Senate first readers 1997 January 27

FOLIO GA
L- Ltll
.SJ Rit
i"iq1/t-')..7

SENATE FIRST READERS Monday, January 27, 1997
SIXTH LEGISLATIVE DAY

SB 99.

By Senator Henson of the 55th:
A bill to amend Title 37 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to mental health, so as to authorize a licensed professional counselor or a marriage and family therapist to perform certain acts which physicians, psychologists, and others are authorized to perform regarding emergency examinations of persons who are mentally ill or alcoholic or drug , dependent; to define certain terms.

Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services.

SB 100. By Senators Perdue of the 18th, Oliver of the 42nd, Thompson of the 33rd and others:
A bill to amend Article 2 of Chapter 9 of Title 42 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to grants of pardons, paroles, and other relief, so as to provide that any of fender sentenced for a felony shall serve the full sentence entered in the case without parole; to provide an exception.

Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

SB 101. By Senators Starr of the 44th and Perdue of the 18th:
A bill to amend Code Section 36-87-2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the authority of counties and municipal corporations to participate in federal programs, so as to provide that counties and municipal corporations shall be authorized to participate in federal and state programs which provide funds for job training, job re~earch assistance, and workforce development programs and to accept and to expend grant funds subject to such terms as may be required by the grantor.

Referred to Committee on State and Local Governmental Operations (General).

SB 102. By Senators Ragan of the 11th, Middleton of the 50th and Streat of the 19th:
A bill to amend Chapter 2 of Title 2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Department of Agriculture, so as to provide for powers and duties of the Commissioner; to provide for the inspection of books, records, memoranda, and other documents; to provide for subpoenas and their enforcement.

Referred to Committee on Agriculture.

SB 103. By Senators Tysinger of the 4lst, Egan of the 40th, Oliver of the 42nd and others:
A bill to amend Title 10 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to commerce and trade, so as to enact the "Georgia Electronic Records and Signatures Act"; to provide for a short title; to provide for legislative construction and definitions; to authorize the use of electronic records and electronic signatures instead of written ones and provide for the legal effect of such usage.
Referred to Committee on Science, Technology and Industry.
SB 104. By Senators Taylor of the 12th, Brown of the 26th, Perdue of the 18th and others:
A bill to amend Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to public assistance, so as to provide for money payments of public assistance to be made by electronic transfer; to change provisions with respect to hearings; to change provisions with respect to the issuance of subpoenas; to repeal Article 5 of Chapter 4 of said title, the "Aid to Dependent Children Act".
Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services.
SB 105. By Senators Taylor of the 12th, Brown of the 26th, Boshears of the 6th and Bowen of the 13th:
A bill to amend Code Section 42-1-12 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the registration of sexually violent predators, so as to change the definition of the term "criminal offense against a victim who is a minor" to include federal offenses and offenses committed in other states or territories of the United States under certain circumstances; to require registration for conviction of certain offenses committed in other jurisdictions.
Referred to Committee on Judiciary.
SB 106. By Senators Taylor of the 12th, Marable of the 52nd, Hooks of the 14th and others:
A bill to amend Code Section 20-2-690.1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to mandatory education for children between ages seven and 16, so as to increase the mandatory school attendance age to 18 years.
Referred to Committee on Education.
- 2-

SB 107. By Senators Walker of the 22nd, Middleton of the 50th, Marable of the 52nd and others:
A bill to amend Article 2 of Chapter 34 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to physicians, so as to provide for the practice of medicine in this state by physicians located in other states and foreign countries and provide for conditions and limitations relating thereto; to provide for legislative construction; to provide for patient rights.
Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services.
SB 108. By Senators Walker of the 22nd, Griffin of the 25th and Streat of the 19th:
A bill to amend Code Section 47-3-89 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to creditable service in the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia for prior service with certain governmentally supported schools, so as to provide that members of such retirement system shall be entitled to receive creditable service for prior teaching service with school systems operated by the United States Department of Defense.
Referred to Committee on Retirement.
SB 109. By Senators Walker of the 22nd, Griffin of the 25th and Streat of the 19th:
A bill to amend Chapter 2 of Title 47 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Employees' Retirement System of Georgia, so as to provide that members of such retirement system employed prior to July 1, 1982, shall be entitled to receive creditable service for certain military service.
Referred to Committee on Retirement.
SB 110. By Senators Walker of the 22nd, Stokes of the 43rd, Madden of the 47th and others:
A bill to amend Chapter 21 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to payment and distribution of fines and forfeitures, so as to authorize additional penalty assessments for violations involving driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and for the allocation of such additional penalties by the Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund and provide for the creation of such fund; to provide for definitions.
Referred to Committee on Judiciary.
- 3-

SB 111. By Senators Thompson of the 33rd and Clay of the 37th:
A bill to amend Code Section 3-4-23 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the certificate of residence required for a retail distilled spirits dealer's license or tax stamps, so as to provide that an applicant for a retail dealer's . license or tax stamps for distilled spirits for a location within a municipality where distilled spirits may legally be sold may reside anywhere within the county in which the municipality is located.
Referred to Committee on Consumer Affairs.
SB 112. By Senators Thompson of the 33rd and Clay of the 37th:
A bill to amend Code Section 21-3-91 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the filing of notice of candidacy under the "Georgia Municipal Election Code,'' so as to change the periods during which candidates or their designees are required to file a notice of candidacy.
Referred to Committee on Ethics.
SB 113. By Senators Thompson of the 33rd and Clay of the 37th:
A bill to amend Code Section 36-35-4.1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to reapportionment of election districts for municipal elections, so as to provide that in addition to reapportionment following publication of the decennial census, the governing authority of any municipal corporation is authorized, from time to time, to reapportion or modify the election districts from which members of the municipal governing authority are elected.
Referred to Committee on Reapportionment.
SB 114. By Senators Langford of the 29th, Middleton of the 50th, Kemp of the 3rd and others:
A bill to amend Chapter 12 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to juries, so as to change the number of peremptory challenges allowed the prosecuting attorney and the accused in misdemeanor trials; to change the size of the jury panel in felony cases; to change the number of peremptory challenges allowed the prosecuting attorney and the accused in felony trials; to provide for exceptions; to provide for applicability.
Referred to Committee on Judiciary.
- 4-

SB 115. By Senators Thompson of the 33rd, Dean of the 31st and Cheeks of the 23rd:
A bill to amend Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to motor vehicles and traffic, so as to define certain terms; provide that license plates and revalidation decals shall be issued to vehicle owners instead of assigned to vehicles; to provide that license plates and revalidation decals shall be transferred between vehicles in certain circumstances; to change certain provisions relating to operation of a vehicle with improperly transferred plates.
Referred to Committee on Transportation.
SB 116. By Senators Thompson of the 33rd, Dean of the 31st and Cheeks of the 23rd:
A bill to amend Chapter 9 of Title 32 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to mass transportation, so as to change provisions relating to designation and use of travel lanes; to provide for the use of certain designated vehicle lanes by motor vehicles propelled with alternative fuel; to amend Article 3 of Chapter 2 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to prestige license plates and special plates for certain persons and vehicles.
Referred to Committee on Transportation.
SB 117. By Senators Thompson of the 33rd, Dean of the 31st and Cheeks of the 23rd:
A bill to amend Article 5 of Chapter 9 of Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to indemnification of law enforcement officers, firemen, prison guards, and publicly employed emergency medical technicians, so as to provide for the indemnification of state highway employees with respect to death or permanent disability; to change certain provisions relating to definitions of terms.
Referred to Committee on Special Judiciary.
SB 118. By Senators Thompson of the 33rd, Dean of the 31st and Cheeks of the 23rd:
A bill to amend Code Section 46-9-272 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the definition of terms used in the "Georgia Rail Passenger Authority Law," so as to redefine the term "project".
Referred to Committee on Transportation.
- 5-

SB 119. By Senators Thompson of the 33rd, Dean of the 31st and Cheeks of the 23rd:
A bill to amend Article 3 of Chapter 17 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state depositories, so as to change the membership of the State Depository Board.
Referred to Committee on Banking and Financial Institutions.
SB 120. By Senators Thompson of the 33rd, Dean of the 31st and Cheeks of the 23rd:
A bill to amend Code Section 32-2-61 of the Official 1 Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to limitations on the power of the Department of Transportation to contract, so as to provide for an increase in the amount for which the department may execute a negotiated contract.
Referred to Committee on Transportation.
SB 121-. By Senators Thompson of the 33rd, Dean of the 31st and Cheeks of the 23rd:
A bill to amend Article 9 of Chapter 6 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to uniform rules of the road for motor vehicles relative to speed restrictions, so as to change certain provisions relating to speed limits in construction sites.
Referred to Committee on Transportation.
SB 122. By Senators Thompson of the 33rd, Dean of the 31st and Cheeks of the 23rd:
A bill to amend Title 32 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, known as the "Georgia Code of Public Transportation," so as to grant to the State Transportation Board the authority to name or designate roads, road segments, and bridges on the state highway system; to provide for procedures for the naming or designation of such roads, road segments, and bridges.
Referred to Committee on Transportation.
SB 123. By Senators Balfour of the 9th, Starr of the 44th, Johnson of the 1st and others:
A bill to amend Article 5 of Chapter 12 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to abortion, so as to prohibit a particular abortion method; to provide for penalties, civil actions, and relief; to provide for exceptions.
Referred to Committee on Judiciary.
- 6-

SB 124. By Senator Henson of the 55th:
A bill to amend Code Section 31-6-47 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to exemptions from certificate of need requirements, so as to change the exemptions regarding certain Christian Science facilities.

Referred to Committee on Health and Human services.

SB 125. By Senator Thompson of the 33rd:
A bill to amend Article 1 of Chapter 32 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to 1 general provisions applicable to municipal courts, so as to provide for the issuance of executions for costs or fines in the municipal courts; to provide for trials of illegality or defense in the superior courts.

Referred to Committee on Special Judiciary.

SB 126. By Senators Taylor of the 12th and Langford of the 29th:
A bill to amend Chapter 13 of Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Secretary of State, so as to provide . for the licensure and regulation of professional employer organizations; to provide for a short title; to provide for definitions; to provide for applicability of Chapter 8 of Title 34, the "Employment Security Law".

Referred to Committee on Consumer Affairs.

SR 59.

By Senator Tysinger of the 41st:
A resolution recognizing the contributions of the engineering profession in Georgia and declaring February 4, 1997, as "Engineers Day" in Georgia.

Read and adopted.

SR 60.

By Senators Middleton of the 50th and Perdue OL the 18th:
A resolution recognizing and commending Honorable Glenn Gooch.

Read and adopted.

SR 61.

By Senator Hooks of the 14th:
A resolution recognizing and commending the Macon County High School football team.

Read and adopted.

- 7-

SR 62.

By Senators Thompson of the 33rd and Clay of the 37th:
A resolution supporting the development of commuter rail service to Northwest Georgia from the intermodal transportation station in downtown Atlanta through the City of Marietta on the existing CSX tracks.

Referred to Committee on Transportation.

SR 63.

By Senators Thompson of the 33rd and Clay of the 37th:
A resolution designating a portion of Georgia Highway 120 Loop as the "Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial Highway".

Referred to Committee on Transportation.

SR 64.

By Senators Thompson of the 33rd, Dean of the 31st and Cheeks of the 23rd:
A resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution so as to authorize the General Assembly to provide by law for indemnification with respect to state highway employees who are or have been killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty on or after January 1, 1999; to provide for the submission of this amendment for ratification or rejection.

Referred to Committee on Special Judiciary.

SR 65.

By Senators Thompson of the 33rd and Cheeks of the 23rd:
A resolution supporting the development of alternative modes of transportation to meet the growing transit needs of the metropolitan Atlanta area.

Referred to Committee on Transportation.

SR 66.

By Senators Perdue of the 18th, Burton of the 5th and Tysinger of the 41st:
A resolution commending the Georgia Peaches on winning the 1996 Senior Softball-USA World Championship tournament.

Read and adopted.

SR 67.

By Senator Tysinger of the 41st:
A resolution commending the Dunwoody High School Lady Wildcats softball team.

Read and adopted.

- 8-

SR 68.

By Senator Hooks of the 14th:
A resolution commending Johnny L. Dodson and inviting
him to appear before the Senate.

Read and adopted.

SR 69.

By Senators Ragan of the 11th, Turner of the 8th, Streat of the 19th and others:
A resolution recognizing and commending the Georgia Farm Bureau Federation.

Read and adopted.

SR 70.

By Senators Clay of the 37th, Lamutt of the 21st and Tanksley of the 32nd:
A resolution commending the Kennesaw State University Lady Owls Softball Team.

Read and adopted.

SR 71.

By Senators Clay of the 37th, Lamutt of the 21st and Tanksley of the 32nd:
A resolution commending the Kennesaw State University Fighting Owls Baseball Team.

Read and adopted.

- 9-