Governor Sonny Perdue Vetoes Nineteen Bills

Friday, May 5, 2006

Contact: Office of Communications 404-651-7774, Alison Tyrer, GDEcD, (404) 962-4078

Governor Sonny Perdue Vetoes Nineteen Bills

ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue today vetoed 19 bills.

The following House bills were vetoed: HB491, HB809, HB1164, HB1168, HB1182, HB1259, HB1272, HB1350, HB1436, HB1469, HB1544 and HB1646.

The following Senate bills were vetoed: SB27, SB95, SB236, SB533, SB578, SB670 and SB675.

Summary messages for each vetoed bill are provided below.

House Bill 491 – HB491 is local legislation applicable to Towns County. The sponsor of the bill and the Towns County Commissioner have requested that it be vetoed. I therefore VETO HB491.

House Bill 809 – HB809 would affect the Superior Court Clerks’ Retirement System and would allow a member to change his or her retirement benefits election retroactively. In order to maintain the integrity and actuarial soundness of our retirement plans, these elections must be irrevocable. Due to the wide-ranging ramifications to this and other retirement systems, signing this bill would not be fiscally sound policy for our retirement systems. I therefore VETO HB809.

House Bill 1164 – HB1164 requires that the state budget for the anticipated expenditures for pending judicial decrees or settlements, attorneys’ fees and costs, and the costs of special masters, monitors, auditors, and accountability agents. Disclosure of anticipated costs and fees during the pendancy of contested matters in which the state is a party or anticipates becoming a party would have the unintended effect of compromising the state’s legal position in the defense or prosecution of those matters and could result in further costs to the taxpayers of the state. I therefore VETO HB1164.

House Bill 1168 – HB1168 allows wineries to obtain a floating license, in addition to four other licenses issued for specific locations, for use at different festivals. In addition, this bill allows wineries to sell beer and liquor at tasting rooms and festivals. Traditionally, alcohol licenses are attached to the location where the alcohol is sold, not the person seeking to sell the alcohol. Attaching the license to the person would inhibit the ability to enforce the lawful sales of alcohol. I therefore VETO HB1168.

House Bill 1182 – HB1182 provides a time-limited sales and use tax exemption to a qualifying hall of fame. Because the original purpose for which this bill was passed is no longer a viable state economic development option, I VETO HB1182.

House Bill 1259 – The existing definition of “private detective business,” continued in this bill, in conjunction with the applicable exemptions in the law, fails to exclude from the private investigator licensing requirement many professions that collect information or may be called as expert witnesses in court proceedings. To expand the penalty from a misdemeanor to a felony without revision of the existing definitions in the law could result in unintended consequences; I therefore VETO HB1259.

House Bill 1272 – This bill amends the sales and use tax exemption applicable to nonprofit hospitals to include nonprofit licensed nursing homes among other nonprofit health clinics and treatment facilities. The bill contains a sunset provision of June 30, 2008. Because of the unintended consequence of providing a sunset provision applicable to the entities that presently receive this sales and use tax exemption, I VETO HB1272.

House Bill 1350 – HB1350 is local legislation applicable to Oconee County. The sponsor of the bill and the Oconee County Board of Commissioners have requested that it be vetoed. I therefore VETO HB1350.

House Bill 1436 – Because HB1436 allows for transport of single, partially consumed bottles of wine in a latched, but unlocked, compartment of a vehicle, this legislation would put Georgia in noncompliance with federal open container regulations, causing up to three percent of the state’s highway construction funds to be at risk. I therefore VETO HB1436.

House Bill 1469 – HB1469 is local legislation applicable to the Town of Willacoochee. Members of the General Assembly have requested that it be vetoed. I therefore VETO HB1469.

House Bill 1544 – HB1544 is local legislation applicable to Rockdale County. This legislation is not consistent with statewide law. I therefore VETO HB1544.

House Bill 1646 – HB1646 is local legislation applicable to Dodge County. A member of the Dodge County legislative delegation and the Dodge County Board of Commissioners have requested that it be vetoed. I therefore VETO HB1646.

Senate Bill 27 – SB27 exempts private historical military vehicles from the requirement to display a license plate on the vehicle. License plates are a necessary and effective public safety tool for law enforcement. Providing exceptions to this requirement based on the type of vehicle driven on our state highways is contrary to the state’s responsibility to provide for the public’s safety. I therefore VETO SB27.

Senate Bill 95 – Among other things, SB95 creates a licensure board for soil scientists. The Environmental Protection Division of the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Human Resources already regulate soil quality issues relevant to the permitting of septic tank and wastewater and sewer systems. I am unwilling to erect complex new regulatory schemes that create additional burdens and expenses to Georgia citizens. I therefore VETO SB95.

Senate Bill 236 – SB236 provides health care coverage to currently ineligible individuals. Pursuant to this bill, these non-employee recipients will subject the taxpayers of this state to the liability for the employers’ contribution without the reciprocal benefit of the services of that employee. Such a tradeoff is detrimental to the continued viability and financial stability of the State Health Benefit Plan. I therefore VETO SB236.

Senate Bill 533 – SB533 seeks to clarify current living will provisions relative to those conditions for which a person may request that life sustaining measures be withheld or withdrawn. The sponsor, however, has requested that the bill be vetoed because of the unintended consequences of language in the bill. I therefore VETO SB533.

Senate Bill 578 – SB578 attempts to remedy double inspections currently required of waste tank trucks that haul both septic and commercial wastes. I agree with the intent of the legislation; however, there are unintended consequences to the way the legislation was drafted that will financially burden local governments with an unfunded mandate. This problem can be addressed administratively. I therefore VETO SB578.

Senate Bill 670 – SB670 is local legislation applicable to Clayton County. Members of the Clayton County legislative delegation and the Clayton County Board of Commissioners have requested that it be vetoed. I therefore VETO SB670.

Senate Bill 675 – SB675 is local legislation applicable to Clayton County. Members of the Clayton County legislative delegation and the Clayton County Board of Commissioners have requested that it be vetoed. I therefore VETO SB675.

 

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