Bill Text: GA SB374 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Engrossed

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Bill Title: Legislative Economic Development Council; create

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 6-0)

Status: (Vetoed) 2010-06-08 - Veto V22 [SB374 Detail]

Download: Georgia-2009-SB374-Engrossed.html

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10 LC 38 1015

Senate Bill 374

By: Senators Pearson of the 51st, Williams of the 19th, Rogers of the 21st, Hill of the 4th, Balfour of the 9th and others

AS PASSED SENATE

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT

To amend Chapter 7 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Department of Economic Development, so as to create the Legislative Economic Development Council; to provide for legislative declarations; to provide for definitions; to provide for the council's duties; to provide for the council's powers; to provide for the council's membership; to provide for an annual report; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

Chapter 7 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Department of Economic Development, is amended by adding a new article to read as follows:

"ARTICLE 8

50-7-90.

The General Assembly declares that the legislative branch needs a forum to evaluate the state's overall economic development strategy and review all state funded activities and expenditures that go into implementing such strategy.

50-7-91.

There is created the Legislative Economic Development Council whose purpose shall be to evaluate the state's overall economic development strategy and to oversee the effectiveness of such strategy during its implementation.

50-7-92.

(a) As used in this article, the term 'council' means the Legislative Economic Development Council created pursuant to Code Section 50-7-91.

(b) The duties of the council shall include:

(1) To review the state's current strategic goals regarding economic development, job creation, and business formation and retention in Georgia and review its progress towards meeting such goals;

(2) To review the Department of Economic Development's annual activities and expenditures and how they work to advance the state's overall strategic vision for economic development;

(3) To review the mission and performance of the economic development funds and programs that the state provides resources for and how they work to advance the state's overall strategic vision for economic development. Such programs may include, but are not limited to, programs administered by the Department of Community Affairs, OneGeorgia programs, the Georgia Research Alliance, and all state funded or supported economic development programs within the University System of Georgia;

(4) To periodically review current tax exemptions and credits;

(5) To analyze legislative proposals regarding economic development and make recommendations to appropriate legislative committees for action;

(6) To study the budgets, programs, and policies of state or local governing entities involved in economic development;

(7) To analyze legislation and policies from other states regarding economic development; and

(8) To review the laws of this state and the laws, policies, procedures, and guidelines of this state's agencies to identify existing barriers to job creation and economic development.

(c) The council shall meet at least twice during each calendar year. Additional meetings may be held upon the call of the chairperson or upon the call of a majority of the members of the council. Eight members of the council shall constitute a quorum and the affirmative vote of a majority of those members present at a meeting of the council, provided such members present constitute a quorum, shall be necessary to transact business of the council. The chairperson shall be entitled to vote on all matters requiring a vote of the council.

50-7-93.

The council shall have the power to:

(1) Meet at such times and places as it may deem necessary;

(2) Cooperate with and secure the cooperation of every department, agency, or instrumentality in the state government or its political subdivisions in the furtherance of the purposes of this article;

(3) Employ such staff as the council deems necessary to carry out the powers delegated to the council by this article;

(4) Appoint a citizens advisory committee to be made up of business and industry leaders to provide input and guidance to the council;

(5) Adopt such rules and regulations as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this article; and

(6) Do any and all things necessary or convenient to enable it to perform wholly and adequately its duties and to exercise the power granted to it.

50-7-94.

The council shall be cochaired by the Lieutenant Governor and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The Lieutenant Governor shall chair the council meetings in the first year upon the effectiveness of this Act. Thereafter, the Lieutenant Governor and the Speaker shall alternate years chairing the council meetings. The council shall consist of:

(1) The chairperson of the Senate Appropriations Committee;

(2) The chairperson of the Senate Economic Development Committee;

(3) The chairperson of the Senate Finance Committee;

(4) The chairperson of the Senate Higher Education Committee;

(5) A member of the Senate to be appointed by the minority leader of the Senate;

(6) A member of the Senate to be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor;

(7) The chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriations;

(8) The chairperson of the House Committee on Economic Development and Tourism;

(9) The chairperson of the House Committee on Ways and Means;

(10) The chairperson of the House Committee on Small Business and Job Creation;

(11) The chairperson of the House Committee on Higher Education; and

(12) A member of the House of Representatives appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives.

50-7-95.

The Department of Economic Development shall prepare a report on an annual basis detailing the state's programs and activities related to job creation and economic development in Georgia during the prior fiscal year. Such report shall list all the tools and incentives that the state uses and how they were used during the prior year to grow jobs and to recruit and retain business. With respect to tax credits, the report shall, to the greatest extent possible, detail how much of each credit was used and how many jobs were created as a result of such credit. The report shall be submitted to each member of the council and to the office of the Governor. The Department of Economic Development shall prepare the report required pursuant to this Code section, which shall be completed no later than July 31 of each year."

SECTION 2.

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.