Rep. Randy Nix Weekly Capitol Update

March 1, 2008 - We have completed twenty-six days of the 2008 Georgia General Assembly session and we are quickly approaching “Day 30” which is “Crossover Day.” Crossover day is the last day that the House or Senate will consider their own legislation and pass it over to the other body for consideration. If a bill that originates in the House of Representatives hasn’t been passed by the House by this Day 30, then the bill effectively is considered “dead.” Day 30 activities are hectic as Members of the House and Senate try to push bills through and we have a very long calendar of bills to consider. Day 30 could come as early as March 7 unless the House and Senate agree to a recess to work out budget issues.

This past week, we passed House Bill 455, a bill that dramatically helps us to control narcotic prescription drugs that are dispensed at drug stores. The bill establishes a program for monitoring prescribed and dispensed schedule II, III, and IV controlled substances. Dispensers of these drugs will be required to submit specific information regarding when the prescription was filled, the quantity dispensed, as well as, the patient’s data and the prescribing doctor’s information. This bill is designed to help fight the growing battle of “prescription shopping” that some drug addicts use to get prescribed drugs. I voted for this bill which passed 149-8.

We passed a major transportation bill creating a Georgia Transportation Infrastructure Bank to help us fund future transportation projects. The new “bank” would serve in assisting in the financing of qualified road projects by providing loans and other financial assistance to governments for constructing and improving highway and transportation facilities. The bank will receive its funds from the state’s tollways, federal transit funds, or state funds. The bill passed easily 162-1.

After a state employee who rang up hundreds of thousands of dollars in unlawful purchases, we saw the need for and passed H.B. 1113, legislation that would restrict the use of state purchasing cards. The legislation would require state agencies only to issue cards to those whose job duties would require them to have one and would limit purchases to $500 unless the item is part of a state approved contract. The legislation also established some very strict penalties for those convicted of stealing from the state. I think this was much needed legislation and the bill passed unanimously. We overwhelmingly passed H.B. 188, a bill that would recuse those who serve as the primary unpaid caregiver for a person over the age of 6 who has a physical or congenative limitation from jury duty. The bill passed 158-1.

We approved the creation of children’s transition care centers, centers that are temporary, home-like environments for medically fragile children, technology dependent children, and children with special health care needs. These centers would be for children who are considered medically stable by a physician but dependent on life-sustaining medications, treatments and equipment and who require assistance with activities of daily living to facilitate the transition from a hospital to a home or other appropriate setting. The bill passed 148-1. We also passed H.B. 1159 that would provide a $2,000 tax credit for adopting a foster child. That bill passed 127-1.

We passed House bill 978, a bill that declares that any vehicle in an accident that is driven by an illegal immigrant will be subject to forfeiture to the state. This bill works to solve the problem of people who are in the state of Georgia illegally and are operating vehicles and involved in traffic accidents. While there was much debate on the bill, I fully supported it because many Georgians have been harmed in accidents with people here illegally who operate vehicles without licenses or insurance making it virtually impossible to collect for damages. The bill passed 104-51.