Legislative Action: Legislative Lingo

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Foster Care License Plate Passes –
WHAT A VICTORY!!!

 On November 9, 2006, Georgians went to the polls and showed their support for foster care.  An overwhelming number of voters said YES to a Constitutional Amendment needed to grant approval for the specified use of funding as a result of the revenue generated by the creation of the foster parents license plate. 
     Here is how it works.  Beginning in January 2007, foster/adoptive parents can receive applications for the license plate, fill out this application and submit it to AFPAG along with $25 application fee and other fees.  Once AFPAG receives a minimum of 1,000 requests for this specialized license plate, AFPAG will send one check and all applications to Department of Revenue and you will then receive your tag.  After this initial process, all purchases will be made through individual counties.   
     In reflecting on the new tag, AFPAG Legislative Chair Tony Blash said, “The passage of this amendment allows individuals and families who have always been supportive of fostering and foster families, to do it in a more concrete and substantial manner.  It is a GREAT feeling.”
     What purpose will the tag serve?  AFPAG actively worked along side State Representative Judy Manning of District 32 in Marietta, Georgia and others on “HB 1309” and later in the amended bill “HB 1053” supporting the creation of a specialized license plate for foster parents.  We all realize the positive effect a stable home will have on the life of any child.  For some time now, over 4,000 foster families all over this state have stepped up and opened their hearts and homes to provide a place for children in state custody to call home.  It is our hope that very soon we will be able to show people everywhere that foster parents have big hearts and they are happy to care for and nurture those abused and neglected children who otherwise would find it difficult to secure their own futures.  Foster parents do not consider nurturing and loving Georgia’s children as an obligation, but a blessing.  These specialized plates will express and be a true testimony to the affect we can have on Georgia’s children when we stretch ourselves to go that extra mile. 
     Blash shared, “This project is a beneficial project for foster parents and it was blessing to have worked on this project and is very exciting to see the license plate pass.”  License plates will be available in July 2007 at a cost of $25 for the application fee and a soon to be decided manufacturing fee.