From the upper chamber 2006 March 9

Report for Thursday, March 9, 2006
The twenty-ninth 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 660-663; Senate Resolutions 1113, 1116, 1118, 1125, 1127 and 1129; House Bills 1027, 1053, 1385, 1399, 1405, 1444, 1494, 1499, 1503, 1504, 1514 and 1515; and House Resolutions 1169 and 1564 were read for the first time and assigned to their respective Committees.
The Secretary read the reports of Standing Committees and second reading of Senate Bills and Resolutions.
Lt. Gov. Taylor then recognized Sen. David Adelman of the 42nd, who led the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance. Sen. Adelman then introduced the Chaplain of the Day, Rabbi Michael Broyde of the Young Israel Congregation of Toco Hills in Atlanta, who led the Senate in the daily devotional.
The morning roll call was taken.
The Secretary read SR 1112, which commends Ms. Juanita Jones Abernathy, widow of Dr. Ralph David Abernathy. Senators Steen Miles of the 43rd, Regina Thomas of the 2nd and several other senators took the rostrum to present the resolution to Ms. Abernathy, honoring her outstanding work in civil rights.
The Secretary read SR 1060, which recognizes Miss Alexa Turpin as the newly crowned Miss Georgia Teen America 2006. Sens. Michael Meyer von Bremen of the 12th and George Hooks of the 14th took the rostrum to introduce Miss Turpin to the Senate.
From the Upper Chamber Thursday, March 9, 2006
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The Secretary read SR 666, which commends Dr. R. Kirby Godsey for his many career accomplishments. Sens. Cecil Staton of the 18th, Seth Harp of the 29th and several other senators took the rostrum to commend Dr. Godsey for his contributions to Mercer University in Macon.
President Pro Tempore Eric Johnson of the 1st took the gavel to preside over the Senate.
The Secretary read SR 1117, which commends Chuanshui Zhong and Zhongnan Wang, First Secretaries of the Economic and Commercial Office at the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C. Sen. Sam Zamarripa of the 36th took the rostrum to introduce members of the delegation to the Senate.
SR 1119-1124, 1126 and 1128 were read and adopted.
Sen. Steve Thompson of the 33rd took the well on a Point of Personal Privilege to thank members of the Senate for their condolences on the recent passing of his father-in-law.
Lt. Gov. Taylor returned to preside over the Senate.
Sen. Staton took the well on a Point of Personal Privilege to speak about the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in Macon. He pointed out a health and fitness initiative that the Sports Hall of Fame recently began.
The Secretary read SR 1103, which commends Earnest Raymond Prather for his career in education. Sen. Emanuel Jones of the 10th took the rostrum to introduce Mr. Prather to the Senate.
The Local Consent Calendar, consisting of SB 334 and 615, and HB 1078, 1079, 1102, 1350, 1363, 1470,1479 and 1480, passed by a vote of 49 to 0.
The Secretary read SR 793, which adopts the Georgia Public Defender Standards Council (GPDSC) standard for removal for cause of a public defender. Sen. Bill Hamrick of the 30th took the well to present the legislation and to urge its passage.
The Committee Substitute to SR 793 was adopted by a vote of 42 to 0.
SR 793 was adopted by substitute by a vote of 46 to 0.
Sen. Dan Moody of the 56th took the well to welcome representatives of the Communities in Schools organization, who were present in the Senate gallery.
The Secretary read SR 954, which provides for the ratification of the initial minimum standard promulgated by the GPDSC in indigent criminal cases. Sen. Hamrick took the well to present the legislation, stating that the resolution was similar to SR 793. He yielded to questions from Sen. Ed Harbison of the 15th.
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SR 954 was adopted by a vote of 48 to 0.
The Secretary read SR 955, which ratifies and approves the initial minimum standard promulgated by the GPDSC for the representation of juveniles in delinquency cases, and regards performance standards in juvenile courts. Sen. Hamrick again took the well to present the legislation and to urge its passage.
SR 955 was adopted by a vote of 44 to 0.
The Secretary read SR 41, which creates the Senate Music Industry Study Committee, and a Committee Amendment. Sen. Robert Brown of the 26th took the well to present the resolution, and to support the Amendment, which simply pushes the Study Committee's sunset date forward one year.
The Committee Amendment was adopted by a vote of 31 to 0.
SR 41 was adopted as amended by a vote of 47 to 0.
The Secretary read SR 818, which creates the Senate Septic Disposal Study Committee, and Amendment 1. Sen. John Bulloch of the 11th took the well to present the resolution, and to support Amendment 1, which adds another member to the study committee.
Amendment 1 was adopted by a vote of 31 to 0.
SR 818 was adopted as amended by a vote of 48 to 0.
The Secretary read SR 34, which proposes a constitutional amendment to alter sales tax provisions for certain educational purposes. Sen. Casey Cagle of the 49th took the well to present the Committee Substitute, and to explain the intention of the proposed amendment.
Sen. Jones took the well to speak against SR 34, stating the move will take local control away from school systems.
Sen. Harp took the well to speak in support of the resolution. He yielded to questions from Sens. Brown and Jones.
Sen. Joseph Carter of the 13th took the well in support of SR 34.
Sen. Brown took the well to speak against SR 34, echoing the sentiments of Sen. Jones. He yielded to questions from Sens. Carter and Thomas of the 2nd.
Sen. Valencia Seay of the 34th took the well to speak against the legislation.
Sen. Cagle took the well to conclude the debate, and to urge support of the resolution.
Sen. Thompson of the 33rd took the well to speak against SR 34.
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The Committee Substitute to SR 34 was adopted by a vote of 36 to 9.
SR 34 failed by a vote of 33 to 21.
The Secretary read SR 673, which recognizes and observes Firefighters' Day at the Capitol. Sen. Brian Kemp of the 46th took the well to recognize and welcome firefighters from across the State present for today's event.
The Secretary read SR 1130, which commends the metro Atlanta chapter of 100 Black Women. Sen. Gloria Butler of the 55th took the well along with several other senators to welcome representatives of the group to the Senate.
Lt. Gov. Taylor recognized Sen. Kasim Reed of the 35th, who took the rostrum to welcome members of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity to the Senate.
The Secretary read SR 838, which urges support for full state funding of state and/or local efforts to clean hazardous waste sites. Sen. Chip Pearson of the 51st took the well to present the resolution on behalf of Sen. Nancy Schaefer of the 50th. Sen. Pearson yielded to questions from Sen. Chip Rogers of the 21st.
SR 838 was adopted by a vote of 51 to 0.
The Secretary read SB 503, which changes code provisions on the Georgia Public Defender Standards Council related to legal services to indigent persons. Amendment 1 by Sen. Kemp was also read. Sen. Hamrick took the well to explain the Committee Substitute to the bill.
Sen. Kemp took the well to explain Amendment 1. He urged support of the amendment, which requires the issuance of an employee ID card for public defenders.
Amendment 1 was adopted by a vote of 34 to 0.
The Committee Substitute was adopted as amended by a vote of 39 to 0.
SB 503 passed by substitute by a vote of 53 to 0.
The Secretary read SB 495, which will increase the fees and license requirements for blast hole drilling. Sen. Jeff Mullis of the 53rd took the well to present the bill, which will further regulate the blasting industry for public safety reasons. He yielded to questions from Sen. Hamrick.
SB 495 passed by a vote of 49 to 0.
The Secretary read SB 573, which provides that the seller of a property may withdraw escrow funds in excess of one percent of the purchase price of a condominium in order to fund construction and development of the condominium property. Sen. Carter took the well to present the legislation, and he yielded to questions from Sen. Thompson of the 33rd.
From the Upper Chamber Thursday, March 9, 2006
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SB 573 passed by a vote of 51 to 1.
The Secretary read SB 570, which authorizes certified optometrists to provide an attestation in support of a medical exemption for restrictions to limitations on reducing light transmission or increasing light reflectance on windows of motor vehicles. Sen. Carter took the well to present the legislation.
SB 570 passed by a vote of 51 to 0.
The Secretary read SB 177, which is a housekeeping measure concerning the State Road and Tollway Authority. Sen. Horacena Tate of the 38th took the well to present the Committee Substitute to the bill, which sends certain State-collected toll funds directly to the Teachers Retirement System. She yielded to questions from Sen. Thompson of the 33rd.
The Committee Substitute was adopted by a vote of 35 to 0.
SB 177 passed by substitute by a vote of 55 to 0.
The Secretary read SB 420, which is known as the Care of a Grandchild Act. SB 420 provides for the creation, authorization, procedure, revocation and termination of a power of attorney from a parent to a grandparent for the care of a grandchild. Sen. Renee Unterman of the 45th took the well to present the Committee Substitute. She yielded to questions from Sens. Miles, Butler and Jack Hill of the 4th.
Sen. Kemp took the well to speak in favor of SB 420.
Sen. Harp also took the well in support of the legislation. He yielded to questions from Sen. Thompson of the 33rd.
The Committee Substitute was adopted by a vote of 41 to 0.
SB 420 passed by substitute by a vote of 56 to 0.
The Secretary read SB 592, which provides for the sale of certain state-owned surplus property by fixed price. Sen. Johnny Grant of the 25th took the well to present the bill and to urge its passage.
SB 592 passed by vote of 56 to 0.
The Secretary read SB 480, which is known as the Georgia Qualified Medication Aides Act. The legislation provides for the certification of qualified medication aides and the delegation of certain nursing tasks. Sen. Unterman took the well to present the Committee Substitute to the bill.
The Committee Substitute was adopted by vote of 38 to 0.
From the Upper Chamber Thursday, March 9, 2006
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SB 480 passed by substitute by a vote of 54 to 0. The Secretary read SB 606, which would prohibit disruptive conduct at funerals or memorial services. The bill also provides a criminal penalty for the disruption of a funeral. Sen. John Douglas of the 17th took the well to present the bill, and he gave examples of offensive conduct at funerals throughout the country. He also spoke in support of Amendments 1, 2 and 3. Sen. Miles took the well to voice her opposition to the bill. She yielded to questions from Sen. Douglas. Sen. John Wiles of the 37th took the well in support of SB 606 and the accompanying amendments. Sen. Brown took the well to speak in support the legislation. Sen. Ross Tolleson of the 20th took the well to present Amendments 2 and 3, which increases the "buffer zone" around a funeral or memorial service from 100 feet to 500 feet. Sen. Douglas took the well to conclude his discussion of SB 606. He yielded to questions from Sens. Thomas of the 2nd and Miles. Amendment 1 was adopted by a vote of 50 to 0. Amendment 2 was adopted by vote of 48 to 1. Amendment 3 was adopted by a vote of 45 to 0. SB 606 passed as amended by a vote of 55 to 0. After the announcements, Majority Leader Tommie Williams of the 19th moved that the Senate stand adjourned until 9:00 a.m., Monday, March 13.
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From the Upper Chamber Thursday, March 9, 2006
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