Senate first readers, 2022 February 17

SENATE FIRST READERS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2022 EIGHTEENTH LEGISLATIVE DAY

SB 517.

By Senators Jones of the 25th, Brass of the 28th, Beach of the 21st, Dolezal of the 27th and Anavitarte of the 31st:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to primaries and elections generally, so as to provide for qualifications for absentee electors; to eliminate drop boxes for the return of absentee ballots; to revise the information to provided on the outer absentee ballot envelope; to revise the requirement to provide certain notices and reports regarding absentee balloting; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Ethics Committee.

SB 518.

By Senators Hufstetler of the 52nd, Butler of the 55th, Anderson of the 24th, Au of the 48th, Mullis of the 53rd 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 all health insurers to pass along no less than 80 percent of all prescription drug rebates to enrollees that such insurer receives from third parties with regard to such enrollee's prescription drugs; to provide for a short title; 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 Insurance and Labor Committee.

SB 519.

By Senators Tippins of the 37th, Robertson of the 29th, Gooch of the 51st, Dugan of the 30th, Kennedy of the 18th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 3 of Chapter 18 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to solicitors-general of state courts, so as to provide for the honorary office of solicitor-general emeritus; to provide for qualifications; to provide for certificate; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Government Oversight Committee.

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SB 520.

By Senators Mullis of the 53rd, Robertson of the 29th, Anderson of the 24th, Beach of the 21st and Albers of the 56th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 48-5-405 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to levy and collection of tax by municipalities for independent school systems and authorized purposes for expenditures, so as to provide for multiple municipalities to levy and collect taxes for an independent school system; to amend Code Section 20-2-490 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to municipalities authorized to levy school taxes, so as to repeal and reserve such Code section; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Finance Committee.

SB 521.

By Senators Mullis of the 53rd, Robertson of the 29th, Anderson of the 24th, Beach of the 21st and Albers of the 56th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 31 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to incorporation of municipal corporations, so as to provide for the transition of services and facilities from an existing municipality to a newly incorporated municipality; to provide definitions; to provide for the preservation of existing facilities and assets of an existing facility prior to transfer to a newly incorporated municipality; to provide for newly incorporated municipalities purchasing portions of an existing municipality's water or sewerage systems; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Committee.

SB 523.

By Senators Merritt of the 9th, Butler of the 55th, Strickland of the 17th, Parent of the 42nd, Dolezal of the 27th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 5 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to ethics in government, so as to provide that child care and other caregiving services associated with a candidate's campaign constitute ordinary and necessary expenses of a campaign; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Ethics Committee.

SB 524.

By Senators Merritt of the 9th, Payne of the 54th, Albers of the 56th, Robertson of the 29th, Orrock of the 36th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 7 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Department of Economic Development, so as to provide for civil penalties and benefit recapture from employers that move call centers from this state; to provide for definitions, procedures, conditions, and limitations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Economic Development and Tourism Committee. - 2 -

SB 525. By Senators Robertson of the 29th, Tillery of the 19th and Albers of the 56th:

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 provide for the licensure of pathologists' assistants; to provide for continuing education requirements; to provide a short title; to provide for definitions; to provide for licensure requirements; to provide for renewal requirements; to prohibit holding oneself out as a pathologists' assistant without licensure; to provide for the duties and powers of the Georgia Composite Medical Board with respect to pathologists' assistants; to provide for an advisory committee; to provide for statutory construction; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Health and Human Services Committee.

SB 526.

By Senators Halpern of the 39th, Orrock of the 36th, Butler of the 55th, Au of the 48th, Jordan of the 6th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 3 of Chapter 13 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to excise tax on rooms, lodgings, and accommodations, so as to provide for optional return of funds by a destination marketing organization to certain jurisdictions levying the tax; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Finance Committee.

SB 527.

By Senators Robertson of the 29th, Albers of the 56th, Harbison of the 15th, Au of the 48th and Dixon of the 45th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to primaries and elections generally, so as to provide for the option for municipalities and consolidated governments to adopt and use instant runoff voting for their elections; to provide for definitions; to provide for procedures and methodology; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for modifications; to provide for applicability; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Ethics Committee.

SB 528.

By Senators McNeill of the 3rd, Miller of the 49th, Walker III of the 20th, Strickland of the 17th, Burns of the 23rd and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 3 of Title 38 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to emergency management, so as to provide for the inclusion of barbers and cosmetologists as essential workers in the event the Governor declares a public health emergency; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Government Oversight Committee. - 3 -

SB 529.

By Senators Gooch of the 51st, Albers of the 56th, Burke of the 11th, Harbison of the 15th, Mullis of the 53rd and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 76 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to expedited franchising of cable and video services, so as to change the definition of video service relative to the "Consumer Choice for Television Act"; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee.

SR 505.

By Senators Gooch of the 51st, Beach of the 21st, Thompson of the 14th, Burke of the 11th, Albers of the 56th and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Douglas R. Hooker; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 506.

By Senators Burns of the 23rd, Anderson of the 24th, Beach of the 21st, Brass of the 28th, Jones of the 25th and others:

A RESOLUTION honoring the life and memory of Bobby C. Smith Jr.; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 507.

By Senators James of the 35th, Seay of the 34th, Merritt of the 9th, Rhett of the 33rd, Harrell of the 40th and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Kerri Coleman-Benton, Curriculum Associates' 2022 National Teacher of Year; and for other purposes.

Referred to Rules Committee.

SR 508.

By Senators James of the 35th, Seay of the 34th, Merritt of the 9th, Rhett of the 33rd, Harrell of the 40th and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Jamilah Hud-Kirk, the recipient of the 2022 Inspire Award; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 509. By Senator Jackson of the 2nd:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Jay Morrison; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

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SR 510. By Senator Jackson of the 2nd: A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Tywonia Orum; and for other purposes.
Read and Adopted. SR 511. By Senator Jackson of the 2nd:
A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Shauna Marie Hervey; and for other purposes. Referred to Rules Committee.
SR 512. By Senator Jackson of the 2nd: A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Kristopher Campbell; and for other purposes.
Referred to Rules Committee. SR 513. By Senator Jackson of the 2nd:
A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Jennifer W. McCrary; and for other purposes. Read and Adopted. SR 514. By Senator Jackson of the 2nd: A RESOLUTION honoring the life and memory of Jernell Elizabeth Jennings Ferguson; and for other purposes. Read and Adopted. SR 515. By Senator Jackson of the 2nd: A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Rodney Rawls; and for other purposes. Read and Adopted. SR 516. By Senator Jackson of the 2nd: A RESOLUTION honoring the life and memory of Dr. Idell Williams-Cheever; and for other purposes. Read and Adopted.
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SR 517.

By Senators Strickland of the 17th, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Jackson of the 41st, Watson of the 1st, Jordan of the 6th and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing February 16, 2022, as Sex Trafficking Awareness Day at the state capitol; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 518. By Senator Albers of the 56th:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Charles Paul Albers on his 50th anniversary with the Franklin Square & Munson Fire Department; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 519. By Senator Gooch of the 51st:

A RESOLUTION honoring the life and memory of Officer Carol Leigh Ledford and dedicating an intersection in her memory; and for other purposes.

Referred to Transportation Committee.

SR 520. By Senator Gooch of the 51st:

A RESOLUTION honoring the life of Representative Carlton H. Colwell and dedicating an intersection in his memory; and for other purposes.

Referred to Transportation Committee.

SR 521. By Senator Gooch of the 51st:

A RESOLUTION recognizing Mr. Mike Berg and dedicating a intersection in his honor; and for other purposes.

Referred to Transportation Committee.

SR 522.

By Senators Brass of the 28th, Jackson of the 2nd, Cowsert of the 46th, Halpern of the 39th and Kirkpatrick of the 32nd:

A RESOLUTION recognizing February 22, 2022, as Self-Direction Day; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

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HB 893.

By Representatives Nix of the 69th, Smith of the 70th, Buckner of the 137th and Smith of the 133rd:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 2 of Article 3 of Chapter 8 of Title 12 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to hazardous site response, so as to extend the sunset date for certain hazardous waste fees; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Natural Resources and the Environment Committee.

HB 969.

By Representatives Smith of the 18th, Williams of the 148th, Erwin of the 28th, Gaines of the 117th and Gambill of the 15th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 13 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to insurance holding company systems, so as to update the regulation of insurance company holding systems per direction from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners; to provide for definitions; to provide guidelines for group capital calculation in insurance company holding systems; to provide guidelines for liquidity stress test framework in insurance company holding systems; to provide standards governing transactions within an insurance holding company system when an insurer is deemed to be in a hazardous financial condition; to provide protections for an affiliate in an insurance holding company system when a domestic insurer is subject to certain proceedings; to provide clarifications on confidentiality and to extend confidentiality protections to third-party consultants designated by the Commissioner; 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.

HB 1021. By Representatives Lumsden of the 12th, Williamson of the 115th, Hugley of the 136th, England of the 116th and Carson of the 46th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 33-28-3 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to standard nonforfeiture provisions for individual deferred annuities, so as to decrease the minimum nonforfeiture interest rate for individual deferred annuities from 1 percent to 0.15 percent; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Insurance and Labor Committee.

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HB 1044. By Representatives Pirkle of the 155th, Watson of the 172nd, England of the 116th, Jasperse of the 11th, Corbett of the 174th and others:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 62 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to development authorities, so as to provide for the creation of regional development authorities; to provide an enhancement for the jobs tax credit for such authorities; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to Economic Development and Tourism Committee.
HB 1147. By Representatives Rhodes of the 120th, Corbett of the 174th, LaHood of the 175th, Ridley of the 6th and Smith of the 18th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 3 of Title 27 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to wildlife generally, so as to authorize the hunting and trapping of raccoons and opossum year round; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to Natural Resources and the Environment Committee.
HB 1223. By Representatives Martin of the 49th, Smith of the 133rd and Rhodes of the 120th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 48-8-3 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to exemptions from sales and use tax, so as to extend the sunset date for a sales tax exemption for the sale or lease of computer equipment to be incorporated into facilities of high-technology companies; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to Finance Committee.
HB 1275. By Representatives Rich of the 97th, Leverett of the 33rd and Oliver of the 82nd:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 32 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to municipal courts generally, so as to revise provisions related to appointment and removal of municipal court judges; to provide for vacancies in office; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to Judiciary Committee.
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HB 1362. By Representative Pirkle of the 155th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act reconstituting the Board of Education of Irwin County, approved February 15, 1993 (Ga. L. 1993, p. 3757), as amended, particularly by an Act approved March 5, 2012 (Ga. L. 2012, p. 4064), so as to change the description of the education districts; to provide for definitions and inclusions; to provide for continuation in office of current members and election of subsequent members; 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 1363. By Representative Bentley of the 139th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act providing for the board of education for the Macon County School District, approved March 27, 1985 (Ga. L. 1985, p. 4112), as amended, particularly by an Act approved September 21, 2011 (Ga. L. 2011 Ex. Sess., p. 498), so as to revise the districts for the election of members of the board of education; to provide for definitions and inclusions; to provide for continuation in office of current members; 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 1364. By Representatives Anulewicz of the 42nd, Wilkerson of the 38th, Seabaugh of the 34th, Williams of the 37th, Thomas of the 39th and others:
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. 3211), as amended, particularly by an Act approved June 30, 2020 (Ga. L. 2020, p. 3869), so as to change the compensation of judges of the State Court of Cobb County; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.
HB 1365. By Representatives Pirkle of the 155th and LaRiccia of the 169th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act establishing a board of education of Coffee County, approved March 10, 1970 (Ga. L. 1970, p. 2441), as amended, particularly by an Act approved March 13, 2012 (Ga. L. 2012, p. 4219), so as to change the description of the education districts; to provide for definitions and inclusions; to provide for continuation in office of current members; to provide for election and terms of office of subsequent members; 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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HB 1366. By Representative Bentley of the 139th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act creating a board of commissioners for Macon County, approved August 26, 1872 (Ga. L. 1872, p. 434), as amended, particularly by an Act approved September 21, 2011 (Ga. L. 2011 Ex. Sess., p. 504), so as to revise the districts for the election of members of the board of commissioners; to provide for definitions and inclusions; to provide for related matters; to provide effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.

HR 664.

By Representatives Greene of the 151st, Lumsden of the 12th, Dunahoo of the 30th, Pirkle of the 155th and Buckner of the 137th:

A RESOLUTION authorizing the lease of certain state owned property located in Chatham County; authorizing the conveyance of certain state owned property located in DeKalb County; authorizing the lease of certain state owned property located in Fulton County; authorizing the conveyance of certain state owned property in Glynn County; authorizing the conveyance of certain state owned real property located in Hall County; authorizing the conveyance of state owned real property located in Sumter County; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to State Institutions and Property Committee.

HR 683.

By Representatives Greene of the 151st, Dunahoo of the 30th, Pirkle of the 155th, Buckner of the 137th and Lumsden of the 12th:

A RESOLUTION authorizing the granting of nonexclusive easements for the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of facilities, utilities, roads, and ingresses and egresses in, on, over, under, upon, across, or through property owned by the State of Georgia in Bartow, Douglas, Fulton, Gilmer, Gwinnett, Haralson, Paulding, Sumter, and Thomas Counties; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to State Institutions and Property Committee.

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