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Photo HottieTottie.com<\/p><\/div>\n
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UPDATE; 10:30 AM – Senator Dugan’s staffer says no one can read the new language of SB 2 until it is passed out at the Econ-D committee hearing today.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Note to readers: SB 2 looks like a \u201cI want to be governor and I am willing to prove it” offering from Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle to the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. The below translation of the bills\u2019 language is taken from a version that has already been to a committee hearing. It wasn\u2019t enough for the business lobby. They had objections. So, the bill has been modified and will see another hearing today in the Senate Economic Development Committee<\/a> at 2:00 PM.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Ga. state Senator Mike Dugan<\/p><\/div>\n The co-signers of the bill are a \u2018Who\u2019s Who\u2019 of Chamber of Commerce Senators. This is prime example of legislation to be changed on the floor with an unrecorded vote.<\/em><\/p>\n SB 2 The FAST (One) Act \u00a0 \u00a0 LC 28 8192 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a02017<\/strong><\/p>\n Or as supporters in the Chamber of Commerce Georgia State Senate refer to it\u2026the<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cYa\u2019ll Come… and Bring Money Act!\u201d\u00a0<\/strong>This is merely our start-up wording. We are going to shove it through commttiee, then change it to what we really want when it gets to the floor of the senate. With unrecorded votes that you will never know about!<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cFirst Reader Summary<\/strong> Caption<\/strong> Section 1<\/strong><\/p>\n This Act shall be known and may be cited as the “The FAST Act – Fairness, Accountability, Simplification, and Transparency – Empowering Our Small Businesses to Succeed.” Just think of it as \u201cTHE FAST ONE ACT!\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n Section 2<\/strong> Wanna\u2019 open a business in Georgia? We are going to get you a business license ASAP, and with special rates. And if cities and counties take too long issuing, we will fine them! And we will accept the word of another agency that you are eligible for a business license. (Remember that E-Verify requirement from 2011 and HB 87<\/a>? And that idea that you must verify you are here legally?<\/a> Yeah, we don\u2019t like them either).<\/strong><\/p>\n Section 3<\/strong><\/p>\n Ya\u2019ll come! Work now, worry about professional license later! We\u2019ll even allow other states<\/em> to decide if you are qualified to work before we even process your license application! No worries!<\/strong><\/p>\n If your business (that requires a professional license) is ever inspected for compliance, we will set up an appointment to give you time to comply with regulations before we get there! And, we won\u2019t come during your busy time! And, we will let you help us make up the rules for regulation of your business – including waivers and variances!<\/strong><\/p>\n Ya\u2019ll come, no real enforcement worries on professional licensing here in Georgia!<\/strong><\/p>\n Professional licensing: Georgia would depend on other states decisions on licensing to allow professional license applicants to begin work here. Establishes \u201cprovisional licenses\u201d for people who have been licensed before and for people who have been licensed in other states so they can work before final processing of their Georgia license application. Provisional license valid for as long as it takes for Georgia to approve application\u2026 \u201cDuring each encounter with a licensee, each professional licensing board shall provide information on how such licensee can participate in the rule-making processes of the board and how to request waivers or variances, if any are available.\u201d<\/p>\n Section 4<\/strong><\/p>\n Did you like section 3? You will love Section 4! Here we extend the same favors to you even if your business doesn\u2019t come under the category of \u201cprofessional license.\u201d Any business with a business license is a good old boy!<\/strong><\/p>\n Have a restaurant? Is room temperature chicken juice dripping into your salad set-up? No worries! You can hide it before we get there! We are going to notify you before we come for an inspection! And, we won\u2019t come during your busy time! And, we will let you help us make up the rules for regulation of your business – including waivers and variances!<\/strong><\/p>\n And, we will see to it that your business license is quickly issued in Conyers with information collected from Marietta Schools<\/a> or another agency \u2013 like the City of Atlanta. Why take the time to do it ourselves? So what if Marietta Schools or Cobb Schools is not complying with the law on verification!<\/a> So what if Atlanta hasn\u2019t complied with business license laws since 2012?!<\/a> No worries!<\/strong><\/p>\n Section 5<\/strong><\/p>\n Remember the Department of Community Affairs? Remember that time in 2012 that they shrugged off their violations of state law on monitoring compliance with that icky state law on insuring illegal aliens did not take our public benefits? Without any punishment? Well, we are going back to them for this one:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cA panel of experts\u201d indeed!<\/strong> The department shall determine the metrics to be used in developing the Building and Infrastructure Transparency Score through a panel of experts assembled by the department and the weighting to be given each metric and shall determine a scoring methodology for such metrics which shall be assigned as excellent, average, needs improvement, or no response given.<\/p>\n\n
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\nA BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 60 of Title 36, Chapter 1 of Title 43, and Title 50 of the O.C.G.A., relating to general provisions applicable to counties and municipal corporations, general provisions regarding professions and businesses, and state government, respectively, so as to enhance accountability and notice requirements for agency rule making so as to reduce regulatory burdens on businesses<\/strong>; to provide a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nTo amend Chapter 60 of Title 36, Chapter 1 of Title 43, and Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions applicable to counties and municipal corporations, general provisions regarding professions and businesses, and state government, respectively, so as to enhance accountability and notice requirements for agency rule making so as to reduce regulatory burdens on businesses<\/strong>; to facilitate the start of certain small businesses; to provide for schedules of fees and timelines for permits, licenses, and other regulatory requirements; to provide for reduced fees when such deadlines are not met; to\u00a0provide for expedited processing of licenses and permits;<\/strong> to provide for certain provisional professional licenses; to provide for exceptions; to streamline the collection of personal information<\/strong>; to provide for notices and timing for certain regulatory inspections; to provide for the development of a building and infrastructure transparency score for each county and municipality by the Department of Community Affairs; to provide for further information regarding proposed rules; to provide for additional notice for rule making; to change the vote\u00a0requirement for legislative objections to proposed rule making\u2026\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nChapter 60 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general\u00a0provisions applicable to counties and municipal corporations, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:<\/p>\n
\nThe department shall establish a system for providing a Building and Infrastructure\u00a0Transparency Score for each county and municipality in this state. Such score shall be based upon metrics which include, but are not limited to, licensing and permitting fees charged by the county or municipality; time required by the county or municipality to process applications for licenses and permits and other regulatory requirements for businesses and professions in the county or municipality; the manner by which dispute resolution over such licensing, permitting, and regulatory requirements is handled; the consolidation of forms and documents to avoid repetitive or duplicative requests for information; and other items which are determined to be relevant to the development of such scoring.<\/p>\n