From the upper chamber 2006 March 20

Report for Monday, March 20, 2006
The thirty-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.
House Bills 1448, 1570, 1585, 1610 and 1611-1617 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 afternoon roll call was taken.
Lt. Gov. Taylor then recognized Sen. Curt Thompson of the 5th to lead the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance. Sen. Thompson then introduced the Chaplain of the Day, Imam Suleyman Eris of the Istanbul Cultural Center of Norcross, who led the Senate in the daily devotional.
Sen. Nancy Schaefer of the 50th was then recognized to introduce the Doctor of the Day, Dr. Marc Chetta of Clarksville.
There were no unanimous consents.
Sen. Steve Thompson of the 33rd took the well on a Point of Personal Privilege to speak to the history of privileged resolutions in the Senate and the Senate's reconsideration of SR 1189, commending Jane Fonda.
Sen. Regina Thomas of the 2nd took the well on a Point of Personal Privilege to commend two Senate pages from Savannah.
Sen. Vincent Fort of the 39th took the well on a Point of Personal Privilege to express his dismay that SB 347, hate crime legislation, did not make it out of the Senate Rules Committee.
From the Upper Chamber Monday, March 20, 2006
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Lt. Gov. Taylor was joined by Senators Michael Meyer von Bremen of the 12th and John Douglas of the 17th to present SR 1226, commending Lieutenant Colonel Twala Denise Mathis.
The Consent Calendar for Privileged Resolutions, consisting of SR 1205-1233, was read and adopted.
Sen. Joseph Carter of the 13th moved that HB 1193 be withdrawn from the Senate Judiciary Committee and recommitted to the Senate Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee. Without objection, it was recommitted.
SR 1026 was read, and Sen. Casey Cagle of the 49th was recognized to speak to the resolution, which commends the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training program.
Secretary of the Senate Bob Ewing announced that there had been a filed objection to HB 595 on the Local Consent Calendar and that it would be placed on the Local Contested Calendar.
The Local Consent Calendar, consisting of SB 659, 660, 666-678 and 680; and HB 1457, 1494, 1519, 1521, 1522, 1558 and 1584, was adopted by a vote of 50 to 0.
HB 595, providing for a homestead exemption from certain DeKalb County ad valorem taxes for county purposes in an amount equal to the amount by which the current year assessed value of a homestead exceeds the base year assessed value of such homestead, was placed on the Local Contested Calendar.
The Committee Amendment was adopted by a vote of 46 to 0.
HB 595 passed as amended by a vote of 47 to 4.
Sen. Thompson of the 5th moved that HB 595 be immediately transmitted to the House. Without objection, the motion carried.
Sen. Cagle moved that HB 1272, 1014 and 1310 be engrossed. Without objection, the bills were engrossed.
HB 425 was read, and Sen. Ralph Hudgens of the 47th took the well to explain the bill. The legislation permits insurers to provide food or refreshments under certain circumstances to current or prospective clients during sales presentations and seminars provided that no insurance or annuity applications or contracts are offered or accepted at such presentations or seminars. He yielded to questions from Sens. Thomas of the 2nd and Thompson of the 33rd.
The Committee Substitute was adopted by a vote of 38 to 0.
From the Upper Chamber Monday, March 20, 2006
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Sens. George Hooks of the 14th, Terrell Starr of the 44th and Ed Harbison of the 15th asked for unanimous consent to abstain from the vote citing Senate Rule 5-1.8.
HB 425 passed by substitute by a vote of 45 to 3.
The Secretary read HB 1272, which provides for an exemption regarding sales to nonprofit volunteer health clinics. Sen. Chip Pearson of the 51st took the well to present the bill.
HB 1272 passed by a vote of 53 to 0.
HB 1257 was then read, and Sen. David Shafer of the 48th took the well to present the bill, which exempts certain change of address filings by insurance agents, subagents, counselors and adjusters from a fee. He also spoke to Amendment 1, which corrects a typographical error in the bill. He yielded to questions from Sen. Thompson of the 33rd.
Amendment 1 was adopted by a vote of 37 to 0.
The Committee Substitute was adopted by a vote of 41 to 0.
HB 1257 passed by substitute as amended by a vote of 52 to 0.
The Secretary read HB 1066. Sen. Renee Unterman of the 45th took well to present the bill, which changes certain provisions relating to a system for screening newborns for certain metabolic and genetic disorders.
The Committee Substitute was adopted by a vote of 30 to 0.
HB 1066 passed by substitute as amended by a vote of 53 to 0.
SB 1291 was read, and Sen. Seth Harp of the 29th took the well to present the bill, which exempts the regulation of automobile clubs. He yielded to questions from Sens. Thompson of the 33rd and Fort.
HB 1291 passed by a vote of 47 to 1.
The Secretary read HB 594, which changes the basis of the bondsmen's fees. Sen. Bill Hamrick of the 30th took the well to explain the bill.
HB 594 passed by a vote of 51 to 0.
HB 1014 was read, and Sen. John Wiles of the 37th took the well to present the bill, which extends the automatic repeal date for exemptions from sales and use tax for overhead materials of a government contractor. He yielded to questions from Sen. Thompson of the 33rd.
HB 1014 passed by a vote of 51 to 0.
From the Upper Chamber Monday, March 20, 2006
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The Secretary then read HB 1310. Sen. Cagle took the well to present the bill, which provides for the comprehensive revision of provisions regarding revenue and taxation.
HB 1014 passed by a vote of 51 to 0. Following the announcements, Majority Leader Tommie Williams of the 19th moved that the Senate stand adjourned until Wednesday, March 22, at 10:00 a.m. Following the announcements, the Senate then adjourned.
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From the Upper Chamber Monday, March 20, 2006
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