From the upper chamber 2006 March 6

Report for Monday, March 6, 2006
The twenty-seventh 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 638-655; Senate Resolutions 1077, 1078, 1081, 1082, 1085, 1087, 1089 and 1090-1095; and House Bills 801, 847, 935, 1014, 1018, 1105, 1162, 1187, 1253, 1257, 1275, 1288, 1308, 1310, 1319, 1326, 1358, 1449, 1450, 1457 and 1469 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. J.B. Powell of the 23rd, who led the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance. Sen. Powell then introduced the Chaplain of the Day, Dr. L. Gordon Robinson of Hillcrest Baptist Church in Augusta, who led the Senate in the daily devotional.
Lt. Gov. Taylor then recognized Senators Steen Miles of the 43rd and Valencia Seay of the 34th, who took the rostrum to introduce members of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority to the Senate.
SR 1079, 1080, 1083, 1084, 1086 and 1088 were read and adopted.
The Secretary read SR 854, commending Ms. Myrna May White for her accomplishments, and Sens. Seay and Terrell Starr of the 44th took the rostrum to introduce Ms. White to the Senate.
From the Upper Chamber Monday, March 6, 2006
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The Local Consent Calendar, consisting of SB 278, 299, 362, 552, 553, 608, 609, 616; and HB 733, 817, 1003, 1077, 1118, 1119, 1132, 1271, 1289, 1117 and 1122, passed by a vote of 49 to 0.
Sen. Seth Harp of the 29th asked that Senate rule 3-1.2 be suspended to allow the first reading of SR 1105. There was no objection, and the legislation was assigned to committee.
Sen. David Shafer of the 48th moved to withdraw SB 596 from the Senate Rules Committee, and recommit the bill to the Science and Technology Committee. There was no objection.
Sen. John Wiles of the 37th then took the rostrum to honor some of his constituents who were present in the Senate gallery, including the families of Kimberly Boyd and Antoine Holt.
The General Consent Calendar for Commemorative Resolutions, consisting of SR 433, 434, 848 and 849, passed by a vote of 49 to 0.
The Secretary read HB 1182, which allows for a sales and use tax exemption for certain tourist attractions. Sen. Casey Cagle of the 49th took the well to present the legislation, and to urge its passage. He yielded to questions from Sen. John Douglas of the 17th.
HB 1182 passed by a vote of 41 to 2.
SR 1098, which is relative to the adjournment schedule of the Senate, was read and adopted. Majority Leader Tommie Williams of the 19th took the well to discuss the upcoming Senate schedule.
The Secretary read SB 568, which provides for the charter, incorporation, boundaries, elections and powers of a proposed City of Dunwoody. Sen. Dan Weber of the 40th then asked that SB 568 be moved to the foot of today's calendar, and there was no objection.
The Secretary read SB 500, which is known as the 2006 Georgia Accuracy in Elections Act. Sen. Bill Stephens of the 27th took the well to present the Committee Substitute, which provides for a pilot program to test the feasibility of a permanent paper record of votes in all elections. He yielded to questions from Sens. Robert Brown of the 26th, Regina Thomas of the 2nd, Ross Tolleson of the 20th and George Hooks of the 14th.
Sen. Brown took the well to support the legislation with some minor changes to the precincts chosen for the pilot program.
The Committee Substitute to SB 500 was adopted by a vote of 43 to 0.
Sen. David Adelman of the 42nd then took the rostrum to introduce the Doctor of the Day, Dr. Stephen Holbrook of Atlanta.
SB 500 passed by substitute by a vote of 51 to 0.
From the Upper Chamber Monday, March 6, 2006
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The Secretary read SB 569, which changes provisions concerning the removal of a new municipal corporation. Sen. Dan Weber of the 40th took the well to present the Committee Substitute, which concerns the transfer of parks, police and fire stations and other local properties when a new municipality is created. He yielded to questions from Sen. Vincent Fort of the 39th.
Sen. Fort took the well to speak to the legislation, and to the recent creation of the City of Sandy Springs and its effect on Fulton County.
The Committee Substitute to SB 569 was adopted by a vote of 34 to 15.
SB 569 passed by substitute by a vote of 34 to 15.
The Secretary read SR 865, which urges electric utilities to consider building new nuclear power plants in Georgia. Sen. Mitch Seabaugh of the 28th took the well to present the legislation, citing a current energy crisis in the U.S. and in Georgia.
Sen. Harp took the well to support the resolution.
Sen. Thomas of the 2nd took the well to speak against SR 865, citing a recent Atlanta Journal-Constitution editorial piece on the subject of utilities.
Sen. Steve Henson of the 41st took the well to support SR 865, stating the move would benefit Georgia consumers.
SR 865 was adopted by a vote of 43 to 6.
The Senate recessed for lunch and reconvened at 1:00 p.m.
The Secretary read SB 531, which changes certain provisions regarding motor vehicles liability insurance concerning uninsured motorist coverage. Sen. Chip Rogers of the 21st took the well to speak to the bill and to urge its passage.
The Committee Substitute to SB 531 was adopted by a vote of 31 to 0.
SB 531 passed by substitute by a vote of 41 to 0.
The Secretary then read SB 533, which makes revisions to statutory living will forms. Sen. John Bulloch of the 11th took the well to present the bill, stating it clarifies certain provisions of living will forms. He yielded to questions from Sen. Adelman.
Sen. Harp took the well to speak in support of the legislation.
The Committee Substitute to SB 533 was adopted by a vote of 32 to 0.
SB 533 passed by substitute by a vote of 44 to 0.
From the Upper Chamber Monday, March 6, 2006
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The Secretary read SB 534, which makes changes to the Trustee's Compensation schedule of conservators. Sen. Harp took the well to explain the legislation, which corrects discrepancies in the current code concerning guardians of trust funds. He yielded to questions from Sens. Bulloch and Thomas of the 2nd.
The Committee Substitute to SB 534 was adopted by a vote of 37 to 0.
SB 534 passed by substitute by a vote of 43 to 0.
The Secretary read SB 542, which amends signature requirements for durable power of attorney relating to health care situations. Sen. Judson Hill of the 32nd took the well to urge support of the legislation.
The Committee Substitute to SB 542 was adopted by a vote of 41 to 0.
SB 542 passed by substitute by a vote of 48 to 0.
Sen. Balfour moved the Senate adopt the Conference Committee Report on HB 246, which provides for the ordering and dispensing of drug orders and refills electronically.
Sen. Balfour took the well to explain the changes in the Conference Committee Report.
The Conference Committee Report on HB 246 was adopted by a vote of 46 to 2, which constitutes final passage of the bill.
The Secretary read SB 563, which increases the maximum per diem allowance for court bailiffs in the State. Sen. Harp took the well to present the bill, which increases the allowed payment to court bailiffs from $70 per day to $100 per day.
SB 563 passed by a vote of 50 to 0.
The Secretary then read SB 581, which would allow the Georgia Public Safety Training Center to provide technical training for emergency medical personnel. Sen. Jeff Mullis of the 53rd took the well to present the bill and to urge its passage.
SB 581 passed by a vote of 48 to 0.
The Secretary read SB 556, which makes administrative changes to certain state budget programs. Sen. Jack Hill of the 4th took the well to present the legislation, which is a housekeeping bill concerning the transfer of duties of the former Legislative Budget Office.
SB 556 passed by a vote of 47 to 1.
After the announcements, Majority Leader Williams moved that pursuant to SR 1098, the Senate stand adjourned until 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, March 8.
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