Here are seven bills that will serve to protect jobs for Georgians, reduce the budget strain inflicted by illegal immigration, increase public safety and encourage illegal aliens to migrate out of Georgia. We need help.

House Bill 1164 ADDED 30 MARCH 2010 10:17 AM: THIS BILL IS DEAD. IT WAS NOT ALLOWED TO COME OUT OF RULES COMMITTEE FOR A FLOOR VOTE. CULPRIT: SPEAKER DAVID RALSTON.

Author: Representative Rick Austin (R-Demorest)
Sponsors: Reps. Tom Rice, Melvin Everson, Burke Day, Mike Coan,
Sean Jurguson

Revisits code created in the 2006 Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act.

This bill clarifies procedures for compliance and would provide meaningful penalties for public contractors and official agencies, including local governments, that are in violation of the 2006 Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act (GSICA). That law requires all public employers and their contractors to use the no-cost federal E-Verify program to insure that tax dollars are not going to pay black-market labor. Since the law went into effect in 2007, compliance is described as “partial.”

Also provides language to provide for annual federal training of state law enforcement officers to assist ICE in enforcing federal immigration laws using the super- successful 287(g) program. Removes the exemption for verification of eligibility (using citizenship and/or immigration status) for applicants for public post secondary education. HB 1164 also provides strong penalties for local governments and official agencies that are now in violation of GSICA which also requires use of the federal “SAVE” system to verify eligibility of applicants for public benefits – including business licenses. The majority of local governments and agencies have chosen to ignore this law. Presently, there are no consequences for violation. Illegal aliens who escape capture at our borders are rewarded with a license to open a business in most counties and municipalities in Georgia.

First Reader Summary: A BILL to amend Code Section 35-2-14 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to peace officers and the enforcement of immigration and custom laws, so as to modify provisions relating to the designation of peace officers for training; to amend so as to extend the requirement to verify nationality to other persons confined in a jail; to amend Code Section 48-7-21.1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to compensation paid by a taxpayer disallowed as a business expense for state income tax purposes, so as to provide for certain verification and reporting procedures; to amend and to provide for additional verification and reporting procedures; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Read the bill HERE

Committee: House Judiciary

House Bill 1243 ADDED 30 MARCH, 2010: THIS BILL WAS ALLOWED TO DIE BY THE AUTHOR, MANY PROBLEMS WITH BANKING INDUSTRY WHICH PROGITS FROM FUNDS SENT OUT OF THE COUNTRY BY ILLEGAL ALIENS.

Author: Rep. Tom Rice (R- Norcross)
Sponsors: Reps James Mills, Jerry Keen, Edward Lindsey

The bill would require that a refundable fee of 2% be added to international wire transactions. Look for committee revisions.

First Reader Summary:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 11 of Chapter 1 of Title 7 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to records and reports of currency transactions, so as to provide for a fee with respect to money received for wire transmission; to provide for procedures, conditions, and limitations; to provide for legislative intent; to prohibit certain conduct to avoid or evade such fee; to provide for powers, duties, and authority of the commissioner of banking and finance with respect to the foregoing; to amend Article 2 of Chapter 7 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the imposition, rate, and computation of income tax, so as to provide for an income tax credit with respect to wire transmission fees; to provide for applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Read the bill HERE

House committee: Banks and Banking

House Bill 1259 – The Georgia Employer and Worker Protection Act of 2010 ADDED 30 MARCH 2010: THIS BILL WAS DEEMED ‘TOO CONTROVERSIAL” BY HOUSE LEADERSHIP. IT NEVER SAW A COMMITTEE OR SUBCOMMITTTE HEARING. CULPRIT: SPEAKER DAVID RALSTON. MESSENGER: REP. MARK HAMILTON.
Author: Representative Bobby Reese (R- Sugar Hill)
Sponsors: Reps Tom Rice, Rick Austin, Don Parsons, Barry Loudermilk, James Mills

HB 1259 would require use of the no-cost federal E-Verify system as a condition of obtaining or renewing a business license/occupational tax certificate for all businesses with more than three employees. The goal being to protect jobs in Georgia by verifying work eligibility – using immigration status – of all newly hired employees. Presently,Georgia is one of thirteen states with E-Verify laws, this bill would expand required use from public employers and their contractors to all businesses. Mississippi, South Carolina and Arizona have such laws in place.

First Reader Summary: A BILL to be entitled an Act to enact the “Georgia Employer and Worker Protection Act of 2010”; to provide for a short title; to amend Chapter 60 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions applicable to counties and municipal corporations, so as to require participation in the federal employment eligibility verification system as a condition of obtaining a business license or occupational tax certificate; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes

Read the bill HERE

Committee: House Committee on Governmental Affairs (GAff)

Senate Bill 67 ADDED 30 MARCH 2010: WAIT FOR NEWS ON THIS BILL. THE ILLEGAL LAIEN LOBBY HATES THE IDEA OF ENGLISH AS OFFICIAL FOR ANYTHING IN GEORGIA.

Author: Senator Jack Murphy
Sponsors:Senators Chip Rogers, Chip Pearson, Jeff Mullis, Bill Heath, John Douglas

Would provide for all exams oral and written, for a permanent Georgia drivers license be administered in the official language of Georgia. English. The language of our road signs.

First Reader Summary: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 40-5-27 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to examination of applicants for certain drivers’ licenses, so as to provide that such examinations shall be administered only in the English language; to provide for an exception; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Read the bill HERE

Committees Senate: Public Safety – House, Motor Vehicles

Senate Bill 136 ADDED 30 MARCH: THIS BILL IS ALIVE AND WILL GO TO THE HOUSE FLOOR IF ALLOWED TO COME OUT OF RULES COMMITTEE BY SPEAKER DAVID RALSTON.

Author: Senator John Douglas
Sponsors: Senators Chip Rogers, Ronnie Chance, Cecil Staton, Lee Hawkins, David Shafer

Would codify into law the current Board of Pardons and Paroles policy of use of the federal REPAT program by which illegal alien state prisoners convicted of non violent crimes who are eligible for parole can voluntarily apply for deportation to reduce incarceration costs to Georgia taxpayers.

First Readers Summary: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 42 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions pertaining to penal institutions, so as to require the Department of Corrections and the State Board of Pardons and Paroles to participate in the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Rapid Removal of Eligible Parolees Accepted for Transfer (REPAT) Program or similar federal deportation program; to provide for conditions of parole; to amend Code Section 42-9-43.1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to citizenship status of a prisoner and deportation, so as to authorize conditional deportation parole release; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Read the bill HERE

Committee: House Judiciary (non-civil)

Senate Bill 385 ADDED 30 MARCH 2010: THIS BILL IS QUITE ALIVE AND WILL SEE A FLOOR VOTE IF SPEAKER DAVID RALSTON ALLOWS.

Author: Senator John Wiles
Sponsors: Senators Chip Rogers, Ronnie Chance, Don Balfour, Judson Hill, Johnny Grant

Would encourage local law enforcement to utilize federal programs which identify illegal aliens who are arrested for additional crimes with increased funding. Would increase funding to local law enforcement by 10% for use of the Homeland Security Department’s “Secure Communities” finger print sharing initiative and 20% for use of the 287(g) program.

First Reader Summary: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 3 of Chapter 5 of Title 42 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to conditions of detention generally, so as to provide that counties that can demonstrate constant use of the federal Department of Homeland Security’s Secure Communities initiative or have entered into memorandums of agreement with the federal government under Section 287(g) of the federal Immigration and Nationality Act shall receive additional funding for housing state inmates; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Read the bill HERE

Senate Committee: Appropriations

Senate Bill 460 – The Georgia Public Works and Contractor Protection Act ADDED 30 MARCH, 2010: THIS BILL IS DEAD. LT. GOVERNOR CASEY CAGLE REFUSED TO ALLOW IT OUT OF RULES FOR A SENATE FLOOR VOTE. CULPRIT: LT. GOVERNOR CASET CAGLE.

Author: Senator Judson Hill
Sponsors: Senators Chip Pearson, John Wiles, Jim Butterworth, Bill Jackson, Jack Murphy

Clarifies and expands already required procedures for use of federal E-Verify system by public employers and contractors to protect jobs on public works projects. Provides clear and meaningful penalties for violation of law regarding E-Verify use created in the 2006 Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act.

First Reader Summary: A BILL to be entitled an Act to enact the “Georgia Public Works and Contractor Protection Act”; to amend Code Section 13-10-91 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the verification of new employee eligibility, applicability, and rules and regulations, so as to clarify certain provisions and requirements relating to public employers’ verification of employee work eligibility; to provide for penalties; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Read the bill HERE

Senate Committee: Regulated Industries and Utilities (RI&U)