By Sen. Jesse Stone
The 10th legislative day kicked off to a bustling start with the unanimous passage of my Senate Bill 117. With a vote of 51-0, the Homestead Exemption passed the Senate. With so many Georgians still shouldering the financial burden of job losses and medical expenses, it is time for them to receive some hope. SB 117 offers this hope to many families who might have otherwise lost their homes. By increasing the exemptions qualified during the bankruptcy procedure, homeowners can retain more equity in their property.
SB 117 will raise exemptions from sale or levy of real or personal property that is the debtor’s primary residence from $5,000 to $21,500. It will also increase the amount exempted for bankruptcy purposes. The bill now moves to the House for committee review and vote.
As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, my colleagues and I have been hard at work. On Monday, the committee passed out HB 683, regarding garnishment proceedings. HB 683 in effect reverses a Georgia Supreme Court decision, which would have required an attorney to respond to garnishments. This is an unnecessary burden on small businesses. Two of my own bills, SB 333 and SB 107, are currently awaiting a vote in the Senate Judiciary committee. The first bill provides that notices of foreclosure be sent to the borrower before a foreclosure sale can occur. This is intended to correct an omission in the Georgia Code that allowed nonresidential property to be sold at foreclosure without first notifying the borrower. The other relates to penalties that can be imposed for contempt of court.
The Judiciary Committee is also considering SB 355 regarding mandatory child abuse reporting and SB 316 that will extend the time for prosecuting those who commit a sexual offense on a minor.
I’ve also co-signed a letter to the Environmental Protection Division regarding stricter standards for pollution testing on the Ogeechee River. I’m working with my colleagues in the House and Senate to pressure EPD to better regulate water standards. We are calling for independent pollution testing instead of the current self-reporting. In addition, industries polluting the waterway will be held more accountable if the results are posted online for the public to view. We are working together to help prevent disastrous fish kills such as the one that occurred on a 70-mile stretch of the river last year.
RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
February 2, 2012
Contact:
Natalie Dale, Director
Kate Greer, Broadcast Specialist
kate.greer@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028