05 LC 33
0898S
The
House Committee on Governmental Affairs offers the following
substitute
to SR 23:
A
RESOLUTION
Creating
the Jasper Port 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 are becoming a major
obstacle to be overcome by each port prior to deepening its 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, 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
otheŕs
economic activities along their common border.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that there is
created the Jasper Port 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 for
the purpose of recommending any legislation or other action the committee deems
necessary or appropriate, including the need for the State of Georgia to
maintain its obligation to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to provide an
adequate spoil site. 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.