From the upper chamber 2007 March 19

Monday, March 19, 2007
The twenty-eighth day of the 2007 legislative session was called to order by President Pro Tempore Eric Johnson of the 1st.
Senator Don Balfour of the 9th stated that the journal had been read and was found to be correct.
Senate Bills 286-288, 291 and 297-302, Senate Resolutions 403, 426 and 428, House Bills 69, 144, 148, 183, 191, 193, 208, 243, 247, 270, 313, 374, 410, 448, 496, 510, 523, 524, 555, 573-576, 580 and 582 and House Resolution 246 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, Sen. Ronnie Chance of the 16th took the rostrum to lead the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance. Sen. Chance introduced the Chaplain of the Day, Rev. Benny Tate of Rock Springs Church in Milner, who led the Senate in the daily devotional.
Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle then took the gavel to preside.
Sen. George Hooks of the 14th took the well on a Point of Personal Privilege to thank the Senators and staff members who recently traveled to his district to assist in disaster relief efforts after recent tornadoes struck the area. He also commended the efforts of the staff of Sumter Regional Hospital.
Lt. Gov. Cagle then recognized several guests present in the Senate chamber, including Georgia State Patrol officers.
Sen. Michael Meyer von Bremen of the 12th took the well on a Point of Personal Privilege to briefly discuss the devastation caused by tornadoes in his district.
From the Upper Chamber Monday, March 19, 2007
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Sen. Nancy Schaefer of the 50th then introduced the Doctor of the Day, Dr. Mark Chatta of Demorest.
Sen. Balfour took the well on a Point of Personal Privilege to discuss the current posture of the Senate, and the number of bills currently in the Senate Rules Committee.
Lt. Gov. Cagle then recognized Senators John Bulloch of the 11th and Mitch Seabaugh of the 28th on their birthdays.
Sen. Steve Thompson of the 33rd took the well on a Point of Personal Privilege to discuss the issues surrounding SB 173, which would allow private petroleum companies certain powers to acquire private property.
Sen. John Douglas of the 17th took the well on a Point of Personal Privilege to also discuss the devastation caused by the tornadoes in southwest Georgia.
Sen. Vincent Fort of the 39th took the well on a Point of Personal Privilege to address Georgia Power's recent push to build a natural gas pipeline.
Sen. Regina Thomas of the 2nd took the well on a Point of Personal Privilege to recognize Delta Sigma Theta Day at the Capitol. She also greeted several members of the sorority who were seated in the gallery.
Minority Leader Robert Brown of the 26th took the well on a Point of Personal Privilege to discuss some of his thoughts on SB 283, which will designate the month of April as Confederate Heritage and History Month.
Sergeant-at-Arms Lorenzo Wallace escorted Sens. Jim Whitehead, Sr. of the 24th, Johnson and Jack Hill of the 4th and their guests to the rostrum. The Secretary read SR 383, which honors the Georgia Department of Public Safety on its 70th anniversary. Sens. Johnson and Whitehead took the rostrum to introduce several state troopers and Public Safety Commissioner Bill Hitchens, who addressed the Senate.
The Consent Calendar for Privileged Resolutions, consisting of SR 398, 399, 401, 402, 405-425, 427, 429 and 430, was unanimously adopted.
The Senate Local Consent Calendar, consisting of SB 152, 227, 242, 244, 247, 248, 261 and 269, was adopted by a vote of 47 to 0.
The Secretary read SB 130, which is a housekeeping measure relating to the regulation and construction of hospitals, penal institutions and other state institutions. The bill eliminates certain state authorities and transfers their duties to the Georgia Building Authority.
Sen. Johnny Grant of the 25th took the well to explain the provisions of the Committee Substitute.
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The Committee Substitute to SB 130 was adopted by a vote of 36 to 0.
SB 130 passed by substitute by a vote of 50 to 0.
The Secretary read SB 202, which revises and re-designates Article 7, relating to statewide alert systems for missing disabled adults, otherwise known as Mattie's Call.
Sen. Chip Rogers of the 21st took the well to present the bill, stating that it simply places the law into the correct section of Georgia code.
SB 202 passed by a vote of 53 to 0.
SB 161 was read. The bill is a housekeeping measure relating to the examination of persons receiving disability benefits under the Employees' Retirement System of Georgia.
Sen. Bill Heath of the 31st took the well to explain the bill. He yielded to questions from Sens. Ed Harbison of the 15th and Nan Orrock of the 36th.
SB 161 passed by a vote of 35 to 17.
The Secretary read SB 162, which provides that a person who becomes a member of the Employees' Retirement System on or after July 1, 2007, shall be entitled to a disability benefit based upon the actual years of creditable service he/she had attained on the date of retirement.
Sen. Heath again took the well to explain the bill.
SB 162 passed by a vote of 40 to 13.
The Secretary read SB 77, which directs county tag agents to register vehicles under the International Registration Plan, and provides for the issuance of temporary permits for renewals and transfers.
Amendment 1 was also read.
Majority Leader Tommie Williams of the 19th took the well to explain the Committee Substitute and Amendment 1. He yielded to questions from Sens. Thompson of the 33rd, Hooks, Ralph Hudgens of the 47th and Valencia Seay of the 34th.
Amendment 1 was adopted by a vote of 38 to 0.
The Committee Substitute was adopted as amended by a vote of 46 to 1.
SB 77 passed by substitute by a vote of 52 to 0.
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The Secretary read SB 106, which will extend the period for which a magistrate court may require a bond with a surety for good behavior.
Sen. Bill Hamrick of the 30th took the well to present the Committee Substitute. The Committee Substitute to SB 106 was adopted by a vote of 34 to 0.
SB 106 passed by substitute by a vote of 47 to 0.
SB 165 was read. The bill changes certain provisions relating to the ratification, governance and balloting of several agricultural commodity commissions in the state.
Sen. Bulloch took the well to explain the bill in detail.
SB 165 passed by a vote of 48 to 0.
The Secretary read SB 168, which will enact the Deaf Child's Bill of Rights. The legislation will require local school systems to consider the related services and program options when developing an individualized education program (IEP) for a deaf child.
Sen. Preston Smith of the 52nd took the well to present the bill. He yielded to questions from Sen. Thompson of the 33rd.
SB 168 passed by a vote of 46 to 0.
The Secretary then read SB 170, which provides that any student's demonstrated proficiency in American Sign Language will be accepted as foreign language credit toward a college preparatory diploma.
Sen. Smith again took the well to present the bill. He also explained two amendments that make minor technical changes to the bill. He stated that if the Senate adopts the Committee Substitute to SB 170, Amendment 1 to the bill would not be necessary.
Sen. Thomas of the 2nd took the well to speak on SB 170, which actually incorporates language from similar legislation she sponsored, SB 206. She yielded to questions from Sen. Seth Harp of the 29th.
Amendment 1 to SB 170 was adopted by a vote of 39 to 0.
Amendment 1 to the Committee Substitute to SB 170 was adopted by a vote of 42 to 0.
The Committee Substitute to SB 170 was adopted as amended by a vote of 38 to 2.
SB 170 passed by substitute as amended by a vote of 47 to 0.
The Secretary read SB 175, which relates to the dissolution of electric membership corporations (EMC), replacing the Department of Administrative Services with the Office of
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Treasury and Fiscal Services. Another section of SB 175 deals with the competitive bid process by which the state contracts services.
Sen. Grant took the well to explain the bill and a Committee Amendment. The Committee Amendment was adopted by a vote of 28 to 1. SB 175 passed as amended by a vote of 43 to 3. SB 222 was read. The legislation will revise the definition of advanced practice registered nurse in Georgia code. Sen. Grant took the well to present the Committee Substitute. The Committee Amendment was adopted by a vote of 37 to 0. SB 222 passed as amended by a vote of 51 to 0. The Secretary read SR 326, which urges the U.S. Congress to reform U.S. sugar policy. Sen. Bulloch took the well to explain the resolution. SR 326 was adopted by a vote of 49 to 0. The Secretary read SB 42, which authorizes the Department of Human Resources to impose and retain certain fees on obligees and obligors with respect to certain child support collections. Sen. Harp took the well to explain the Committee Substitute. He yielded to questions from Sens. Thomas of the 2nd, Harbison and Kasim Reed of the 35th. The Committee Substitute to SB 42 was adopted by a vote of 40 to 0. Sen. Thomas of the 2nd took the well to express some of her concerns on the bill. SB 42 passed by substitute by a vote of 46 to 3. Following the announcements, Majority Leader Williams moved that the Senate stand adjourned until 9:00 a.m., Tuesday, March 20.
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From the Upper Chamber Monday, March 19, 2007
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