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By Representative Jeff Jones

This past Friday, February 19 marked the end of week 6, day 24, of the 40 day 2016 legislative session. With “Crossover Day” (day 30) rapidly approaching, the pace of activity has picked up dramatically.  Crossover Day is the deadline for all general bills to have been voted on and passed by either the House or Senate to “crossover” to the other body for consideration. When bills crossover, they are subject to the same process – testimony at committee hearings – to then be considered to be place on the Rules Calendar for a vote by either the House or Senate.  A number of bills passed out to the House this week, the single most important being the Fiscal Year 2017 (FY2017) state budget, House Bill 751.

St. Simons Island City-Hood – Press Release Issued February 16, 2016

I have inserted a copy (Click Here) of the Press Release I issued explaining my decision to step away from the incorporation legislation draft I was provided by the Citizens for St. Simons Island & Sea Island.  I remain committed to finding a solution to the challenges of managing St. Simons continued growth without creation of a burdensome bureaucracy or extensive tax increases, which none of us want to see. My website (www.votejeffjones.com) contains links to a number of newspaper articles, and other materials explaining my position on this subject.  This issue is far from over.

Ed. Note: please also see this thoughtful opinion editorial by Reg Murphy. Brunswick News - Glynn County has avoided a very bad idea — for now, at least 2/20/2016

RSVP: Robyn Lynch 770-530-7152 or Robyn@SoutheastCapitalConsulting.com

 Online (Click Here)

RSVP: Robyn Lynch 770-530-7152 or Robyn@SoutheastCapitalConsulting.com

 Online (Click Here)

From the Desk of Representative Jeff Jones

Legislative Update Week 8, March 6, 2015 - The $1 Billion Transportation Bill, a Tax Increase

We returned to the Capitol and our Legislative duties on Monday, March 2 for the 24^th day and start of the 8^th week of the 2015 legislative session.  Like many State Reps, being in Atlanta is only part of the job. I usually stay busy with legislative activities pretty much all weekend, whether it’s making phone calls, answering correspondence, attending community events, and attending meetings – all of which are part of the job.

This week, we spent a few more hours “in session”, and attending committee and sub-committee hearings as legislators present their bills for consideration. This step occurs before bills move to the rules committee and a final decision on whether a bill will come before the full house for a vote. These are time consuming but vitally important steps in the legislative process as bills work their way through the General Assembly.

Transportation Bill (HB170)

Probably the most significant bill of the 2015 session, at least in terms of the dollars involved, came before the House and was passed by a vote of 123 for and 46 against.  I voted NO on the Transportation Bill.

In my view, the Transportation Bill - as passed - is bad for Georgia taxpayers, bad for Georgia consumers, bad for our local communities (counties and cities) and bad for our local school system. It is purely and simply a tax increase of major proportions.

We all agree that we must fund transportation infrastructure needs.  We all know and agree on that basic premise.  What we disagree on is how to pay for it.

In my opinion, the Transportation Committee proposed absolutely no fresh, new, out-of-the-box ideas on solving our funding problem.  The choice we were given to vote on – raise taxes.

Transportation Bill –Official Version from the House Communications Office

Transportation improvements have long struggled to match Georgia’s rapid economic progress, resulting in too many roads and bridges that are now in need of critical maintenance. HB170, or the Transportation Funding Act of 2015, is a comprehensive package of measures to address the critical and urgent need for funding for Georgia’s transportation infrastructure needs. HB170 seeks to raise just under a billion dollars for maintenance and repair of our state’s bridges and roadways, many of which have been deemed functionally obsolete and structurally deficient; therefore, these funds are crucial to guarantee that our roads and infrastructures are safe for Georgia drivers. Well-maintained roads and bridges will enhance safety and quality of life for our citizens, but these road improvements will also continue to attract new businesses to our state and create jobs for Georgians.

HB 170 provides this funding through a variety of measures, including the conversion of the state sales tax on motor fuel to a straight excise tax that will be dedicated to transportation. This excise tax will initially be set at 29.2 cents per gallon, which approximates the sales tax rate that has been imposed on gasoline using a weighted average of the price of gasoline over the previous four years. Unlike the current gas tax, which is a 4% sales tax that varies with the cost of gas, the flat excise tax will provide a more stable alternative. This tax conversion will provide a dedicated, predictable and steady funding source and a long term solution to our state’s transportation funding issues. Not only will the excise tax conversion provide the necessary funding for transportation maintenance and improvement, but it also will help ensure gas taxes remain constant between counties and through periods of high spikes in gas prices.

Additional revenue for our transportation needs will come from a significant bond package that will go towards funding for the 128 transit systems across Georgia. Funding for our transit systems will enable more communities across our state to take advantage of public transportation options.  This bond package is a practical way to provide more immediate funding for our transportation needs, while leveraging the state’s high credit, AAA bond rating to borrow at little cost to the state. 

Other funding sources in the Transportation Funding Act include the establishment of a user fee for alternative fueled vehicles of $200 for non-commercial and $300 for commercial vehicles each year.  As these vehicles do not use gasoline, their owners do not currently pay their share of taxes devoted to the maintenance of the roads they use.  This fee will provide equity among those who drive on our roads and ensure everyone pays their fair share.  HB170 will also eliminate the state tax credit for the purchase of alternative fueled vehicles, as well as the state tax credit on jet fuel, which was established several years ago in a struggling economy, where companies were in jeopardy of bankruptcy.  Furthermore, the Georgia Transportation Infrastructure Bank will allow for preference for loans to be given to tier 1 and tier 2 counties, as well as to eligible projects with local financial assistance.  

Overall, HB170 ensures that Georgia remains an attractive place for businesses and families by making our roadways safe for all drivers. I look forward to seeing the impact that this legislation will have in our district and communities, and I am proud that our body sees the value in transportation. HB170 is now in the Senate’s hands for consideration.

(Now back to my stuff)

Uber and Other Private Transportation Companies (HB190)

The House also passed another piece of legislation intended to ensure that passengers riding in private transportation services, such as Uber and Lyft, are covered with sufficient insurance for the protection of their passengers. Some would argue that passage of this bill is intended to stifle free-enterprise and entrepreneurship by forcing this new, alternative form of transportation to buy insurance.  I disagreed with that opinion and voted in favor of HB190.

Currently, many of these drivers are offering ride-share services to the public with their personal vehicles, counting on their personal auto policy, to provide insurance coverage.  In fact, personal auto coverage does not cover commercial activity when the vehicle is being used for hire. HB190 addresses this lack of insurance coverage by requiring the transportation network company or the driver to purchase a commercial motor vehicle insurance policy that maintains $1 million in insurance coverage for drivers anytime they are logged into the company system, regardless if any passengers are onboard. The legislation also requires at least $300,000 in coverage for bodily injury or death and $50,000 for property damage. HB190 takes the necessary steps to protect the many Georgians who drive or ride with companies like UBER and LYFT.

Seat Belts Now Required for 15 Passenger Vans (HB325)

You may be surprised to learn that 15 passenger vans, used by many child care centers, churches and others, are among the most dangerous vehicles in which to be a passenger because they are so long and are very top-heavy, causing then to easily roll over. House Bill 325, which passed this week, requires passengers in vans that have 15-passenger capacities to wear seat belts. Under current law, safety belts only required for vans that carry 10 passengers or fewer. According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) study, approximately 1,111 fatalities occurred between 1990 and 2002 as a result of crashes involving 15 passenger vans, and the study found that 80 percent of those who died were not wearing seat belts.

State ID Card Holders Can Elect to be Automatic Organ Donors (HB210)

Another potentially life-saving bill passed this week was House Bill 210, which allows Georgia citizens to designate that they wish to be an organ donor by so designating on their state issued I.D. cards.  Currently, organ donor status is listed on drivers’ licenses, but not on state issued I.D. cards.  Interestingly, changes such as this require legislation to make them happen.

Asthma Treatment for Children While at School (HB362)

In addition to passing several measures related to our state’s transportation system, the House also passed a bill to improve the health and safety of our children. House Bill 362 ensures that schools are well equipped to treat students with asthma by allowing schools to obtain and stock levalbuterol sulfate, a medication commonly used to treat asthma.  Under HB362, any school employee who is trained in recognizing symptoms of respiratory distress could administer the medication to students. Asthma has become a common and growing illness and schools should be prepared to help our children handle these types of emergencies.

Read Across Georgia Month – a Sandra and Governor Deal Reading Initiative

In a continued effort to combat illiteracy, Governor Deal and First Lady Sandra Deal this week announced Read Across Georgia Month, a campaign to make reading more fun for Georgia’s children.  As a part of the launch of this new initiative, First Lady Sandra Deal visited the House and introduced a new Pre-K book, TJ’s Discovery, written by teachers at the Rollins Center for Language and Literacy at the Atlanta Speech School. This book will be given as a gift to every student in Georgia’s Pre-K program and helps teach parents and caregivers how to make reading come alive to the children in their lives. I commend our First Lady for her diligent efforts to help Georgia’s children develop a lifelong love of reading.

On a Lighter Note

Finally, this week we took some time to recognize John Smoltz, a former pitcher for the Atlanta Braves and honoree in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. In addition to being named an eight-time All Star, Smoltz is the only pitcher in major league history to top both 200 wins and 150 saves. Smoltz was honored before the Georgia House of Representatives with House Resolution 343 for his accomplishments both on and off the field.   I’m proud that such an outstanding athlete and citizen claims Georgia as his home state.

Looking Ahead to Week 9

Next week will be an extremely busy week. On Friday, March 13, we are scheduled to complete the 30^th legislative day, which is also known as “Crossover Day.” Crossover Day is the last date in which a piece of legislation must pass at least one of the General Assembly’s two chambers.  With this deadline in mind, we will work longer hours every day to pass whatever remaining legislation is out there to get it through the House chamber.

Communicating with Constituents

I hope that you will contact me during this crucial week, so that I can address any concerns you might have.  You can visit me or call my office at the State Capitol, the number is 404-656-0126.  Please also encourage your friends, neighbors and co-workers to sign up for these email updates on our website: www.VoteJeffJones.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you for your prayers and your continued support.

Sincerely yours,

Pictured with Representative Jones are; Amalia Hanly, Brooklyn Kapella, Madison Barlowe, and Myah Paige. Also attending the event: Ansley Simpson, Brooke Zell, Haley Wayne, and Skylar Moreles. Congratulations to all!

Representative Jeff Jones, Proudly Co-Sponsors HR-122 Recognizing February 3, 2015, as Youth Equine Championship Day at the Georgia State Capitol.

On Monday, January 26, 2015, Representative Jeff Jones was honored to attend the Celebration of Georgia Tourism event in Atlanta. Thank you Scott McQuade, President and CEO of Golden Isles Convention and Visitors Bureau and to all the folks that work hard everyday to promote travel and tourism in Georgia. The Golden Isles will be featured in the State’s 2015 visitors guide.

To view the Golden Isles Virtual Visitor Guide online, click here

To view or order the Official 2015 Georgia Travel Guide online, click here

From the Desk of Representative Jeff Jones

Dear Friends,

Thank you for signing up to receive email updates from me about the 2015 session of the Georgia State House of Representatives. I take my responsibilities to you, the constituents of District 167, very seriously and will work tirelessly to live up to the trust you have shown by electing me to this office.

Third Week of Session - January 30, 2015

This was another busy week for the House of Representatives.  I am beginning to have a better understanding of the hectic pace that occurs with each session of the General Assembly. State Representatives, and State Senators, are working hard to get the people’s business taken care of in a short 40 day time frame and to do so with thoughtful, careful consideration.  The last thing the people of Georgia need or want is laws, rules or budgets to be passed that have negative, unintended consequences for our citizens.

Below is an in-depth discussion of the events of this past week but first I want to share some of my thoughts of a few selected items.

Governor Deal’s 2016 Budget

Governor Deal delivered his draft of the 2016 budget to the House of Representatives this past week.  As you would expect, there is a lot of work – committee hearings, meetings, discussions, negotiations, prioritizing, number crunching, etc. – that will occur before the 2016 Budget makes its way to the house floor for a vote.

We are extremely fortunate that the Georgia Constitution requires that our state pass and maintain a balanced budget. Constitutionally, the State cannot spend more money than it receives in income, the taxes you and I pay, plus money from other sources.  Don’t we all wish our Federal government would operate under that same principle…?

Health Care Coverage-School Bus Drivers and other Non-certificated School District Employees

There are many items in many different areas of our state government that make up the budget each year.  One item in particular that rightly caught the attention of school bus drivers around the state is the Governor’s proposal to take money out of the state budget that is contributed toward the cost of health care coverage for bus drives and the other “non-certificated” school district employees.

I can assure you that it is not the Governor’s intention to leave these critical employees without health care coverage.  The Governor recognizes, as do I and the other Representatives, the important role that these employees serve in our efforts to deliver quality education to our children. It is a very tough job driving a school bus these days having to deal with all that goes on with the kids on the bus. 

Again, remember, the 2016 Budget draft is a working document.

I am pleased to report, though, that the House added an important item to the Revised 2015 budget regarding school bus driver health care (the 2015 revised budget is discussed in detail below). The provision – which I voted for and was passed overwhelmingly by the House – says that the House is to submit a study to the Governor and the General Assembly by June 30, 2015 that examines why SHBP costs are higher than other comparable state health plans for the purpose of making recommendations on the issue. The section continues on to state that “The General Assembly …finds that non-certificated employees (which includes bus drivers) are an essential part of the education delivery system and directs that any such report include an examination of options to provide health benefits to the workers.”

So, we need to wait and see how this all unfolds.  But I want to assure these employees that I will do everything I can to protect their benefits, which may include options that occur at the School District level.

Other Activities This Week

The House recognized the importance of our National Guard by a resolution and introduction of several Guard members.

I attended meetings held by the Georgia Economic Development Authority; this is the state group, for which Glynn, McIntosh and Long Counties each have local economic development authorities whose purpose is to bring good paying jobs to Georgia and to our counties/communities.

The Georgia Tourism Department unveiled their 2015 Tourism Guide which features the Golden Isles and Jekyll Island in particular. Tourism brings in well over $1 billion to the Georgia economy.  Check out my Facebook page (facebook.com/votejeffjones for pictures and further information).

Valdosta Day was celebrated on Wednesday, January 28.  Why do I mention this you are asking? Our son Brant is a freshman at Valdosta State University this year and is doing very well. My wife Lisa and I are very proud of our son.  I also had the privilege of meeting William “Bill” McKinney, the President of VSU. He is a great guy doing great things for the students at VSU.

On another personal note, I have joined the weekly House prayer group that meets early in the morning one day a week. And I also attended the annual Georgia Baptist Convention’s Prayer Breakfast for State Legislators this past week.  These are things that I believe will help me stay grounded and be a better Representative for District 167.

On January 21, I met with a representative of the Georgia Tourism Department and community leaders in Long County to try to get the development of a new eco-tourism project off the ground for the Morgan Lake area.

You can watch all House proceedings and committee meetings on-line using this link: http://www.house.ga.gov/communications/en-US/VideoBroadcasts.aspx

House Recap

During the third week of the Georgia General Assembly’s 2015 legislative session, my colleagues and I passed one of the most important pieces of legislation of the year: the 2015 amended fiscal year budget (AFY 2015). This budget, which is a mid-year adjustment of state spending through June 30, 2015, was first introduced by Governor Deal at last week’s Joint Appropriations hearings. Since then, the AFY 2015 budget has been carefully reviewed and edited through a series of Appropriations Committee meetings. Thanks to the committee’s diligent work, the House version of the Amended Fiscal Year 2015 (AFY 2015) budget was packaged into House Bill 75 and was voted on and passed unanimously by the House on Thursday, January 29.

The House version of the AFY 2015 budget is very similar to Gov. Deal’s initial budget proposal. The amended budget includes an addition of $276 million in “new” funds, with 70 percent of that going towards education. Of the new education dollars, $128.5 million will go towards K-12 enrollment growth and $35 million will be added for local school systems to expand their wireless broadband internet connectivity. The House version of the budget also designates $7.4 million for equalization funding grants that will provide additional funds to K-12 systems that qualify based on per student wealth rankings. Higher education was also set as a budget priority, with funds designated for new engineering and military scholarships and the creation of the Georgia Film Academy. Lastly, the amended budget also includes $750,000 to support the Governor’s newly created Education Reform Commission. I am happy to see our state continue to put money into our school systems, as our children are our most precious resource.  

While investing in the quality of our children’s education is a primary focus in HB 75, there are also several significant additions for economic development in our state. As we strive to ensure that Georgia remains the number one state in the country to do business, the House version of the AFY 2015 budget appropriates $20 million in grants towards job-creating economic development projects through the OneGeorgia Authority, as well as $20 million for Regional Economic Business Assistance grants. OneGeorgia and Regional Economic Business Assistance are two of our state’s most effective economic development tools for attracting new jobs to Georgia. In addition, $1.5 million is set aside to keep Xpress buses running in 13 metro counties, and $4.5 million will go to support routine maintenance in the Department of Transportation. By financing transportation and economic development projects such as these, we can make Georgia an even better place for business for years to come.

With a thriving economy comes an increase in our state’s population, and it is crucial that we take measures to ensure the good health and safety of all citizens. More than $5 million in the AFY 2015 budget is allocated for driver education programs to improve safety on Georgia’s roads. Funds are also set aside to expand the length of the Department of Corrections’ Residential Substance Abuse Treatment program from six to nine months, and the Board of Regents is issued $4.8 million to provide clinical trials on Cannabidiol for children with medication resistant epilepsy. These programs, among others, will make Georgia healthier and safer for families across the state.

In addition to passing the amended budget, we also took time to recognize some outstanding citizens across our state. On Monday, January 26, the House celebrated Georgia National Guard Day in honor of our brave Georgians in uniform. Dozens of airmen and soldiers visited the State Capitol and were recognized for their accomplishments on the House floor with House Resolution 27. We also had the honor of witnessing a new member of the Georgia National Guard be sworn into the Army National Guard by our colleague and veteran, Representative John Yates. It was an honor to meet this new soldier, as well as the many others who make such tremendous sacrifices for our freedom and safety.

On Tuesday, January 27, we had the privilege of meeting another group of courageous Georgians in honor of National Holocaust Remembrance Day. On this day, we paid special tribute to the Holocaust witnesses of liberation. These heroic Americans served in the U.S. military during World War II, and therefore witnessed some of the worst atrocities in world history. They were each recognized in the House Chamber for their contribution to history preservation and the role that they played in the liberation of the Holocaust. Our colleague, Representative John Yates was among the six honorees that were recognized before the House.

Finally, this week we welcomed members of the Atlanta Hawks basketball team to the Gold Dome.  Hall-of-Famer Dominique Wilkins, CEO Steve Koonin, coach Mike Budenholzer, shooting guard Kyle Korver, and forward Elton Brand all visited the capitol on Tuesday, January 27. After a recent16 game winning streak, the Hawks were recognized before the House for their sportsmanship, citizenship, and positive economic impact on the city of Atlanta.

As the 2015 legislative session moves into its fourth week, committees will be meeting more frequently to discuss specific legislation. Your input on any bill that comes before the house is extremely helpful, your comments and opinions help guide my decisions. I encourage you to call my office at the State Capitol in Atlanta at 404-656-0126, or reach me via email at jeff@VoteJeffJones.com or visit our website www.VoteJeffJones.com for frequent legislative updates news and events. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to serve as your state representative.

Sincerely yours,

Join Team Jeff Jones!

Pictured: Representative-Elect Jeff Jones and The Blood Alliance Staff, August 8th, 2014 at Express Lube & Car Wash, Brunswick, Georgia.

Learn more about The Blood Alliance here: http://www.igiveblood.com/ 

Pictured: Diane Martin, incoming Chamber Board Chairperson, and Representative-Elect Jeff Jones.

Jeff attended the Darien-McIntosh County Chamber of Commerce Annual Chamber Dinner, Thursday, June 12, 2014 at the Sapelo Saltwater Fishing Club. The Keynote address was delivered by Greg Aloia, the new President of the College of Coastal Georgia.