Senate first readers 2003 January 29

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SENATE FIRST READERS WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2003
EIGHTH LEGISLATIVE DAY

SB 31.

By Senators Stephens of the 51 st and Lee of the 29th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elections, and Title 42 of the O.C.G.A., relating to penal institut10ns, so as to provide for ethics refonns; to change provisions relative to the State Ethics Commission; to change provisions relative to disposition of campaign contributions; to provide for limitations relative to appearances before the Board of Corrections or the Department of Corrections by members of the General Assembly or state elected or appointed oflicials; to provide for criminal penalties; to change provisions relative to acceptance of campaign contributions during legislative session~; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Ethics Commiuee.

SB 32.

By Senators Thomas of the 2nd, Tate of the 38th and Brown of the 26th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 46-4-154 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the notice for election, unbundling, rates, application requirements, and surcharge on interruptibles, so as to provide a minimum amount for the surcharge on customers receiving interruptible service; to provide for related mauers; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Regulated Industries and Utihties Committee.

SB 33.

By Senators Thomas of the 2nd, Hill of the 4th and Johnson of the I st:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 3 of Chapter 3 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to other state symbols, so a~ to designate The Mighty Eighth Air Force Heritage Museum as an official State of Georgia center for character education; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Rules Committee.

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SB 34.

By Senators Thomas of the 2nd, Tate of the 38th, Seay of the 34th and Brown ofthe 26th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 5 of Chapter 4 of Title 46 of the 0.C.G.A., known as the ''Natural Gas Competition and Deregulation Act," so as to require the Public Service Commission to declare an emergency and regulate the delivery of natural gas to retail customers m this state; to provide for the applicability of certain laws with respect to the Public Service Commission's regulation of the delivery of natural gas to retail customers in this state; to provide for contracts between electing distribution companies and marketers, between marketers and retail customers, between electing distribution companies and the regulated provider, and between the regulated provider and the Public Service
Commission or the state; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting
laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee.

SB 35.

By Senators Johnson of the 1st and Lee of the 29th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to local government, so as to repeal the provisions of law requmng the adoption of a local government service delivery strategy agreement by municipalities and counties; to reenact provisions of law relating to coordinated and comprehensive planning as such provisions existed prior to May I, J997; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

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

SB 36

By Senators Thomas of the 10th, Stokes of the 43rd, Butler of the 55th, Jackson of the 50th, Seay of the 34th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 26 of Title 43 of the 0.C.G.A., relating to nurses, so as to enact a new article providing additional authority to advanced practice registered nurses to carry out prescnptive orders; to provide for a short title; to provide for legislative intent and findings and definitions; to provide for collaborative practice agreements and their contents and conditions; to provide for prescnpt10n drug and device orders and forms, conditions, and procedures relating thereto; to provide for application for certain registration numbers; to provide for liability and immunity therefrom; to provide for duties and powers of the Composite State Board of Medical Examiners and the Georgia Board of Nursing; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Health and Human Services Committee.

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SB 37.

By Senators Thompson of the 33rd, Johnson of the Ist, Hooks of the 14th and Clay of the 37th:

A DILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to motor vehicles and traffic, so as to regulate the use of electric personal as~ist1ve mobility devices; to define certain terms; to change certain provisions relating to powers of local authorities generally; to provide for certain equipment requirements for garbage trucks or sanitation trucks, to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Transportation Committee

SB 38.

By Senators Lamutt of the 21st, Shafer of the 48th, Clay of the 37th and Zamarripa of the 36th

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter I of Title 10 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to selling and other trade practices, so as to provide for limited protections for the owners of databases against unauthorized commercialization; to provide a short title; to provide for legislative purpose; to define certain terms; to provide criminal punishments and civil remedies for certain violations; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Science and Technology Committee.

SB 39.

By Senators Lamutt of the 21st and Johnson of the 1st:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 60 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions applicable to counties and municipal corporations, so as to provide that counties and municipalities that require building permits for construction or renovation of buildings and structures or for the installation, replacement, or improvement of plumbing, electrical, HVAC, gas, cable, or other systems in a building or structure shall permit applicants to apply for such permits through certain electronic media and shall provide for certain alternative means of paying any fees associated with the issuance of such permits; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Science and Technology Committee.

SB 40.

By Senators Lamutt of the 21st, Clay of the 37th and Crotts of the 17th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article I of Chapter 5 of Title 21 of the 0.C.G.A., relating to general provisions relative to ethics in government, so as to regulate political contributions and expenditures by labor organizations and separate segregated funds thereof; to amend Article 2 of Chapter 6 of Title 34 of the 0 C.G.A, relating to membership in labor organizations, so as to regulate certain political contributions; to regulate deductions from employees earnings of contributions to labor organizations or separate segregated funds thereof to be used for political purposes, to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Ethics Committee.

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SB 41.

By Senators Thompson of the 33rd, Meyer von Bremen of the 12th, Hooks of the 14th, Starr of the 44th, Dean of the 3lst and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part I of Article 2 of Chapter 5 of ~ Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to tax ~J exemptions, so as to increase the amount of the state-wide homestead exemption from all ad valorem taxation for state, county, and school purposes from $2,000.00 to $20,000.00; to specify the terms and conditions of the exemption and the procedures relating thereto, to provide for applicability; to provide for a referendum; to provide for automatic repeal under certain circumstances; to provide for effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Finance Committee.

SB42.

By Senators Price of the 56th, Moody of the 27th and Tanksley of the 32nd:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 31 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to incorporation of municipal corporations, so as to change the time in which certain minimum distance requirements apply; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

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

SB43.

By Senators Price of the 56th, Moody of the 27th, Tanksley of the 32nd and Johnson of the Jst:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 31 of Title 36 of the O.C.G,A., relating to incorporation of municipahties, so as to provide for legislative findings and authority; to provide for the creation of municipal charter commissions; to provide for definittons; to provide for petitions and the validation and invalidation thereof; to provide for the appointment and composition of the commissions and their organization, meetings, compensation, expenses, allowances, staffing, fundmg, duties, and powers; to provide for reports, incorporations of municipalities, charters, and special elections relating thereto; to provide for amendments of charters and applicability of Jaws relating thereto; to provide for exemptions from certain local laws; to repeal conflicting laws; ~nd for other purposes.

Referred to State and Local Governmental Operat10ns (General) Committee

SB 44.

By Senators Clay of the 37th, Tanksley of the 32nd and Hamrick of the 30th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter I of Title 29 of the Otlicial Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions concerning guardians, so as to provide certam immunities from Jiab1hty for persons serving as guardians ad !item; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Committee.

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SB 45.

By Senators Clay of the 37th, Tanksley of the 32nd and Hamrick of the 30th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 7 of Chapter 7 of Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to demands for trial, so as to require that a demand for trial be served on the judge assigned to hear such case; to specify when a demand for trial shall expire; to provide for the procedures subsequent to appeal; to provide for other matters relative to the foregoing; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Committee.

SB46.

By Senators Clay of the 37th, Thompson of the 33rd and Tanksley of the 32nd:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 4 of Chapter 21 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Peace Officer and Prosecutor Training Fund, so as to provide that such fund shall be used solely for peace officer and prosecutor trainmg; to provide for an accounting of receipts and appropriations; to repeal cont1icting laws, and for other purposes.

Referred to Public Safety and Homl:tand Security Committee.

SB47.

By Senators Clay of the 37th and Hamrick of the 30th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 42-9-42 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the procedure for granting relief from sentence, conditions and prerequisites, and violation of parole, so as to provide that the written decision of the Board of Pardons and Paroles in each case shall be made public; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Committee.

SB 48.

By Senators Clay of the 37th, Hamrick of the 30th and Tanksley of the 32nd:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 8 of Article I of Chapter 11 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relatmg to access to juvenile records and hearings, so as to provide that the disposition and evidence of juvenile proceedings may be used by a defendant in a civil action brought by the juvenile based upon the factual circumstances surrounding said proceeding, to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Committee.

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SB 49.

By Senators Price of the 56th, Moody of the 27th and Tanksley of the 32nd:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to incorporate the City of Sandy Springs in Fulton County; to provide for a charter for the City of Sandy Springs; to provide for incorporation, boundaries, and powers of the city; to provide for general powers and limitations on powers; to provide for a governing authority of such city and the powers, duties, authority, election, terms, method of filling vacancies, compensation, qualifications, prohibitions, districts, and removal from office relative to members of such governing authority, to provide for inquiries and investigations; to provide for organization and procedures, to provide for ordinances and codes; to provide for the office of mayor and certain duties and powers relative to the office of mayor; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.

SB 50.

By Senators Seabaugh of the 28th, Golden of the 8th, Price of the 56th, Moody of the 27th, Mullis of the 53rd and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to insurance, so as to enact the_ "Georgia Consumer Choice of Benefits Health Insurance Plan Act"; to provide a short title; to provide for legislative intent; to provide definitions; to provide that Georgia ~onsumer Choice of Benefits Health Insurance Plan policies or contracts not subject to state mandated health benefits may be offered by insurers to group or individual policyholders; to provide exceptions; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

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Referred to Insurance and Labor Committee.

SB 51.

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By Senators Shafer of the 48th, Price of the 56th, Johnson of the !st, Hooks

of the 14th, Tate of the 38th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 16-12-100 2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, known as the "Computer Pornography and Child Exploitation Prevention Act of 1999," so as to change the penalty for certain unlawful acts in violation of such Code section; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Science and Technology Committee.

SB 52.

By Senators Shafer of the 48th, Price of the 56th, Johnson of the !st, Hooks of the 14th, Tate of the 38th and others

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to education, so as to condition funding for computers with Internet acces~ in schools on adoption of Internet safety policies; to condition funding for computers with Internet access in public libraries on adoption of Internet safety policies; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Education Committee.

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SB 53.

By Senator Cheeks of the 23rd:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 6A of Title 7 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, the "Georgia Fair Lending Act," so as to provide for exclusions to the definition of creditor; to exclude certain fees from the definition of points and fees; to provide for liability of creditors for v10lations of the Act; to provide for violations of the Act by brokers; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Banking and Financial Institut10ns Committee.

SR 31

By Senators Lee of the 29th, Stephens of the 51 st, Clay of the 37th and Hill of the 4th:

A RESOLUTION commending the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) and recognizing "PAGE Day on Capitol Hill", and for other purposes

Read and adopted.

SR32.

Dy Senator Tolleson of the 18th:

A RESOLUTION commending Honorable Susan W. Cable; and for other purposes.

Read and adopted.

SR33.

By Senator Bulloch of the 11th:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending the Georgia Farm Bureau Federation; and for other purposes.

Read and adopted.

SR 34

By Senators Thomas of the 2nd and Kemp of the 3rd:

A RESOLUTION honoring the Reverend James "JC" Shipman on the occas10n of his 20th anniversary celebration; and for other purposes

Read and adopted.

SR 35

By Senators Thomas of the 10th, Adelman of the 42nd, Harbison of the 15th, Kemp of the 3rd, Starr of the 44th and others:

A RESOLUTION creating the Blue Ribbon Commission on Response, Investigation, and Prosecution of Sexual Offenses; to provide for the commission's membership, powers, duties, mission, compensation, and expenses; to provide for related matters; and for other purposes.

Referred to Special Judiciary Committee.

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SR36.

By Senators Thompson of the 33rd, Meyer von Bremen of the 12th, Hooks of the 14th, Dean of the 31st, Starr of the 44th and others:
A RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to the Constitution so as to r-'\
require annual appropriations for homeowner tax relief grants with a benefit .__.) equivalent to a homestead exemption of$18,000.00 of the assessed value of a taxpayer's nomestead; to provide for the submiss10n of this amendment for ratification or rejection; and for other purposes.

Referred to Finance Committee.

SR 37.

By Senators Gillis of the 20th, Starr of the 44th, Williams of the 19th, Johnson of the 1st, Jackson of the 50th and others.

A RESOLUTION commending the Georgia Forestry Association and recognizing January 30, 2003, as "Forestry Day at the Capitol"; and for other purposes.

Read and adopted.

SR38

By Senators Stokes of the 43rd, Crotts of the 17th and Thomas of the 10th:

A RESOLUTION designating the Earl Paulk Parkway; and for other purposes.

Referred to Transportation Committee.

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