Lawmakers pass bills on paper ballots, transit

ATLANTA — Georgia lawmakers passed dozens of bills Wednesday, rushing to meet a key deadline for the 40-day session.

Legislation had to pass at least one chamber by the day’s end to remain alive for the year. There are ways around the deadline, but lawmakers still try to get proposals through in time.

Here’s a look at some of the day’s top items:

PAPER BALLOTS

Georgia is closer to adopting a voting system that leaves a paper trail.

The state Senate on Wednesday voted 50-1 in favor of a proposal that would replace electronic touch-screen voting with a paper-based system. It awaits House input.

Some lawmakers have pushed for paper ballots for years, arguing paper ballots can’t be electronically hacked and can be easily verified in the event of an audit.

According to the bill, the future secretary of state should choose an “optical scanning voting system” by June 2019.

Depending on when the state sets aside the necessary funding for the new machines, the new system would have to be put in use either in 2020 or 2024.

THE ATL

The Georgia Senate has passed a proposal that would establish a new regional transit authority called the ATL.

That authority would be responsible for overseeing transit expansion in the metro Atlanta region.

The measure, passed by a vote of 51-4 on Wednesday, mirrors a bill passed by the House earlier in the day, though substantial differences exist between the two.

Under both plans, existing public transportation providers in the Atlanta region — including MARTA — would maintain some operational autonomy, but the entire system would be rebranded ATL by 2023.

One main difference between the two bills is how each handles funding.

The House version calls for a statewide fee of 50 cents for all rides in a taxi or car-hailing service such as Uber, while the Senate bill does not include such a tax.

HIDDEN PREDATORS

Victims of childhood sexual abuse in Georgia could soon have more time to file lawsuits against their abusers under a proposal that has unanimously passed the House.

Republican Rep. Jason Spencer of Woodbine, who sponsored the measure, said science has shown that it can take decades for childhood victims to be able to confront their abusers.

Currently, the state’s Hidden Predator Act gives victims until the age of 23 to file a lawsuit. Spencer’s proposal seeks to expand the civil statute of limitations by 15 years, giving victims the ability to sue for damages until they turn 38.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Three years after Georgia legalized medical cannabis oil, state representatives have backed expanding the program to those who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder or from chronic, intractable pain.

The House voted 145-17 on Wednesday in favor of the proposal sponsored by Rep. David Clark, R-Buford.

Clark, who is an Army veteran, said allowing those suffering from PTSD to use cannabis oil makes it less likely they will use highly addictive opioid painkillers.