Senate first readers [Jan. 12, 2016]

SENATE FIRST READERS TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016 SECOND LEGISLATIVE DAY

SB 254.

By Senators Jones II of the 22nd, Fort of the 39th, Orrock of the 36th, Rhett of the 33rd, Sims of the 12th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 16-13-2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to possession of marijuana and conditional discharge for possession of controlled substances as first offense and certain nonviolent property crimes, so as to provide that simple possession of marijuana constitutes a misdemeanor; to amend Titles 15 and 16 and Code Sections 17-7-72 and 36-32-6 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to courts, crimes and offenses, jurisdiction of probate courts to try certain drug and alcohol offenses, and municipal court jurisdiction in marijuana possession cases, respectively, so as to provide for conforming cross-references; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Non-Civil Committee.

SB 255.

By Senators Stone of the 23rd, Bethel of the 54th, Millar of the 40th, Albers of the 56th, Ligon, Jr. of the 3rd and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 18 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to debtor and creditor, so as to modernize, reorganize, and provide constitutional protections in garnishment proceedings; to provide for definitions; to provide for an affidavit and summons of garnishment, contents, and procedure for garnishment; to provide for property being subject to and exempt from garnishment; to provide for a defendant's and third party's claim and plaintiff's traverse and the procedure for claims and traverses; to provide for procedures only applicable to financial institutions; to provide for and require the use of certain forms for garnishment proceedings; to amend Code Sections 44-750 and 53-12-80 of the O.C.G.A., relating to demand for possession and spendthrift provisions, respectively, so as to correct cross-references; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Committee.

SB 258.

By Senators Millar of the 40th and Albers of the 56th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 48-5-311 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to creation of county boards of equalization, duties, review of assessments, and appeals, so as to provide that the assessed value of property for a taxable year shall not be increased beyond the initial assessment value established by the board of tax assessors during an appeal of such valuation for such taxable year by the taxpayer but may be reduced as a result of the appeal of the taxpayer; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Finance Committee.

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SB 259.

By Senators Millar of the 40th, Shafer of the 48th, Hill of the 32nd and Albers of the 56th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 5 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to property tax exemptions and deferral, so as to provide for a homestead exemption from ad valorem taxes for state, county, municipal, or school purposes in an amount equal to the amount by which the current year assessed value of a homestead exceeds the adjusted base year assessed value of such homestead; 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 Finance Committee.

SB 260.

By Senators Rhett of the 33rd, James of the 35th, Tate of the 38th, Fort of the 39th, Davenport of the 44th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 3 of Article 4 of Chapter 11 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to carrying and possession of firearms, so as to prohibit the purchase of a firearm by any person who is currently a party to a proceeding instituted under Chapter 5 of Title 19 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated without permission of the presiding judge; to provide for definitions; to provide for exceptions; to provide for criminal penalties; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Non-Civil Committee.

SB 261.

By Senators Seay of the 34th, Henson of the 41st, Davenport of the 44th, Butler of the 55th and James of the 35th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 7 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the imposition, rate, and computation of and exemptions from state income taxes, so as to create an income tax credit for employers who hire certain qualified parolees for fulltime jobs; to provide for rules and regulations and an application process related to such income tax credit; to provide for certain conditions and limitations; to provide for definitions; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Finance Committee.

SB 262.

By Senator Stone of the 23rd:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to courts, so as to change provisions relating to when a judge, judicial officer, grand juror, or trial juror may be disqualified from presiding or serving, as applicable, due to being related by consanguinity or affinity to a party; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Committee.

SR 653.

By Senator Mullis of the 53rd:

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A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Canyon Grill in Lookout Mountain, Georgia; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 654.

By Senator Mullis of the 53rd:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending JB's BBQ in Lafayette, Georgia; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 655.

By Senators Jackson of the 2nd and Watson of the 1st:

A RESOLUTION commending Julie Kirk, New Hampstead High School's 2014-2015 Teacher of the Year; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 656.

By Senators Jackson of the 2nd and Watson of the 1st:

A RESOLUTION commending Rachel Starling Hurst, Islands High School's 2014-2015 Teacher of the Year; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 657.

By Senators Jackson of the 2nd and Watson of the 1st:

A RESOLUTION commending Mary K. Bir, Windsor Forest High School's 2014-2015 Teacher of the Year; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 658.

By Senators Jackson of the 2nd and Watson of the 1st:

A RESOLUTION commending Paige Morgan, Windsor Forest High School's 2014-2015 Teacher of the Year; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 659.

By Senator Jackson of the 2nd:

A RESOLUTION commending Timothy Cone, Woodville-Tompkins High School's 2014-2015 Teacher of the Year; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 660.

By Senator Jackson of the 2nd:

A RESOLUTION commending Dmetri S. Nevels, Johnson High School's 2014-2015 Teacher of the Year; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 661.

By Senator Jackson of the 2nd:

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A RESOLUTION commending Daniel Kamykowski, Jenkins High School's 2014-2015 Teacher of the Year; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 662.

By Senator Jackson of the 2nd:

A RESOLUTION commending Joel Clackum, Islands High School's 20142015 Teacher of the Year; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 663.

By Senator Jackson of the 2nd:

A RESOLUTION commending Melissa Maikos-Ptacin, Beach High School's 2014-2015 Teacher of the Year; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 664.

By Senator Jackson of the 2nd:

A RESOLUTION commending Fehmina Kauser, Groves High School's 2014-2015 Teacher of the Year; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 665.

By Senator Jackson of the 2nd:

A RESOLUTION commending Rebecca Alt, Groves High School's 20142015 Teacher of the Year; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 666.

By Senator Jackson of the 2nd:

A RESOLUTION commending Yvette Rushing, Jenkins High School's 2014-2015 Teacher of the Year; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 667.

By Senator Jackson of the 2nd:

A RESOLUTION commending Teorna Thomas, Savannah High School LS 2014-2015 Teacher of the Year; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 668.

By Senator Jackson of the 2nd:

A RESOLUTION commending Jewel Hendrix, Savannah Arts High School's 2014-2015 Teacher of the Year; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 669.

By Senator Jackson of the 2nd:

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A RESOLUTION commending Cindy Campbell, Coastal GA Comprehensive High School's 2014-2015 Teacher of the Year; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 670.

By Senator Jackson of the 2nd:

A RESOLUTION commending Doug Kearse, Early College's 2014-2015 Teacher of the Year; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 671.

By Senator Jackson of the 2nd:

A RESOLUTION commending David Ackerman, Coastal GA Comprehensive High School's 2014-2015 Teacher of the Year; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 672.

By Senator Harbin of the 16th:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Jerry Lloyd Harbin and Earline Addis Harbin on the grand occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 673.

By Senator Tate of the 38th:

A RESOLUTION honoring the life and expressing regret at the passing of Dr. Louise Thornton Hollowell; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 679.

By Senators Shafer of the 48th, Albers of the 56th, Miller of the 49th, Martin of the 9th and Thompson of the 5th:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and honoring January 13, 2016, as Korean American Day at the State Capitol; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 680.

By Senators Shafer of the 48th, Crane of the 28th, Kirk of the 13th, Black of the 8th, Bethel of the 54th and others:

A RESOLUTION honoring the life and memory of Sharon Overton McKoon; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 681.

By Senators Seay of the 34th, Davenport of the 44th, Butler of the 55th and Sims of the 12th:

A RESOLUTION honoring the life and memory of Dr. Ozias Pearson; and for other purposes.

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Read and Adopted.

SR 682.

By Senators Seay of the 34th, Davenport of the 44th, Butler of the 55th and Sims of the 12th:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Mrs. Gerrian Hawes on her outstanding public service; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 683.

By Senators Heath of the 31st, Albers of the 56th, McKoon of the 29th, Harbin of the 16th, Crane of the 28th and others:

A RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Georgia so as to prohibit the General Assembly from adopting a conference committee report unless such report has been publicly available overnight; to provide for submission of this amendment for ratification or rejection; and for other purposes.

Referred to Rules Committee.

SR 684.

By Senators Heath of the 31st, Tippins of the 37th, Millar of the 40th, Harbin of the 16th, Gooch of the 51st and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing January 14, 2016, as Sportsmen's and Coastal Day at the capitol; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 685.

By Senators Davenport of the 44th, Seay of the 34th, Jeffares of the 17th and Jones of the 10th:

A RESOLUTION commending Clayton State University and recognizing January 12, 2016, as Clayton State University Day at the state capitol; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 686.

By Senators Fort of the 39th, Tate of the 38th, Butler of the 55th, Seay of the 34th, Davenport of the 44th and others:

A RESOLUTION honoring the legacy of Hosea Williams, public servant and civil rights activist; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

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