ATLANTA – State Representative Toney Collins (D-Conyers) today released the following statement in response to Governor Sonny Perdue’s decision to veto House Bill 1272, legislation that would have allowed taxpayers the option to make voluntary contributions to lupus, kidney disease, and multiple sclerosis research through individual income tax returns:
“As a person who has overcome both lupus and kidney disease, I am especially disappointed in Governor Perdue’s decision to veto House Bill 1272. This legislation would have allowed Georgians to voluntarily choose to help fund research for lupus, kidney disease, and multiple sclerosis – diseases that affect millions, but fail to receive necessary research funding. Due to underfunding, these diseases are still not fully understood and are often difficult to diagnose and treat. I introduced HB 1272 to help raise awareness of these potentially debilitating diseases and give Georgians the opportunity to support research that they might not otherwise consider. This legislation could have improved the lives of millions, but instead, is now another victim of the Governor’s chopping block. I look forward to reintroducing this legislation during next year’s legislative session and hope that my colleagues in the House and Senate will once again support this optional funding mechanism that allows Georgians to support research for cures to these horrible illnesses by simply checking a box on their tax return.”
HB 1272 would have established both the Lupus and Kidney Disease Research Program Fund and Multiple Sclerosis Research Program Fund. If the vetoed bill had become law, each Georgia individual income tax return form for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2010, would have contained language offering taxpayers the opportunity to contribute to the funds. Tax payers would have been able to choose to donate all or any part of their tax refund by checking a box that would have authorized a reduction in their refund check, or allowed them to contribute any amount over and above the amount of taxes owed.
A description of the fund, purposes, and intended use of contributions would have been contained in the instructions accompanying the individual income tax return. Contributions would only be used for research and administrative costs.
As stipulated in HB 1272, all money donated to the Lupus and Kidney Disease Research Program Fund and Multiple Sclerosis Research Program Fund would have been administered by the Georgia Department of Revenue (DOR). The DOR would then distribute the funds through contracts for lupus, kidney disease, and multiple sclerosis research.
There are currently eight optional contribution check boxes listed on state tax forms. The voluntary contribution boxes support the Georgia Wildlife Conservation Fund; Georgia Children and Elderly Fund; Georgia Cancer Research Fund; Statewide Land Conservation Program; Georgia National Guard Foundation; Dog & Cat Sterilization Fund; Save the Cure Fund; and Georgia Student Finance Authority Fund.
HB 1272 passed the House by a vote of 145-6 on April 29, 2010. The bill passed the Senate unanimously on April 27, 2010. A link to HB 1272 can be found by clicking here.
# # #
Representative Toney Collins represents the citizens of District 95, which includes portions of Gwinnett, Newton, and Rockdale counties. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 2008, and serves on the Bank & Banking, Insurance, and Interstate Cooperation Committees.