From the upper chamber 2006 February 23

Report for Thursday, February 23, 2006
The twenty-third day of the 2006 legislative session was called to order by Lieutenant Governor Mark Taylor.
Senator Don Balfour of the 9th stated that the journal had been read and was found to be correct.
Senate Bills 584-593 and House Bills 376, 833, 881, 986, 1040, 1097, 1177, 1190, 1321, 1325, 1363 and 1375 were read for the first time and assigned to their respective Committees.
Following the reports of Standing Committees and second reading of Senate Bills and Resolutions, the morning roll call was taken.
Lt. Gov. Taylor then recognized Sen. Gloria Butler of the 55th to lead the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance. Sen. Butler introduced the Chaplain of the Day, Pastor Kerwin Lee of Berean Christian Church in Stone Mountain, who led the Senate in the daily devotional.
Lt. Gov. Taylor then recognized former state Senator and current U.S. Congressman Tom Price, who took the rostrum and briefly addressed the Senate.
Sen. Steen Miles of the 43rd took the well on a Point of Personal Privilege to announce that today is Disability Day at the Capitol.
The Secretary read SR 858, which commends Bishop Robert Lee Evans, Sr. Sen. Emanuel Jones of the 10th took the rostrum to introduce Bishop Evans and his family to the Senate.
The Secretary read SR 701, which honors Ray Crawford, former head of the Georgia Building Authority (GBA), for his life of public service to the State. Senators Johnny Grant
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of the 25th, Jim Whitehead, Sr. of the 24th and Regina Thomas of the 2nd took the rostrum to speak in memory of Crawford. They also welcomed members of the Crawford family to the Senate.
The Secretary read SR 863, which recognizes dental hygienists in Georgia, and declares February 26, as Dental Hygienists' Appreciation Day. Sen. Butler took the rostrum to welcome several dental hygienists to the Senate.
SR 962-989 were read and adopted.
The Local Consent Calendar, consisting of HB 1324 and 1328, passed by a vote of 50 to 0.
Sen. Ronnie Chance of the 16th moved that the Senate agree to the House Substitute to SB 390, which would require all local school systems to spend a minimum of 65 percent of all funding on direct classroom expenditures. He took the well to explain the House changes to the legislation. Sen. Chance yielded to questions from Sens. Michael Meyer von Bremen of the 12th, Dan Moody of the 56th, Robert Brown of the 26th, Steve Thompson of the 33rd, Valencia Seay of the 34th, Thomas of the 2nd, Bill Stephens of the 27th, J.B. Powell of the 23rd and Ross Tolleson of the 20th.
The Senate agreed to the House Substitute to SB 390 by a vote of 33 to 19.
The Secretary read SB 445, which moves administrative assignment of the Civil War Commission from the Department of Natural Resources to the Department of Economic Development. Sen. Jeff Mullis of the 53rd took the well to explain the bill and to urge its passage. He yielded to questions from Sen. Brown.
SB 445 passed by a vote of 52 to 1.
Sen. Thompson of the 33rd asked that Senate Rule 3-1.2 be suspended to allow the first reading of a bill or resolution after the day's first reading of Senate Bills and Resolutions. There was no objection, and SR 1082, a road-naming resolution, was read for the first time and assigned to Committee.
The Secretary read SB 456, which makes it unlawful for cell phone service providers to disseminate private user information, such as cell phone numbers, without the expressed consent of that subscriber. Sen. John Wiles of the 37th took the well to present the Committee Substitute and to urge its passage. He yielded to questions from Sens. Rene Unterman of the 45th, Thomas of the 2nd, Seth Harp of the 29th, Thompson of the 33rd and Ed Harbison of the 15th.
The Secretary read Amendment 1, which would exempt properly filed court subpoenas for cell phone records from the new restrictions on access to private cell phone records. Sen. Harp took the well to urge the adoption of his Amendment.
Amendment 1 was adopted by a vote of 40 to 0.
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The Committee Substitute to SB 456 was adopted as amended by a vote of 43 to 0.
SB 456 passed by Substitute by a vote of 55 to 1.
The Secretary read SB 229, known as the Animal Fighting Act. The legislation will prohibit animal fighting or baiting, and provide new fines and punishments for those who participate in such activities. Sen. Chip Rogers of the 21st took the well to present the Committee Substitute to the bill. He yielded to questions from Sens. Harp, Thompson of the 33rd, Meyer von Bremen, Unterman and Tommie Williams of the 19th.
The Secretary read Amendment 1, which would add language to also prohibit cock fighting in Georgia. Sen. Miles took the well to explain the provisions of her Amendment to the dog-fighting bill.
Amendment 1 was adopted by a vote of 32 to 12.
The Committee Substitute to SB 229 was adopted as amended by a vote of 40 to 2.
SB 229 passed by Substitute by a vote of 52 to 4.
Sen. Thompson of the 33rd moved to reconsider SB 456. Lt. Gov. Taylor stated the motion to reconsider will be taken up at the beginning of legislative day 24.
The Secretary read SB 316, which changes provisions in Georgia code relating to the crime of electronically furnishing obscene material to minors. The legislation makes it illegal to provide a minor with prepaid access cards or passwords to Internet sites that contain material deemed harmful to minors. Sen. Chance took the well to present the Committee Substitute to the bill. He yielded to questions from Sen. Horacena Tate of the 38th.
The Committee Substitute to SB 316 was adopted by a vote of 35 to 0.
SB 316 passed by Substitute by a vote of 47 to 0.
The Secretary read SB 455, which provides penalties for information brokers who invade a citizen's privacy by gaining access to or releasing private telephone records. Sen. David Shafer of the 48th took the well to present the bill, which is a companion bill to SB 456. He yielded to questions from Sens. Harbison, Thomas of the 2nd and Meyer von Bremen. Sen. Shafer also spoke in favor of Amendment 1, which cleans up some of the bill's language.
Sen. Thompson of the 33rd took the well to address SB 455, and potential unforeseen consequences of both SB 455 and 456.
Amendment 1 was adopted by a vote of 35 to 0.
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Sen. Harp then took the well to explain Amendment 2, which would exempt properly filed court subpoenas for cell phone records from the new restrictions on the release of private phone records.
Amendment 2 was adopted by a vote of 44 to 0. The Committee Substitute to SB 455 was adopted as amended by a vote of 43 to 0.
SB 455 passed by Substitute by a vote of 52 to 1.
The Secretary read SB 530, which changes the provisions and conditions of liens on private property. Sen. Dan Weber of the 40th took the well to present the bill and an accompanying Amendment.
Amendment 1 was adopted by a vote of 38 to 0.
The Committee Substitute to SB 530 was adopted as amended by a vote of 40 to 0.
SB 530 passed by Substitute by a vote of 51 to 0.
The Secretary read SB 472, which makes changes to the state retirement system with regard to employee bonuses. Sen. Rogers took the well to present the bill, which provides for the establishment of a meritorious award program for public officers and employees.
SB 472 passed by a vote of 49 to 2.
The Secretary read SB 481, which change provisions for minimum motor vehicles liability insurance for Georgia military personnel stationed in other states, so that they can purchase insurance in other states in order to maintain their Georgia license photos. Sen. John Douglas of the 17th took the well to present the bill and to urge its passage. He yielded to questions from Sen. Miles.
SB 481 passed by a vote of 54 to 0.
The Secretary read SB 547, which changes code provisions for real estate brokers and real estate appraisers. Sen. Mitch Seabaugh of the 28th took the well to present the bill, which makes minor changes to Georgia real estate law.
The Committee Substitute to SB 547 was adopted by a vote of 43 to 0.
SB 547 passed by Substitute by a vote of 53 to 0.
The Secretary read SB 502, which is a comprehensive reform of laws concerning the operation of motor vehicles while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Sen. Bill Hamrick of the 30th took the well to explain the revisions to Georgia DUI laws.
The Committee Substitute to SB 502 was adopted by a vote of 40 to 0.
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SB 502 passed by Substitute by a vote of 51 to 1. After the announcements, Majority Leader Williams moved the Senate stand adjourned until 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, February 28.
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