Senate first readers 2015 March 4

SENATE FIRST READERS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2015 TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATIVE DAY

SB 198. By Senator Thompson of the 5th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to professions and businesses, so as to provide for the regulation of the retail sale of marijuana; to provide for a short title; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for definitions; to provide for the regulatory authority of the Department of Revenue; to provide for licensing requirements and restrictions; to provide for regulation of cultivation, production, and retail sale of marijuana; to prohibit certain acts; to provide for penalties; to provide for related matters; to provide for a contingent effective date; to provide for automatic repeal under certain conditions; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Non-Civil Committee.

SB 199.

By Senators Jeffares of the 17th, Mullis of the 53rd, Jones of the 25th, Dugan of the 30th, Kennedy of the 18th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to primaries and elections generally, so as to provide a definition; to prohibit certain activities within close proximity to polling places; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Ethics Committee.

SB 200.

By Senators Jackson of the 2nd, Fort of the 39th, Rhett of the 33rd and Harbison of the 15th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state government general provisions, so as to provide for a minimum wage for state contractors and state employees; to provide for definitions; to provide for an increase in the minimum wage; to provide for annual minimum wage increases to match the rising cost of living; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Insurance and Labor Committee.

SB 201. By Senators Jackson of the 2nd, Rhett of the 33rd and Henson of the 41st:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to local government, so as to provide for authority to operate vehicles for hire equipped to transport passengers in wheelchairs throughout this state; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations (General) Committee.

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SR 6.

By Senator Thompson of the 5th:

A RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Georgia so as to authorize the General Assembly to provide by law for the legalization and regulation of marijuana; to permit persons 21 years of age or older to purchase limited amounts of marijuana for personal use; to provide that the fees and tax proceeds from the sale of such marijuana be dedicated equally between education and transportation infrastructure purposes; to provide that such funds shall not lapse; to provide for submission of this amendment for ratification or rejection; and for other purposes

Referred to Judiciary Non-Civil Committee.

SR 409. By Senator Gooch of the 51st:

A RESOLUTION commending the United States Air Force Academy Georgia Parents Club; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 410.

By Senators Gooch of the 51st, Williams of the 19th, Mullis of the 53rd, Beach of the 21st, Williams of the 27th and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing Mr. Frank L. Danchetz and dedicating a road in his honor; and for other purposes.

Referred to Transportation Committee.

SR 411.

By Senators Gooch of the 51st, Williams of the 19th, Mullis of the 53rd, Beach of the 21st and Ginn of the 47th:

A RESOLUTION recognizing Mr. Paul V. Liles, Jr., and dedicating a bridge in his honor; and for other purposes.

Referred to Transportation Committee.

SR 412.

By Senators Jones II of the 22nd, Beach of the 21st, Stone of the 23rd, Jackson of the 24th, Rhett of the 33rd and others:

A RESOLUTION creating the Senate Cyber Challenge Study Committee; and for other purposes.

Referred to Science and Technology Committee.

SR 413. By Senator Jackson of the 2nd:

A RESOLUTION commending Elder James E. Taylor; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

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SR 414.

By Senators Orrock of the 36th, Miller of the 49th, Henson of the 41st, Tate of the 38th, Butler of the 55th and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing March 25, 2015, as Greek Independence Day and congratulating Georgios Panagiotidis upon being named Consul of the Greek Government in Atlanta; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 415.

By Senators Jones of the 10th, Butler of the 55th, Orrock of the 36th, Harbison of the 15th and Jackson of the 2nd:

A RESOLUTION commending the many contributions Caribbean Americans have made to the State of Georgia and recognizing March 19, 2015, as Caribbean American Legislative Day at the state capitol; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 416.

By Senators Jones of the 10th, Butler of the 55th, Orrock of the 36th, Harbison of the 15th and Jackson of the 2nd:

A RESOLUTION commending Wadsworth Magnet School for High Achievers and congratulating it upon its many achievements; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 417.

By Senators Jones of the 10th, Butler of the 55th, Orrock of the 36th, Harbison of the 15th and Jackson of the 2nd:

A RESOLUTION commending Dr. Jamye Coleman Williams; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 418. By Senator Unterman of the 45th:

A RESOLUTION honoring the life and memory of Linda Womack; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

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HOUSE FIRST READERS IN SENATE WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2015
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATIVE DAY

HB 71.
HB 82. HB 147. HB 183. HB 190.

By Representatives Tanner of the 9th, Golick of the 40th, Caldwell of the 131st, Atwood of the 179th, Oliver of the 82nd and others:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 17 of Title 17 and Chapter 9 of Title 42 of the O.C.G.A., relating to the Crime Victims' Bill of Rights and pardons and paroles, respectively, so as to provide for input and transparency relative to the granting of a pardon or commutation of a death sentence to a life sentence; to change provisions relating to notifications by the State Board of Pardons and Paroles; to change provisions relating to the State Board of Pardons and Paroles procedure and information gathering when considering the grant of pardon, clemency, or commutation of a death sentence; to provide for exemptions from disclosure; to amend Code Section 50-13-9.1 of the O.C.G.A., relating to variance or waiver to rules, so as to correct an incorrect reference; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
By Representative Kidd of the 145th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 12-3-402 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Oconee River Greenway Authority, so as to allow certain members to appoint a designee; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
By Representatives Powell of the 32nd, Knight of the 130th, Peake of the 141st and Hatchett of the 150th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles, so as to provide for an initial two-year registration period for certain vehicles; to provide for certain fees; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
By Representatives Knight of the 130th, Petrea of the 166th, Peake of the 141st, Dempsey of the 13th, Randall of the 142nd and others:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 13 of Chapter 7 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to private home care providers, so as to revise the definition of private home care provider to include contractual arrangements with licensed independent contractors; to revise exempt services; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
By Representatives Golick of the 40th, Smith of the 134th, Maxwell of the 17th and Powell of the 32nd:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to insurance generally, so as to provide insurance requirements for transportation network companies and their drivers; to provide for definitions; to provide for minimum liability limits; to provide for certain disclosures; to provide for certain notifications; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

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HB 192.
HB 195. HB 252. HB 315. HB 478.

By Representatives Powell of the 32nd and Taylor of the 79th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 80 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding counties, municipal corporations, and other governmental entities, so as to provide that elected officials of counties, municipal corporations, school districts, and consolidated governments shall be reimbursed for expenses only through the submission of expense reimbursement requests; to prohibit an elected official of a county, municipal corporation, school district, or consolidated government from being issued or authorized to use a government purchasing card or government credit card; to provide for the promulgation of certain policies; to provide for access to certain records; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
By Representatives Cooper of the 43rd, Randall of the 142nd, Kelley of the 16th, Dempsey of the 13th, Rynders of the 152nd and others:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 4 of Title 26 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to pharmacists and pharmacies, so as to provide for substitutions of interchangeable biological products; to define certain terms; to provide for requirements and limitations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
By Representatives Caldwell of the 20th, Welch of the 110th, Pak of the 108th, Ramsey of the 72nd, Hatchett of the 150th and others:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend various titles of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated so as to enact the "J. Calvin Hill, Jr., Act"; to repeal obsolete and outdated provisions; to repeal provisions which have been deemed unconstitutional; to update obsolete and outdated terminology; to repeal certain provisions relating to preclearance requirements; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
By Representatives Nimmer of the 178th, Coomer of the 14th and Dickey of the 140th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 4 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to technical and adult education, so as to change the name of the Technical College System of Georgia to the Georgia Career College System; to change the name of the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia to the State Board of the Georgia Career College System; to amend various provisions of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated to reflect such name change; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
By Representative Parrish of the 158th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act creating a Board of Commissioners of Candler County, approved March 23, 1933 (Ga. L. 1933, p. 430), as amended, particularly by an Act approved March 28, 1985 (Ga. L. 1985, p. 4975), so as to provide for staggered terms for the commissioners; to provide for currently serving commissioners; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

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HB 479.
HB 489. HB 490. HB 493. HB 495.

By Representatives Dickey of the 140th and Peake of the 141st:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to create the City of Forsyth Convention and Visitors Bureau Authority as a public body corporate and politic, a political subdivision of the state, and a public corporation, to have the responsibility and authority to promote tourism, trade, and conventions in the City of Forsyth, Georgia; to provide for creation and organization of the authority; to provide for a purpose; to provide for powers, duties, and authority; to provide for a board of directors, membership, terms of office, and removal from office; to provide for an executive director and his or her duties and powers; to provide for meetings; to limit liability; to provide for a budget and finances; to provide for oversight; to provide that the city not be bound; to provide definitions; to provide a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
By Representatives Ballinger of the 23rd, Carson of the 46th, Caldwell of the 20th, Cantrell of the 22nd and Turner of the 21st:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act entitled "An Act to create the State Court of Cherokee County," approved April 15, 1996 (Ga. L. 1996, p. 4427), as amended, so as to provide for the appointment of solicitor-general investigators; to provide for qualifications; to provide for powers; to provide for a chief investigator; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
By Representatives Ballinger of the 23rd, Carson of the 46th, Caldwell of the 20th, Cantrell of the 22nd and Turner of the 21st:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to provide for the appointment of district attorney investigators in the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit; to provide for qualifications; to provide for powers; to provide for a chief investigator; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
By Representatives Jones of the 167th and Atwood of the 179th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to authorize the City of Brunswick to exercise all redevelopment and other powers under Article IX, Section II, Paragraph VII(b) of the Constitution and Chapter 44 of Title 36 of the O.C.G.A., the "Redevelopment Powers Law," as amended; to provide for a referendum; to provide effective dates; to provide for automatic repeal under certain circumstances; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
By Representatives Ramsey of the 72nd, Mabra of the 63rd, Yates of the 73rd, Stover of the 71st and Fludd of the 64th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to authorize the City of Peachtree City to exercise all redevelopment and other powers under Article IX, Section II, Paragraph VII(b) of the Constitution and Chapter 44 of Title 36 of the O.C.G.A., the "Redevelopment Powers Law," as amended; to provide for a referendum; to provide effective dates; to provide for automatic repeal under certain circumstances; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

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HOUSE FIRST READERS IN SENATE WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2015
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATIVE DAY

HB 71.
HB 82. HB 147. HB 183. HB 190.

By Representatives Tanner of the 9th, Golick of the 40th, Caldwell of the 131st, Atwood of the 179th, Oliver of the 82nd and others:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 17 of Title 17 and Chapter 9 of Title 42 of the O.C.G.A., relating to the Crime Victims' Bill of Rights and pardons and paroles, respectively, so as to provide for input and transparency relative to the granting of a pardon or commutation of a death sentence to a life sentence; to change provisions relating to notifications by the State Board of Pardons and Paroles; to change provisions relating to the State Board of Pardons and Paroles procedure and information gathering when considering the grant of pardon, clemency, or commutation of a death sentence; to provide for exemptions from disclosure; to amend Code Section 50-13-9.1 of the O.C.G.A., relating to variance or waiver to rules, so as to correct an incorrect reference; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
By Representative Kidd of the 145th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 12-3-402 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Oconee River Greenway Authority, so as to allow certain members to appoint a designee; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
By Representatives Powell of the 32nd, Knight of the 130th, Peake of the 141st and Hatchett of the 150th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles, so as to provide for an initial two-year registration period for certain vehicles; to provide for certain fees; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
By Representatives Knight of the 130th, Petrea of the 166th, Peake of the 141st, Dempsey of the 13th, Randall of the 142nd and others:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 13 of Chapter 7 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to private home care providers, so as to revise the definition of private home care provider to include contractual arrangements with licensed independent contractors; to revise exempt services; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
By Representatives Golick of the 40th, Smith of the 134th, Maxwell of the 17th and Powell of the 32nd:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to insurance generally, so as to provide insurance requirements for transportation network companies and their drivers; to provide for definitions; to provide for minimum liability limits; to provide for certain disclosures; to provide for certain notifications; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

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HB 192.
HB 195. HB 252. HB 315. HB 478.

By Representatives Powell of the 32nd and Taylor of the 79th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 80 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding counties, municipal corporations, and other governmental entities, so as to provide that elected officials of counties, municipal corporations, school districts, and consolidated governments shall be reimbursed for expenses only through the submission of expense reimbursement requests; to prohibit an elected official of a county, municipal corporation, school district, or consolidated government from being issued or authorized to use a government purchasing card or government credit card; to provide for the promulgation of certain policies; to provide for access to certain records; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
By Representatives Cooper of the 43rd, Randall of the 142nd, Kelley of the 16th, Dempsey of the 13th, Rynders of the 152nd and others:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 4 of Title 26 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to pharmacists and pharmacies, so as to provide for substitutions of interchangeable biological products; to define certain terms; to provide for requirements and limitations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
By Representatives Caldwell of the 20th, Welch of the 110th, Pak of the 108th, Ramsey of the 72nd, Hatchett of the 150th and others:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend various titles of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated so as to enact the "J. Calvin Hill, Jr., Act"; to repeal obsolete and outdated provisions; to repeal provisions which have been deemed unconstitutional; to update obsolete and outdated terminology; to repeal certain provisions relating to preclearance requirements; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
By Representatives Nimmer of the 178th, Coomer of the 14th and Dickey of the 140th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 4 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to technical and adult education, so as to change the name of the Technical College System of Georgia to the Georgia Career College System; to change the name of the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia to the State Board of the Georgia Career College System; to amend various provisions of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated to reflect such name change; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
By Representative Parrish of the 158th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act creating a Board of Commissioners of Candler County, approved March 23, 1933 (Ga. L. 1933, p. 430), as amended, particularly by an Act approved March 28, 1985 (Ga. L. 1985, p. 4975), so as to provide for staggered terms for the commissioners; to provide for currently serving commissioners; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

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HB 479.
HB 489. HB 490. HB 493. HB 495.

By Representatives Dickey of the 140th and Peake of the 141st:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to create the City of Forsyth Convention and Visitors Bureau Authority as a public body corporate and politic, a political subdivision of the state, and a public corporation, to have the responsibility and authority to promote tourism, trade, and conventions in the City of Forsyth, Georgia; to provide for creation and organization of the authority; to provide for a purpose; to provide for powers, duties, and authority; to provide for a board of directors, membership, terms of office, and removal from office; to provide for an executive director and his or her duties and powers; to provide for meetings; to limit liability; to provide for a budget and finances; to provide for oversight; to provide that the city not be bound; to provide definitions; to provide a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
By Representatives Ballinger of the 23rd, Carson of the 46th, Caldwell of the 20th, Cantrell of the 22nd and Turner of the 21st:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act entitled "An Act to create the State Court of Cherokee County," approved April 15, 1996 (Ga. L. 1996, p. 4427), as amended, so as to provide for the appointment of solicitor-general investigators; to provide for qualifications; to provide for powers; to provide for a chief investigator; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
By Representatives Ballinger of the 23rd, Carson of the 46th, Caldwell of the 20th, Cantrell of the 22nd and Turner of the 21st:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to provide for the appointment of district attorney investigators in the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit; to provide for qualifications; to provide for powers; to provide for a chief investigator; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
By Representatives Jones of the 167th and Atwood of the 179th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to authorize the City of Brunswick to exercise all redevelopment and other powers under Article IX, Section II, Paragraph VII(b) of the Constitution and Chapter 44 of Title 36 of the O.C.G.A., the "Redevelopment Powers Law," as amended; to provide for a referendum; to provide effective dates; to provide for automatic repeal under certain circumstances; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
By Representatives Ramsey of the 72nd, Mabra of the 63rd, Yates of the 73rd, Stover of the 71st and Fludd of the 64th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to authorize the City of Peachtree City to exercise all redevelopment and other powers under Article IX, Section II, Paragraph VII(b) of the Constitution and Chapter 44 of Title 36 of the O.C.G.A., the "Redevelopment Powers Law," as amended; to provide for a referendum; to provide effective dates; to provide for automatic repeal under certain circumstances; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

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