Senate first readers 2007 February 13

SENATE FIRST READERS TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13,2007 NINETEENTH LEGISLATIVE DAY

SB 147.

By Senators Shafer of the 48th, Balfour of the 9th, Thompson of the 5th and Weber of the 40th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to create the Gwinnett County Storm-water Authority; to authorize the storm-water authority to acquire, construct, add to, extend, improve, operate, and maintain storm-water management systems and facilities, and any and all other related facilities; to confer powers and to impose duties on the storm-water authority; to provide for the members of the stormwater authority and their term of tenure and compensation; to fix'the venue or jurisdiction of actions relating to any provisions of this Act and to provide that such bonds or obligations be validated as authorized by Article 3 of Chapter 82 of Title 36 of the O.C.G.A., the "Revenue Bond Law;" to provide for liberal construction; to provide for severability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.

SB 148.

By Senators Shafer of the 48th, Staton of the 18th, Thomas of the 54th, Rogers of the 21st, Heath of the 31st and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 31 of the O.C.G.A., relating to health, so as to provide a short title; to provide legislative intent and findings; to provide definitions; to create the Newborn Umbilical Cord Blood Bank for postnatal tissue and fluid; to provide for donations and information concerning donations; to provide for the creation of the Georgia Commission for Saving the Cure &d the membership, appointment, tenns of office, and duties of such commission; to provide for certain funding mechanisms; to amend Article 3 of Chapter 7 of Title 48 of the O.C.G.A., relating to income tax returns and information, so as to authorize taxpayers to make certain contributions through the income tax payment and refund process; to provide an effective date and for applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Science and Technology Committee.

SB 149. By Senator Smith of the 52nd:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to provide that future elections for the office of judge of the Probate Court of Floyd County shall be nonpartisan elections; to provide for submission of this Act under the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.

SB 150. By Senators Hill of the 32nd and Thomas of the 54th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to m e n d Chapter 4 of Title 26 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to pharmacists and pharmacies, so as to require pharmacies to submit certain performance and cost data to the Department of Community Health; to amend Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to health, so as to provide for the establishment of a website to provide consumers with information on the cost and quality of health care in Georgia; to provide for related matters; to provide effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Health and Human Services Committee.

SB 151. By Senator Hill of the 32nd:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to create the Georgia Health Security Underwriting Authority; to provide alternative mechanism coverage for the availability of individual health insurance; to provide definitions; to provide for an assignment group underwriting board; to provide for powers, duties, and authority of the board; to provide for the selection of an administrator or administrators; to provide for the duties of the Commissioner of Insurance with respect to the board and assignment group; to provide for the establishment of rates; to provide for eligibility for and termination of coverage; to provide for minimum assignment group benefits; to provide for certain exclusions for preexisting conditions; to provide for funding; to provide for related matters; to repeal the Georgia High Risk Health Insurance Plan; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Insurance and Labor Committee.

SB 152. By Senator Schaefer of the 50th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act creating a new charter for the City of Clarkesville in the County of Habersham, approved April 9, 1981 (Ga. L. 1981, p. 4502), as amended, so as to change the corporate limits of the city; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.

SB 153. By Senator Hill of the 32nd:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to insurance, so as to provide for the development of consumer driven health insurance plans by the Commissioner of Insurance; to allow such plans to include wellness and health promotion programs; to provide that such programs shall not be considered unfair trade practices; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Insurance and Labor Committee.

SR 248.

By Senators Shafer of the 48th, Moody of the 56th, Rogers of the 21st, Weber of the 40th, Stoner of the 6th and others:

A RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to the Constitution so as to prohibit a county from levying ad valorem taxes or assessments within a municipality as special services districts or within a municipality for services provided by the municipality; to provide for the submission of this amendment for ratification or rejection; and for other purposes.

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

SR 249.

By Senators Grant of the 25th, Harp of the 29th, Harbison of the 15th, Goggans of the 7th, Smith of the 52nd and others:

A RESOLUTION authorizing the granting of nonexclusive easements for operation and maintenance of facilities, utilities, and ingress and egress, in, on, over, under, upon, across, or through property owned by the State of Georgia in Cobb, Floyd, Gwinnett, Muscogee, Padding, and Ware counties, Georgia; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Refmed to State Institutions and Property Committee.

SR 250.

By Senators Tolleson of the 20th, Harp of the 29th and Thomas of the 54th:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending the Council on American Indian Concerns; and for other purposes.

Read and adopted.

SR 251.

By Senators Thomas of the 54th, Johnson of the lst, Thomas of the 2nd and Hill of the 4th:

A RESOLUTION recognizing Happy Home Missionary Baptist Church on the occasion of its one-hundredth anniversary; and for other purposes.

Read and adopted.

SR 252.

By Senators Thomas of the 54th, Staton of the 18th, Mullis of the 53rd, Smith of the 52nd, Murphy of the 27th and others:

A RESOLUTION commending the emergency medical services professionals of Georgia and recognizing Thursday, February 22, 2007, as "Emergency Medical Services Recognition Day"; and for other purposes.

Read and adopted.

SR 253. By Senator Harbison of the 15th:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Mr. Robert Anderson on the occasion of his retirement; and for other purposes.

Read and adopted.

SR 254.

By Senator Harbison of the 15th:

A RESOLUTION commending Mrs. Vivian Creighton Bishop; and for other purposes.

Read and adopted.

SR 255. By Senator Harbison of the 15th:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Representative Calvin Smyre and congratulating him on the occasion of his election as the president of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators; and for other purposes.

Read and adopted.

SR 256.

By Senator Harbison of the 15th:

A RESOLUTION commendingJames Walker; and for other purposes.

Read and adopted.

SR 257.

By Senator Rogers of the 21st:

A RESOLUTION recognizing Sue Filiberto for her outstanding leadership and service to the community of Cherokee County; and for other purposes.

Read and adopted.

SR 258.

By Senators Tolleson of the 20th and Staton of the 18th:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Feagin Mill Middle School on its designation as a 2007 Georgia School of Excellence in Student Achievement; and for other purposes.

Read and adopted.

SR 266. By Senator Seay of the 34th:
A RESOLUTION commending the Leadership Clayton Class of 2007; and for other purposes.
Read and adopted.