Senate first readers 2007 February 14

SENATE FIRST READERS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14,2007 TWENTIETH LEGISLATIVE DAY

SB 154.

By Senators Murphy of the 27th, Pearson of the 51st, Johnson of the 1st, Rogers of the 21st, Shafer of the 48th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 30 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions applicable only to municipal corporations, so as to provide that municipal corporations and newly incorporated municipalities enter into certain agreements with solid waste collection firms providing services for the territory annexed or incorporated; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Economic Development Committee.

SB 155. By Senator Balfour of the 9th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 3 of Article 16 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to student health in elementary and secondary education, so as to require immunization against human papillomavirus for female students entering the sixth grade; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Refmed to Health and Human Services Committee.

SB 156.

By Senators Balfour of the 9th, Cowsert of the 46th, Hawkins of the 49th and Stoner of the 6th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 20 of Title 47 of the Official Code of Georgia h o t a t e d , relating to minimm funding standards for public retirement systems, so as to provide that counties, municipal corporations, and other political subdivisions may provide post-employment benefits other than retirement or pension benefits; to define certain terms; to provide that such plans may be prefunded to comply with certain financial reporting, disclosure, and actuarial requirements; to provide that such funds shall be held in trust for the intended purpose; to provide that such funds are declared to be public property exempt &om state and local taxation; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Retirement Committee.

SB 157.

By Senators Tolleson of the 20th, Meyer von Bremen of the 12th, Bulloch of the 11th, Williams of the 19th, Hill of the 4th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 3 of Chapter 9 of Title 12 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to gasoline additives, so as to provide for grants to persons to finance installing, replacing, and converting motor fuel storage equipment to facilitate storing and dispensing E-85 gasoline for retail sale; to define certain tenns; to provide legislative findings and declarations; to provide for rules and regulations; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Natural Resources and the Environment Committee.

By Senators Balfour of the 9th, Weber of the 40th, Butler of the 55th, Shafer of the 48th, Henson of the 41st and others:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act creating the winn nett Judicial
Circuit and providing for its powers, duties, jurisdiction, and officers, approved February 12, 1960 (Ga. L. 1960, p. 1lo), as amended, particularly by an Act approved May 10, 2005 (Ga. L. 2005, p. 4142), so as to change provisions relating to the salary supplements for the judges of the Gwinnett Judicial Circuit; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.

SB 159.

By Senators Staton of the 18th, Rogers of the 21st, Chance of the 16th, Seabaugh of the 28th, Golden of the 8th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 1 of Article 2 of Chapter 5 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to tax exemptions, so as to change the date for filing applications for homestead exemptions; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Finance Committee.

SB 160.

By Senators Heath of the 31st, Tate of the 38th, Murphy of the 27th, Schaefer of the 50th, Stoner of the 6th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 47-1-30 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the authority to increase retirement benefits, so as to provide that such authority shall terminate on July 1, 2007; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Retirement Committee.

SB 161.

By Senators Heath of the 31st, Murphy of the 27th, Stoner of the 6th and Schaefer of the 50th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 47-2-125 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to reexamination of persons receiving disability benefits under the Employees' Retirement System of Georgia, effect of refusal to undergo examination, and effect of ability to engage in gainful employment, so as to delete provisions providing for physical examinations done at a place convenient to the beneficiary; to provide that a beneficiary who has not reached the age of 60 shall submit to an examination; to provide that the disability retirement benefit of certain members shall be reduced by such amounts that the beneficiary receives fiom workers' compensation; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Retirement Committee.

SB 162.

By Senators Heath of the 31st, Tate of the 38th, Murphy of the 27th, Schaefer of the 50th, Stoner of the 6th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 47-2-123 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to allowance payable upon death, disability, or involuntary separation fi-om employment, restrictions on separating from employment, and restrictions on entitlement to involuntary separation benefits, so as to provide that a person who becomes a member of the Employees' Retirement System of Georgia on or after July 1,2007, shall be entitled to a disability benefit based upon the actual years of creditable service he or she had attained on the date of retirement; to provide that no such person who is eligible for an equivalent service retirement shall be entitled to receive a disability allowance; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Retirement Committee.

By Senators Heath of the 31st, Tate of the 38th, Murphy of the 27th, Schaefer of the 50th, Stoner of the 6th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 47-2-292 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to merit system of personnel administration for county revenue employees, membership in the Employees' Retirement System of Georgia, contributions, and credit for prior service, so as to provide that no person who becomes a tax commissioner, tax collector, tax receiver, or an employee of any such officer on or after July 1, 2008, shall be eligible for membership in the Employees' Retirement System of Georgia; to provide conditions for an effective date and automatic repeal; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Retirement Committee.

SB 164.

By Senators Balfour of the 9th, Williams of the 19th, Golden of the 8th, Stoner of the 6th, Bulloch of the 11th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to health, so as to so as to enact the "Certificate of Need Reformation Act of 2007"; to provide for transition; to amend various other titles of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated so as to revise provisions for purposes of conformity; to provide for related matters; to provide for effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Health and Human Services Committee.

SB 165. By Senator Bulloch of the 1lth:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 8 of Title 2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to agricultural commodity commissions generally, so as to change certain provisions relating to ratification of commissions, governance by said chapter, and balloting to determine continued existence; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee.

SB 172. By Senator Goggans of the 7th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend provisions of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated relating to public employee health care; to amend Article 6 of Chapter 18 of Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Georgia Retiree Health Benefit Fund, so as to provide for reports to the board of community health, to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Apptopriations Committee.

SR 259.

By Senator Thomas of the 2nd:

A RESOLUTION commending Dr. Olivia Swanson; and for other purposes.

Read and adopted.

SR 260.

By Senators Tolleson of the 20th and Hooks of the 14th:

A RESOLUTION celebrating and recognizing Historic Preservation Day at Rhodes Hall; and for other purposes.

Read and adopted.

SR 261.

By Senators Harnrick of the 30th, Mullis of the 53rd, Williams of the 19th and Johnson of the 1st:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Waffle House, Inc.; and for other purposes.

Referred to Rules Committee.

SR 262.

By Senators Hamrick of the 30th and Seabaugh of the 28th:

A RESOLUTION expressing congratulations and best wishes to Miss Nell Katherine Meadows on the occasion of her 108th birthday; and for other purposes.

Read and adopted.

SR 263.

By Senators Balfour of the 9th, Hudgens of the 47th, Cowsert of the 46th, Unterman of the 45th, Shafer of the 48th and others:

A BILL urging the Congress of the United States to provide fimding for the engineering, construction, and land acquisition and other necessary costs for commuter rail connecting Athens to Atlanta; and for other purposes.

Referred to Transportation Committee.

SR 264.

By Senators Wiles of the 37th, Hill of the 32nd, Thompson of the 33rd, Stoner of the 6th and Rogers of the 21st:

A RESOLUTION congratulating the Mount Paran Christian School Cheerleading Squad for winning the Fellowship of Christian Cheerleaders National Championship.

Read and adopted.

SR 265.

By Senator Harbison of the 15th

A RESOLUTION commending Evelyn W. Turner Pugh; and for other purposes.

Read and adopted.

SR 267.

By Senator Rogers of the 21st:

A RESOLUTION commending the Sequoyah High School Lady Chiefs fast pitch softball team; and for other purposes.

Read and adopted.

SR 268.

By Senator Rogers of the 21st:

A RESOLUTION commending the Woodstock High School Lady Wolverines fast pitch softball team; and for other purposes.

Read and adopted.

SR 269.

By Senators Johnson of the lst, Williams of the 19th, Brown of the 26th, Balfow of the 9th, Powell of the 23rd and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and recognizing February 15, 2007, as "Georgia Chamber of Commerce Business Day"; and for other purposes.

Read and adopted.

SR 270.

By Senators Schaefer of the 50th, Smith of the 52nd, Staton of the 18th, Hill of the 4th, Mullis of the 53rd and others:

A RESOLUTION urging the Capitol Arts Standards Commission to authorize the placement of a statue on the grounds of the State Capitol Building honoring Zell Bryan Miller; and for other purposes.

Referred to State Institutions and Property Committee.

SR 271.

By Senator Weber of the 40th:

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

Read and adopted.

SR 275. By Senators Harp of the 29th and Wiles of the 37th:

A RESOLUTION honoring the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia on the occasion of the University System of Georgia's 75th anniversary; and for other purposes.

Read and adopted.