The House and Senate are pleased to invite families all across Georgia to attend a special Saturday session of the General Assembly, this Saturday, March 12th. State legislators will convene in a special day of the legislative session for the purpose of repealing several obsolete laws that remain in existence. The event is an effort to allow working families and school children an opportunity to witness their state legislators at work. Activities will commence at 10:00 AM and lunch will be provided for those in attendance for an old-fashioned “Dinner on the Grounds.” Legislators will be available afterward for photos and meetings with the citizens of Georgia. I invite you all to come down to the Capitol and watch the legislative process first hand.

The remaining days in the 2005 legislative session will be busy here at the Capitol. We are approaching the 30th day on which bills must have passed one chamber in order to seek passage by the other and then continue on to the Governor for his signature. Two of the most notable bills to pass the Senate last week included the Governor’s anti-“spam” legislation and the House version of the Woman’s Right to Know Act.

Senate Bill 62 was passed as an effort to curtail the amount of undesirable and fraudulent e-mail, or “spam” originating in Georgia. The bill makes it a crime to send these deceptive e-mails and/or hide the identity of the “spammers.” Any person convicted of such a crime will be guilty of a misdemeanor and punished by a fine of up to $1,000 or by imprisonment up to 12 months. A felony charge entails surpassing the limit of allowable commercial e-mail transmissions within a certain period of time, generating excess revenue from commercial e-mails, and knowingly hiring minors to assist in the transmission of deceptive commercial e-mail. A person convicted of a felony charge will be punished by a fine of up to $50,000 and/or imprisonment of up to five years. This legislation is an admirable step toward protecting the citizens of Georgia.

Substitute of HB 197, also known as the "Women's Right to Know Act," passed the Senate last week as well. The bill states that no abortion may be performed or induced without the voluntary and informed consent of the woman who is seeking the abortion. Informed consent is defined by certain requirements that must be met, and the woman must receive this information 24 hours before the abortion. In addition, the bill requires that a parent or legal guardian of a minor must be the one notified before an abortion is performed, and physicians and clinics must report the number of abortions performed along with the method used to the state. Because both chambers of the General Assembly have approved the legislation, the bill is now awaiting the Governor’s signature to become law.

Last week, the Senate unveiled its legislative package for military support. Senate Bills 43 and 258 and Senate Resolution 334 all aim to ease the financial burden on military personnel and their families. Senate Bill 43, also known as the Georgia HERO (Helping Educate Reservist Offspring) Scholarship, will help educate our soldiers and will also contribute to the education funds for their family's future. Senate Bill 258 exempts service members and their spouses from jury duty, extends licenses while on duty (including professional, hunting and fishing, and drivers’ licenses), allows for termination of residential rental or lease agreements if called to duty away from home, and allows for termination of cell phone agreements if stationed outside of the provider’s service area. And finally, Senate Resolution 334, urges all Georgians to contribute to existing soldier Family Assistance Programs which include: the Georgia National Guard Foundation, the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, the Air Force Aid Society, and the Army Emergency Relief. As these men and women go off to risk their lives to protect our freedoms, we should thank them for their sacrifice and try to ease the burden for them and their families.

As always, please let me know your thoughts and concerns on proposed legislation. I look forward to working with you as we move our state forward and plan for the future of Georgia’s families. My staff and I are here working for you. Contact us at 404.656.0048 or email me at bstephen@legis.state.ga.us. Also, please visit my website: www.billstephens.com.