UPDATED: Tracking HB 636

**UPDATED** March 9, 2012

Senate Committee on State and Local Government Operations scheduled the hearing for Monday, March 12 at 2 p.m. in the Coverdale Legislative Office Building at the State Capitol.

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House Bill 636  the proposed city charter for the City of Brookhaven, passed the House Governmental Affairs Committee on Tuesday, Feb. 7, by a vote of 9-5. It passed the full House of Representatives on Friday, Feb. 17, by a vote of 101-57.

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On Tuesday, Jan. 31, the House Governmental Affairs Committee heard testimony from several residents and affected neighbors including DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis, Police Chief William O'Brien, Commissioner Jeff Rader and Dunwoody Mayor Mike Davis. The Commiee listened to testimony for an hour and a half - 45 minutes for and against - then asked questions of the bill's author, Rep. Mike Jacobs. A second meeting is planned for next week. The date and location has not been announced.

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On Tuesday, Jan. 24, the House Governmental Affairs Committee reviewed the results of the Carl Vinson Institute's feasibility study offered by State Rep. Mike Jacobs. For about an hour, and fielded questions from the committee on the issue of cityhood, policy, public safety, taxes and the finaicial impact to DeKalb County. No testimony other than Jacobs' was heard and no action was taken by the committee.

House Bill 636 was introduced by State Rep. Mike Jacobs (R-80) and co-sponsored by Rep. Tom Taylor (R-79) in 2011 to incorporate and provide for a charter for the propsoosed City of Brookhaven.

The bill, having been through its first and second readings during the last legislative session, is scheduled to be addressed for the first time this year by the Georgia House of Representatives Governmental Affairs Committee on Tuesday, Jan. 24 at 2 p.m. at the Coverdale Legislative Office Building. During this meeting, the Carl Vinson Institute's feasibility study will be discussed. No public testimony will be accepted, nor will any action be made on this bill by the committee.

According to Craig Foster, policy analyst for the House Governmental Affairs Committee, another meeting for public testimony will take place where residents and bill sponsors will have the opportunity to testify for or against the bill. The public testimony for the bill has not yet been scheduled.

Once public testimony is heard, the committee may make a recommendation to pass or hold a bill in the following format:

• Recommend Bill or Resolution Do Pass;
• Recommend Do NOT Pass;
• Recommend Do Pass with changes (amendments or substitutes);
• Hold Bill.

Brookhaven Patch will continue to track HB 636 and provide updates as they become available.