Upper chamber report 2010 March 31

MARCH 31, 2010 . DAY 32
Upper Chamber Report

Raegan Weber, Press Director Kallarin Richards, Editor in Chief

TOP STORY

Legislative Day 32: Senate Mourns the Loss of former Colleague, Sen. Nancy Schaefer

By Matt Colvin

CHAMBER (March 31, 2010) After receiving news late last week of the tragic death of former Sen. Nancy Schaefer and her husband Bruce, the Senate quickly concluded business on the floor today to allow time for members to attend the memorial service in Toccoa.

During her two terms in the State Sen-

ate, Schaefer was considered a true

conservative and a public servant dedi-

cated to helping her constituents in the 50th District. The daughter of a North

Georgia Superior Court Judge and

granddaughter of a state legislator,

Schaefer had a successful career as a

Former Sen. Nancy Schaefer

conservative political activist. She was

the president and founder of Family Concerns, Inc., a non-profit organization

dedicated to strengthening and protecting the family through local, state, na-

tional and international policy. She was also a former first vice president of

the Georgia Baptist Convention and a frequent speaker to churches of all de-

nominations.

A former Atlanta mayoral candidate, she was also the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor in 1994 and the first woman candidate for governor in 1998. She is survived by her five children and thirteen grandchildren.

Among those who spoke in her memory, Senate Minority Leader Robert Brown (D-Macon) recalled Schaefer's passion for the many issues she held close at heart. He recounted his appreciation of her willingness to work across the aisle with him and fellow Democrats in a great spirit of bipartisanship, and wished her family well as they grieve for her loss.

With only eight legislative days left in the 2010 Session, the Senate is working on getting House bills through the initial committee process and ready for debate on the Senate Floor. Wednesday's session was brief with senators overwhelmingly approving two House bills.

A measure that will aid war veterans and disabled persons cleared the Senate Floor by a unanimous vote. House Bill 128, carried in the Senate by Sen. Ralph Hudgens (R-Hull), establishes a 10-year validation period for any disabled war veteran or blind person's eligibility certificates who operate a business or have a profession or semi-profession involving sales. They are cur-

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rently exempt from any occupation taxes, administrative fees, or regulatory fees for any income they earn, and current Georgia law requires the exemption certificates to be renewed annually. The measure now heads to the governor's desk for his signature before going into law.
Sen. Don Thomas (R-Dalton) presented HB 194, noting that this bill would require every pharmacist in Georgia who substitutes a generic drug for a brand name drug to display the names of both drugs on the prescription label along with an explanation indicating that a substitution has occurred. Exemptions for this law are provided if the prescribing physician specified that the name of the drug may not appear on the label. This measure also does not apply to medication dispensed for in-patient hospital services or to medications in specialty packages for dosing purposes. The Senate passed HB 194 by a 46 to 0 vote, which would take effect October 1, 2010 if signed into law.
Sen. Nan Orrock (D-Atlanta) addressed the Senate to honor the birthday of renowned civil rights activist Cesar Chavez. Chavez founded the National Farm Workers Association, which Orrock credited as a pioneer in farm laborer's rights during the 20th Century. She noted that his birthday has become a state holiday in eight U.S. states and she has introduced a Senate resolution calling for a national holiday to honor his work in civil rights and place as a major figure in American-Hispanic history.

Sen. Nan Orrock honors Cesar Chavez's birthday

Sen. Judson Hill's Health Care Choice Protection Measure One Step Closer to Law
By Matt Colvin
ATLANTA (March 31, 2010) State Sen. Judson Hill's (R-Marietta) legislation protecting Georgia's current rights on health care choice continues its momentum through the Georgia General Assembly Wednesday. Senate Bill 317, approved by the House Health and Human Services Committee after passing the Senate last week, would prohibit mandatory participation in any health care system.
"This bill simply protects the basic rights of choice that we all currently enjoy today by not allowing the federal government to force an unconstitutional mandate on Georgia's citizens or punish anyone for not buying heath insurance," said Hill. "Each person should have the right to purchase private health care, purchase government health care, or exercise their right not to purchase any health care at all, and this legislation shields us from unwanted and unnecessary federal involvement in our health care decisions."
Georgia's citizens would be protected from being forced into government-run health care under Hill's measure. Existing private and government programs would not be affected by this legislation. Hill told committee members this measure also prohibits any government from punishing an individual or business that does not participate in such a health plan, as well as protect health care providers from being forced to perform mandated medical procedures.
SB 317 now heads to the House Rules Committee before being heard before the entire House for final passage.

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UPPER CHAMBER REPORT

Legislative Process Dates
Important Dates in the Legislative Process
Introduction - Last day to file and/or 1st Read in Senate. 30 th day - last day to introduce General Senate bills and resolutions (even year). [Rule 3-1.2 (b)] 30 th day - last day to accept General House bills and resolutions. [Rule 3-1.2 (b)] 39th day - last day to introduce General Senate bills and resolutions (odd year). [Rule 3-1.2 (b)] *Note: Senate bills and resolutions must be filed with the Secretary before 4:00 p.m. to be 1st read on the next legislative day.
Deadlines for passage in current year
Committee Report Deadlines - Last day to read report. Report submitted to Secretary by convening. 28th day - General Senate bills and resolutions. 38th day - Local Senate bills and resolutions. 38th day - General House bills and resolutions. 40th day - Local House bills and resolutions. Calendar Management Calendar in numerical order after 2nd reading of legislation; days 1-5. [Rule 4-2.10 (a)] Rules Committee sets the calendar for days 6 - 40. [Rule 4-2.10 (b)] General Senate Bills and Resolutions 26th day - File with Secretary of the Senate. [Rule 3-1.2 (a)] 27th day - 1st Reading and referral to committee. [Rule 3-1.2 (b)] 28th day - Committee report read upon convening. (A recommitted bill already 2nd read - report day 29.) 29th day - 2nd Reading. [Rule 4-2.6] 30th day - Passage [Rule 4-2.10 (a)] and immediate transmittal to House. [Rule 4-2.14] Local Senate Bills and Resolutions 35th day - File with Secretary of the Senate. [3-1.2 (a)] 36th day - 1st Reading and referral to committee. (Cannot pass for 2 days.) [Rule 4-2.4 (c) ] 38th day - Favorable report by committee, passage and immediate transmittal to the House. [Rule 4-2.14] 39th day - 2nd Reading in House. 40th day - Favorable report and passage in House. General House Bills and Resolutions 30th day - Transmitted from House and received by Secretary. 31st day - 1st Reading and referral to committee. [Rule 3-1.2 (b)] 38th day - Favorable report upon convening and 2nd reading. (Applies to days 36 - 38) [Rule 4-2.6] 39th day - Passage. [Rule 4-2.10 (a)] 40th day - Passage of bills or resolutions tabled day 39; removed from the table on day 40. [Rule 4-2.10 (a)] Local House Bills and Resolutions 39th day - 1st Reading and referral to committee. 40th day - Favorable report by committee and passage. * Note: On the 30th day and on the last three days of session, bills and resolutions needing action from the House are automatically immediately transmitted. [Rule 4-2.14] 40th day - Passage of bills or resolutions tabled day 39; removed from the table on day 40. [Rule 4-2.10 (a)]

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UPPER CHAMBER REPORT
To view this report online, please visit http://www.legis.ga.gov/legis/2009_10/senate/ucreport.htm