Senate first readers 1997 January 28

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SENATE FIRST READERS Tuesday, January 28, 1997
SEVENTH LEGISLATIVE DAY

SB 127. By Senators Clay of the 37th and Lamutt of the 21st:
A bill to amend Title 30 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to handicapped persons, so as to include protections for elder persons as well as disabled adults; to define the term "elder person"; to add the term "elder person" in .every place the term "disabled adult" is used.

Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

SB 128. By Senators Dean of the 31st and Marable of the 52nd:
A bill to amend Code Section 47-7-1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to definitions relative to the Georgia Firemen's Pension Fund, so as to expand the scope of fire fighters eligible to become members of the fund; to provide conditions for an effective date and automatic repeal.

Referred to Committee on Retirement.

SB 129. By Senators Price of the 56th, Johnson of the 1st, Land of the 16th and others:
A bill to amend Part 2 of Article 16 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to discipline of students, so as to provide that policies adopted by local boards of education relating to school disciplinary tribunals, the suspension or expulsion of students, and chronic disciplinary problem students shall provide that any student who has been suspended or expelled from any public school in this state shall not be readmitted to the classroom of any teacher who has filed a written objection.

Referred to Committee on Education.

SB 130. By Senators Starr of the 44th, Perdue of the 18th and Oliver of the 42nd:
A bill to amend Code Section 46-2-91 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to penalties recoverable before the Public Service Commission, so as to increase the maximum penalties.

Referred to Committee on Finance and Public Utilities.

SB 131. By Senators Turner of the 8th, Cheeks of the 23rd, Lamutt of the 21st and others:
A bill to amend Chapter 8 of Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the accounting for public funds, so as to provide definitions of new terms; to revise provisions relative to bonds or pledges of securities by depositories; to provide for the pooling of collateral for qualifying depositories; to provide for the determination of amounts of collateral.
Referred to Committee on Banking and Financial Institutions.
SB 132. By Senators Starr of the 44th and Oliver of the 42nd:
A bill to amend Article 1 of Chapter 11 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to juvenile proceedings, so as to provide that the superior courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction over the trial of certain felony offenses involving juveniles; to provide for bail for juveniles who commit certain felony offenses; to provide that designated felonies are not subject to informal adjustment without the consent of the district attorney.
Referred to Committee on Judiciary.
SB 133. By Senators Oliver of the 42nd, Clay of the 37th, Taylor of the 12th and Fort of the 39th:
A bill to amend Chapter 23 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to court-annexed alternative dispute resolution, so as to change the short title; to change the composition of boards of trustees of county funds for alternative dispute resolution programs; to provide for immunity for members of such boards and other personnel acting in a policy making capacity.
Referred to Committee on Judiciary.
SB 134. By Senators Oliver of the 42nd, Starr of the 44th and Clay of the 37th:
A bill to amend Chapter 15 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to county law libraries, so as to provide for funding for codification of county ordinances; to provide for a maximum cost for each action or case.
Referred to Committee on Judiciary.
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SB 135. By Senators Glanton of the 34th, Gochenour of the 27th, Balfour of the 9th and others:
A bill to amend Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state government, so as to enact the "Georgia Privacy Act"; to provide a short title; to define certain terms; to provide that no state agency shall disclose certain records containing personal information except by permission of the individual concerned; to provide exceptions; to provide for the maintenance of certain records.
Referred to Committee on State and Local Governmental Operations (General).
SB 136. By Senators Starr of the 44th and Glanton of the 34th:
A bill to amend Code Section 53-6-90 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, as such section is effective on July 1, 1997, and Code Section 53-6-35, as such section becomes effective on January 1, 1998, each relating to the appointment of a county administrator and assistant county administrators, so as to provide that in certain counties the judge of the probate court is authorized to appoint assistant county administrators.
Referred to Committee on Special Judiciary.
SB 137. By Senators Turner of the 8th and Starr of the 44th:
A bill to amend Chapter 5 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to ad valorem taxation of property, so as to provide that certain provisions with respect to revising and assessing returns in all counties of this state having a population of not less than 81,300 nor more than 89,000 according to the United States decennial census of 1990 or any future such census shall be applicable state wide.
Referred to Committee on Finance and Public Utilities.
SB 138. By Senators Walker of the 22nd, Henson of tha 55th, Boshears of the 6th and others:
A bill to amend Article 1 of Chapter 7 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to regulation of hospitals and other health care facilities, so as to prohibit denial of staff privileges on the basis of certain licenses, certifications, specialties, and membership.
Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services.
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SB 139. By Senators Thomas of the 10th, Price of the 56th and Thomas of the 54th:
A bill to amend Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state government, so as to prohibit the Department of Medical Assistance from establishing a drug formulary that restricts by any prior approval process a physician's ability to treat a patient with a prescription drug that has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration.
Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services.
SB 140. By Senators Marable of the 52nd, Dean of the 31st and Henson of the 55th:
A bill to amend Article 3 of Chapter 7 of Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to indictments, so .as to provide that procedure for indictment of a peace officer for a crime in the performance of duties and the rights of peace officers in such cases shall apply to prosecutions for misdemeanors or felonies.
Referred to Committee on Judiciary.
SB 141. By Senators Bowen of the 13th and Streat of the 19th:
A bill to amend Chapter 2 of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Department of Public Safety, so as to provide that the Department of Public Safety and its employees are excluded from any grievance procedure promulgated by the rules or regulations of any other department, agency, or board of state government including the State Personnel Board or the State Merit System of Personnel Administration.
Referred to Committee on Public Safety.
SB 142. By Senators Broun of the 46th and Bowen of the 13th:
A bill to amend Article 1 of Chapter 16 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions applicable to sheriffs, so as to change certain provisions relating to qualifications of sheriffs; to require candidates for the office of sheriff to submit to drug tests; to repeal certain provisions relating to training requirements; to provide certain exemptions; to change provisions relating to how vacancies in the off ice of sheriff are filled.
Referred to Committee on Ethics.
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SB 143. By Senators Land of the 16th, Broun of the 46th, Cheeks of the 23rd and Harbison of the 15th:
A bill to amend Article 4 of Chapter 4 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to land bank authorities, so as to provide that consolidated governments may create land. bank authorities; to provide for definitions; to provide for the method of establishment of such authorities by consolidated governments; to provide for transition in the event of consolidation of governments having such an authority.
Referred to Committee on Finance and Public Utilities.
SB 144. By Senator Henson of the 55th:
A bill to amend Article 2 of Chapter 9 of Title 3 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to sale of alcoholic beverages by hotels and motels, so as to provide that in-room service of alcoholic beverages shall include service to owners, lessors, and tenants of condominium units and commercial space located in the same building as one or more hotel rooms in certain circumstances.
Referred to Committee on Consumer Affairs.
SB 145. By Senator Henson of the 55th:
A bill to amend Title 32 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to highways, bridges, and ferries, so as to provide for the inclusion of bicycle transportation facilities within the definition of the term "other transportation purposes"; to provide for the inclusion of certain railroads and related facilities and operating rights within the definition of the term "public road".
Referred to Committee on Transportation.
SB 146. By Senators Henson of the 55th, Burton of the 5th, Oliver of the 42nd and Broun of the 46th:
A bill to amend Code Section 12-3-194.2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to adherence to the master plan of Stone Mountain Park by the Stone Mountain Memorial Association, so as to change the manner in which such master plan shall be amended.
Referred to Committee on Economic Development, Tourism and Cultural Affairs.
SB 147. By Senators Oliver of the 42nd and Ralston of the 51st:
A bill to amend Article 2 of Chapter 3 of Title 9 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to specific periods of limitations of actions, so as to provide a period of limitation applicable to actions against persons engaged in the practice of land surveying.
Referred to Committee on Judiciary.
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SB 148. By Senator Langford of the 29th:
A bill to amend Chapter 8 of Title 34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, known as the "Employment Security Law," so as to change the provisions relating to the authority of the Commissioner of Labor to estimate contributions due from employers; to change a certain reference; to change the provisions relating to grounds for disqualification of benefits.
Referred to Committee on Insurance and Labor.
SB 149. By Senator James of the 35th:
A bill to amend Code Section 21-2-170 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to nomination of candidates by petition, so as to change the requirement of 5 percent of the signatures of eligible voters on nominating petitions to 3 percent.
Referred to Committee on Ethics.
SB 150. By Senators Burton of the 5th, Oliver of the 42nd, Henson of the 55th and others:
A bill to amend Article 3 of Chapter 6 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Silver-Haired Legislature, so as to authorize annual meetings; to provide for funding; to provide for personnel; to provide for duties of the Secretary of State.
Referred to Committee on State and Local Governmental Operations (General).
SB 151. By Senators Burton of the 5th, Oliver of the 42nd, Henson of the 55th and others:
A bill to amend Article 3 of Chapter 6 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Silver~Haired Legislature, so as to establish the Silver-Haired Legislature Fund; to provide for legislative intent; to provide for authorized deductions from state income tax refunds by the Department of Revenue for transfer to such fund.
Referred to Committee on State and Local Governmental Operations (General).
SB 152. By Senators Cheeks of the 23rd and Walker of the 22nd:
A bill to provide a homestead exemption from Richmond County ad valorem taxes for county purposes and a homestead exemption from Richmond County School District ad valorem taxes for residents of that county and district who are totally disabled and whose annual net income does not exceed $20,000.00 and provide for conditions and procedures relating thereto; to provide for special elections for approval or disapproval.
Referred to Committee on State and Local Governmental Operations.
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SB 153. By Senators Glanton of the 34th, Gochenour of the 27th, Price of the 28th and others:
A bill to amend Article 5 of Chapter 12 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to abortion in general, so as to provide for a short title; to provide for definitions; to require that a female give her informed consent prior to an abortion; to require that certain information be provided to or made available to a female prior to an abortion.

Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

SB 154. By Senator Turner of the 8th:
A bill to amend Chapter 1 of Title 7 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to financial institutions, so as to provide for a senior deputy commissioner of banking and finance; to subject assistant deputy commissioners to the same rules as deputy commissioners; to change certain restrictions on the commissioner, deputies, assistants, and examiners relating to conflicts of interest; to provide for rule-making authority to address Internet banking and other technological advancements.

Referred to Committee on Banking and Financial Institutions.

SB 155. By Senators Taylor of the 12th, Madden of the 47th, Hill of the 4th and others:
A bill to amend Chapter 9 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to regulation of insurance rates, underwriting rules, and related organizations, so as to change certain provisions relating to workers' compensation insurance premium discounts for insureds with drug-free workplace programs.

Referred to Committee on Insurance and Labor.

SR 72.

By Senators Johnson of the 2nd, Dean of the 31st, James of the 35th and others:
A resolution creating the Joint Driver's Education Study Committee.

Referred to Committee on Rules.

SR 73.

By Senators Oliver of the 42nd, Tanksley of the 32nd and Thomas of the 10th:
A resolution re-creating the Joint Guardianship Rewrite Committee.

Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

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SR 74.

By Senators Glanton of the 34th, Gochenour of the 27th, Balfour of the 9th and others:
A resolution. The Georgia Sovereignty Resolution of 1997. Claiming sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States over all powers not otherwise enumerated and granted to the federal government by the United States Constitution.

Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

SR 75.

By Senators Burton of the 5th, Henson of the 55th, Oliver of the 42nd and others:
A resolution commending the members of the Silver-Haired Legislature.

Read and adopted.

SR 76.

By Senator James of the 35th:
A resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution so as to provide for the election of local school superintendents; to provide for submission of this amendment for ratification or rejection.

Referred to Committee on Education.

SR 77.

By Senators Abernathy of the 38th, Thomas of the 10th, Walker of the 22nd and others:
A resolution urging that the Atlanta Braves baseball field within the Ted Turner Stadium be named in honor of Henry Aaron.

Referred to Committee on Economic Development, Tourism and Cultural Affairs.

SR 78.

By Senator Starr of the 44th: A resolution recognizing and commending Dr. Nancy Barr.

Read and adopted.

SR 79.

By Senator Johnson of the 1st:
A resolution recognizing and commending the Reverend Dr. Cecil Hodges.

Read and adopted.

SR 80.

By Senator Guhl of the 45th:
A resolution commending the Loganville Middle School Band and inviting them to appear before the Senate.

Read and adopted.

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