From the upper chamber 2007 February 14

Wednesday, February 14, 2007
The twentieth day of the 2007 legislative session was called to order by Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle.
Senator Don Balfour of the 9th stated that the journal had been read and was found to be correct.
Senate Bills 154-165, Senate Resolutions 261, 263 and 270, and House Bills 106, 112, 341, 345, 349, 362 and 371 were read for the first time and assigned to committees. The clerk of the Secretary then read the reports of standing committees and second readers.
After the morning roll call, Lt. Gov. Cagle recognized Sen. Nancy Schaefer of the 50th, who took the rostrum to lead the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance. Sen. Schaefer introduced the Chaplain of the Day, Pastor Mike Griffin of Liberty Baptist Church in Hartwell, who led the Senate in the daily devotional.
Sen. George Hooks of the 14th took the well to speak about the history of the annual Senate photograph.
Sen. Jim Whitehead, Sr. of the 24th took the well on a Point of Personal Privilege to ask Senators to sign a resolution honoring the life of U.S. Congressman Charlie Norwood.
Majority Leader Tommie Williams of the 19th took the well on a Point of Personal Privilege to introduce F. Stone Workman, Georgia director of the USDA's rural development division.
SR 259, 260, 262, 264, 265, 267-269 and 271 were read and adopted.
Sergeant-at-Arms Lorenzo Wallace escorted Senators Ross Tolleson of the 20th and Seth Harp of the 29th and their guests, members of the Georgia Council on American Indian Concerns, to the rostrum.
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The Secretary read SR 250, which recognizes and commends the Council on American Indian Concerns. Sen. Tolleson lauded the Council members for their work on behalf of American Indians in Georgia.
Sergeant-at-Arms Wallace then escorted Senators Harp and Bill Hamrick of the 30th and their guests, members of the Georgia Board of Regents, to the rostrum.
The Secretary read SR 275, which recognizes and commends the State Board of Regents on its 75th anniversary. Sen. Harp took the rostrum to commend the Board for its work.
The Secretary read SR 77, which commends Living Way Christian Academy and recognizes the observance of Living Way Christian Academy Day at the Capitol.
Sen. Bill Heath of the 31st took the well to recognize members of the Living Way Christian Academy, who were seated in the Senate gallery.
The Senate Local Consent Calendar, consisting of SB 52, 211 and 212, was adopted by a vote of 47 to 0.
The Secretary read SB 23, which provides that the State Board of Pardons and Paroles may inquire into and consider the legality of a prisoner's presence in the U.S. when making parole decisions.
Sen. John Douglas of the 17th took the well to present the Committee Substitute. He stressed that the legislation merely gives the Board the option to check a prisoner's immigration status.
The Secretary read Amendment 1 by Sen. Emanuel Jones of the 10th.
Sen. Jones took the well to present his amendment, which adds provisions to the bill concerning the sentences of those convicted of aggravated child molestation. He yielded to questions from Sens. John Wiles of the 37th, Eric Johnson of the 1st and Steve Thompson of the 33rd.
Sen. Douglas made a parliamentary inquiry as to whether Amendment 1 was germane. Lt. Gov. Cagle ruled Amendment 1 to be non-germane.
Sen. Jones then moved to withdraw Amendment 1.
The Committee Substitute to SB 23 was adopted by a vote of 37 to 1.
SB 23 passed by substitute by a vote of 50 to 2.
The Secretary read SB 48, which provides that after a convicted person has remained in local custody for a period of 90 days, the sheriff may petition a sentencing court to
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determine whether the convicted person should be transferred to the custody of the commissioner of corrections.
Sen. Joseph Carter of 13th took the well to explain the Committee Substitute. He yielded to questions from Sen. Ed Harbison of the 15th.
The Committee Substitute was adopted by a vote of 36 to 0.
SB 48 passed by substitute by a vote of 52 to 0.
SB 62 was read. The legislation provides certain conditions for requesting criminal history records from the Georgia Crime Information Center, allowing fingerprints to be transmitted electronically.
Sen. Jeff Mullis of the 53rd took the well to explain the bill.
SB 62 passed by a vote of 53 to 0.
The Secretary read SB 72, which would authorize local school boards to employ administrative managers in lieu of or in addition to assistant principals.
Amendment 1 was also read, which adds a minor language change to the bill.
Majority Leader Williams took the well to present SB 72 and Amendment 1.
Amendment 1 to the Committee Substitute was adopted by a vote of 35 to 0.
The Committee Substitute was adopted as amended by a vote of 31 to 0.
SB 72 passed by substitute by a vote of 49 to 4.
The Secretary read SR 20, which would propose an amendment to the Georgia Constitution, so as to provide for limitations on state government taxation and expenditures.
Sen. Chip Rogers of the 21st took the well to present the Committee Substitute. He yielded to questions from Sens. Kasim Reed of the 35th, Mitch Seabaugh of the 28th and Heath.
Sen. Nan Orrock of the 36th took the well to speak against SR 20. She yielded to questions from Sens. Rogers, Reed and Regina Thomas of the 2nd.
Sen. Thompson of the 33rd took the well to speak on to SR 20.
Sen. Wiles took the well to express his support of SR 20.
Sen. Doug Stoner of the 6th took the well to speak to SR 20.
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Sen. Reed took the well to speak against SR 20. He yielded to questions from Sens. Seabaugh and Thompson of the 33rd.
Sen. Rogers took the well to conclude the debate on SR 20. The Committee Substitute to SR 20 was adopted by a vote of 30 to 15. The Committee Substitute to SR 20 was lost by a vote of 34 to 21. Sen. Seabaugh served notice of reconsideration of SR 20. Lt. Gov. Cagle stated that the motion would be the first item of business on the next day of session. Sen. Greg Goggans of the 7th then moved to suspend Senate Rule 3-1.28, so that SB 172 could be read for the first time and assigned to committee. There was no objection, and SB 172 was first read. Following the announcements, Majority Leader Williams moved that the Senate stand in recess until 5:00 p.m., and then, pursuant to House Resolution 183, stand adjourned until 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, February 20.
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