From the upper chamber 2007 February 2

Report for Friday, February 2, 2007
The fourteenth day of the 2007 legislative session was called to order by Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle.
Senator Don Thomas of the 54th stated that the journal had been read and was found to be correct.
Senate Bills 99-102, Senate Resolutions 139 and 140, House Bills 93, 103, 190, 206 and House Resolution 21 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 asked the Senate to pause for a moment of silence in honor of Sen. Greg Goggans of the 7th, whose mother is ill.
Lt. Gov. Cagle recognized Sen. Valencia Seay of the 34th, who took the rostrum to lead the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance. Sen. Seay introduced the Chaplain of the Day, Rev. James Milner of the Chapel of Christian Love in Atlanta, who led the Senate in the daily devotional.
There were no unanimous consents.
Sen. Joseph Carter of the 13th took the well on a Point of Personal Privilege to remind Senators of the deadline for submitting applications for local assistance grants.
Sen. Seth Harp of the 29th took the well on a Point of Personal Privilege to announce the birth of his grandson, Jack Martin Shannon.
Sen. Valencia Seay of the 34th took the well on a Point of Personal Privilege to announce that today is National Go Red for Women Day.
From the Upper Chamber Friday, February 2, 2007
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Sen. Michael Meyer von Bremen of the 12th took the well on a Point of Personal Privilege to remember former Georgia Supreme Court Justice Jesse G. Bowles, who passed away recently.
Sen. Gloria Butler of the 55th took the well on a Point of Personal Privilege to thank Senators for their kind gestures during her recent illness.
Sen. Ronnie Chance of the 16th took the rostrum to introduce the Doctor of the Day, Dr. Joseph Saulsbury of Atlanta.
Sergeant-at-Arms Lorenzo Wallace escorted Senators Chip Pearson of the 51st, George Hooks of the 14th and Jeff Mullis of the 53rd and their guest, outgoing Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development Craig Lesser, to the rostrum.
The Secretary read SR 101, which recognizes and commends Mr. Lesser on the occasion of his retirement as Commissioner of Economic Development.
The Senators commended Commissioner Lesser for his efforts to build Georgia's business and tourism industries.
SR 137 and 141-153 were then read and adopted.
The Secretary read SR 138, which commends Senate pages Elizabeth Lockhart, Stephanie Lockhart and Angela Tyson for their efforts. Sen. Mullis took the rostrum to present the resolution.
The Secretary then read SB 44, which will provide for fire officer development training through the Georgia Fire Academy.
Sen. John Douglas of the 17th took the well to recognize several firefighters seated in the Senate gallery.
Sen. Mullis then took the well to urge support of SB 44.
A Committee Amendment was adopted by a vote of 41 to 0.
SB 44 passed as amended by a vote of 54 to 0.
The Secretary read the Committee Substitute to SB 45, which would establish a task force to develop a plan for education on chronic kidney disease.
Sen. Renee Unterman of the 45th took the well to present the bill on behalf of Sen. Thomas of the 54th. The legislation will create the Chronic Kidney Disease Task Force.
The Committee Substitute to SB 45 was adopted by a vote of 45 to 0.
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SB 45 passed by substitute by a vote of 55 to 0.
SR 68 was read. The resolution would rename the Georgia Department of Transportation Long County Maintenance Headquarters as the William H. "Sonny Boy" Skipper Maintenance Headquarters.
Majority Leader Tommie Williams of the 19th took the well to urge support of the resolution.
SR 68 was adopted by a vote of 54 to 1.
The Secretary read SB 68, which is known as the Career Academies Act of 2007. The legislation would make way for the funding of five new career academies in Georgia.
Sen. Dan Weber of the 40th took the well to present the bill, and explain how the new funding will be disbursed. He yielded to questions from Sen. Ralph Hudgens of the 47th.
Sen. Steve Thompson of the 33rd took the well to voice his support of SB 68.
SB 68 passed by a vote of 52 to 3.
The Secretary read the Committee Substitute to SB 39, which is known as the Charter Systems Act. The bill will authorize the State Board of Education to enter into a charter with a local board of education to establish a local system as a charter system, and establish a Charter Advisory Committee to make recommendations to the State Board.
Sen. Dan Weber of the 40th took the well to present the bill, and explain the provisions of the Charter System model. He yielded to questions from Sens. Thompson of the 33rd, Ed Harbison of the 15th, Vincent Fort of the 39th, Kasim Reed of the 35th and Jack Hill of the 4th.
Sen. Fort took the well to express his concerns about SB 39 with regard to class size and fair dismissal requirements.
The Committee Substitute to SB 39 was adopted by a vote of 42 to 0.
SB 39 passed by substitute by a vote of 53 to 2.
Following the announcements, Majority Leader Williams moved that pursuant to SR 126, the Senate stand adjourned until 10:00 a.m., Thursday, February 8.
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From the Upper Chamber Friday, February 2, 2007
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