Senate first readers 2007 February 28

SENATE FIRST READERS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28,2007
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATIVE DAY
SB 238. By Senator Meyer von Bremen of the 12th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 16-10-94 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to tampering with evidence, so as to remove the requirement that such offense involve another person; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to Special Judiciary Committee.
SB 239. By Senator Goggans of the 7th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 9 of Title 34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding workers' compensation, so as to provide a definition for the term "farm laborers"; to provide for the applicability of Chapter 9 of Title 34; to repeal conflicting laws: and for other purposes.
Referred to Insurance and Labor Committee.
By Senators Heath of the 31st and Hill of the 32nd:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to make certain findings of fact and a statement of intent; to amend Article 1 of Chapter 1 of Title 47 of the O.C.G.A., relating to general provisions relating to retirement and pensions, so as to provide that any member of certain retirement systems shall be entitled to direct that all employer and employee contributions made by or on behalf of him or her, together with earnings thereon, be transferred to an account of his or her choosing so that he or she may manage the investment of such hnds without the expertise or intervention of such retirement systems and that his or her membership and participation in any public retirement system be terminated; to provide that such persons shall thereafter be ineligible to participate in a public retirement system; to provide for an application; to provide for procedures; to provide conditions for an effective date and automatic repeal; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to Retirement Committee.
SB 241. By Senator Hill of the 32nd:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 33 of the O.C.G.A., relating to insurance, so as to comprehensively revise the laws of Georgia concerning the provision of health insurance; to provide that preferred provider arrangements shall not have differences in coinsurance percentages applicable to benefit levels for services provided by preferred and nonpreferred providers which differ by more than 40 percentage points; to provide that preferred provider arrangements shall not have a coinsurance percentage applicable to benefit levels for services provided by nonpreferred providers which exceeds 50 percent of the benefit levels under the policy for such services; to provide that an insured under a group accident and sickness policy may include dependents up to age 25 or until two years after ceasing to be a dependent, whichever is earlier; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to Insurance and Labor Committee.

SB 242. By Senator Mullis of the 53rd:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to provide a homestead exemption from Chattooga County ad valorem taxes for county purposes in percentages of the assessed value of the homestead based upon income for certain residents of that county who have annual incomes not exceeding $20,000.00 and who are 70 years of age or over; to provide for definitions; to specify the terms and conditions of the exemption and the procedures relating thereto; to provide for applicability; to provide for a referendum, effective dates, and automatic repeal; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.
SB 243. By Senator Unterman of the 45th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 21 of the O.C.G.A., relating to elections and ethics, so as to substantially revise Chapter 5, the "Ethics in Government Act"; to change numerous provisions relating to the State Ethics Commission, campaign contributions and campaign finance disclosure, public official and candidate personal financial disclosures, and lobbyist regulation and disclosure; to define and redefine terms; to change provisions relating to the composition and operations of the commission; to provide for annual ethics training by the commission and require completion of training by certain elected officials and public officers; to change provisions relating to permissible and impermissible campaign contributions and expenditure and the reporting thereof; to provide for centralized electronic filing of reports; to provide an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to Ethics Committee.
SB 244. By Senator Schaefer of the 50th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act establishing a new charter for the Town of Tallulah Falls, approved February 6, 1984 (Ga. L. 1984, p. 3547), as amended, so as to change certain provisions relating to quorum, voting, and special meetings of the town council; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for the other purposes.
Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.
SB 245. By Senator Stoner of the 6th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 3 of Title 3 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the regulation of alcoholic beverages generally, so as to authorize the governing authority of a county or municipality to permit the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises until 4:30 A.M. each day and beginning at 12:30 P.M. on Sundays; to provide that such authorization shall be by resolution or ordinance approved in a referendum; to provide for other matters relative thereto; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee.

SB 246.

By Senators Mullis of the 53rd, Thomas of the 54th, Hill of the 4th, Powell of the 23rd and Stoner of the 6th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to standards and requirements for construction, alteration, etc. of buildings and other structures, so as to amend provisions relating to the appointment and vacancies of members to the advisory committee on industrialized buildings; to provide for changes to the composition of such committee; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee.

SB 247.

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

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act creating the State Court of Cobb County, approved March 26, 1964 (Ga. L. 1964, p. 321I), as amended, particularly by an Act approved May 1, 2006 (Ga. L. 2006, p. 3984), so as to change the compensation of the judges of the state court; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.

SB 248.

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

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act creating the State Court of Cobb County, approved March 26, 1964 (Ga. L. 1964, p. 321I), as amended, particularly by an Act approved May 5, 2006 (Ga. L. 2006, p. 4276), so as to change the compensation of the solicitor-general; to change the provisions relating to the compensation of assistant solicitors; 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 Committee.

SB 249.

By Senators Whitehead, Sr. of the 24th, Seabaugh of the 28th, Chapman of the 3rd, Douglas of the 17th, Staton of the 18th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 1 of Title 42 of the O.C.G.A., relating to the Sexual Offender Registration Review Board, so as to change certain definitions; to provide for sexual offenders to register with the sheriff of any county where such offender resides, is employed, or is attending an institution of higher education in lieu of only registering in the munty of residence and having the sheriff for such county be responsible for forwarding information about such offender to the sheriffs of the counties where such offender is employed or attends an institution of higher education; to require sexual offenders to submit palm prints; to change certain residency requirements for certain sexual offenders; to require the Department of Corrections to forward certain information to sheriffs; to change reporting requirements when a sexual offender is incarcerated; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee.

SB 250. By Senators Henson of the 41st and Ramsey, Sr. of the 43rd:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 16 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to public property, so as to provide standards for certain roofing of state owned buildings and facilities; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to State Institutions and Property Committee.
SB 251. By Senator Thompson of the 5th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 2 of Title 40 of the O.C.G.A., relating to the registration and licensing of motor vehicles, so as to require the establishment by the Department of Revenue of an Internet website for stolen and towed motor vehicles; to require that each tow truck or wrecker operator shall post the vehicle identification numbers and license plate numbers of certain motor vehicles that are towed by such operator on such website within certain periods of time; to provide for penalties for failing to post such information; to require law enforcement agencies in this state to post the vehicle identification numbers and license plate numbers of stolen vehicles on such website; to provide for enforcement by the Department of Revenue; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee.
SB 252. By Senator Wiles of the 37th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 16 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to firearms dealers, so as to transfer authority for the regulation of firearms dealers from the Department of Public Safety to the state revenue commissioner; to provide for a definition; to provide for the promulgation of rules and regulations regarding firearms dealers; to change the provisions relating to surety bonds; to provide for penalties; to provide for the inspection of licensees and their books, records, and other materials and premises; to provide for practices and procedures; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee.
SB 253. By Senators Wiles of the 37th and Thomas of the 54th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 43-34-26.3 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to delegation of certain medical acts to advanced practice registered nurses, so as to provide for on-site patient evaluation; to provide for examination of all patients who receive a prescription drug order for a controlled substance of more than a ten-day supply; to provide for approval by the board of nurse protocol agreements; to provide for a fee; to revise a provision relating to unlawful activity; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to Health and Human Services Committee.

SB 254.

By Senators Grant of the 25th, Mullis of the 53rd, Chance of the 16th and Whitehead, Sr. of the 24th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 9 of Title 45 of the O.C.G.A., relating to insuring and indemnification s f public officers and employees, so as to provide that the Department of Administrative Services shall be the custodian and administrator of the G~orgiaState Indemnification Fund; to define certain terms; to provide that the department shall approve or deny claims for indemnification for permanent disability or death; to provide for the composition of the Georgia State Indemnification Commission; to provide that such commission shall review decisions of the department relative to the approval or denial of claims for indemnification; to provide for a schedule of indemnification; to provide for the .payment of claims; to provide for the appeal of decisions; to provide for restrictions; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Insurance and Labor Committee.

SB 255.

By Senators Fort of the 39th, Davenport of the 44th, Orrock of the 36th, Stoner of the 6th, Thompson of the 5th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 10 of Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the death penalty generally, so as to provide for a moratorium on the administration of a death sentence; to provide a statement of legislative findings; to provide for conflicts and construction; to provide for applicability; to provide for automatic repeal; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Committee.

SB 256.

By Senators Mullis of the 53rd, Heath of the 31st, Pearson of the 5 1st, Thomas of the 54th, Rogers of the 21st and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 2 of Article 3 of Chapter 6 of Title 32 of the O.C.G.A., relating to outdoor advertising signs on the interstate system, primary highways, and other highways, so as to provide for certain height limitations on such outdoor advertising signs and for certain conditions for lowering of existing signs in excess of such height limitations; to provide for certain changes in the sizes of trees permitted to be trimmed or removed from the viewing zones of such signs and for certain changes to the extent of such viewing zones; to provide that where relocation of a sign is required but conflicts with local zoning or land use ordinances, compensation shall be paid to the owner of such sign by the jurisdiction imposing such ordinances; to provide for matters relative to the foregoing; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Transportation Committee.

SB 257. By Senators Fort of the 39th, Tate of the 38th and Thomas of the 2nd:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 1 of Article 16 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to school attendance in elementary and secondary education, so as to enact the "Dropout Deterrent Act"; to provide for a short title; to revise the age of mandatory education; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Education and Youth Committee.