From the upper chamber 2006 February 28

Report for Tuesday, February 28, 2006
The twenty-fourth 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 594-607; Senate Resolutions 1025, 1027, 1030 and 1034; House Bills 363, 1023, 1145, 1170, 1250, 1292, and 1366; and House Resolutions 1081 and 1259 were read for the first time and assigned to their respective Committees.
Following the reports of Standing Committees and the second reading of Bills and Resolutions, the morning roll call was taken.
Lt. Gov. Taylor then recognized Sen. Regina Thomas of the 2nd to lead the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance. Sen. Thomas introduced the Chaplain of the Day, Rev. Thomas Williams of the First African Baptist Church of East Savannah, who led the Senate in the daily devotional.
The Secretary then read SR 1035, and Sen. Thomas of the 2nd and President Pro Tempore Eric Johnson of the 1st were recognized to speak to the resolution, which recognizes and honors the St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee.
Lt. Gov. Taylor recognized U.S. Congressman Nathan Deal to bring greetings to the Senate and to speak in memory of Noah Harris, who was killed in combat in Iraq and who will be honored with a resolution later today.
There were no unanimous consents.
Sen. Steve Thompson of the 33rd took the well on a Point of Personal Privilege to speak to his motion on Day 23 to reconsider SB 456.
From the Upper Chamber Tuesday, February 28, 2006
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Sen. Seth Harp of the 29th took the well on a Point of Personal Privilege to speak to the salaries earned by certain school superintendents and administrators and how they relate to SB 390, which passed on Day 23.
Sen. Steve Henson of the 41st took the well on a Point of Personal Privilege to recognize a group from Tucker High School present in the gallery.
Sen. John Douglas of the 17th took the well on a Point of Personal Privilege to recognize friends present in the gallery.
Sen. Ralph Hudgens of the 47th took the well on a Point of Personal Privilege to speak to the Committee Substitute HB 425, and to clarify which version of the Substitute is correct.
Sen. Steen Miles of the 43rd took the well on a Point of Personal Privilege to recognize a group of senior citizens from DeKalb County.
The Secretary read SR 779, remembering and honoring the life of Noah Harris. Senators Chip Pearson of the 51st, Bill Stephens of the 27th, Douglas and Congressman Deal were recognized to present the resolution to the family of Noah Harris. On June 17, 2005, Noah Harris died in Iraq while returning from a successful combat mission when his Humvee was hit by two rocket-propelled grenades.
Sen. Greg Goggans of the 7th was recognized to introduce Doctor of the Day, Dr. William Clark of Waycross.
Lt. Gov. Taylor recognized Congressman Sanford Bishop, present on the floor of the Senate, to bring greetings to the Senate.
SR 1026, 1029, 1031-1033, 1035 and 1036 were read and adopted.
Sen. David Shafer of the 48th moved that SB 596 be withdrawn from the Health and Human Services Committee and recommitted to the Science and Technology Committee. Without objection, the motion carried.
The Consent Calendar for Privileged Resolutions, consisting of SR 991-1024, was adopted without objection.
The Local Consent Calendar, consisting of SB 577 and 1270, passed by a vote of 42 to 0.
SR 1036, observing February 28, 2006, as Macon Day in Atlanta-Taste of Macon and recognizing the 2006 Cherry Blossom Festival, was read and Sen. Cecil Staton of the 18th was recognized to speak to the resolution, and to introduce the Cherry Blossom Festival Committee.
From the Upper Chamber Tuesday, February 28, 2006
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SB 376 was read and Sen. Douglas took the well to present the bill, which provides exemptions from jury duty to spouses and children of deceased military persons.
The Committee Substitute was adopted by a vote of 40 to 0.
SB 376 passed by substitute by a vote of 49 to 0.
The Secretary then read SB 419. Sen. Harp took the well to speak to the bill, which provides for a method to recover delinquent child support payments from lottery winnings. He yielded to questions from Sen. Thompson of the 33rd.
The Committee Substitute was adopted by a vote of 36 to 0.
SB 419 passed by substitute by a vote of 48 to 0.
SB 427 was then read and Sen. Judson Hill of the 32nd took the well to present the bill, which provides that certain public retirement systems may invest retirement system assets in certain types of alternative investments. He yielded to questions from Sens. Thompson of the 33rd, Ross Tolleson of the 20th, Thomas of the 2nd and Hudgens.
The Committee Substitute was adopted by a vote of 40 to 0.
SB 427 passed by Substitute by a vote of 48 to 3.
Sen. Renee Unterman of the 45th took the well to recognize members of the Georgia Federation of Women's Clubs present in the gallery.
The Secretary then read SB 454, which requires patrol vehicle markings for Georgia State Patrol vehicles, and excludes other vehicles used by the Department of Public Safety from the marking requirements. Sen. Douglas took the well to explain the legislation. He yielded to questions from Sens. Ed Harbison of the 15th and Thompson of 33rd.
SB 454 passed by a vote of 50 to 0.
The Secretary then read SB 522, known as Amy's Law.
Breaking from the calendar for a moment, the Secretary then read SR 951. Sen. Unterman was recognized to speak to the resolution, which honors and remembers Martha Talbot Eaves.
Sen. Bill Hamrick of the 30th took the well to explain SB 522 which, changes certain provisions relating to the disposition of delinquent acts committed by juveniles. Sen. Hamrick also presented Amendment 1, which specifies that for the crime of murder the court could continue commitment until the juvenile's 21st birthday.
Amendment 1 was adopted by a vote of 36 to 0.
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The Committee Substitute was adopted by a vote of 36 to 0.
SB 522 passed by Substitute by a vote of 45 to 0.
SB 413 was read, and Sen. Dan Moody of the 56th took the well to present the bill, which changes certain provisions relating to mandatory education for children between ages six and 16. It provides that an unemancipated minor older than the age of mandatory attendance may not withdraw from enrollment in school without the permission of his or her parent or guardian.
Amendment 1 was read, and Sen. Nancy Schaefer of the 50th took the well to speak to the amendment, which would require parental or legal guardian permission for membership in a specific club or activity. She yielded to questions from Sens. Preston Smith of the 52nd and Valencia Seay of the 34th.
Sen. Thomas of the 2nd requested that there be a ruling on the germaneness of the amendment. Lt. Gov. Taylor ruled that the amendment was germane.
Sen. David Adelman of the 42nd asked to appeal the ruling of the chair to the Parliamentarian. President Pro Tempore Johnson concurred that the amendment was germane.
Amendment 1 was adopted by a vote of 33 to 9.
Amendment 2 was read, and Sen. Brian Kemp of the 46th, took the well to speak to the Amendment, which deletes language in Georgia code dealing with school bus transportation plans. He yielded to questions from Sens. Thompson of the 33rd and Michael Meyer von Bremen of the 12th.
Amendment 2 was adopted by a vote of 48 to 2.
The Committee Substitute was adopted by a vote of 34 to 4.
SB 413 passed by Substitute as amended by a vote of 42 to 9.
Sen. Douglas was joined by Sens. Emanuel Jones of the 10th and Terrell Starr of the 44th to recognize members of Youth Leadership Henry County present in the Gallery.
Sen. Douglas then moved that SB 606 be withdrawn from the Judiciary Committee and recommitted to the Public Safety and Homeland Security. There was no objection.
Majority Leader Williams then moved that the Senate stand adjourned until Wednesday, March 1, at 10:00 a.m. Following the announcements, the motion carried and the Senate adjourned.
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From the Upper Chamber Tuesday, February 28, 2006
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