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Under the Gold Dome: Day 35
Full coverage of the 2011 legislative session
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Highlights

The Senate unanimously approved a bill that imposes higher fines and stiffer sentences on sex traffickers.

The measure, approved 54-0, would also offer new treatment options to victims of the sex slave trade.

The legislation calls for a 25-year minimum sentence for those convicted of using coercion to traffic someone under age 18 and requires a minimum sentence of five years for those who pay for sex with a 16-year-old. People who try to have sex with someone younger face at least 10 years behind bars.

The bill now moves to Gov. Nathan Deal's desk for his signature.

In the House, representatives passed a resolution that supports the deepening of the Port in Savannah and one across the state line in South Carolina.

The measure, already passed by the Senate, sailed through the House with a 167-3 vote Tuesday.

Senate

Senate Bill 269: Under the state's water resources, change certain provisions related to cooperative efforts for abatement of pollution.
SB 270: Allow annexation of certain territory into the boundaries of Eton.
Senate Resolution 494: Support modernization of the federal Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976.
SR 498: Adopt amended Senate Rules to move points of personal privilege earlier in the legislative day.

House

House Bill 598: Modify the meetings schedule for the Jeff Davis County board of commissioners.
HB 599: Provide nonpartisan elections for the Cook County probate court judge.
HB 600: Change compensation for the Candler County solicitor.
HB 601: Allow the city of Cohutta to use the Redevelopment Powers Law to carry out community redevelopment, create tax allocation districts and issue tax allocation bonds.
HB 602: Change selection and appointment to the Bacon County board of elections.
HB 603: Provide appointment and terms of members for the Atlanta Board of Education.
HB 604: Create the Lower Chattahoochee Regional Transportation Authority.
HB 605: Abolish the Georgia Aviation Authority and transfer duties to the Department of Public Safety.
HB 606: Change provisions of public letting and bids for purchasing departments.
HB 607: Allow the DeKalb County Special Services Tax Districts Act to reflect the ad valorem taxes for district services separately on the real estate tax statement.
HB 608: Allow the Cobb County State Court to charge a technology fee.
HB 609: Require insurance policy coverage for telemedicine services.
HB 610: Provide nonpartisan elections for Emanuel County probate court judge.
HB 611: Provide elections for Stone Mountain city council members.
HB 612: Create the city of Cornelia Water and Sewerage Authority.
HB 613: Allow the city of Kingsland to use the Redevelopment Powers Law to carry out community redevelopment, create tax allocation districts and issue tax allocation bonds.
HB 614: Provide an exemption for ad valorem taxes for county purposes in Polk County. HB 615 is a similar bill.
HB 616: Provide an exemption for ad valorem taxes for educational purposes in Polk County. HB 617 is a similar bill.

Both chambers also passed various resolutions to recognize special days and people.

Key bills still on table as Georgia legislature session winds down
Budget, medical marijuana among major issues
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ATLANTA — This year’s legislative session will come to an end Thursday, and the future of several key pieces of legislation remains uncertain under the Gold Dome.

Both chambers have already given the greenlight to send many hotly contested bills to the desk of Gov. Nathan Deal, including a measure allowing college students to carry concealed handguns on campus.

Looking ahead into the final two days of the session, here are some of the issues that could still see movement in the legislature:

STATE BUDGET

Lawmakers still must pass a final state budget for the financial year starting July 1.

Approving a budget is the only constitutionally required measure that must be passed before the close of the session, and negotiations are expected to include debate over a spending plan that would increase salaries for thousands of state employees and teachers and give state retirees a one-time boost.

Both chambers have voiced support for Deal’s recommendation to allocate $300 million to local school districts. These funds are intended to end furloughs and lengthen school years after cuts during the recession.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Rep. Allen Peake, a Macon Republican, said he will continue pushing for an expansion of people allowed medical marijuana in Georgia. The proposal hit a major roadblock when it recently failed to get a Senate committee hearing.

Peake’s bill would allow patients diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome, autism and post-traumatic stress disorder, among other afflictions, to possess cannabis oil.

Peake said he still hopes the bill can get a Senate floor vote.

“You never want to give up on an issue like this until midnight on the last day of the legislative session,” he said.

RAPE KIT TESTING

A bill recently stalled in the Georgia Senate would require law enforcement officers and agencies to expedite the processing of rape kits for sexual assault victims.

The bill would require law enforcement officials to retrieve the findings of a forensic medical examination no later than 96 hours of being notified.

Rep. Scott Holcomb, an Atlanta Democrat, said supporters might try to attach the bill to another piece of legislation in order to get it passed. Republican Sen. Renee Unterman of Buford opposes the bill, saying the backlog on rape kits has been taken care of.

ENGLISH AS OFFICIAL LANGUAGE

A constitutional amendment setting English as the “official” language of Georgia has failed to make it out of House committee. Sponsoring Sen. Josh McKoon said the hope was to get a floor vote in the House after receiving 39 votes in the Senate. The legislation needs two-thirds support to pass the House.

TAX CUTS

A bill to set a flat state income tax rate of 5.4 percent requires House agreement to become law. The Senate has passed the measure. Critics argue that the adjustment in tax rates would only serve to help those in higher tax brackets. The decrease would lower the state’s maximum income tax rate down from 6 percent.

Deal and his staff have remained wary of any tax cut proposal, concerned about harming the state’s bond rating and ability to borrow money. Deal also has made it a priority to build up the state’s “rainy day” fund before his final term in office ends.