From the upper chamber 2008 January 17

Report for Thursday, January 17, 2008
The fourth day of the 2008 legislative session was called to order by Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle.
Senator Jeff Mullis of the 53rd stated that the journal had been read and was found to be correct.
Senate Bills 346-352 and Senate Resolutions 716, 718, 720 and 721 were then read for the first time and assigned to committees. The clerk of the Secretary of Senate also read the reports of standing committees and second readers.
After the morning roll call, Sen. Ron Ramsey of the 43rd led the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance. He introduced the Chaplain of the Day, Pastor Eric Wendel Lee, Sr. of Springfield Baptist Church in Conyers, who led the Senate in the daily devotional.
SR 717 and 719 were then read and adopted.
Lt. Gov. Cagle recognized Sen. Judson Hill of the 32nd, who took the rostrum to introduce the Doctor of the Day, Dr. Tom Cooper of Marietta.
The Local Consent Calendar, consisting of House Bill 801, was adopted by a vote of 49 to 1.
The clerk read SB 76, which transfers certain administrative powers, such as the appointment of Senate standing committees, from the Committee on Assignments to the Office of the Lieutenant Governor.
President Pro Tempore Eric Johnson of the 1st took the well to explain the bill.
SB 76 passed by a vote of 55 to 0.
From the Upper Chamber Thursday, January 17, 2008
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The clerk then read the Committee Substitute to HB 89, which changes several provisions regarding the legal possession of concealed firearms. HB 89 would allow those who lawfully possess a concealed weapon to store that weapon in a locked vehicle in the parking lot of an employer, a public park, a historic site or recreation area under certain circumstances.
Sen. Chip Rogers of the 21st took the well to explain the current version of the bill, which has been referred to as the "parking lot bill." He yielded to questions from Senators David Adelman of the 42nd, Steve Thompson of the 33rd, Preston Smith of the 52nd, Dan Weber of the 40th, Ralph Hudgens of the 47th, Vincent Fort of the 39th, Kasim Reed of the 35th, Michael Meyer von Bremen of the 12th, George Hooks of the 14th, Emanuel Jones of the 10th and Dan Moody of the 56th.
Sen. Adelman took the well to present his Amendment 1, which would give precedence to the property rights of employers who lease their property over the right to carry or store a concealed weapon on the property. He yielded to questions from Sens. Smith, Nan Orrock of the 36th and Meyer von Bremen.
Sen. Jones took the well to present his Amendment 2, which he stated would add some protection in cases in which a concealed weapon was stolen from an employee's automobile. He also introduced Amendment 4, which is similar to Amendment 2 but adds customers, employers' agents, contract workers, vendors and suppliers to the language of the bill.
Sen. Reed took the well to explain his Amendment 3, which increases the time period for a probate judge to approve a request for a concealed firearm license or renewal permit from two days to five days.
Sen. Fort took the well to discuss language in the bill concerning the request process for a new firearm license or renewal permit.
Sen. Seth Harp of the 29th took the well to discuss the process by which a citizen can obtain a license to carry a concealed weapon.
Amendment 1 failed by a vote of 17 to 29.
Sen. Jones asked for a vote of yeas and nays on Amendments 2 and 3.
Amendment 2 failed by a vote of 15 to 41.
Amendment 3 failed by a vote of 21 to 35.
Amendment 4 failed by a vote of 16 to 35.
The Committee Substitute to HB 89 was adopted by a vote of 44 to 5.
HB 89 passed by substitute by a vote of 41 to 15.
From the Upper Chamber Thursday, January 17, 2008
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Following the announcements, Majority Leader Tommie Williams of the 19th moved the Senate stand adjourned until 9:00 a.m., Friday, January 18.
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From the Upper Chamber Thursday, January 17, 2008
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