From the upper chamber 2006 March 8

Report for Wednesday, March 8, 2006
The twenty-eighth 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 656-659; Senate Resolution 1114; House Bills 491, 831, 988, 1012, 1075, 1083, 1092, 1164, 1224, 1252, 1364, 1373, 1380, 1394, 1404, 1474, 1475, 1476, 1477, 1478, 1479, 1480 and 1481; and House Resolutions 413 and 1302 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. Ralph Hudgens of the 47th to lead the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance. Sen. Hudgens recognized seniors from the Athens Christian School present in the gallery and introduced the Chaplain of the Day, Rev. Jim Carpenter of Compass Community Church of Athens, who led the Senate in the daily devotional.
Sen. Jeff Mullis of the 53rd was recognized to introduce a delegation representing the Albanian Municipal Association present in the gallery.
Lt. Gov. Taylor then recognized and commended Jim Ledbetter, director of the Carl Vinson Institute, who will be retiring this year.
There were no unanimous consents.
Sen. Judson Hill of the 32nd took the well on a Point of Personal Privilege to thank the Senate for their thoughts and prayers on the death of his grandfather.
From the Upper Chamber Wednesday, March 8, 2006
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SR 1107, commemorating the 150th anniversary of the founding of the City of Lithonia, was then read. Sen. Steen Miles of the 43rd was joined by the DeKalb County delegation to speak to the resolution and introduce the group.
Privileged Resolutions 1096-1103, 1105, 1106, and 1108-1112 were read and adopted.
Sen. Jim Whitehead, Sr. of the 24th took the well to introduce the Doctor of the Day, Dr. Greg Cook of Martinez.
The Local Consent Calendar, consisting of SB 593, 626-630 and 633 and HB 532, 829, 1198, 1297, 1298, 1432, 1449 and 145o passed by a vote of 45 to 0.
The Secretary then read SR 769, which urges the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia to consider the creation of a program granting undergraduate course credits to entering freshman students who have successfully completed the curriculum and examinations leading to an international baccalaureate diploma. President Pro Tempore Eric Johnson of the 1st took the well to present the resolution.
SR 769 was adopted by a vote 45 to 0.
SR 1025 was read and Sen. Brian Kemp of the 46th took the well to speak to the resolution, which proposes an amendment to the Constitution to create specially designed license plates to a state department or commission for the purposes of supporting and promoting the equine industry in this state. He yielded to questions from Sen. Regina Thomas of the 2nd.
SR 1025 was adopted by a vote of 47 to 1.
The Secretary then read SB 510 and the Committee Substitute. Sen. Chip Pearson of the 51st took the well to present the bill, which would allow landowners to build a singlefamily dwelling within the additional buffer area, so long as certain criteria are met and approved by the Environmental Protection Division (EPD). The exemptions for single-family dwellings apply to standards for buffers along streams, water supply reservoirs, and standards for land use activities and densities. It also directs the EPD to grant variances for land-disturbing activities so long as certain criteria are met, and allows local governments to develop storm-water management ordinances in lieu of complying with minimum standards set by EPD. The variances and storm-water management ordinances apply only to buffers along streams and water supply reservoirs in small water supply watersheds. He yielded to questions from Sen. Kemp and Mullis.
Sen. Seth Harp of the 29th took the well to speak to his reasons for voting against the bill.
The Committee Substitute was adopted by a vote of 38 to 0.
SB 510 passed by substitute by a vote of 33 to 16.
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SB 64 and its Committee Substitute were read. Sen. John Douglas of the 17th took the well to speak to the bill, which repeals the requirement that officers enforcing traffic laws have a blue light on the roof of their vehicles. He yielded to questions from Sen. Joseph Carter of the 13th.
The Committee Substitute was adopted by a vote of 37 to 0.
SB 64 passed by substitute by a vote of 47 to 2.
SR 653 was read. Without objection, it was adopted and Sen. Bill Heath of the 31st took the rostrum to speak to the resolution, which recognizes and commends the Bremen High School Varsity Competitive Cheerleading Squad.
SR 693, commending the cast and crew of the Bremen High School one-act competition play, "Mark Twain in the Garden of Eden," for being named Georgia Class A State Champions, was read. Without objection, it was adopted and Sen. Heath spoke to the resolution and introduced the group.
The Secretary then read SB 349, which requires that parents and guardians of students are provided with information about meningococcal meningitis and its associated vaccine or vaccines at the beginning of every school year. Sen. Don Thomas of the 54th took the well to present the bill.
SB 349 passed by a vote of 48 to 0.
The Secretary then read SR 963, which commends the Georgia peanut industry and recognizes March 8, 2006, as Peanut Butter and Jelly Day at the Capitol. Without objection, it was adopted. Sen. John Bulloch of the 11th took the rostrum to speak to the resolution and introduce the group.
The Secretary then read SB 380, which makes certain provisions for an agricultural commodity commission for equines. Sen. Kemp took the well to present the bill.
The Committee Substitute was adopted by a vote of 42 to 0.
SB 380 passed by substitute by a vote of 51 to 0.
SR 874 was read and Sen. Kemp was recognized to speak to the resolution commending E. Lanier "Lanny" Finch for the vital role that he played in leadership and his deep personal commitment to the welfare of the citizens of Georgia.
Sen. Jack Hill of the 4th moved that the Senate agree to the Conference Committee Report on HB 1026, the Fiscal Year 2006 Amended Budget. He then took the well to explain the changes. He yielded to questions from Sen. Thomas of the 2nd.
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On the motion, the vote was 50 to 0, and the Senate agreed to the Conference Committee Report on HB 1026.
Upon returning from a short lunch break, SB 529 and its Committee Substitute and amendments were read. Sen. Chip Rogers of the 21st took the well to present the legislation, which enacts the Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act. The bill provides for comprehensive regulation of persons who are not lawfully present in the U.S. Sen. Rogers also spoke to the amendments.
Sen. Johnson took the well to speak to the bill.
Amendment 5 was read.
Sen. Emanuel Jones of the 10th took the well to speak to Amendment 1, which provides that certain property used in conjunction with producing a false identification document shall be contraband.
Sen. Sam Zamarripa of the 36th took the well to speak to Amendment 2, which creates an Immigration Board of Advisors for the purposes of monitoring the implementation of this Act. He yielded to questions from Sens. John Wiles of the 37th, Jones, and Vincent Fort of the 39th.
Sen. Bulloch took the well to present Amendment 3, which changes the implementation dates for certain portions of the bill. He yielded to questions from Sen. Zamarripa.
Sen. Kasim Reed of the 35th took the well to speak to Amendment 5, which strengthens penalties for employers to employ any person unless he or she provides proper identification. It also, among other things, provides for an Unlawful Employment Practices Division of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Sen. Hooks took the well to speak in support of Amendment 3.
Sen. Robert Brown of the 26th took the well to speak in support of Amendment 5.
Sen. Gloria Butler of the 55th took the well to oppose the legislation.
Sen. Zamarripa returned to the well to oppose to the bill.
Sen. Fort took the well to also oppose the bill.
Sen. Rogers returned to the well to close the debate on the bill. He also spoke against Amendment 5.
Amendment 1 was adopted by a vote of 47 to 2.
Sen. Zamarripa moved that Amendment 2 be voted on with the yeas and nays vote.
From the Upper Chamber Wednesday, March 8, 2006
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Amendment 2 failed by vote of 20 to 33.
Amendment 3 failed by a vote of 23 to 30.
Amendment 4 was adopted by a vote 42 to 2.
Sen. Brown moved that Amendment 5 be voted on with the yeas and nays vote.
Amendment 5 failed by vote of 13 to 40.
The Committee Substitute was adopted as amended by a vote of 42 to 1.
SB 529 passed by substitute as amended by a vote of 40 to 13.
The Secretary then read SB 505, which exempts certain exclusive agents of licensed mortgage brokers or lenders from the requirement of obtaining a mortgage broker or mortgage lender license. Sen. Balfour took the well to present the bill. He yielded to questions from Sen. Steve Henson of the 41st.
The Committee Substitute was adopted by a vote of 35 to 0.
SB 505 passed by substitute by a vote of 45 to 3.
Sen. Cecil Staton of the 18th moved that SR 682 be tabled. Without objection, the motion carried.
Sen. Staton then moved that SB 414 be tabled. Without objection, the motion carried.
SB 523 was read and Sen. Johnny Grant of the 25th took the well to present the bill, which creates specially designed Gold Star license plates for family members of service members killed in action.
SB 523 passed by a vote of 52 to 0.
SB 539 was read and Sen. Douglas took the well to present the bill, which creates specially designed license plates supporting the Global War on Terrorism and Operation Enduring Freedom. He yielded to questions from Sens. Hudgens and Hooks.
SB 539 passed by a vote of 47 to 2.
SB 538 and its Committee Substitute were read, and Sen. Douglas took the well to present the bill, which creates specially designed license plates supporting the Global War on Terrorism and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The Committee Substitute was adopted by a vote of 36 to 0.
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SB 538 passed by substitute by a vote of 46 to 1. The Secretary then read SB 562, which creates the Georgia Higher Education Facilities Authority. Sen. Dan Weber of the 40th took the well to present the bill and yielded to questions from Sen. Thomas of the 2nd. SB 562 passed by a vote of 48 to 3. Sen. Balfour moved that SB 422 be dropped to the foot of the calendar. Without objection, the motion carried. SB 506 was read and Sen. Balfour took the well to present the bill, which provides for a set amount for mandatory fees for HOPE scholarships and HOPE grants for eligible public postsecondary institutions created after January 1, 2004. He yielded to questions from Sens. Thomas of the 2nd, Wiles and Hill of the 4th. SB 506 passed by a vote of 49 to 1. The Secretary then read SB 561, which provides HOPE scholarships and grants for students in professional level programs. Sen. Harp took the well to present the bill and yielded to questions from Sen. Michael Meyer von Bremen of the 12th. SB 506 passed by a vote of 51 to 0. Majority Leader Tommie Williams of the 19th then moved that the Senate stand adjourned until Thursday, March 9, at 9:00 a.m. Following the announcements, the Senate stood adjourned.
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From the Upper Chamber Wednesday, March 8, 2006
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