sr482_Committee_sub_LC_18_6412S_4.html
07 LC 18 6412S

The Senate Finance Committee offered the following substitute to SR 482:

A RESOLUTION

Creating the Senate Communications Taxes, Fees, and Telecommunications Franchising Process Study Committee; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, the communications industry has evolved rapidly in recent years so that consumers may choose from a wide variety of technologies and providers; and

WHEREAS, there is a disparity in the taxation and licensure of various types of communications services, and in the taxation of the communications industry and other industries; and

WHEREAS, this legislature plans a major review of taxation in general; and

WHEREAS, Virginia recently passed legislation simplifying the structure of taxation of communications services to make it similar to the taxation of typical retail purchases; and

WHEREAS, a streamlined tax and licensure climate for communications can aid economic development, help attract new jobs, help secure existing jobs, encourage investment in communications infrastructure, and minimize disincentives to such investments resulting from inequitable taxation.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that there is created the Senate Communications Taxes, Fees, and Telecommunications Franchising Process Study Committee to be composed of five members of the Senate to be appointed by the President of the Senate. The President of the Senate shall designate a member of the committee as chairperson of the committee. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee.

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 which 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 members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. The 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. The funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from the funds appropriated to the Senate. 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, 2007. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2007.