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The ADVANCE, February 10, 2021/Page 9A
Legislative Report
From the People's House
The pace of the 2021 Legislative
Session is picking up as bills make
their way through the committee
system. Covid-19 continues to
hover over every move, whether the
threat of an outbreak at Capitol
interrupting the Session or
delivering vaccines and the threat to
public health.
Covid-19. Right now the
problem is the supply of vaccines. I
think Governor Kemp's plan for
expanding vaccination sites looks good. There just simply
isn’t enough supply. And the vaccination sites planned
appear to be equally distributed across the state. The
federal government has promised a 16% increase in vaccine
deliveries in the coming weeks. They also plan to get 1
million doses to 6500 pharmacies across the nation, who I
believe should have been the primary access in the first
place. Georgia healthcare providers have administered
close to 1 million doses of vaccine statewide, with 500,000
Georgians over 62 receiving their first shot. In Georgia,
about 800,000 have received at least their first dose, which
is a little more than 7% of our population. About 1.2 % of
the population has received both doses. The good news is
the number of new Covid cases has declined 46% from its
peakonjan. 11, and there are 1700 less patients hospitalized.
Covid Visitation Policies. A bill that would keep
nursing homes and hospitals from getting or renewing a
license if their policies on patient visitation exceed the
declared public health emergency has been introduced by
Rep. Ed Setzler of Acworth. H.B. 290 would allow at least
two family members to visit patients for no less than 2
hours a day. The bill would also protect healthcare facilities
from law suits from anyone who got sick at a facility that
allows patients to see visitors. The restrictions have been in
place almost a year. Gov. Kemp eased restrictions in
September, banning visitation only in facilities with current
infections or in counties with high infection rates. Most
facilities, however, have continued to have an overall ban
regardless. The bill appears to be a measured approach to
an awful dilemma for everyone, providers, patients and
families alike. The bill would not take affect though until
July 1.
Sports Betting. H.B. 86 would authorize the Georgia
Lottery to manage a sports wagering system with proceeds
going to fund HOPE college scholarships. Sports betting
companies would pay a 14% tax on their income, which
would fund an extra $40 million toward HOPE. This
gambling measure is unique though. Basically, a 2019 U.S.
Supreme Court ruling protected individuals' right to bet on
professional sports on the internet. Which means
Georgians are betting in our state unregulated and Georgia
gets no revenue from it. H.B. 86 closes those loopholes by
restricting players to 21 and over, and restricting wagering
to professional sports. No college or high school betting.
And of course, collect the $40 million from the sports
betting companies that isn’t being collected now. Unlike
casino gambling, this bill only requires a simple majority
(91 votes), in the House, not a constitutional amendment.
In my judgement this bill is on the fast track to passage.
Daylight Saving Time. Rep. Wes Cantrell has
introduced legislation that would make daylight saving time
permanent year round. South Carolina, Tennessee, and
Florida have passed the law already. Opponents say the state
would be out of sync with east coast business centers, while
supporters say it better suits Georgia summer outdoor
activities that bring in more revenue. Sen. Ben Watson has a
competing Senate bill that would make standard time
permanent. However, the bill would have to be approved by
the U.S. Congress to take affect. Cantrell is a preacher and
Watson is a doctor. I’m sticking with the preacher and
support the longer days in daylight saving time.
By Rep. Greg Morris
(R-Viddia)
Campus News
Valdosta State University
Announces Fall 2020
Graduates
Valdosta State Univer
sity recognizes its gradu
ating class of Fall 2020,
which includes the follow
ing area residents.
Kara Hayes of Lyons
earned the Bachelor of Sci
ence in Health Sciences.
Caitlynne Hux of Tar-
rytown earned the Bach
elor of Science in Psychol
ogy-
Marquisa James of Vi-
dalia earned the Master of
Education in Adult and Ca
reer Education.
Kesha Matthews of
Mount Vernon earned the
Education Specialist in
Teacher Leadership.
Melonie McBride of
Vidalia earned the Bach
elor of Applied Science
in Human Capital Perfor
mance.
Nicole McDaniel of
Lyons earned the Master
of Education in Adult and
Career Education.
Amy Morris of Lyons
earned the Master of Edu
cation in Adult and Career
Education.
Diamond Pierce of Vi
dalia earned the Bachelor
of Science in Education in
Middle Grades Education
Grades 4-8.
Emily Shaw of Lyons
earned the Master of Edu
cation in Communication
Disorders.
Melissa Williamson of
Ailey earned the Master of
Education in Communica
tion Disorders.
"I am incredibly proud
of our graduates for hav
ing the dedication to over
come countless obstacles,
including this ongoing
global health crisis, and
to finish strong and reach
this significant milestone,"
said Dr. Richard A. Car-
vajal, President of VSU.
"I am similarly so proud
of the world-class faculty
and staff who supported
these students through life
changing teaching, men
toring, advising, research,
community engagement
opportunities, and much
more on their journey to
this special day."
From the Record
THE BLOTTER
These are the reported
arrests from the Toombs
County Sheriff's Office,
the Vidalia and Lyons
police departments,
and the Montgomery
County Sheriff's Office
for the pasf week,
Incidents are taken
directly from police
files. All suspects are
innocent until proven
guilty.
In Lyons...
The Lyons Police
Department had no
Police Report for this
week.
In Toombs
County...
• J. Gillis, Jr., of
Vidalia, was arrested
on February 1 and
charged with Parole
Violation, Taillights,
Hit and Run-Misde
meanor, Controlled
Substance-Pur
chase, Possession,
Manf, Distribution,
Sale, Criminal Tres
pass, Harassing
Phone Calls, Ob
structing Police Of
fense, Fleeing Or At
tempting To Elude a
Police Officer.
• Karen O.
Hewitt-Ceasar, of Vi
dalia, was arrested
on February 6 and
charged with DUI/
Alcohol/Less Safe,
Speeding in Excess
of Maximum Limits,
Driving on Right Side
of Roadway-Excep
tions.
• Nakia Johnson,
of Vidalia, was ar
rested on February 6
and charged with
Safety Belts; Child
Passenger Restrain
ing System; Penalty
for Violation; Driving
while license sus
pended or revoked-
Misd; DUI-Endanger-
ing Child Under 14
YOA while DUI; DUI/
Alcohol/Less Safe;
Failure to Maintain
Lane.
• Ji-Yonekair Jo
seph, of Vidalia, was
arrested on Febru
ary 2 and charged
with Probation Vio
lation-Felony.
• Brandon Mar
tin, of Vidalia, was
arrested on Febru
ary 4 and charged
with Probation Vio
lation-Felony.
• Chiquita Mer
cer, of Lyons, was ar
rested on February 1
and charged with
Possession of Drug
Related Objects,
Possession of
Marijuana<loz, Co
caine-Purchase,
Possession, Manf,
Distribution, Sale,
Possession of Fire
arms by Conv Felons
and FOProbationers,
Possession of Firearm
or Knife.
• Jeffery Rogers,
of Lyons, was ar
rested on February 4
and charged with
Possession of Drug
Related Objects,
TCDC-Out of County
Hold, Methamphet-
amine-Purchase,
Possession, Manf,
Distribution, Sale.
• Keith Stevens,
of Vidalia, was ar
rested on February 3
and charged with
Battery-Family Vio
lence (1st Offense).
• Dustin Williford,
of Lyons, was ar
rested on February 1
and charged with
Theft by Shoplifting,
Theft by Receiving
Stolen Property.
• Kristy Yar
brough, of Vidalia,
was arrested on
February 6 and
charged with DUI/
Alcohol/Less Safe.
In Montgomery
County...
• Audie James
Evans, of Uvalda,
was arrested on
February 4 and
charged with DUI.
• Tony Colt Kight,
of Lyons, was ar
rested on February 4
and charged with
DUI, Open Con
tainer, Seatbelt Vio
lation, Limited Driv
ing Permit Violation.
In Vidalia...
• Dayshon Mills,
of Vidalia, was ar
rested on February 2
and charged with
Theft by Shoplifting.
• Brian D. Cro-
nan, of Vidalia, was
arrested on Febru
ary 3 and charged
with Theft by Shop
lifting.
• Keemon Ra-
sheem Williams, of
Claxton, was ar
rested on February 3
and charged with
Driving While License
Suspended / Tail/
Tag Light Require
ments.
• Randy Taylor, of
Uvalda, was ar
rested on February 4
and charged with
Driving While License
Suspended / No
Proof of Insurance.
• Phillip Don
Bohler, of Reidsville,
was arrested on
February 4 and
charged with Theft
by Shoplifting.
• Jamie Stand-
field Collins, of Re
idsville, was arrested
on February 4 and
charged with Theft
by Shoplifting.
• Robert Michael
Bridges, of Azle, TX,
was arrested on
February 5 and
charged with DUI.
• Kendall D.
Sanders, of Vidalia,
was arrested on
February 5 and
charged with Bur
glary / Probation
Warrant Served.
• Steven Timothy
Mitchell, of Valdo
sta, was arrested on
February 5 and
charged with Pos
session of Marijuana
/ Wrong way on a
One way.
• Kimberly Ann
Hall, of Glenwood,
was arrested on
February 5 and
charged with Theft
by Shoplifting.
• James Neal
Thompson, of
Screven, was ar
rested on February 6
and charged with
Possession of Meth-
amphetamines /
Warrant Served.
• Jarvis Jenell
Walton, of Vidalia,
was arrested on
February 6 and
charged with No
Driver's License /
Possession of Mari
juana.
• Jahheme Kes-
ean Miller, of Vida
lia, was arrested on
February 6 and
charged with Driv
ing while License
Suspended / Hit and
Run / No Insurance.
• Michael Scott
Hutto, of Vidalia,
was arrested on
February 7 and
charged with Pos
session of Marijuana
/ Possession of Drug
related Objects /
Possession of a Con
trolled Substance /
No Insurance / Al
tered tag.
• Jessica Lynn
Hitchcock, of Vida
lia, was arrested on
February 7 and
charged with Theft
by Shoplifting / Pos
session of Marijuana
/ Simple Obstruc
tion.
Georgia Senate looking to help
labor agency cope with pandemic
By Dave Williams
Bureau Chief
Capitol Beat News Service
Georgia Senate budget writers
voted Thursday to give the state De
partment of Labor some help han
dling an unprecedented deluge of un
employment claims stemming from
the coronavirus pandemic.
The Senate Appropriations
Committee approved a $26.3 billion
mid-year budget that adds $49,729
to hire a chief labor officer to oversee
unemployment insurance requests,
including financial audits.
“The employees, who have been
working long hours, [should] have
the resources, direction and manage
ment they need to make sure they’re
in the best position to do their jobs,”
said committee Chairman Blake Til
lery, R-Vidalia.
The state has paid out more than
$17.5 billion in state and federal ben
efits to more than 4.3 million Geor
gians since COVID-19 struck Geor
gia nearly a year ago, more than the
last nine years combined.
The volume of claims has inun
dated the labor department, forcing
the agency to bring on additional
employees and redirect some current
workers from other responsibilities
to processing claims.
A backlog in handling claims
prompted a lawsuit last month filed
by a half dozen unemployed Geor
gians seeking a court order requir
ing the labor department to process
claims in a timely manner.
The additional position senators
added to the mid-year budget is sub
ject to approval by the General As
sembly in separate legislation.
For the most part, the Senate
committee signed off on mid-year
spending additions recommended by
Gov. Brian Kemp to restore cuts in
the fiscal 2021 budget the legislature
adopted last June. State tax revenues
have been coming in higher than ex
pected despite the pandemic-driven
economic downturn, giving lawmak
ers leeway to ramp up spending.
The mid-year budget restores
$567 million in cuts imposed last
year on K-12 schools and $70 million
to fully fund enrollment growth at
Georgia’s public colleges and univer
sities. It also includes $20 million the
governor requested to expand broad
band connectivity in rural Georgia.
“That broadband money will
help rural areas that we know now are
not connected,” Tillery said.
The committee also supported
changes the state House of Repre
sentatives made to Kemp’s mid-year
budget, including $39.6 million for
new school buses, which have been
doing triple duty during the pan
demic, transporting students, carry
ing meals to students taking classes
online and serving as WiFi hot spots
in areas with inadequate wireless ser
vice.
Senators also endorsed a House
proposal to use existing funds to give
correctional officers in the state pris
on and juvenile detention systems
a 10% raise effective April 1. Both
workforces are suffering extremely
high turnover rates.
The Senate committee approved
some budget additions of its own,
redirecting $11 million in bond fi
nancing to the Department of Public
Health for technology improvements
to help the agency track Georgia’s
COVID-19 response.
“This is an unprecedented point
in time,” said Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick,
R-Marietta. “We’re doing what we
can to help in their efforts to protect
Georgia.”
Senators also added $92.2 mil
lion to the $52.7 million the House
had put up to fund road construc
tion projects and $200,000 to the
$286,000 the House had put toward
the Department of Public Health’s
budget. The additional funds would
let the agency hire five new manag
ers to help with the COVID-19 re
sponse, rather than the three posi
tions the House had funded.
The Senate panel also kicked in
$1.25 million to the $1.75 million
the House had appropriated to help
the Georgia Agricultural Exposi
tion Authority offset losses from the
pandemic. The facility in Perry was
forced to cancel the annual Georgia
National Fair last fall because of CO-
VID-19.
The full Senate is expected to
take up the mid-year budget early
next week.