House Resolution 99
By: Representatives Schofield of the 63rd, Hugley of the 141st, Davis of the 87th, Cannon of
the 58th, and Scott of the 76th
A RESOLUTION
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution so as to provide that the General Assembly shall
be authorized to provide by law to expend or authorize the expenditure of public funds for
baby bond savings programs without the need for benefit in return; to authorize the creation
of the Baby Bond Savings Plan Trust Fund; to provide for the redesignation of a current
subparagraph of the Constitution; to provide for related matters; 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 III, Section VI, Paragraph VI of the Constitution is amended by redesignating the
second subparagraph (g), relating to a program of indemnification for certain state highway
employees, as subparagraph (h) and by adding a new subparagraph to read as follows:
<ins>"(i) The General Assembly is authorized to provide by law and may expend or authorize
the expenditure of public funds for the state or any political subdivision or instrumentality
thereof to institute baby bond savings programs, to provide that any such program shall not
be subject to any limitations of debt provided for in this Constitution, to provide that
amounts on deposit in the trust fund shall not constitute property of the state, to provide
that it shall not be commingled with state funds, and to provide that the state shall not have
</ins>
<ins>claim or interest in such funds other than for reasonable fees and charges assessed for
administration costs."
</ins> SECTION 2.
Article III, Section IX, Paragraph VI of the Constitution is amended by adding a new
subparagraph to read as follows:
<ins>"(s) The General Assembly is authorized to provide by general law for the creation of a
Baby Bond Savings Plan Trust Fund to be administered by a board established by general
law. Moneys from the fund shall be used for qualified expenses as provided by general law
and may include paying for higher education, purchasing a home, investments, and other
purposes provided by the board or once a beneficiary reaches a certain age. The General
Assembly may provide by general law for the dedication and deposit of revenues raised
from specified sources for the purposes of the fund into the fund. Any other appropriation
from the Baby Bond Savings Plan Trust Fund shall be void. Contributions and revenues
deposited into the fund shall not lapse and shall not be subject to the limitations of
subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph or of Article VII, Section III, Paragraph II."
</ins> SECTION 3.
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
Assembly to provide by law to expend or authorize the use of public funds
( ) NO to institute baby bond savings programs without the need for benefit in
return and provide by general law for the Baby Bond Savings Plan Trust
Fund?"
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.