GEORGIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE
ROOM 505, LOB 30334
404-656-5082 1-800-282-5800

Daily Report Number 07
January 27, 2004

Back to PIO

House members passed four items today with very little opposition. The first was HB 677 which was recommended by the Chief Probation Officers Association of Georgia. The measure adds the Department of Corrections to a list of state agencies which are allowed to garnish the tax refund checks of persons having delinquent debt with the agency. Refund seizure would be used to offset unpaid probation and/or restitution fees, and could only be used if the person has fled in violation of his or her parole, and an arrest warrant has been issued. Realizing that many of these court ordered fees are used to pay restitution or reparations to the criminal’s victim, members voted 156-0 to pass HB 677.

The Georgia House has always worked to preserve and promote educational opportunity in this state. Keeping with this goal, lawmakers voted 165-0 in favor of HB 1118. The legislation allows state employees to contribute to the State Higher Education Savings Plan via payroll deduction. The bill’s author touted HB 1118 as a means by which state employees– many of whom earn less than their private sector counterparts– can take advantage of a valuable savings plan so their children can realize the benefits of a college education.

Also in the area of education, HB 1058, entitled the “Parental Leave Act,” seeks to encourage parents to participate in the education of their children. The legislation states that parents may be allowed to take leave from their jobs for the purpose of volunteering at their child’s school, attending a parent teacher conference, or participating in other school related activities. Parents wishing to take leave would be required to provide reasonable notice to their employer, and the employer is not obligated to make the leave paid. Furthermore, HB 1058 only allows parents to take a maximum of eight hours of “Parental Leave” per year, and allows employers to verify the time was spent on school activities. The measure originated as an idea from students at the A. Phillip Randolph Elementary School in Atlanta. Those students were on hand today as members voted 158-6 to pass the “Parental Leave Act” and send it to the Senate.

Finally, if HB 365 receives passage in the Senate, Georgia will have its very first state amphibian. Students at the Armuchee Elementary School near Rome, Georgia were studying Georgia’s state symbols and noticed the state was without a state amphibian. The student’s quickly set about picking a candidate for the post, and settled upon the green tree frog. They then contacted their local state representative, who submitted HB 365 which would make the green tree frog Georgia’s official state amphibian. The bill’s author praised the children’s interest in the operation of state government. She also noted that in addition to teaching children a valuable civics lesson on how a bill becomes Georgia law, the passage of HB 365 would also help conservation efforts in the state by raising awareness. The legislation passed by a vote of 156-3.

Lawmakers will be in recess tomorrow to allow House committees to meet and consider legislation. The General Assembly will reconvene for the eighth legislative day on Thursday, January 29, 2004 at 10:00 a.m.

Georgia House of Representatives
Public Information Office

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------