Governor Sonny Perdue Vetoes Fifteen Bills

ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue today vetoed fifteen bills. At the conclusion of the 2005 legislative session, 443 bills and resolutions were presented to Governor Perdue for review.

The following House Bills were vetoed: HB264, HB367 and HB444.

The following Senate Bills were vetoed: SB68, SB98, SB254, SB328, SB338, SB339, SB340, SB341, SB342, SB343, SB345 and SB351.

Summary messages for each vetoed bill are provided below.

VETO NUMBER 1 – HB264

HB264 significantly expands the authority of the Georgia Commission on Interstate Cooperation to include all interstate and international relations and expands the type and number of organizations that are considered joint governmental agencies. This new authority is vague and overbroad; I therefore veto HB264.

VETO NUMBER 2 – HB367

HB367 includes many unrelated provisions including regulation of ignition interlock device providers, re-plating of license plates, changes for hazardous material transport and requirements for driver training schools. The fatal flaw in this bill, however, is the provision that prohibits the operation of public driver improvement clinics in any county in which a private clinic is located. This provision would even require a public clinic to shut down whenever a private clinic begins operating in the same county. This provision is inconsistent with free market competition. I therefore VETO HB367.

VETO NUMBER 3 – HB444

HB444 changes the educational and professional requirements for engineers and land surveyors, essentially phasing-out the acceptability of apprenticeship experience and requiring a bachelor's degree. This legislation would ultimately, unnecessarily and inappropriately shut out many individuals from land surveying and likely result in increased costs to consumers. I believe that the underlying purpose of this bill can be better addressed through considering scope of practice as opposed to educational requirements. Therefore, I VETO HB444.

VETO NUMBER 4 – SB68

Among other things, SB68 expands the authority of the Georgia Board of Real Estate Appraisers and the Georgia Real Estate Commission to regulate continuing education instructors and the schools offering continuing education courses. These are privileges not given to similar professional boards and I see no demonstrated need for such expanded authority or regulation; I therefore VETO SB68.

VETO NUMBER 5 – SB98

SB98 authorizes local boards of education to provide life, disability, liability insurance, retirement or pension coverage, social security and employment security coverage for local board members. Such benefits would inevitably expand service on local school boards to full-time engagements. These wide-ranging benefits are beyond the scope of what is appropriate. I therefore VETO SB98.

VETO NUMBER 6 – SB254

SB254, among other things, relaxes the standards for the annual audit of legislative funds and expenditures by removing the requirement for detail. Because such relaxation is inappropriate, I VETO SB254.

VETO NUMBER 7 – SB328

SB328 is local legislation applicable to Dekalb County. This bill, among other things, would impose a $5.00 surcharge to fines levied by the State Court or Recorders Court in DeKalb County for the purpose of creating a technology fund for use in the offices of the clerk of the Superior Court, State Court, Magistrate Court and other courts in DeKalb County. In recent years, there has become an over-proliferation of court fines and fees as a means of funding various services at the state and local levels. The proliferation has occurred without a concurrent ability to track, account for and manage receipts to ensure efficiencies. I am unwilling to expand court fines for technology funds for the State and Superior Courts which have greater access to resources than other local courts. I therefore VETO SB328

VETO NUMBER 8 – SB338

SB338 is local legislation applicable to Clayton County. The Clayton County Board of Commissioners has requested that it be vetoed. Local legislation should be a partnership between local officials and their legislative delegation. This bill will have a significant budgetary impact on the county for which the county commission is unprepared to bear the financial burden. I therefore VETO SB338.

VETO NUMBER 9 – SB339

SB339 is local legislation applicable to Clayton County. The Clayton County Board of Commissioners has requested that it be vetoed. Local legislation should be a partnership between local officials and their legislative delegation. This bill will have a significant budgetary impact on the county for which the county commission is unprepared to bear the financial burden. I therefore VETO SB339.

VETO NUMBER 10 – SB340

SB340 is local legislation applicable to Clayton County. The Clayton County Board of Commissioners has requested that it be vetoed. Local legislation should be a partnership between local officials and their legislative delegation. This bill will have a significant budgetary impact on the county for which the county commission is unprepared to bear the financial burden. I therefore VETO SB340.

VETO NUMBER 11 – SB341

SB341 is local legislation applicable to Clayton County. The Clayton County Board of Commissioners has requested that it be vetoed. Local legislation should be a partnership between local officials and their legislative delegation. This bill will have a significant budgetary impact on the county for which the county commission is unprepared to bear the financial burden. I therefore VETO SB341.

VETO NUMBER 12 – SB342

SB342 is local legislation applicable to Clayton County. The Clayton County Board of Commissioners has requested that it be vetoed. Local legislation should be a partnership between local officials and their legislative delegation. This bill will have a significant budgetary impact on the county for which the county commission is unprepared to bear the financial burden. I therefore VETO SB342.

VETO NUMBER 13 – SB343

SB343 is local legislation applicable to Clayton County. The Clayton County Board of Commissioners has requested that it be vetoed. Local legislation should be a partnership between local officials and their legislative delegation. This bill will have a significant budgetary impact on the county for which the county commission is unprepared to bear the financial burden. I therefore VETO SB343.

VETO NUMBER 14 – SB345

SB345 is local legislation applicable to Clayton County. The Clayton County Board of Commissioners has requested that it be vetoed. Local legislation should be a partnership between local officials and their legislative delegation. This bill will have a significant budgetary impact on the county for which the county commission is unprepared to bear the financial burden. I therefore VETO SB345.

VETO NUMBER 15 – SB351

SB 351 is local legislation applicable to Athens-Clarke County. Among other things, this bill would authorize the clerk of the state court to impose an additional $5.00 filing civil filing fee and a $5.00 surcharge to fines for the purpose of creating a technology fund for use in the State Court of Clark County. In recent years, there has become an over-proliferation of court fines and fees as a means of funding various services at the state and local levels. The proliferation has occurred without a concurrent ability to track, account for and manage receipts to ensure efficiencies. I am unwilling to expand court fines for technology funds for the state court system which has greater access to resources than other local courts. I therefore VETO SB 351.