In any legislative session there are winners are there are losers. In many instances, the fate of a lawmaker’s key initiatives for the year are decided during the long, arduous final day of the session, known as Sine Die, which means “adjournment without a day” in Latin. This year in the Senate, we were in the chamber for over 14 hours on Sine Die, passing many bills over the course of the final day. I feel like one of the winners in 2008, because several pieces of legislation I sponsored received final passage. This week, I’d like to review the initiatives I carried in the 2008 session that passed and now await the signature of Governor Perdue to become Georgia law.

SB 342 – Drought Relief Act

Many prayers have been answered this year with the increasing rains, but we are still experiencing drought-like conditions in North Georgia. Lake levels are rising but we cannot sit back idly waiting for our state to dry up again. For these reasons, I worked hard to ensure the passage of Senate Bill 342 this year. Along with the Statewide Water Plan, SB 342 ended up being the most significant bill dealing with our water issues this session. The legislation allows communities to apply for state funding to enlarge existing reservoirs and obtain permits to construct new ones. Additionally, the FY 08 and FY 09 budgets provide $70 million in reservoir funding, and $1 million in funding for repairs to existing reservoirs and local water/sewer upgrades. With the passage of SB 342, we take the key first step in increasing our water capacity, which will help local communities greatly in future times of drought and/or water shortage.

SB 421 – Fighting false document production

In 2007, Gov. Perdue vetoed SB 100, which I authored in an effort to curtail the growing industry of false ID and document production in Georgia. This year, I introduced a similar bill, SB 421, which incorporated language to address the Governor’s concerns. SB 421 increases the existing penalties for those who knowingly manufacture, sell or distribute false IDs and documents. The new penalties would be based upon the age of the individual found to be in possession of a false ID, incorporating a certain amount of leniency for underage citizens. We need to curb the illegal manufacture and sale of fake IDs to those who use them to stay in the U.S. illegally and SB 421 does this.

SB 463 – Gray water

Another water conservation measure, SB 463, defines “gray water” as waste water discharged from residential lavatories, bathtubs, showers and washing machines, and provides requirements for the private residential reuse of gray water. Furthermore, this bill requires county boards of health to adopt these provisions by regulation. Local governing authorities are authorized to punish any violation of these regulations with a penalty not to exceed $100. Many citizens are already using rain barrels and gray water systems, and this legislation puts a responsible system in place for local governments to manage the use of gray water.

SR 750 – Motor fuel taxes

I sponsored Senate Resolution 750 out of concern that the citizens of Georgia are being unfairly taxed by our federal government. Each year, the federal government collects millions of dollars from our state in motor fuel taxes, and many state officials agree the way those funds are redistributed is unfair to Georgians who pay the tax. SR 750 urges the U.S. Department of Transportation to make the funds collected under the federal tax immediately available to individual states to fund their transportation needs and to cease collection of motor fuel taxes in Georgia so that the state can collect and distribute the taxes without delay. With fuel prices hovering above $3.50 per gallon, I am of the opinion that if the federal government cannot temporarily suspend its portion of the motor fuel tax, they should at least help our state use the revenue to fund current transportation needs.

Other bills of note

SB 444 allows the Georgia DOT to more easily sell property not in use. I sponsored this legislation in an effort to help the DOT maximize its budget, while protecting private property rights at the same time.

SR 781 is based on the recommendations of the Joint Study Committee on Transportation Funding. This legislation urges the DOT to develop a statewide strategic transportation plan that will include public private initiatives (PPIs), high occupancy toll lanes (HOT lanes), public transit projects, a MAG-LEV train and more. The DOT must report its progress on the plan to the General Assembly by December 31, 2008.

SR 1047 urges the DOT to consolidate its maintenance barns, where possible, and privatize its road maintenance operations, in another effort to get the most value from DOT dollars.

SR 1060 urges the DOT to provide reports to the General Assembly on maintenance barn consolidation, road and bridge maintenance beginning December 31, 2008.

It has been a privilege to serve your interests in the state Senate during the 2007-2008 term. As always, please contact me in my office on the issues that are affecting you and your area.

Please feel free to contact Sen. Chip Pearson at his office in Atlanta at 404.656.9221 or by email at chip.pearson@senate.ga.gov.