From the upper chamber 2008 February 6

Report for Wednesday, February 6, 2008
The twelfth day of the 2008 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 408-416, Senate Resolutions 809, 811-815, 819 and 820, and House Bills 422, 926, 975, 1014, 1047-1048 and 1053 were read for the first time and assigned to committees. The clerk then read the reports of standing committees and second readers.
Following the morning roll call, Sen. Jeff Mullis of the 53rd led the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance. He then introduced the Chaplain of the Day, Reverend Todd Gaddis of the First Baptist Church in LaFayette, who led the Senate in the daily devotional.
Sen. Seth Harp of the 29th took the well on a Point of Personal Privilege to invite Senators to a book signing of his brother Andy Harp's novel, A Northern Thunder.
Sen. Vincent Fort of the 39th took the well on a Point of Personal Privilege to address issues surrounding Grady Hospital's new board of directors.
Sen. Steve Henson of the 41st took the well on a Point of Personal Privilege to recognize students of Tucker High School, seated in the Senate Gallery.
Sen. David Shafer of the 48th took the well on a Point of Personal Privilege to discuss legislation he introduced today, SR 822, which asserts that the 35th Parallel is Georgia's true northern border and provides for the appointment of joint boundary commissions to resurvey and correctly mark Georgia's borders with North Carolina and Tennessee.
SR 808, 810, 816-818 and 821 were then read and adopted.
From the Upper Chamber Wednesday, February 6, 2008
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The clerk read SR 374, which commends musician Jane Little for her work with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Sen. Chip Pearson of the 51st took the rostrum to present Ms. Little with the resolution.
The clerk read SR 801, which commends Macon County Middle School for making presentations during this year's Capitol Tech Day. Sen. George Hooks of the 14th took the rostrum to congratulate the students and their teacher, Julie Greene, and to present them with the resolution.
The clerk read SR 802, which commends Delbert Bland for his success as the largest distributor of Vidalia onions in the U.S. Senators Jack Hill of the 4th and Majority Leader Tommie Williams of the 19th took the rostrum to congratulate Mr. Bland and his family.
Sen. David Adelman of the 42nd took the rostrum to introduce the Doctor of the Day, Dr. Stuart Segerman of Atlanta.
The clerk read SB 216, which prohibits those under federal indictment from serving on a grand jury. Sen. Ronnie Chance of the 16th took the well to present the bill.
The clerk read Amendment 1, by Sen. Regina Thomas of the 2nd, which provides for a simple language change. Sen. Thomas of the 2nd took the well to explain her amendment and yielded to questions from Sens. Harp and Preston Smith of the 52nd.
Sen. Chance took the well to close the debate and encourage adoption of Amendments 1 and 2.
Amendment 1 was adopted by a vote of 29 to 5.
Amendment 2, which adds language to include those accused of a felony or those under indictment for a felony, was adopted by a vote of 42 to 0.
SB 216 passed by a vote of 51 to 0.
The clerk read SR 803, which commends the Emanuel County Institute Bulldogs for their Class A Georgia High School Association State Championship. Sen. Hill of the 4th took the rostrum to congratulate the team.
The clerk read SB 230, a housekeeping bill that clarifies the terms "classified" and "unclassified service" as they relate to the State Merit System.
Sen. Williams took the rostrum to preside over the Senate.
Sen. Mullis took the well to present the bill.
SB 230 passed by a vote of 46 to 3.
From the Upper Chamber Wednesday, February 6, 2008
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The clerk read SB 315, which abolishes the Georgia Driver's Education Commission and transfers the duties of the commission to the State Board of Education. Sen. Smith took the well to discuss the bill, and yielded to questions from Sens. Thomas of the 2nd and Steve Thompson of the 33rd.
Sen. Thompson of the 33rd took the well to offer support of the bill and emphasize the need for driver's education.
Sen. Nan Orrock of the 36th took the well to speak in support of the bill and offered facts regarding the importance of driver's education programs in Georgia.
The Committee Substitute was adopted unanimously.
SB 315 passed by substitute by a vote of 52 to 0.
The clerk read SB 342, which makes the state of Georgia a partner with local governments and water authorities by streamlining the permitting process for new reservoir funding. Under this legislation, the state could fund up to 20 percent to expand or improve existing reservoirs, and up to 40 percent to build new reservoirs.
Sen. Pearson took the well to present SB 342 and Amendment 1, which omits language requiring communities to acquire matching Federal funds. He yielded to questions from Sens. Harp, Thomas of the 2nd, Thompson of the 33rd and Ross Tolleson of the 20th.
Amendment 1 was adopted unanimously.
SB 342 passed by a vote of 44 to 1.
The clerk read SB 352, which allows the legislature to override a rule or directive of the Environmental Protection Division (EPD), and would apply to any statewide water management plan. Amendment 1 was then read, which clarifies the state's role in exercising federal rules and regulations.
Sen. Bill Cowsert of the 46th took the well to discuss SB 352 and to present Amendment 1.
Sen. Thompson of the 33rd took the well to speak in opposition to the bill and stated that the EPD should continue to operate without legislative oversight.
Sen. Tolleson took the well to express his support of the bill, and yielded to questions from Sen. Thompson of the 33rd.
Amendment 1 was adopted unanimously.
SB 352 passed by a vote of 34 to 14.
From the Upper Chamber Wednesday, February 6, 2008
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Following the announcements, Sen. Balfour moved the Senate stand adjourned until 10:00 a.m., Thursday, February 7.
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From the Upper Chamber Wednesday, February 6, 2008
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