The House Committee on Ways and Means offers the following substitute to HR 192:
A RESOLUTION
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution so as to authorize the General Assembly to
provide by general law for the creation and comprehensive regulation of workforce and
residential infrastructure districts; to provide for the submission of this amendment for
ratification or rejection; and for other purposes.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Article IX of the Constitution is amended by adding a new section to read as follows:
<ins>"SECTION VIII.
WORKFORCE AND RESIDENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE DISTRICTS
Paragraph I. Creation. The General Assembly may by general law provide for the
creation of and comprehensive regulation of workforce and residential infrastructure
districts; provided, however, that a workforce and residential infrastructure district may
only be created when approved by the governing authority of each county in which
county's unincorporated area any portion of the district is proposed to be located and by the
</ins>
<ins>governing authority of each municipality in which any portion of the district is proposed
to be located.
Paragraph II. Purposes. The purpose of a workforce and residential infrastructure
district shall be the creation, provision, and expansion of workforce and residential
infrastructure services and facilities as may be provided for by general law.
Paragraph III. Administration. (a) Any general law providing for the creation of
workforce and residential infrastructure districts shall provide for the establishment of an
administrative or governing body for the workforce and residential infrastructure district
and the appointment or election, terms, and qualifications of the members of such body.
(b) The administrative or governing body of each workforce and residential
infrastructure district may be authorized to levy, impose, and collect such taxes, fees, and
assessments within the district, or portion or portions of such district, under such conditions
as shall be specified by general law.
Paragraph IV. Debt. The administrative or governing body of a workforce and
residential infrastructure district may incur debt, as authorized by general law, without
regard to any of the provisions of Section V of this article, which debt may be backed by
the full faith, credit, and taxing power of the workforce and residential infrastructure
district but shall not be an obligation of the State of Georgia or any unit of government of
the State of Georgia.
Paragraph V. Cooperation with local governments. The provisions of this section shall
in no way limit the authority of any county or municipality to provide services or facilities
within any workforce and residential infrastructure district, and any county or municipality
shall retain full and complete authority and control over any of its facilities located within
a workforce and residential infrastructure district. Such control shall include, but shall not
be limited to, the modification of, access to, and the degree and type of services provided
through or by facilities of the county or municipality. Nothing contained in this section
shall be construed to limit or preempt the application of any governmental laws,
</ins>
<ins>ordinances, resolutions, or regulations to any workforce and residential infrastructure
district or the services or facilities provided therein. No administrative or governing body
of a workforce and residential infrastructure district shall have or exercise the power of
eminent domain, nor shall the state or any local government delegate such power to or
exercise such power through any administrative or governing body of a workforce and
residential infrastructure district.
Paragraph VI. Regulation by general law. The General Assembly by general law shall
provide for the powers, duties, and authority of workforce and residential infrastructure
districts and may regulate, restrict, and limit the creation of workforce and residential
infrastructure districts and the exercise of the powers of administrative or governing bodies
of workforce and residential infrastructure districts in any appropriate manner, including,
but not limited to, by limiting the application of such general law by population."
</ins> SECTION 2.
The above proposed amendment to the Constitution shall be published and submitted as
provided in Article X, Section I, Paragraph II of the Constitution. The ballot submitting the
above proposed amendment shall have written or printed thereon the following:
"( ) YES Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to authorize the General
( ) NO Assembly to provide by general law for the creation and comprehensive
regulation of workforce and residential infrastructure districts to provide for
public infrastructure for the provision of workforce and residential
infrastructure as authorized by local governments?"
All persons desiring to vote in favor of ratifying the proposed amendment shall vote "Yes."
All persons desiring to vote against ratifying the proposed amendment shall vote "No." If
such amendment shall be ratified as provided in said Paragraph of the Constitution, it shall
become a part of the Constitution of this state.