Weekly/Daily Legislative Report

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Charlie Roberts
4/4/10

It was a couple of centuries ago but Charles Dickens was right on when he wrote the opening sentence to the classic A TALE OF TWO CITIES. Our General Assembly is giving their best effort to provide our state with an adequate Budget but every day brings a worse opportunity. We have six Legislative Days left in this session and no Adjournment Calendar. Key committees are meeting all this week but there will not be another Legislative Day until Monday April 12. By law, a Budget must be approved and sent to the Governor before adjournment.

Last week was another short week but both the House and Senate Retirement Committees met with the House Committee giving Do Pass to SB 436 to clarify old legislation and the Senate Committee giving Do Pass to HB 249 - a PSER Bill, HB 486 a court clerk Bill and HB 974 - a peace officers Bill. The full Senate
Passed HB 969 improving state employees retirement for those recalled to military action and those killed in action.

Also last week was the special recognition ceremonies of both the House and Senate to the retirement of W. Daniel Ebersole. Dan has devoted most of his adult life to the State of Georgia and is currently the Director of the office of Treasury and Fiscal Services, an Ex-Officio Member of the TRS Board of Trustees and a strong member of the TRS Investment Committee. I was introduced to Dan by former Governor Zell Miller and will miss the personal relationship we have enjoyed over the years.

On Wednesday Dr. Sloan and I attended the March Meeting of the TRS Board. There was no new business but it was wonderful to hear Jeff announce that our Investments have made outstanding recovery from our national economic crisis. Our net worth is back over $ 47 Billion and our Investment Committee continues to work hard.

Please continue to keep a keen eye on these final days because every bill approved in the Legislature will have a Piggyback amendment and I will make every effort to keep you fully informed of all retirement activity during these final six days.

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