Legislative Update Week Three

2012 Legislative Update

Week Three

Legislature returns from Budget Week Recess, Sets 30 Day Calendar

After week two’s joint House and Senate budget committee hearings, the Georgia General Assembly returned to regular business last week.  On Monday, the House adopted their legislative calendar through the 30^th legislative day.  The 30^th legislative day is planned for Monday, March 5.  Since the length of the legislative session is 40 legislative days, the final day of the 2012 legislative session should be prior to April 1, 2012.

Governor’s Task Force on Transit Governance Releases Final Report

Governor Deal’s special Task Force on Transit Governance released their final report this week.  The report recommends goals and objectives for a Transit Governance Council to address transit needs in the 13 county metropolitan Atlanta “non-attainment area”.  The “non-attainment area” is a federal designation of those counties that don’t meet federal air quality standards.

The Transit Governance final report also included language for draft legislation to accomplish the recommendations of the report.  The draft calls for a 35 member Transit Governance Council with 30 elected representatives from all 13 metro Atlanta non-attainment counties and 5 GRTA board members.  The draft also calls for coordination between existing transit operators of planning, construction, financing and management of transit operations.  The draft legislation also removes the 50/50 sales tax restrictions of MARTA’s use of sales taxes, after certain actions have been accomplished.

According to published statistics, over 400 thousand people used transit services daily in the 13 county metro Atlanta non-attainment area.

Bill to invest approximately $1 billion in GDOT Funding Introduced

House Transportation Committee chairman Jay Roberts and Appropriations chairman Terry England introduced House Bill 806 to address a glitch in state law that has kept approximately $1 billion in federal motor fuel funds from being spent. Existing Georgia law required all funds to be spent on a project in the year the expense occurred.  However, because federally funded highway construction projects are financed with an expense reimbursement methodology, some federal reimbursement funds may not be received until years after work on a project is completed.  This legislation will establish a “Mandatory Appropriation Carryover Program” where the reimbursement funds must reside.  There are also protections in the proposed law where these funds can only be spent for activities or programs already approved and appropriated by the legislature.

Legislative Calendar

The Georgia General Assembly has completed nine legislative days.  Thirty one (31) legislative days remain.

Have a great week.