Senate first readers, 2021 February 16

SENATE FIRST READERS TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2021 SEVENTEENTH LEGISLATIVE DAY

SB 154.

By Senator James of the 35th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 6 of Chapter 3 of Title 44 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to property owners' associations, so as to provide for a cap on assessments by property owners' associations for certain lots relative to mortgage costs; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Committee.

SB 155.

By Senators Gooch of the 51st, Burke of the 11th, Kennedy of the 18th, Albers of the 56th, Cowsert of the 46th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 4 of Article 1 of Chapter 8 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to horns, exhaust systems, mirrors, windshields, tires, safety belts, and energy absorption systems, so as to provide for the failure to wear a safety belt or safety restraints for children as admissible evidence in civil actions; to prohibit the failure to wear a safety belt or safety restraints for children as a basis for cancellation of insurance coverage; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Committee.

SB 156.

By Senators Harbin of the 16th, Tippins of the 37th, Lucas of the 26th, Tillery of the 19th, Gooch of the 51st and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to labor and industrial relations, so as to provide for the appointment, oath, bond, power, duties, and authority of a chief labor officer; to require the chief labor officer to provide reports related to claims for unemployment compensation benefits and implement effective strategies for the timely payment of benefits; to require the chief labor officer to promptly respond to financial audits; to provide for automatic repeal; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Insurance and Labor Committee.

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SB 157.

By Senators Cowsert of the 46th, Mullis of the 53rd, Lucas of the 26th, Butler of the 55th, Harbison of the 15th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 2 of Article 15 of Chapter 1 of Title 10 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the "Fair Business Practices Act of 1975," so as to prohibit the deceptive practice of musical performance groups advertising and appearing as the recording group without the recording group's permission or denoting that it is a salute or tribute performance; to provide for definitions; to specify violations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee.

SB 158.

By Senators Jones of the 10th, Miller of the 49th, Butler of the 55th, Mullis of the 53rd, Anderson of the 43rd and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 4 of Article 6 of Chapter 3 of Title 12 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Stone Mountain Memorial Association, so as to provide for the creation and erection of the "Let Freedom Ring Monument"; to provide for a committee to facilitate the creation and erection of such monument; to provide for the purpose, membership, and duties of such committee; to provide for reimbursement of expenses; to provide a termination date; to provide for automatic repeal; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Economic Development and Tourism Committee.

SB 159.

By Senators Gooch of the 51st, Miller of the 49th, Burke of the 11th, Ginn of the 47th and Payne of the 54th:

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 revise a provision relating to student transportation; to authorize local boards of education to use vehicles other than school buses for the transport of students to and from school related activities; to provide for minimum requirements; to provide for insurance; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Education and Youth Committee.

SB 160.

By Senators Cowsert of the 46th, Gooch of the 51st, Kennedy of the 18th, Harbin of the 16th and Jones of the 10th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend to amend Title 9 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to civil practice, so as to change certain provisions relating to the tolling of limitations for tort actions while criminal prosecution is pending; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Committee.

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SB 161.

By Senators Jackson of the 41st, Payne of the 54th, Butler of the 55th, Robertson of the 29th, Anderson of the 43rd and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 1 of Title 42 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions for inmate policies, so as to require that inmates receive an identification card upon release; to provide for penalties; to provide a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Public Safety Committee.

SB 162.

By Senators Beach of the 21st, Albers of the 56th and Thompson of the 14th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 15-6-2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the number of judges of superior courts, so as to provide for an additional judge of the superior court of the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit; to provide for related matters; to provide for effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Appropriations Committee.

SB 163.

By Senators Strickland of the 17th, Kennedy of the 18th, Hatchett of the 50th, Jones II of the 22nd and Rhett of the 33rd:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 2 of Article 3 of Chapter 3 of Title 38 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to judicial emergency, so as to provide for the suspension of statutory speedy trial requirements when compliance with such statutory speedy trial requirements becomes impracticable following a judicial emergency; to provide for applicable circumstances; to provide for requirements; to provide for notice; to provide for intervention by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Committee.

SB 164.

By Senators Hufstetler of the 52nd, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Orrock of the 36th and Butler of the 55th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 15-11-471, Title 16, and Code Section 31-22-9.1 of the O.C.G.A., relating to definitions relative to juvenile delinquency, crimes and offenses, and who may perform HIV tests, respectively, so as to provide for the modernization of HIV related laws to align with science to ensure that laws and policies support current understanding of best public health practices for preventing and treating HIV, scientific evidence about routes of transmission, and the public health goals of promoting HIV prevention and treatment; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Committee.

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SB 165.

By Senators Gooch of the 51st, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Beach of the 21st, Miller of the 49th, Ginn of the 47th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 8 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to equipment and inspection of motor vehicles, so as to exempt fully autonomous vehicles from certain vehicle equipment requirements; to provide for compliance; to remove requirement for use of strobe light while operating a low-speed vehicle; to provide for means of operation of vehicle brakes and parking brakes; to revise exhaust system requirements; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Transportation Committee.

SB 166.

By Senators Cowsert of the 46th, Gooch of the 51st, Kennedy of the 18th, Harbin of the 16th and Walker III of the 20th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to courts, so as to require certain procedures for disqualification of jurors; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Insurance and Labor Committee.

SB 167.

By Senators Orrock of the 36th, Butler of the 55th, Jackson of the 41st, Lucas of the 26th, Jones II of the 22nd and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 47 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Employees' Retirement System of Georgia, so as to provide for semiannual postretirement benefit adjustments for all beneficiaries of the Employees' Retirement System of Georgia; to provide for conditions, limitations, and suspensions; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date, applicability, and automatic repeal; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Retirement Committee.

SB 168.

By Senators Walker III of the 20th, Strickland of the 17th, Butler of the 55th, Miller of the 49th, Parent of the 42nd and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 1 of Article 7 of Chapter 2 of Title 14 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to meetings, so as to provide that a corporation may hold annual shareholders' meetings and special shareholders' meetings by means of remote communication; to provide for requirements for such meetings by remote communication; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Committee.

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SB 169.

By Senators Walker III of the 20th, Strickland of the 17th, Butler of the 55th, Miller of the 49th, Parent of the 42nd and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 10 of Title 13 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding contracts for public works, Code Section 32-2-70 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to bonds of successful bidder, and Part 1 of Article 3 of Chapter 91 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to bonds generally, so as to provide for acceptance of electronic signatures and electronic corporate seals on bonds; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Insurance and Labor Committee.

SB 170.

By Senators Jackson of the 2nd, Rahman of the 5th, Merritt of the 9th, Butler of the 55th, Seay of the 34th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to insurance generally, so as to require health benefit policies to provide coverage for expenses incurred in home childbirth; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other matters.

Referred to Insurance and Labor Committee.

SB 171.

By Senators Robertson of the 29th, Albers of the 56th, Dugan of the 30th, Harper of the 7th, Mullis of the 53rd and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 16 of the O.C.G.A., relating to crimes and offenses, so as to provide for enhanced penalties for certain offenses committed during an unlawful assembly; to revise the offense of unlawful assembly; to amend Chapter 60 of Title 36 of the O.C.G.A., relating to general provisions regarding provisions applicable to counties and municipal corporations; to amend Chapter 1 of Title 45 of the O.C.G.A., relating to general provisions regarding public officers and employees; to amend Title 50 of the O.C.G.A., relating to state government, so as to prohibit employment and benefits from governments under certain circumstances; to provide for related matters; to provide for a short title; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Committee.

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SB 172.

By Senators Butler of the 55th, Jones II of the 22nd, Parent of the 42nd, Jackson of the 2nd, Jordan of the 6th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to medical assistance generally, so as to provide for the authorization of appropriations for the purposes of obtaining federal financial participation for medical assistance payments to providers of Medicaid expansion under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010; to provide for certain restrictions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Appropriations Committee.

SB 173.

By Senators Davenport of the 44th, Jordan of the 6th, Au of the 48th, Merritt of the 9th, Parent of the 42nd and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 49-4-159 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to Medicaid coverage for lactation and postpartum care, so as to require the Department of Community Health to allow mothers giving birth to retain Medicaid eligibility for one year following such birth; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Appropriations Committee.

SB 174.

By Senators Gooch of the 51st, Mullis of the 53rd, Walker III of the 20th, Cowsert of the 46th and Brass of the 28th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 6 of Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding bonds and recognizances, so as to authorize appointed judges who are fulfilling a vacancy of an elected judge to issue an unsecured judicial release under certain circumstances; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Public Safety Committee.

SB 175.

By Senators Mullis of the 53rd, Gooch of the 51st, Harper of the 7th, Miller of the 49th, Burke of the 11th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elections and primaries generally, so as to provide for the submission of certain forms of identification by electors with absentee ballot applications; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Ethics Committee.

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SB 176.

By Senators Mullis of the 53rd, Gooch of the 51st, Harper of the 7th, Miller of the 49th, Burke of the 11th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elections and primaries generally, so as to provide for increased penalties for certain election fraud; to provide that it shall be illegal to knowingly and willfully and without authorization tamper with, alter, destroy, modify, or falsify the electronic data constituting the official returns or votes cast in a primary, election, or runoff or cause the electronic data constituting the official returns or votes cast in a primary, election, or runoff to display incorrectly; to provide for penalties; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Ethics Committee.

SB 177.

By Senators Mullis of the 53rd, Gooch of the 51st, Harper of the 7th, Miller of the 49th, Walker III of the 20th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elections and primaries generally, so as to revise the definition of "absentee elector"; to provide for reasons for voting by absentee ballot; to provide for certain exceptions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Ethics Committee.

SB 178.

By Senators Mullis of the 53rd, Gooch of the 51st, Harper of the 7th, Miller of the 49th, Walker III of the 20th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elections and primaries generally, so as to provide that absentee ballot applications shall not be sent by the Secretary of State or by a county or municipal election official to an elector without first receiving a request for such an application from such elector; to provide for an exception; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Ethics Committee.

SB 179.

By Senators Au of the 48th, Orrock of the 36th, Davenport of the 44th, Jackson of the 41st, Harrell of the 40th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 5 of Article 4 of Chapter 11 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to Brady Law regulations, so as to require universal background checks in all manner of firearm transfers and purchases; to provide for definitions; to provide for exceptions; to provide for criminal penalties; to provide for applicability; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Public Safety Committee.

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SB 180.

By Senators Jordan of the 6th, Anderson of the 43rd, Jones of the 25th, Halpern of the 39th and Strickland of the 17th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 12-9-7 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to permit required, application, issuance, revocation, suspension, or amendment, so as to provide for certain conditions for permits for facilities that emit ethylene oxide; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Natural Resources and the Environment Committee.

SB 181.

By Senators Jordan of the 6th, Jackson of the 41st, Au of the 48th, Butler of the 55th and Merritt of the 9th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding insurance, so as to reduce out-of-pocket cost of consumers requiring insulin; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Health and Human Services Committee.

SR 100.

By Senators Gooch of the 51st, Cowsert of the 46th, Miller of the 49th, Dugan of the 30th, Walker III of the 20th and others:

A RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to the Constitution so as to provide for state-wide grand juries; to provide for the jurisdiction, powers, and duties of state-wide grand juries; to authorize the General Assembly to provide by law for procedures for the summoning and empaneling of state-wide grand juries; to provide for a presiding judge; to provide that the Attorney General or his or her designee shall act as the legal adviser and prosecutor for such state-wide grand juries; to provide for the submission of this amendment for ratification or rejection; and for other purposes.

Referred to Ethics Committee.

SR 101.

By Senator Strickland of the 17th:

A RESOLUTION commending the Red Cross and recognizing March 2021 as Red Cross Month in Georgia; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 102.

By Senators Gooch of the 51st, Beach of the 21st, Miller of the 49th, Ginn of the 47th, Jones of the 25th and others:

A RESOLUTION creating the Georgia Commission on E-Commerce and Freight Infrastructure Funding; and for other purposes.

Referred to Transportation Committee. - 8 -

SR 103.

By Senator Harper of the 7th:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Irwin County Board of Education Member Gary Paulk upon his retirement from the board and for his 26 years of exemplary service on the Irwin County Board of Education from May 1994 to December 2020; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 104.

By Senators Dixon of the 45th, Albers of the 56th and Goodman of the 8th:

A RESOLUTION commending and congratulating Chief Mike Jones upon the grand occasion of his retirement; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 105.

By Senators Jordan of the 6th, Butler of the 55th, Jones of the 25th, Harrell of the 40th and Sims of the 12th:

A RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Georgia so as to provide that a primary obligation of the State of Georgia is the provision of a quality public education for its citizens; to provide for related matters; to provide for the submission of this amendment for ratification or rejection; and for other purposes.

Referred to Education and Youth Committee.

SR 106.

By Senators Jordan of the 6th, Parent of the 42nd, Au of the 48th, Harrell of the 40th and Merritt of the 9th:

A RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Georgia so as to provide that the General Assembly may provide for the allocation of certain funds to, the creation of a continuing fund for, the dedication of specific revenues to, and a program of public funding for campaigns for membership in the General Assembly; to provide for related matters; to correct a numbering issue; to provide for the submission of this amendment for ratification or rejection; and for other purposes.

Referred to Rules Committee.

SR 107.

By Senators Jordan of the 6th, Jackson of the 41st, Halpern of the 39th, Au of the 48th, Butler of the 55th and others:

A RESOLUTION creating the Senate Comprehensive Approach to Family Leave Policies within State Government Study Committee; and for other purposes.

Referred to Rules Committee.

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HB 67.

By Representatives Martin of the 49th, England of the 116th, Knight of the 130th, Smyre of the 135th, Reeves of the 34th and others:

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 extend automatic repeals of certain provisions regarding writing off small amounts due to the state; to amend Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to education, so as to extend automatic repeals of certain provisions regarding nonlapsing revenue of institutions in the University System of Georgia and the Technical College System of Georgia; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Higher Education Committee.

HB 129.

By Representatives Watson of the 172nd, Kelley of the 16th, Hatchett of the 150th, Gaines of the 117th, Wiedower of the 119th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 16 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding sheriffs, so as to modify certain provisions regarding the compensation received by certain sheriffs; 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 (General) Committee.

HB 208.

By Representatives Cheokas of the 138th, Jasperse of the 11th, Erwin of the 28th, LaRiccia of the 169th, Jones of the 25th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 4 of Title 1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to holidays and observances, so as to provide that the second Wednesday of February of each year shall be designated as "National Swearingin Day" in Georgia; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Veterans, Military and Homeland Security Committee.

HB 246.

By Representatives Watson of the 172nd, Corbett of the 174th, Ridley of the 6th, Mathis of the 144th and Momtahan of the 17th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 5 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to drivers' licenses, so as to increase the fee for issuance of replacement licenses and permits; to increase the fee for the issuance and renewal of limited driving permits; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Public Safety Committee.

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