Wednesday, Apr. 6, 2005 | ||
Bad Links? | Smoking ban still needs Perdues signatureBy JOHN MUNFORD The 2005 version of the Georgia General Assembly, which ended March 31, passed bills regulating smoking, abortion and child support, among a variety of other issues. The Georgia Smokefree Air Act prohibits lighting up in places of employment, but exempts some facilities such as retail tobacco stores, smoking rooms at hotels and motels, and bars and restaurants as long as they dont allow anyone under 18 to be present, including employees. Employers can create an indoor smoking area by creating an enclosed room with a separate air handling and exhaust system from the main building. The bill must be signed into law by Gov. Sonny Perdue, but he is undecided so far, said spokesperson Heather Hedrick. The governor has stated his concerns about government interfering with business and how business is transacted in Georgia, Hedrick said, adding that Perdue was undecided ... and still reading it (the bill). Perdue has until May 10, 40 days after the last day of the legislature, to sign any bill into law passed by the legislature this year. Hedrick noted that Perdue has often stated his respect for the legislator who introduced the bill, Sen. Don Thomas of Dalton, who is also a physician. House Bill 221, also approved by the legislature this year, changes how child support is determined. Gone is a formula that used a percentage range based on the total amount of children involved to calculate support. In its place is language that allows for support to be adjusted based on parenting time, health insurance and work related child care expenses. HB 221 also requires that each parents pro rata share of child support be calculated by using the income of both parents to determine each parents share of the amount of additional expense for health insurance and work-related child care. HB 197, dubbed the Womens Right to Know Act, requires doctors or their agents to tell the patient the medical risks involved, the probable gestational age of the unborn child, and the medical risks associated with carrying the unborn child to term, all at least 24 hours before the abortion procedure. Doctors or their agents will also be required to tell a patient at least 24 hours prior to the abortion procedure that: Medical assistance benefits may be available for prenatal care, childbirth and neonatal care; That the father will be liable for child support; and She has the right to review printed materials that describe the unborn child, list agencies that offer alternatives to abortion, and contain information on fetal pain. The bill also requires any minor seeking an abortion to wait until their parent or guardian has been given 24 hours notice in person or by phone. The law also requires a minor to be accompanied by a parent or guardian and show proper identification. |
|
Copyright 2004-Fayette Publishing, Inc. |