Senate Resolution 1049
By: Senators Still of the 48th, Echols of the 49th and Dolezal of the 27th
A RESOLUTION
Creating a Senate Study Committee on Acquiring and Management of Lake Lanier; and for
other purposes.
WHEREAS, at present Lake Lanier is entirely owned and operated by the U.S. Army Corps.
of Engineers; and
WHEREAS, greater ownership and control over Lake Lanier and its management would
provide numerous benefits to the residents of this state; and
WHEREAS, such benefits would include enhanced long-term water security for more than
3.5 million Georgia residents; and
WHEREAS, such ownership and control would enhance the ability of the state to make
long-term water storage and planning decisions, mitigating impacts from potential future
disputes with Alabama and Florida; and
WHEREAS, such benefits would include allowing local partners to be able to use collected
fees across multiple parks, rather than being limited to the site where the funds were
collected, helping keep sites open and safe; and
WHEREAS, the proactive increased management of water quality could reduce the cost of
treating drinking water for the metro Atlanta area; and
WHEREAS, the future of the approximately $5 billion annual economic impact associated
with the lake's recreational use, real estate, and associated businesses is crucial for the state;
and
WHEREAS, a study is needed to evaluate ways in which the state could procure and benefit
from various degrees of ownership and management of Lake Lanier, improve efficiency,
create more flexible management solutions, and enhance greater local benefits.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
GEORGIA:
(1) Creation of Senate study committee. There is created the Senate Study Committee
on Acquiring and Management of Lake Lanier.
(2) Members and officers.
(A) The committee shall be composed of seven members all of whom shall be
appointed by the President of the Senate as follows:
(i) The chairperson of the Senate Natural Resources and Environment Committee or
other member of such committee;
(ii) The chairperson of the Senate Public Safety Committee or other such member of
such committee;
(iii) The chairperson of the Senate State Institutions and Property Committee
(iv) Two additional members of the Senate; and
(v) One member who is employed by the Department of Natural Resources;
(vi) One member of the public.
The President of the Senate shall appoint the chairperson of the committee;
(3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs,
issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or
legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.
(4) Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. The committee
may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or
convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and
accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.
(5) Allowances, expenses, and funding.
(A) The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided
for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.
(B) Members of the committee who are state officials, other than legislative members,
or state employees shall receive no compensation for their services on the committee,
but they may be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as
members of the committee in the same manner as they are reimbursed for expenses in
their capacities as state officials or employees.
(C) Members of the committee who are not legislators, state officials, or state
employees shall receive a daily expense allowance in an amount the same as that
specified in subsection (b) of Code Section 45-7-21 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, as well as the mileage or transportation allowance authorized for state
employees.
(D) The allowances and expenses authorized by this resolution shall not be received by
any member of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are
authorized. Funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come
from funds appropriated to the Senate; except that funds for the reimbursement of the
expenses of state officials, other than legislative members, and state employees shall
come from funds appropriated to or otherwise available to their respective agencies.
(6) Report.
(A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that
include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairpersons shall file a report of the
same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution, subject to
subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.
(B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not include suggestions for
proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file the report, subject to subparagraph (C)
of this paragraph.
(C) No report shall be filed without approval prior to the date of abolishment specified
in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee. A report so approved
shall be signed by the chairpersons of the committee and filed with the Secretary of the
Senate.
(D) In the absence of an approved report, the chairpersons may file with the Secretary
of the Senate copies of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu thereof.
(7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2026.