Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the HB663 Fee Cap Adjustment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Georgia committee advances bill to raise certain EPD inspection fee cap to $35, allows DNR board CPI adjustments
Summary
A House subcommittee and then the full committee unanimously advanced HB 663 (LC394980S), raising a statutory fee cap for certain inspection/submission testing from $25 to $35 and authorizing the DNR board to adjust the fee tied to the Consumer Price Index; EPD had reviewed the substitute, the committee heard.
A House Natural Resources subcommittee unanimously approved a substitute to House Bill 663 (LC394980S) and the full committee quickly advanced the measure after a brief summary on the floor.
The bill’s sponsor or sponsor’s representative told the committee the substitute updates the code section governing the fee charged for certain submission testing and inspection activity. The change raises the maximum statutory fee to $35 (the minimum remains $10). The speaker said the previous cap of $25 had not been changed since 1992 and that rising costs prompted the update. The substitute also gives the Department of Natural Resources board authority to increase or decrease the fee tied to changes in the Consumer Price Index.
Committee members asked only for a clarification that any adjustment by the DNR board would be discretionary and not automatic; the author confirmed the board “may adjust it” rather than being required to do so. After that clarification, members moved, seconded and passed the measure by voice vote in subcommittee; the subcommittee reported the bill out unanimously to the full committee and the full committee approved it by voice vote.
The bill was presented to the committee as having been vetted with the Environmental Protection Division (EPD) and the author said the department was comfortable with the changes. No public testimony or amendments were recorded during the session.
Next steps: committee action sends HB 663 to subsequent committee processing consistent with the House calendar; the committee did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript, only that the vote was unanimous and carried.
