State

Sen. Rick Price reflected on the close of the

2000 General Assembly's legislative session by

highlighting several positive achievements as

well as the one that got away.

Several

efforts by his fellow Republicans to introduce

ethics reform legislation, particularly in the

area of campaign finance reform, were mounted but

none were successful, he said.

Democrats

passed a measure that actually increased limits

on campaign contributions. Price did not vote for

that. "I don't consider that to be campaign

finance reform," he said.

Price

spoke highly of one Democrat's efforts to call

for some financial oversight of Grady Hospital,

which Price says is desperately needed. David

Scott of Atlanta introduced the bill, and it

passed the Senate, but it died in the House,

Price said.

Other

measures that Price supported and were passed

included a new bill that should reduce the car

tag tax some $40 million statewide. A new formula

will determine tag costs by taking a combination

of a vehicle's wholesale and retail costs and

averaging them. It will take effect Jan. 1, 2001.

By

late summer, motorists will not have to worry

about being ticketed for not carrying proof of

insurance. All insurance carriers are to be

on-line by Aug. 1, thanks to new legislation, so

traffic enforcement officers will have instant

access to insurance information via the computers

in their patrol cars.

Also

starting this summer will be DNA testing of

convicted felons, which should take effect July 1

depending upon when Gov. Roy Barnes signs the

bill, Price said.

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