Working after Crossover Day

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Contact:          Ines Owens, Acting Director
Ines.Owens@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028

Working after Crossover Day

By: Sen. Steve Gooch (R – Dahlonega)

Crossover Day was a wild ride for everyone involved, but like every year, we made it through—even if it was late into the night. Starting this week, the Senate will be voting on bills originating from the House of Representatives.

I am going to give you a basic run down some of the bills we saw on the Senate Floor:

House Bill 127 would remove inactive sections from Georgia law relating to Blue Cross Blue Shield. The parts removed have not been active since the merger of the Nonprofit Medical Service Corporations and the Nonprofit Hospital Service Corporations in the 1960s.

House Bill 176 would designate the Georgia Department of Agriculture as the agency responsible for enforcing the Federal Food Safety Modernization Act.

House Bill 303 would prohibit members of the State Commission on Family Violence from serving two consecutive terms unless they are serving in an ex-officio capacity.

House Bill 146 would provide insurance for firefighters who are diagnosed with a certain cancer through their department if they have been employed there for 12 consecutive months. Under SB 146, any firefighter that is injured or suffers an illness and is unable will be paid through separate disability.

House Bill 283 would update the definition of Internal Revenue Code to include any changes made by federal law before January 1, 2017.

Senate Resolution 195 urges Congress to call an Article V Convention to address a proposal to limit the terms a person can serve as a member of Congress.

House Bill 183 would transfer the Georgia Geospatial Advisory Council, including all papers, data and reports, from the Department of Natural Resources to the Department of Community Affairs.

Our work has only just begun on our march toward Sine Die. As we approach Day 40, we’ll only be doing more and more each day for Georgia citizens. As things progress, I will be sure to keep the people of Senate District 51 informed of what we’re doing under the Gold Dome.

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Sen. Steve Gooch serves as Majority Whip of the Senate Majority Caucus. He represents the 51st Senate District which includes Dawson, Fannin, Gilmer, Lumpkin, Union and White counties and portions of Forsyth and Pickens counties.  He may be reached at 404.656.9221 or via email at steve.gooch@senate.ga.gov.