislative delegations, tax commissioner and clerk of the superior court.
The House and Senate DeKalb County Legislative Delegations will receive nominations via email at appointment.dekalb.ethics@gmail.com.
The Chairs of the House and Senate DeKalb County delegations have asked that nominations include a resume and brief statement about the nominee's interest in the Board.
Representative Karla Drenner represents the citizens of District 85, which includes portions of DeKalb County. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2000 and currently serves as Secretary of the Small Business Development Committee. She also serves on the Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications, Natural Resources & Environment, Public Health, Rules and Urban Affairs committees.
Sen. Kim Jackson represents the 41st Senate District which includes portions of DeKalb and a small portion of Gwinnett County. She may be reached at her office at 404.656.6882 or by email at kim.jackson@senate.ga.gov.
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The Community Came to the Capitol! Thank you to Moms Demand Action for their Advocacy to Protect Youth, Not Guns! Thanks to advocates likes them, The Pediatric Safe Storage Act was heard in committee last week. It was a hearing only, but a start!
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Thank you to our DeKalb School Board members and Superintendent, for serving our community and coming to the Capitol to tell us their legislative Priorities
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I always love walking in the East Lake YMCA Black History Month Parade!
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The Seed and Feed Marching Abominable Band was a colorful and energetic addition to the Black History parade!
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I was pleased to honor Dr. Amy Sharma for the Nikki T. Randall Servant Leadership Award at the Yellow Rose Ceremony, and that her husband Navin was able to join us!
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I am pleased to serve on the Emory Village Alliance Advisory Board, and that I was able to attend a portion of planning retreat
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The next Nine Days (Five Legislative Days!) will be a Whirlwind. Sine Die is Wednesday, March 29. Please pray for open hearts and minds, and stamina, determination, patience and humility as we fight to improve the lives of Georgians - and to reduce harm as much as possible.
It is my honor and privilege to serve as your State Representative. Please let me know if I can be of service to you.
Yours in Service,
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Representative Becky Evans
Georgia's 89th House District, DeKalb County
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