From the upper chamber 2006 March 1

Report for Wednesday, March 1, 2006
The twenty-fifth day of the 2006 legislative session was called to order by Lieutenant Governor Mark Taylor.
Senator Don Thomas of the 54th stated that the journal had been read and was found to be correct.
Senate Bills 608-618; Senate Resolutions 1040 and 1048; House Bills 343, 513, 1126, 1217, 1219, 1272 and 1304 and House Resolution 1395 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. John Wiles of the 37th, who introduced several members of the Boy Scouts to lead the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance. Sen. Brian Kemp of the 46th then introduced the Chaplain of the Day, Dr. John Appleton of the First Baptist Church of Athens, who led the Senate in the daily devotional.
The Secretary read SR 1051, which recognizes March 1, 2006, as Boy Scouts Day in Georgia. Sen. Wiles took the rostrum to introduce several Boy Scouts and Scout leaders present in the Senate chamber.
Sen. Wiles then introduced the Doctor of the Day, Dr. Elizabeth Street of Marietta.
Sen. Emanuel Jones of the 10th took the well on a Point of Personal Privilege to discuss a documentary film he recently saw on public schools.
The Consent Calendar for Privileged Resolutions, consisting of SR 1037-1039, 10411047 and 1049-1060, was unanimously adopted.
From the Upper Chamber Wednesday, March 1, 2006
Page 1 of 4

Sen. Kasim Reed of the 35th moved to withdraw SR 871 from the Finance Committee and recommit the legislation to the State and Local Governmental Operations Committee. There was no objection.
The Local Consent Calendar, consisting of SB 589, and HB 1334 and 1124, passed by a vote of 44 to 0.
The Secretary read HB 1107, which would create an income tax credit for those who donate real property for conservation purposes. Sen. Casey Cagle of the 49th took the well to present the legislation, and to urge its passage.
HB 1107 passed by a vote of 49 to 0.
The Secretary read SR 834, which commends Dr. Yvonne S. Butler. Senators Steen Miles of the 43rd, Valencia Seay of the 34th, Gloria Butler of the 55th and Regina Thomas of the 2nd took the rostrum to welcome Dr. Butler to the Senate.
The Secretary read SB 484, which declares the City of Colquitt as Georgia's First Mural City. Sen. John Bulloch of the 11th took the well to present the bill. He yielded to questions from Sens. Joseph Carter of the 13th, Greg Goggans of the 7th, Jeff Mullis of the 53rd, Steve Henson of the 41st and Jim Whitehead, Sr. of the 24th.
SB 484 passed by a vote of 40 to 3.
Lt. Gov. Taylor then recognized six-time Mr. Universe winner Lee Haney, who took the rostrum to speak to the Senate.
The Secretary read SB 504, which provides that certain state entities shall sell or make long-term leases of property. Sen. Don Balfour of the 9th took the well to present the Committee Substitute, and to explain the most recent changes to the bill. He yielded to questions from Sen. Steve Thompson of the 33rd.
The Committee Substitute to SB 504 was adopted by a vote of 39 to 0.
SB 504 passed by Substitute by a vote of 48 to 0.
The Secretary read SB 535, which would require title pawnbrokers to register with the Governor's Office of Consumer Affairs, and make other changes to the requirements of a motor vehicle title pawn transaction. Sen. Bill Hamrick of the 30th took the well to present the Committee Substitute. He yielded to questions from Sen. Thompson of the 33rd.
Sen. Miles took the well to speak to SB 535, and to urge its passage.
The Secretary read Amendment 1, which makes minor language changes to the bill concerning interest rates on title loans. Sen. Jones took the well to ask for favorable support of his Amendment. He yielded to questions from Sens. Robert Brown of the 26th, John
From the Upper Chamber Wednesday, March 1, 2006
Page 2 of 4

Douglas of the 17th, Kemp, Sam Zamarripa of the 36th, Ralph Hudgens of the 47th and ReneeUnterman of the 45th.
Sen. Thompson of the 33rd took the well to speak to his Amendment 2, which provides for further regulation of the title pawn industry. He yielded to questions from Sens. Jones and Miles.
Sen. Seth Harp of the 29th took the well to speak in support of SB 535 and Amendment 2.
President Pro Tempore Eric Johnson of the 1st took the well to speak to SB 535. He urged the Senate to vote against Amendment 1 and for Amendment 2.
Amendment 1 failed by a vote of 14 to 37.
Amendment 2 was adopted by a vote of 50 to 2.
The Committee Substitute to SB 535 was adopted as amended by a vote of 49 to 0.
SB 535 passed by substitute by a vote of 48 to 4.
The Secretary read SR 1061, which is relative to the adjournment of the General Assembly. Majority Leader Tommie Williams of the 19th took the well to speak to the resolution. The resolution was adopted.
Sen. Doug Stoner of the 6th moved that the Senate agree to the House Substitute to SB 138, which is a local bill concerning the membership requirements for the Cobb CountyMarietta Water Authority. Sen. Stoner then took the well to speak to his motion, and he yielded to questions from Sen. Unterman.
Sen. Thompson of the 33rd took the well to speak to the motion, and he yielded to question from Sen. Horacena Tate of the 38th.
The Senate agreed to the House Substitute to SB 138 by a vote of 49 to 0.
The Secretary read SB 423, which is known as the Ray Biddie/Gene Mullis Act. The legislation adds new provisions to the licensing requirements for patient care dialysis technicians. Sen. Unterman took the well to present the Committee Substitute to the bill.
Sen. Mullis then took the well to speak to the legislation, which is named in part for his father Gene Mullis and longtime friend Ray Biddie.
The Committee Substitute to SB 423 was adopted by a vote of 42 to 0.
SB 423 passed by Substitute by a vote of 50 to 0.
From the Upper Chamber Wednesday, March 1, 2006
Page 3 of 4

The Secretary read SB 370, which provides for the issuance of a special Georgia agriculture license plate. Sen. Goggans took the well to present the bill, and to display a graphic of the new Georgia agriculture tag.
SB 370 passed by a vote of 47 to 0. The Secretary read SB 515, which makes basic changes to the Quality Basic Education (QBE) Act. Sen. Dan Moody of the 56th took the well to present the bill, which also expands the grades of eligibility for remedial education to include grades six, seven and eight. The Committee Substitute to SB 515 was adopted by a vote of 36 to 0. SB 515 passed by Substitute by a vote of 46 to 0. After the announcements, Majority Leader Williams moved that the Senate stand adjourned until 9:00 a.m., Thursday, March 2.
# # # #
From the Upper Chamber Wednesday, March 1, 2006
Page 4 of 4