At the end of the 2015 legislative session, the Georgia General Assembly took action on a number of important issues. The Senate focused a lot of time and effort to the protection of Georgia’s children from difficult, life-threatening physical and developmental medical conditions. The Senate also led a new reform package to combat the sexual exploitation of children in our state.
For years, the Senate has said that children diagnosed with autism need early treatment and care to help them with their social development. Often times these children are brilliant but fall behind in their early grades never to regain the levels of achievement of students their same age. After it is signed into law, children diagnosed on the autism spectrum will have access to the early behavioral intervention and development.
After public support swelled for a treatment for children with severe seizure disorders last session, the General Assembly worked to craft legislation to address these medical needs in a narrowly drawn way. Georgians under the age of 18 will soon have access to an oil product derived from marijuana. The list of medical conditions in the end-of-life stages including cancer, Lou Gehrig’s disease, seizure disorders, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and sickle cell disease. Crohn’s disease and mitochondrial disease are also on the list of conditions that can apply to get access through the Georgia Department of Public Health.
The Senate also championed reforms to strengthen how Georgia’s law enforcement agencies pursue sex traffickers, build cases against them and provide a method for those who are sexually exploited to get help. The legislation created a Safe Harbor for Sexually Exploited Children Fund and Commission to oversee the program for those who have been sexually exploited to seek help and get out of their terrible cycle. This new commission will recommend changes to Georgia law and provide care for rehabilitative services.
An important issue all year was how the state would fund its transportation infrastructure for the future. In a compromise measure with the House, the Senate approved a revised funding plan that moves Georgia away from a state-wide sales tax towards an excise tax. The end result is a more stable, consistent revenue stream for our state’s transportation needs, developments and maintenance. The Georgia Department of Transportation estimates that there are a number of vital maintenance projects for roads and bridges that need to be completed annually. Then, development projects like expansion and congestion projects, like what is in the works for the I-75/575 corridor, require additional funding.
The General Assembly also approved a number of economic development measures in the final days of the legislative session. For example, we extended the film and TV industry tax credit. This tax credit has helped Georgia become a key player in the movie and television production industry. Economic measures like this ensure Georgia will remain a great state to do business.
As the General Assembly adjourns until next year, my office is still here to assist you and answer your questions. Please do not hesitate to contact us at (404) 463-1378.
to your business!