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January
18, 2008
IN THIS ISSUE:
RETAIL DAY AT THE GEORGIA STATE CAPITOL
GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO ADJOURN FROM JANUARY 18 TO JANUARY 28
NRA ACHIEVES A HOLLOW VICTORY
BANKS AND BANKING COMMITTEE APPROVES FILE FREEZE BILL
OTHER LEGISLATION
"Authority without wisdom is like a heavy axe without an edge;
fitter to bruise than polish."
Anne Bradstreet, American poet
Retail Day at the Georgia State Capitol
The Georgia Retail Association will host a luncheon for legislators
on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 in Room 230 of the State Capitol
as part of Retail Day at the Capitol. The purpose of the day is
to increase the awareness among senators and representatives of
the contribution that the retail sector makes to the state’s
economic vitality. Each retailer will be encouraged to invite his/her
legislator to lunch that day.
You are invited to attend and/or serve as a sponsor by helping to
underwrite the cost of the luncheon. To reserve a spot, please contact
Shelly Stephens at 770-484-3449, extension 22, or at shellys@georgiaretail.org.
General Assembly To Adjourn From January 18 To January
28
House Resolution 1021, called for the traditional second legislative
week adjournment to allow members to begin work on the budget. The
House and Senate will stand in adjournment from the close of business
on Friday, January 18 until Monday, January 28, 2008
NRA
Achieves A Hollow Victory
HB 89, the first and only bill voted on
this week by the Senate was a much altered form of HB 89, sponsored
Representative Tim Bearden (R) 68th District. The bill adopted on
Wednesday by the Senate Rules Committee was vastly different from
the original legislation. The bill also served as a replacement
for SB 43, Guns in the Parking Lot bill,
which GRA, the State Chamber of Commerce and others had worked to
defeat during the last two sessions. The bill, following the argument
proposed by business interests, including GRA, comes down on the
side of property ownership versus Second Amendment rights. While
the NRA might publicize the vote as a victory, many concessions
were made for business interests that the NRA spokespersons had
previously said they would not accept.
The bill would:
• Allow those with a concealed carrying permit to carry a
gun onto private property, including a work place, unless the owner
of that property has a policy against guns on the property.
• Preclude an employer from having as a condition of employment
a prohibition against those with a licensed, concealed carry permit
onto the company’s parking lot, unless the owner of the property
has such a policy.
• Would exempt employers from allowing licensed, concealed
carry permit holders if the parking lot is secured by means of a
gate, security station, or security officer.
• Section 3 (e) of the bill provides blanket immunity for
an employer, property owner, or property owner’s agent from
civil or criminal actions resulting from damages arising out of
an occurrence involving the transportation, storage, possession,
or use of a firearm, unless the employer knew that the person using
the firearm would commit such criminal activity on the employer’s
premises.
• Protect the employment of will provision whereby an employee
may be fired for carrying a gun against policy.
• Give Georgia motorists who carry firearms in their vehicles
the ability to carry the firearms anywhere they wish, rather than
being limited to a glove box or console or somewhere in plain set.
• Require any legal complaints to be handled by the Attorney
General.
http://www.legis.ga.gov/legis/2007_08/fulltext/hb89.htm
Banks and Banking Committee Approves File Freeze Bill
HB 130, Credit File Freeze, was approved
on January 14, 2008 the first day of the General Assembly, by the
House Banks and Banking Committee. GRA has worked on refining this
bill over the last two years. The primary provisions of the bill
would allow a consumer to freeze his or her credit file for a $10
maximum fee per credit bureau. The bill would require a fifteen
minute file thaw (a provision worked on by GRA) with the cost, again,
being limited to a maximum of $10. The bill, if approved by the
Senate, will be effective on August 1, 2008.
http://www.legis.ga.gov/legis/2007_08/fulltext/hb130.htm
Other Legislation
HB 895, Expansion of the Energy Star
Sales Tax Holiday, sponsored by Representative Kevin Levitas,
(D), 82nd District, would provide for an expansion of the Energy
Star sales tax holiday to include the purchase of energy efficient
products or water efficient products with a sales price of $1,500.00
or less per product purchased for noncommercial home or personal
use. The sales tax period would be the same as Jill Chambers bill
- 12:01 A.M. on October 2, 2008, and concluding at 12:00 Midnight
October 5, 2008.
http://www.legis.ga.gov/legis/2007_08/fulltext/hb895.htm
HB 926, Defining the Internal Revenue
Code, sponsored by Larry O’Neal (R) 146th District, would
incorporate certain provisions of the federal law into Georgia law.
http://www.legis.ga.gov/legis/2007_08/sum/hb926.htm
Report: Gift cards to boost sales over next five years
Sales of gift cards, which steadily have gained popularity among
consumers, will reach $52 billion in 2012, a report from market-research
company Packaged Facts found. The report said that almost 35% of
consumers who purchased gift cards in the past 12 months will spend
more on gift cards this year.
Thank you.
John C. Heavener, MSM, CAE
President
johnh@georgiaretail.org
Telephone – 770-484-3449, ext. 21
Fax – 770-484-5727
Georgia Retail Association
About GRA: The Georgia Retail Association, with
membership that comprises all retail formats and channels of distribution
including department, specialty, discount, catalog, Internet, independent
stores, and grocery stores has been serving the state’s business
community since 1961. The Georgia Retail Association represents
an industry with more than 71,300 retail establishments, and more
than 715,000 employees - about one in five of Georgia’s workers
- and 2004 sales of $115.2 billion.
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