In keeping with his committment to implementing Commission recommendations, Governor Perdue has recommended several bills to the Georgia Legislature, and the Legislature has responded by passing bills designed to bring Commission recommendations to life.

The full text of the legislation can be accessed on the General Assembly website: www.legis.state.ga.us. Reference bill number and Session year to search.

LEGISLATION PASSED:

HB312 – (2005) Administrative Services & Procurement
Sponsored by Rep. Allen Freeman / Sen. Casey Cagle

Initiates changes to help transform the state’s procurement function and improve the management of the state’s assets, including motor vehicles. The proposed legislation will help capture an estimated $135 million in procurement savings, provide incentives for surplus property enhancements, strengthen policy leadership over the state’s motor vehicle fleet, contribute to the elimination of an estimated 2,000 state vehicles, and streamline personal property inventory procedures.

SB158 – (2005) Capital Asset Management
Sponsored by Sen. Jim Whitehead / Rep. Terry Barnard

Transfers the employee deferred compensation programs to the Employees’ Retirement System from the Georgia Merit System. This move will consolidate administration and expertise in one appropriate location.

HB 293 (2005) State Accounting Office
Sponsored by Rep. Larry O’Neal / Sen. Casey Cagle

Created Georgia’s first State Accounting Office to realign the state's financial reporting and financial system responsibilities under a single State Accounting Officer (SAO). In 2006, Georgia met the deadline for the annual federal audit report for the first time since 1991.

HB 98 (2005) Land Conservation Council
Sponsored by Reps. Rich Golick, Jay Roberts, Lynn Smith, Jan Jones / Sen. Chip Pearson

Created the Georgia Land Conservation Council to protect public and private lands important to conservation, environmental quality, and recreational use.

HB 501 (2005) Department of Drivers Services
Sponsored by Reps. Austin Scott, Ross Tolleson

Created the Department of Drivers Services as a successor agency to the Department of Motor Vehicle Safety to provide for vehicle safety and in particular responsibility for driver's licensing services. This was the first statewide initiative to improve services to citizens.

HB 191 (2005) Allocation Formula
Sponsored by Reps. Larry O’Neal, Roger Williams / Sen. Casey Cagle

Improved allocation and apportionment formulas for corporations in order to provide economic incentives for businesses to invest in employment growth and capital projects in the state.

HB 389 (2005) Tax Credits for Less Developed Counties

Sponsors: Reps. Jay Roberts, Richard Smith, Vance Smith, Jon Burns, Rich Golick, Jeff May, Sen. Casey Cagle.

Provided tax credits for creation of jobs paying higher than average and offering access to health insurance, applying to less developed counties in the state.

HB 509 (2005)Revenue Shortfall Reserve

Sponsors: Reps. Ben Harbin, Jerry Keen, Mark Burkhalter, Sen. Jack Hill

Doubled the percentage of funds from 5% to 10% of the prior budget year to invest in the Revenue Shortfall Reserve to cover expenditures exceeding net revenue.
HB 1113 (2008) Penalities for personal use of state purchasing
Sponsored by Reps. John Heard, Ed Rynders, Penny Houston, Greg Morris, Richard Royal, Gerald Greene / Sen. Mitch Seabaugh

Codified penalties for personal use of state purchasing resources, including P-cards, purchase orders, contracts, and credit, charge or debit cards.

SB 592 (2008) Surplus sales
Sponsored by Sens. Johnny Grant, Jack Hill, Brian Kemp, Seth Harp

Authorized the Department of Administrative Services to sell small value surplus equipment and other property, turned in by state agencies, to the public at retail warehouses, increasing citizen access to surplus bargains.
SB425 (2008) – Risk Management

Sponsor: Sen. Johnny Grant

Authorized the Risk Management Services Division to establish incentive programs to reduce risk, including differential premium rates and deductibles based on loss histories
SB85 (2009) – Georgia Aviation Authority

Sponsors: Sens. Bill Heath, Bill Cowsert, Chip Pearson, Jim Butterworth, Ross Tolleson, Ronnie Chance

Created the Georgia Aviation Authority to govern the state’s aircraft management. The aviation authority will deploy aircraft meet the missions of multiple agencies with fewer aircraft, standardize types of aircraft, modernize the fleet and establish a unified team of aviation professionals to ensure safe, effective and efficient operations.

HB 371 (2009) – Retirement Investment

Sponsors: Rep. Earl Ehrhart / Sen. Kasim Reed

Amended the "Public Retirement Systems Investment Authority Law" to increase allowable retirement system fund investment in equities to 75 percent.

SB230 (2009) – Community Service Boards and Mental Health Services

Sponsor: Sen. Curt Thompson

Transferred the duties relating to the administration of mental health, mental retardation, substance abuse, and other disability services to the Department of Human Resources.

HB867 (2010) – Regional Commissions

Sponsors: Rep. Ron Stephens / Sen. Tommie Williams

Increased accountability of the district Regional Commissions (RCs) to their local governments and the state, requiring regular financial and performance audits. Minimum levels of financial participation are set for state and local partners. By law, RCs will focus on four core planning areas: land use, transportation, environmental protection, and historic preservation. The law is designed to ensure that all local governments throughout the State have access to quality assistance across those functions.

House Bill 1195 (2010) Workforce Development

Sponsors: Reps.Terry England, Jimmy Pruett, Clay Cox, Melvin Emerson, Mike Coan, Sen. Chip Pearson

Created the Workforce Investment Board and membership make-up and established the Governor’s Office of Workforce Development to implement state workforce development policy as directed by the governor. The act recognizes the 'Georgia Work Ready' as the state's branded workforce development enterprise.