This week in the Senate, 2012 Mar. 12-16

This Week in the Senate
March 12 - March 16
Ad Valorem Tax: Level 2 Freeport Exemptions HB 48, sponsored in the Senate by Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock) passed 440 on Monday. HB 48 will add a new definition for "foreign merchandise in transit," and expand the freeport exemption to inventory in storage or on docks awaiting shipment. HB 48
Foreclosed and Vacant Registries Real Property Sen. Jesse Stone (R-Waynesboro) carried HB 110 in the Senate on Monday, the bill passed 33-15. HB 110 will not require local government to have vacant or foreclosed registries, but makes them uniform across the state for easier compliance and limits the amount of fees that can be charged. Vacant and foreclosed properties are used by local governments to identify owners in order for maintenance ordinances to be enforced. HB 110
"Online Clearinghouse Act" Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock) sponsored HB 175 in the Senate Monday. This legislation would establish the "Online Clearinghouse Act," which creates a system to allow local school systems and charter schools to share their computer-based courses with students in other districts and charter schools. The bill passed 40-1. HB 175
Senate Passes House Budget Amendment On Monday, the Senate passed HB 741, which is the House's amended version of the Senate budget. It was sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Jack Hill (R-Reidsville) and passed by a vote of 460. Members of the Senate agreed to immediately transmit the amended budget to the Governor. HB 741
Transfers Functions of the State Personnel Administration HB 642 passed the Senate on Tuesday, 48-2. Carried by Sen. Ronnie Chance (R- Tyrone), HB 642 would abolish the State Personnel Administration and transfer certain functions to the Department of Administrative Services and the Commissioner of Administrative Services. -HB 642
IRS Update Sen. Don Balfour (R-Snellville) carried HB 729, which would update Georgia Code to reflect annual changes in the Federal Internal Revenue Service Code. The bill passed Tuesday, 48-1. - HB 729
Amendments Related to HB 642 Sen. Ronnie Chance (R-Tyrone) carried HB 805, which makes amendments related to HB 642. HB 642 would abolish the State Personnel Administration and transfers many of its functions to the Department of Administrative Services. This legislation will only take affect if HB 642 is enacted and becomes effective on July 1, 2012. This is a companion bill to HB 642 and passed 48-0 on Tuesday. HB 805

GBI to Provide Certain Information to the Sexual Offender Registration Review Board Sen. Renee Unterman (R-Buford) carried HB 895 which would require the GBI to provide certain information to the Sexual Offender Registration Review Board and would transfer all investigators employed by the Sexual Offender Registration Review Board (SORRB) to the GBI on July 1, 2012. The bill passed Tuesday, 46-0. HB 895
Title 20 Clean-Up Bill HB 706 passed the Senate on Wednesday, 39-11, and is being carried in the Senate by Sen. Lindsey Tippins (R- Marietta). Based on the recommendations of the State Education Finance Commission, this bill clarifies the Title 20 code by deleting obsolete, unused, and unnecessary provisions relating to elementary and secondary education. The Title 20 code outlines the role of education in Georgia and needs to be periodically updated to remain modern and relevant for students. HB 706
Primary and Secondary Career Initiatives and Postsecondary Readiness HB 713, sponsored by Sen. Fran Millar (R-Atlanta) passed the Senate on Wednesday, 44-8. This bill would delay the pending requirement that Technical College System of Georgia institutions to accept core curriculum completed by high school students for the purpose of admission until fall 2013. Also delayed until 2013 is the deadline for the Department of Education to develop state models and curriculum framework for career cluster focused programs of study. HB 713
Capital Outlay Funds for Elementary and Secondary Education Sen. Lindsey Tippins (R-Marietta) carried HB 760, which passed the Senate with a vote of 49-0 on Wednesday. This bill redefines the state capital outlay program as it applies to school construction, which is a factor to determine distribution of capital outlay funding for school systems. The Exceptional Growth Program will merge with the regular growth program. Its budget will remain at $300 million. HB 760
Derivative Transactions HB 866 passed the Senate today 52-0. Carried by Sen. Greg Goggans (R-Douglas) this bill adds credit exposure as a counterparty in derivative transactions with any one person or corporation to the lending limits to such persons or corporations for state-chartered banks. HB 866
African American Business Month Sen. Gail Davenport (D-Jonesboro) sponsored a resolution to make the month of March, African American Business Month at the Capitol. In 2001, the African American churches, businesses, and community organizations of Atlanta joined to build the OvergroundRR (ORR) Movement. The ORR Movement now consists of more than 84 churches, 140 businesses, and 40 community organizations, and is growing on a daily basis. SR 1042
Special Olympics at the Capitol Governor Nathan Deal authored a proclamation to commemorate May 15-20th as Special Olympics week at the Capitol. The Special Olympics provides activities for more than 23,000 athletes and operates with more than 13,000 volunteers. Athletes are given the chance to play soccer and tennis and participate in track and field and numerous aquatic sports.

Healthy Kids Georgia Last Saturday, March 10th, marked the 2nd Annual Be Healthy Georgia Day. Lt. Governor Casey Cagle recognized Healthy Kids Georgia in the Senate Chamber on Monday and numerous schools throughout the week. Atlanta Falcon Ovie Mughelli was recognized for the hard work that the Ovie Mughelli Foundation does for all children. Mughelli's foundation strives to empower the youth to take ownership and pride about their lives and the roles that they play in society.
St. Patrick's Day Parade Members Commended Sen. Buddy Carter (R- Pooler) honored members of the St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee for the upcoming 188th St. Patrick's Day Parade in Savannah. The St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee was formed in 1926 and has carried on the tradition for the past 86 years (SR 1124). St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee Chairman Michael A. Foran (SR 1125) and Grand Marshall Timothy "Tim" Ansley (SR 1126) were individually recognized for their hard works and efforts. SR 1124, 1125, 1126
The Honorable James W. Tysinger in Chamber Tuesday, Sen. Fran Millar (R-Atlanta) recognized the Honorable James W. Tysinger for his work in the Senate. Tysinger became the seventh Republican member of the Georgia Senate after joining a small group of Republican candidates in DeKalb County in 1968. Alongside former Senator Robert Bell, they formed a group known as the Tysinger Breakfast Forum. The group is believed to be the oldest, continual public group to discuss political affairs in the State of Georgia. SR 1041
Genocide Prevention and Awareness Month Sen. Judson Hill (R-Marietta) sponsored a resolution to dedicate the month of April to Genocide Prevention and Awareness. The goal of Genocide Prevention and Awareness Month is to educate the public about the history of previous and contemporary genocides, how to advocate against future genocides. The group also focuses its attention on the specter of genocide so that policies, strategies, and programs geared towards combating the evils of genocide can be developed. SR 1081
Brittany Baxter and Others Recognized Sen. Bill Heath (R-Bremen) honored seven year old Brittany Baxter (SR 1097) for fighting her way to freedom after a stranger grabbed her in a local Wal-Mart. Bremen Wal-Mart security and Manager Patrick Eller (SR 1096) and SFC Wade Chaffin (SR 1095) were honored for playing a vital role in apprehending the man who attempted to kidnap Baxter (SR 1096). The Tallapoosa Primary School was honored for teaching Baxter the "Stranger Danger Program" (SR 1098) along with the Bremen Police Department (SR 1099) and Tallapoosa Police Department (SR 1100) for their efforts in arresting the attacker. SR 1095, 1096, 1097, 1098, 1099, 1100
American Red Cross Month Sen. David Shafer (R-Duluth) dedicated March 2012 as American Red Cross Month in recognition of the vital service the American Red Cross contributes to Georgia. The American Red Cross was commended for its humanitarian work throughout the state. SR 1074

Georgia Links Day Sen. Freddie Powell Sims (D-Dawson) authored SR 831, which declares March 14, 2012 as Georgia Links Day at the Capitol. The Georgia Links is an organization dedicated to professional women of color in the United States. Fifteen chapters exist within Georgia and many members watched from the Gallery as Sen. Sims presented the resolution. SR 831
Concrete Day Sen. Jeff Mullis (R-Chickamauga) passed a resolution designating March 14, 2012 as "Concrete Day" at the Capitol in recognition of the importance of the concrete industry to Georgia. Currently 36,000 Georgians rely on the Concrete Industry directly or indirectly for employment and today's value of the Georgia Concrete Industry is $1 billion. SR 1131
150th Anniversary of the Morrill Act In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed into law legislation by US Representative Justin Smith Morrill, which granted federal public land to states in support of their colleges. SR 1090 commemorates this Act and recognizes its importance to the history of the state and the development of the University of Georgia. SR 1090
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