sr23_As_introduced_LC_33_0528_2.html
05 LC 33 0528
Senate Resolution 23
By: Senators Johnson of the 1st and Harbison of the 15th

A RESOLUTION

Creating the Joint Port Authority for the Port of Savannah Study Committee; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, the Port of Savannah was the site of the establishment of the Colony of Georgia; and

WHEREAS, the Savannah River is the navigable river that serves the Port of Savannah; and

WHEREAS, the State of South Carolina borders the northern side of the Savannah River; and

WHEREAS, Jasper County, South Carolina, borders the Savannah River on the north; and

WHEREAS, both the State of Georgia and the State of South Carolina have established port authorities to govern all port related activities in their states; and

WHEREAS, competition for shipping business has been a long accepted tradition between the Port of Savannah and the Port of Charleston; and

WHEREAS, both states are intent on supporting the future development of their respective ports; and

WHEREAS, both the State of Georgia and the State of South Carolina are dependent on the economic benefits derived from the activities of each respective port authority; and

WHEREAS, the ever increasing size of ships is requiring both ports to continually deepen the respective rivers which serve their ports; and

WHEREAS, the environmental factors affected by such river deepening is becoming a major obstacle to be overcome by each port prior to deepening their respective port rivers; and

WHEREAS, there may be certain benefits to be realized by both states sharing information regarding a proposed port operation on both the north and south sides of the Savannah River; and

WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of both states to cooperate with each other´s economic activities along their common border.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that there is created the Joint Port Authority for the Port of Savannah Study Committee to be composed of three members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Assignments, three members of the House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and three citizens to be appointed by the Governor.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs, issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or legislation the committee deems necessary or appropriate. The committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution. The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided for in Code Section 28_1_8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. Citizen members shall receive a daily expense allowance in the amount specified in subsection (b) of Code Section 45_7_21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated as well as the mileage or transportation allowance authorized for state employees. All funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds appropriated to the House of Representatives and the Senate. The expenses and allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized. In the event the committee makes a report of its findings and recommendations, with suggestions for proposed legislation, if any, such report shall be made on or before December 1, 2005. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2005.