Senate first readers, 2020 February 24

SENATE FIRST READERS MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2020 SEVENTEENTH LEGISLATIVE DAY

SB 417.

By Senators Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Watson of the 1st, Hufstetler of the 52nd, Burke of the 11th, Orrock of the 36th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 34 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to physicians, assistants, and others, so as to revise provisions relating to criminal background checks for certain health care professionals and others; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Health and Human Services Committee.

SB 418.

By Senators Thompson of the 14th, Albers of the 56th, Unterman of the 45th, Mullis of the 53rd, Harbin of the 16th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 1 of Article 5 of Chapter 9 of Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Georgia State Indemnification Fund, so as revise when indemnification shall be paid in instances of a heart attack, stroke, or vascular rupture suffered by a public safety officer resulting in certain disabilities or death; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Public Safety Committee.

SB 419.

By Senators Jones of the 10th, Jones of the 25th, Jackson of the 2nd, Parent of the 42nd, Seay of the 34th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 51 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding torts, so as to provide for a presumption against liability for certain businesses that are open to the general public; to provide for a definition; to provide for criteria; to provide for exceptions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Insurance and Labor Committee.

SB 420.

By Senators Jones of the 10th, Karinshak of the 48th, Harbison of the 15th, Sims of the 12th, Jackson of the 2nd and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 26-2-25 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to licensing of food sales establishments, so as to direct the Department of Agriculture to establish rules and regulations relating to the public use of restroom facilities in food sales establishments; to provide that if a food sales establishment permits members of the public to use its restroom facilities, it must do so without discriminating on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, or age and must maintain the restrooms in a clean and serviceable condition; to provide for penalties for noncompliance; to provide for related matters; 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 421.

By Senators Jones of the 10th, Harrell of the 40th, Orrock of the 36th, Harbison of the 15th, Jackson of the 2nd and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elementary and secondary education, so as to provide for a certification program for sustainable whole child model schools; to provide for pilot programs to plan, implement, and improve sustainable whole child model schools; to provide for planning grants and operational grants; to authorize the use of grant funds; to provide for reports on implementation and progress; to provide for a short title; to provide for definitions; to provide for a contingent effective date; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Education and Youth Committee.

SB 422.

By Senators Jones of the 10th, Butler of the 55th, Anderson of the 43rd, Davenport of the 44th, Parent of the 42nd and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act to incorporate the City of Stonecrest in DeKalb County, approved April 21, 2016 (Ga. L. 2016, p. 3538), as amended, so as to modify a provision related to elected officials forfeiting office; to modify provisions related to power and authority of the city council; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.

SB 423.

By Senators Albers of the 56th, Beach of the 21st, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd and Martin of the 9th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 16-5-61 of the O.C.G.A., relating to hazing, so as to provide for an expanded definition of hazing; to amend Chapter 1 of Title 20 of the O.C.G.A., relating to education generally; to amend Part 3 of Article 2 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the O.C.G.A., relating to student organization responsibility for drug abuse, so as to make student organizations responsible for hazing; to provide for and revise definitions; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Committee.

SB 424. By Senator Beach of the 21st:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 3 of Chapter 6 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the certificate of need program, so as to require general cancer hospitals to provide at least 3 percent uncompensated indigent or charity care; to require the publishing of a detailed accounting of all unpaid fines and other amounts owed by a general cancer hospital; to require that any fines and other penalties in arrears are paid prior to approval of any new inpatient beds; to provide that any new inpatient beds of a general cancer hospital be located in rural counties with no hospitals; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee.

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SB 425. By Senator Harper of the 7th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act to reconstitute the Ocilla-Irwin County Industrial Development Authority, approved May 3, 2016 (Ga. L. 2016, p. 4082), so as to change the membership of said Authority; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.

SB 426.

By Senators Strickland of the 17th, Tillery of the 19th, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Rhett of the 33rd, James of the 35th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 9 of Title 12 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to air quality, so as to provide for the reporting of any unpermitted release of ethylene oxide to the Environmental Protection Division of the Department of Natural Resources; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Natural Resources and the Environment Committee.

SR 790. By Senator Hufstetler of the 52nd:

A RESOLUTION commending the Georgia Rural Health Association and recognizing February 26, 2020, as Rural Health Day at the state capitol; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 791. By Senators Jones II of the 22nd, Stone of the 23rd and Anderson of the 24th:

A RESOLUTION supporting the creation of a state veterans cemetery in Augusta-Richmond County, Georgia; and for other purposes.

Referred to Veterans, Military and Homeland Security Committee.

SR 792.

By Senators Beach of the 21st, Albers of the 56th, Dolezal of the 27th, Jones of the 25th and Gooch of the 51st:

A RESOLUTION recognizing Mr. Richard L. Jackson and dedicating an interchange in his honor; and for other purposes.

Referred to Transportation Committee.

SR 793.

By Senators Beach of the 21st, Gooch of the 51st, Watson of the 1st, Albers of the 56th and Harbison of the 15th:

A RESOLUTION creating the Joint Private Financing of Infrastructure Study Committee; and for other purposes.

Referred to Rules Committee.

SR 794.

By Senators Anderson of the 43rd, Davenport of the 44th, Jones II of the 22nd, Butler of the 55th, Williams of the 39th and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Pastor Cecil J. Rozier Sr.; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

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SR 795.

By Senators Anderson of the 43rd, Davenport of the 44th, Jones II of the 22nd, Harbison of the 15th, Sims of the 12th and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Sergeant Major (Ret.) Scarlett V. Williams; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 796.

By Senators Anderson of the 43rd, Davenport of the 44th, Jones II of the 22nd, Harbison of the 15th, Sims of the 12th and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Lieutenant Commander Wanda Gail Pompey; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 797.

By Senators Anderson of the 43rd, Davenport of the 44th, Jones II of the 22nd, Sims of the 12th, Butler of the 55th and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Why I Care 20 Inc.; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

HB 487.

By Representatives Bonner of the 72nd, Belton of the 112th, Clark of the 147th, Nix of the 69th, Morris of the 26th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 6 of Chapter 3 of Title 38 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Disaster Volunteer Relief Act, so as to authorize certain employees of state agencies to be granted leave from work with pay in order to participate in specialized disaster relief services; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Public Safety Committee.

HB 780.

By Representatives Pirkle of the 155th, Greene of the 151st, Lott of the 122nd and Lumsden of the 12th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 50-16-34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to powers and duties of State Properties Commission generally, so as to allow the commission to use an opinion of value in the valuation of state property where a conveyance of the property by the state is for the sole and direct benefit to the state; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Government Oversight Committee.

HB 826.

By Representatives Watson of the 172nd, Taylor of the 173rd and Campbell of the 171st:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act to provide for a new charter for the City of Meigs in Thomas County, Georgia, and Mitchell County, Georgia, approved April 30, 2019 (Ga. L. 2019, p. 3695), so as to provide for elections and terms of office; to eliminate one council post in the city; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.

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HB 921.

By Representatives Bruce of the 61st, Bazemore of the 63rd, Jackson of the 64th, Boddie of the 62nd, Metze of the 55th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act to incorporate the City of South Fulton in Fulton County, Georgia, approved April 26, 2016 (Ga. L. 2016, p. 3726), as amended, so as to revise provisions regarding the city attorney; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.

HB 923. By Representative Corbett of the 174th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act providing for the compensation of the board of education of Clinch County, approved March 27, 1998 (Ga. L. 1998, p. 3943), so as to modify the compensation of the members of the board of education; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.

HB 924. By Representatives Rogers of the 10th and Erwin of the 28th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act to create a Board of Commissioners of Roads and Revenue for Habersham County, approved February 13, 1956 (Ga. L. 1956, p. 2077), as amended, so as to update the procedures for filling vacancies on the board of commissioners; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.

HB 933.

By Representatives Nix of the 69th, Smith of the 133rd and Trammell of the 132nd:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act to provide a homestead exemption from Troup County School District ad valorem taxes for educational purposes in the amount of $10,000.00 of the assessed value of the homestead for certain residents of that school district who have annual incomes not exceeding $22,000.00 and who are 65 years of age or over, approved March 24, 1994 (Ga. L. 1994, p. 3844), so as to increase the existing homestead exemption to $40,000.00 of the assessed value of the homestead; to increase the income cap to $40,000.00; to limit the exemption to the homestead and not more than two contiguous acres; to provide for compliance with constitutional requirements; 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.

HB 935.

By Representatives Efstration of the 104th, Marin of the 96th, Barr of the 103rd, Park of the 101st, Harrell of the 106th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act creating the Recorder's Court of Gwinnett County, approved March 27, 1972 (Ga. L. 1972, p. 3125), as amended, particularly by an Act approved April 13, 2001 (Ga. L. 2001, p. 4297) and an Act approved April 11, 2012 (Ga. L. 2012, p. 5149), so as to provide for senior judges of said court; to modify how the clerk of court is appointed; to change the compensation of the judge pro hac vice; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee. - 5 -

HB 944. By Representative Dukes of the 154th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act changing the method of selecting the members of the Board of Education of Miller County, approved March 21, 1968 (Ga. L. 1968, p. 2529), as amended, particularly by an Act approved May 8, 2018 (Ga. L. 2018, p. 4084), so as to provide for the election of members of the board of education by qualified electors within their respective districts; to provide for election districts; to provide for related matters; to provide for effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee. HB 945. By Representative Dukes of the 154th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act creating a board of commissioners in and for Miller County, approved March 29, 1983 (Ga. L. 1983, p. 4594), as amended, particularly by an Act approved April 30, 2019, (Ga. L. 2019, p. 3799), so as to provide for the election of members of the board of commissioners by qualified electors within their respective districts; to provide for election districts; to provide for related matters; to provide for effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.
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