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The Honorable Renee Unterman Post Office Box 1685 Loganville, Georgia 30052 770-458-3573 Legislative Accomplishments, 2003 Session Senate Bill 12, Elder Abuse – Senator Unterman introduced Senate Bill 12, which upgrades the criminal offense of abusing elderly or disabled persons to a felony. Previously, Unterman passed legislation raising it from a misdemeanor to a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature. After SB 12 passed the Senate, it was killed by the leadership in the House of Representatives. Unterman amended the felony elder abuse provision onto House Bill 318, which passed both houses and awaits the Governor’s signature. House Bill 318, which includes the provisions relating to felony abuse is major legislation that will improve the standard of care and quality of life enjoyed by senior and disabled Georgians. Senator Unterman has worked on increasing the penalty for elder abuse for the last 4 years. She also founded Friends of Gwinnett County Senior Services, a private nonprofit group that raises donations to fund Meals on Wheels and Adult Day Care in her home county. In addition, she is the primary caregiver for her 85-year old mother, Bernice Stovall.Senate Bill 96, Off-Label Prescription – Senator Unterman sponsored Senate Bill 96, which requires health insurance plans to pay for "off-label" use of prescription drugs. "Off-label" use occurs when a physician prescribes a FDA-approved prescription drug for a use other than what the FDA approved it for. Off-label prescription is often important in treating end-stage cancer, end-stage heart diseases and other catastrophic illnesses, for pain management, and for newly developed uses of existing drugs. Senate Bill 258 and House Bill 427, Election Reform – Senator Unterman introduced Senate Bill 258, which is a comprehensive election reform bill designed to bring Georgia’s election law into sync with federal requirements under the "Help America Vote Act of 2002" (HAVA). HAVA, which was signed into law by President Bush, gives states incentives to modernize their voting procedures to prevent election fraud and problems like occurred in the 2000 Presidential elections. Under HAVA and Senate Bill 258, Georgia has already received the first $5 million installment from the federal government to reimburse the state’s cost to upgrade to electronic voting machines. Having passed SB 258, Georgia stands to recoup $31 million in the next budget year for election-related expenses. House Bill 427 is a companion bill that died in the Senate. Unterman amended SB 258 with the most important provisions from HB 427. These election law changes will also help prevent voting fraud and reduce administrative costs borne by local governments in administering elections. Senate Bill 267 and Senate Resolutions 308 and 431, Electric Power Transmission Lines – Senate Bill 267 was designed to regulate the siting of high-voltage electric transmission lines, which have caused great controversy across the State. Senate Resolution 308 would have setup a joint study committee of the Senate and House of Representatives to study the issue of powerline siting, associated health risks, property value issues and the utilities’ exercise of eminent domain. Senate Resolution 431 was a Senate only study committee to address the same issues with five Senators. Senate Resolution 431 was the only significant piece of powerline-related legislation to pass this year. Senate Bills 312 and 313, removal of Graffiti – Senate Bills 312 and 313, both of which were coauthored by Senator Unterman address the problem of gang-related graffiti, which is becoming a major issue in some counties. Senate Bill 312 authorizes counties and municipalities to establish a fund to reimburse innocent victims of graffiti damage or provide services and goods to remove the graffiti. Senate Bill 313 authorizes the use of inmate labor to remove graffiti from victims’ property and authorizes courts to impose sentences including restitution to graffiti victims. Both bills passed the Senate and are referred to the House. House Bill 144, which is substantially similar to Senate Bill 313 did pass both houses. House Bill 318, Licensure of Adult Day Care Facilities – This bill, of which Senator Unterman was the primary Senate sponsor, requires that all Adult Day Care facilities be licensed by the Department of Human Resources (DHR). The Adult Day Care Licensure Act defines programs that must be licensed and authorizes the DHR to regulate the licensure. Licensure is required whether the program is operated by a for-profit company or a nonprofit. The Act also provides for periodic inspections by the DHR. After Senator Unterman’s bill to make abuse of elderly and disabled Georgians a felony and require stricter punishment for abusers failed to pass the House, Senator Unterman added its provisions to HB 318. Increasing the penalty for elder abuse will not only help protect our seniors, but will help nursing homes and other seniors programs catch offenders when they apply to work at another facility and prevent offenders from being put in a position where they have power over senior or disabled Georgians. House Bill 347, amending the Veterinary Practices Act – This bill is the result of work by Senator Unterman and others that began in the 2001-2002 sessions of the General Assembly. After nearly passing both houses in 2002, the Act was finally passed by the House and Senate in 2003. Broadly, the Act regulates the practice of veterinary medicine, including licensure of Veterinarians and Veterinary Technicians, regulates prescription of veterinary medications and exempts certain procedures that may be performed by owners of livestock. Senator Unterman was a leader in the Agriculture Committee and the Subcommittee assigned to work on this Act. The subcommittee held hearings to work on the act and hear from representatives of Veterinarians’ associations, the State Department of Agriculture, dog clubs and other interested parties. This Act was considered major legislation by the veterinary and agriculture communities. House Bill 519, Lake Lanier Islands Development Authority – This bill, introduced in the House by Rep. Carl Rogers and other members, was sponsored by Renee Unterman in the Senate. This bill limits the amount of revenue that the Development Authority must pay to the Corps of Engineers from property management activities and requires that 75% of such income be spent on projects in the Lake Lanier Watershed. This bill was very important for Senator Unterman’s district, which includes much of Lake Lanier’s shoreline in Forsyth, Hall and Gwinnett Counties. Establishment of the Lake LanierWater Caucus – Working with State Representative Stacey Reece, Senator Unterman established the Lake Lanier Water Caucus, (LLWC) which is open to all legislators whose districts are in counties containing shoreline on Lake Lanier. The LLWC is not intended to act as another policy-making body, but as a clearinghouse for information and discussion of issues related to the quality and quantity of water in the Lake Lanier watershed. The LLWC is headed by co-chairs from the House and Senate. Senator Unterman and Representative Reece are serving as interim co-chairs until a formal election is held.
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