Thursday, March 1, 2007 
The twenty-seventh day of the 2007 legislative session was called to order by Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle. 
Majority Leader Tommie Williams of the 19th stated that the journal had been read and was found to be correct. 
Senate Bills 262-284, Senate Resolutions 370, 375, 377, 385-388 and 397, House Bills 30, 107, 127, 182, 224, 225, 274, 311, 312, 315-317, 330, 354, 375, 386, 443, 511, 537-539 and 543 and House Resolution 14 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. 
Senator Williams moved that the rules be suspended to introduce legislation. The Secretary then read SB 283, which was assigned to committee. 
The morning roll call was suspended. Sen. Robert Brown of the 26th took the rostrum to lead the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance. Sen. Brown introduced the Chaplain of the Day, Rev. Walter Glover of Greater Zion Hill Baptist Church in Macon, who led the Senate in the daily devotional. 
Sen. Williams took the well to encourage Senators to work on their legislation during the Senate's upcoming recess. 
SR 371-374, 376, 378, 380-384, 389-396 were read and adopted. 
Sergeant-at-Arms Lorenzo Wallace escorted Sen. Cecil Staton of the 18th and his guest to the rostrum. The Secretary read SR 67, which commends President William Underwood of Mercer University for his leadership. Sen. Staton took the rostrum to introduce Mr. Underwood, who then addressed the Senate. 
From the Upper Chamber Thursday, March 1, 2007 
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 The Senate Local Consent Calendar, consisting of SB 46, 147, 149 and 231, was adopted by a vote of 48 to 0. 
The Secretary read SR 263, which urges Congress to provide funding for the commuter rail connecting Athens to Atlanta. Sen. Don Balfour of the 9th took the well to introduce the resolution. 
Sen. David Adelman of the 42nd took the well to encourage the passage of the resolution. 
SR 263 passed by a vote of 47 to 0. 
Sergeant-at-Arms Wallace escorted Sen. Brown and his guests to the rostrum. The Secretary read SR 300, which celebrates the life of music industry pioneer Phil Walden of Macon. Sen. Brown took the rostrum to speak to the resolution and introduce Mr. Walden's brother, Alan Walden, who thanked the Senate for their recognition of his brother's accomplishments. 
The Secretary read SB 157, which provides for grants to those converting to E-85 gasoline for retail sale. Sen. Ross Tolleson of the 20th took the well to present the bill and the accompanying Floor Amendment. 
The Floor Amendment was adopted by a vote of 33 to 2. 
SB 157 passed by substitute by a vote of 50 t0 1. 
The Senate recognized Sen. Valencia Seay of the 34th on the occasion of her birthday. 
The Secretary read SB 91, which increases the punishment of attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle. Sen. Chip Pearson of the 51st took the well to present the Committee Substitute. He yielded to questions from Senators Steve Henson of the 41st, Bill Heath of the 31st, Michael Meyer von Bremen of the 12th, John Douglas of the 17th and Joseph Carter of the 13th. 
The Committee Substitute was adopted by a vote of 28 to 1. 
SB 91 passed by substitute by a vote of 50 to 0. 
The Secretary read SR 350, which recognizes the Georgia Peach Festival and the 2006 Peach Queens. Sen. George Hooks of the 14th took the well to speak to the resolution. Sen. Tolleson then introduced the Peach Queens to the Senate. 
The Secretary read SB 98, which modernizes existing law in regards to the sexual exploitation of children over the Internet, and grants subpoena power to the GBI. Sen. Bill Hamrick of the 30th took the well to explain the Committee Substitute. 
The Committee Substitute was adopted by a vote of 40 to 1. 
From the Upper Chamber Thursday, March 1, 2007 
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 SB 98 passed by substitute by a vote of 49 to 0. 
The Secretary read SB 100, which increases the fine for knowingly manufacturing or selling a false ID. Sen. Pearson presented the bill. 
Sen. Chip Rogers of the 21st took the well to present the Floor Amendment. 
The Floor Amendment was adopted by a vote of 29 to 3. 
The Committee Substitute was adopted as amended by a vote of 30 to 0. 
SB 100 passed by substitute by a vote of 52 to 0. 
The Secretary read SB 101, which adds language to the code regarding nuisance laws of agricultural facilities. Sen. Tolleson took the well to present the bill. He yielded to questions from Sen. Steve Thompson of the 33rd. 
The Committee Substitute was adopted by a vote of 31 to 0. 
SB 101 passed by substitute by a vote of 52 to 0. 
Sen. Jeff Chapman of the 3rd moved to suspend with the rules to introduce legislation. The Secretary then read SR 400, which was assigned to committee. 
The Secretary read SB 135, which increases penalties for reproducing, selling or distributing recorded material. Sen. Hamrick took the well to present the Committee Substitute. 
The Committee Substitute was adopted by a vote of 35 to 0. 
SB 135 passed by substitute by a vote of 52 to 0. 
The Secretary read SB 173, which gives petroleum pipeline companies the right to acquire property through eminent domain, in order to install additional pipelines next to an existing pipeline. Sen. Tolleson presented the bill. He yielded to questions from Sens. Thompson of the 33rd and Vincent Fort of the 39th. Sen. Tolleson then spoke to Amendments 1 and 2. 
Sen. John Bulloch of the 11th took the well to present Amendment 1. He yielded to questions from Sen. Meyer von Bremen. 
Sen. Hooks took the well to encourage the passage of both the bill and Amendment 1. 
Sen. Steve Thompson of the 33rd took the well to speak against the bill. He yielded to questions from Sen. Fort. 
From the Upper Chamber Thursday, March 1, 2007 
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 Sen. Thompson of the 33rd then moved to table SB 173. 
The motion to table failed by a vote of 15 to 36. 
Sen. Douglas took the well to announce the withdrawal of Amendment 2. 
Sen. Tolleson took the well to close the discussion of the bill. 
Amendment 1 was adopted by a vote of 38 to 3. 
The Committee Substitute was adopted as amended by a vote of 38 to 0. 
SB 173 passed by substitute by a vote of 43 to 11. 
The Secretary read SR 351, which congratulates Hiram (Joe) Little on being named a Distinguished Senior Georgian for 2007. Sen. Horacena Tate of the 38th took the rostrum to introduce Mr. Little. 
The Secretary read SB 188, which includes parents who provide care through a private agency in the Foster Parents' Bill of Rights. Sen. Thompson of the 33rd took the well to introduce the bill. He yielded to questions from Sen. Carter. 
Amendment 1 was adopted by a vote of 33 to 0. 
The Committee Substitute was adopted as amended by a vote of 42 to 0. 
SB 188 passed by substitute by a vote of 56 to 0. 
The Secretary read SR 237, which welcomes the citizens and public officials from Macon and Bibb County to the Capitol in recognition of the 2007 Cherry Blossom Festival and Macon Day. Sens. Brown and Staton took the rostrum to speak to the resolution. 
The Secretary read SB 88, which allows grandparents who are already caring for a grandchild to get legal authority to act on behalf of the child, whose parents are unable to care for them. 
Sen. Renee Unterman of the 45th took the well to speak to the bill and explain the amendment. She yielded to questions from Sens. Jack Murphy of the 27th, Heath, Regina Thomas of the 2nd, Thompson of the 33rd and Nancy Schaefer of the 50th. 
Sen. Emanuel Jones of the 10th took the well to support SB 88. 
Sen. Seay took the well to urge support of the bill. 
The Amendment, which adds language to the bill, was adopted by a vote of 31 to 1. 
The Floor Amendment was adopted by a vote of 41 to 0. 
From the Upper Chamber Thursday, March 1, 2007 
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 SB 88 passed as amended by a vote of 55 to 1. 
Sen. Balfour asked that the rules be suspended to introduce legislation. The Secretary read SB 289, 290, 292, 293 and SR 404, which were assigned to committees. 
The Secretary read SR 279, which looks to change Senate terms from two years to four. Sen. Douglas took the well to explain the bill, stating that being in perpetual campaign-mode greatly decreases the time Senators can spend working on legislation. He yielded to questions from Sens. Preston Smith of the 52nd, Thompson of the 33rd and Williams. 
SR 279 was adopted by a vote of 49 to 6. 
The Secretary read SB 86, which requires seat belts to be used in pickup trucks. Sen. Don Thomas of the 54th took the well to present the bill. He yielded to questions from Sens. Smith, Heath, Steve Henson of the 41st, Jones, Bulloch and Thompson of the 33rd. 
Sen. Murphy took the well to address the bill and encourage sending the right message to young people regarding vehicle safety. 
SB 86 passed by a vote of 45 to 10. 
The Secretary read SB 16, which prohibits dog fighting. Sen. Rogers took the well to explain the Committee Substitute. He yielded to questions from Sen. Bulloch. 
The Committee Substitute was adopted by a vote of 36 to 0. 
SB 16 passed by substitute by a vote of 54 to 0. 
Sen. Bulloch moved to suspend with rules to introduce legislation. The Secretary read SB 294-296, which were assigned to committees. 
Lt. Gov. Cagle recognized Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy who was seated in the gallery. 
Following the announcements, Majority Leader Williams moved that pursuant to HR 473, the Senate stand in recess until 5:00 p.m., then adjourn until 10:00 a.m., Monday, March 19. 
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From the Upper Chamber Thursday, March 1, 2007 
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