Dear Citizens of Georgia,

Today I want to give you some information about three (3) IMPORTANT pieces of legislation I am proposing this Session; a bill that will protect Georgians’ most valuable asset, a bill that will help increase employment in Georgia and a bill that will provide protection to animals in shelters throughout our state.

First, I am introducing HB 781, (http://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20112012/HB/781) my Judicial Foreclosure and Deficiency Bill or the Homeowners Fairness Act. Under this piece of legislation, bank lenders will no longer be able to bypass the judicial system to foreclose on houses. Instead, they will have to follow a host of other states in providing protection and accuracy to homeowners in the State by going through the Court process before they can foreclose on a home. Georgia currently ranks 5^th in the nation in the number of foreclosure listings with DeKalb county, one of the counties I currently represent, as the 2^nd highest in the state. I am pleased that the House Democratic Caucus has decided to make this bill part of its legislative agenda for all the families of Georgia.

Let’s be honest. Foreclosures DEVESTATE our communities and neighborhoods. First, they lead to declining property values and physical deterioration to surrounding areas; Second, they lead to higher crime, social disorder and shifting populations and Last, foreclosures put a stress on our local governments and put more pressure on already strained local government services. One foreclosure can impose up to $34,000 in direct costs on local governments in an already tight economy. Let’s help out our neighbors, our communities and our local governments by passing HB 781.

Second, I am introducing HB 780 ( http://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20112012/HB/780)which would limit the amount of pre-employment credit checks to certain circumstances. In an economic environment where the unemployment rate is still not at comfortable levels, the LAST thing we should be doing is preventing those that CAN work FROM working, simply because they have a poor credit history. The Society of Human Resource Management states that 60% of businesses use credit checks in some way. Imagine the jobs that are being lost in Georgia.

Since 2007, four (4) other states have enacted this legislation and now Georgia must do the same. As I explained above, Georgia is 5^th in the nation in foreclosures. Does it then make sense for someone to lose their job, fall prey to foreclosure, have their credit damaged, only to not be employable again because of that foreclosure that was not their fault in the first place? Bad credit does not equal bad employees just as good credit doesn’t mean good employees. Georgia must do its part in helping every Georgian obtain employment. HB 782 will do just that.

Last, I am introducing HB 782 (http://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20112012/HB/782) which is an animal protection bill with bipartisan support. In the U.S., 5 out of 10 dogs in shelters and 7 out of 10 cats are destroyed simply because there is no one to adopt them. This bill would require the creation and use of an animal shelter registry. 24 hours before an animal is to be euthanized, shelters across Georgia would need to use this registry to alert surrounding shelters and organizations that an animal is about to be euthanized. Local shelters and organizations would then have the ability to save that animal from being killed.

According to the humane society, approximately 5-7 million animals enter animal shelters each year nationwide and almost half of those are euthanized. The cost of euthanizing an animal is more than the cost of implementation of this bill, saving shelters money across the state. We can solve this problem for pets, many of whom we consider family, by HB 780. I ask you to join me in providing some relief for shelters and animal lovers throughout this state.

I need your support for all three (3) of these very important bills. Please sign up for my enewsletter at www.kendrickforgeorgia.com to learn how you can become more involved. Thank you for your time and TOGETHER we can move Georgia forward.

Rep. Kendrick represents the 94^th State House District covering Lithonia, Conyers and portions of Stone Mountain in the Georgia General Assembly.  She may be reached at (404) 656-0109 or by email at dkendrick@kendrickforgeorgia.com. You may also find out more information at www.kendrickforgeorgia.com. In 2012, she will be running for the newly renumbered HOUSE DISTRICT 93 which includes Lithonia and Snellville.

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Office Location/Mailing Address:

Suite 404 Coverdell Legislative Office Building,

Atlanta, GA 30334

(404) 656-0109

dkendrick@kendrickforgeorgia.com.

I WISH YOU AND YOURS A CONTINUOUS PROSPEROUS 2012!