SENATE FIRST READERS MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2022 TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATIVE DAY SB 553. By Senators Robertson of the 29th, Brass of the 28th, Jones of the 25th, Au of the 48th, Albers of the 56th and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 7 of Title 52 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions of registration, operation, and sale of watercraft, so as to authorize any person 15 years of age or older to operate a Class 1, Class 2, or Class 3 vessel on any of the waters of this state if such person meets certain conditions pertaining to licensure, education, and accompaniment by an adult; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to Natural Resources and the Environment Committee. SB 554. By Senator Tillery of the 19th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act providing for the election of the members of the Treutlen County Board of Education, approved March 23, 1972 (Ga. L. 1972, p. 2340), as amended, so as to provide for new education districts; to provide for definitions and inclusions; to provide for continuation in office of current members; to provide for effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee. SB 555. By Senator Tillery of the 19th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act creating a Board of Commissioners of Treutlen County, approved March 12, 1935 (Ga. L. 1935, p. 807), as amended, so as to provide for new commissioner districts; to provide for definitions and inclusions; to provide for continuation in office of current members; to provide for effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee. SB 556. By Senators Thompson of the 14th, Albers of the 56th, Dugan of the 30th, Gooch of the 51st, Robertson of the 29th and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 5 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to issuance, expiration, and renewal of drivers' licenses, so as to provide for the issuance of a driver's license to current and retired peace officers at no charge; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to Public Safety Committee. - 1 - SB 557. By Senators Thompson of the 14th, Summers of the 13th, Hickman of the 4th, Dugan of the 30th, Gooch of the 51st and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions for public assistance, so as to increase self-sufficiency through a state-wide work requirement for able-bodied, covered individuals under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; to prohibit the use of waivers and no-good-cause exemptions for the work requirement; to provide for mandatory participation for covered individuals in existing employment and training programs; 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 Insurance and Labor Committee. SB 558. By Senators Gooch of the 51st, Ginn of the 47th, Dugan of the 30th, Dixon of the 45th, Watson of the 1st and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 32 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Department of Transportation, so as to amend notice provisions relative to meetings for the election of board members; to provide for negotiations in request for proposals relative to public-private partnerships (P3s); to provide for procurement procedures relative to alternative contracting; to amend Code Section 50-18-72 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to when public disclosure not required by a state agency, so as to exempt certain records from public disclosure requirements; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to Transportation Committee. SB 559. By Senator Burns of the 23rd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act creating a new charter for the City of Thomson, approved March 15, 1973 (Ga. L. 1973, p. 2132), as amended, particularly by an Act approved February 27, 2012 (Ga. L. 2012, p. 3828), so as to change the description of the election districts for the members of the city council; to provide for definitions and inclusions; to provide for the continuation in office of the current members; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee. - 2 - SB 560. By Senators Jones of the 10th, Butler of the 55th, Anderson of the 43rd, Davenport of the 44th, Jackson of the 41st and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act to create and establish in DeKalb County, Georgia, districts from which the members of the County Board of Education of DeKalb County shall be elected, approved April 12, 1963 (Ga. L. 1963, p. 3424), as amended, so as to provide for a code of conduct for board members and a duty to abide by the same; to revise provisions relating to the compensation of the board; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee. SB 561. By Senator Thompson of the 14th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 43 of the O.C.G.A., relating to professions and businesses, so as to change certain provisions relating to electrical contractors, plumbers, conditioned air contractors, low voltage contractors, and utility contractors; to amend Titles 8, 10, 36, 43, and 46 of the O.C.G.A., relating to buildings and housing, commerce and trade, local government, professions and businesses, and public utilities and public transportation, respectively, so as to provide for conforming cross-references and terminology; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee. SB 562. By Senators Mullis of the 53rd, Gooch of the 51st, Hatchett of the 50th, Walker III of the 20th, Goodman of the 8th and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 1 of Article 3 of Chapter 5 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general authority, duties, and procedure of the Department of Administrative Services, so as to prohibit companies owned or operated by Russia to bid on or submit a proposal for a state contract; to provide for definitions; to provide for certifications; to provide penalties for false certifications; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to Government Oversight Committee. - 3 - SB 563. By Senators Merritt of the 9th, Harbison of the 15th, Butler of the 55th, Payne of the 54th, Anderson of the 43rd and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 14 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to other educational programs under the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to provide for a campus program to support military students and their families; to authorize the Department of Education to establish minimum requirements for a school to participate in such program; to authorize the department to establish additional criteria for a school to participate in such program; to authorize a school to partner with a local school system to procure any assistance necessary to implement criteria for such program; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to Education and Youth Committee. SB 564. By Senators Merritt of the 9th, Jones II of the 22nd, Jones of the 10th, Jackson of the 2nd, Parent of the 42nd and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 1 of Article 8 of Chapter 1 of Title 10 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to petroleum products, so as to require certain security measures on gasoline pumps; to provide for penalties; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to Science and Technology Committee. SB 565. By Senators Strickland of the 17th, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Jones II of the 22nd, Albers of the 56th and Rhett of the 33rd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 10 of Title 17 of the O.C.G.A., relating to procedure for sentencing and imposition of punishment, so as to provide that at any time after conviction for a misdemeanor or felony offense a defendant convicted of an offense and sentenced as a direct result of being a victim of trafficking for labor or sexual servitude may petition the sentencing court to grant the relief of vacatur; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to Judiciary Committee. SR 563. By Senator McNeill of the 3rd: A RESOLUTION honoring the memory of Lynn Cribb Johnson; and for other purposes. Read and Adopted. SR 564. By Senators Rahman of the 5th, Butler of the 55th, Merritt of the 9th, Jones II of the 22nd, Jordan of the 6th and others: A RESOLUTION amending the Rules of the Senate; and for other purposes. Referred to Rules Committee. - 4 - SR 565. By Senators Anavitarte of the 31st, Dugan of the 30th, Mullis of the 53rd, Hufstetler of the 52nd and Brass of the 28th: A RESOLUTION designating the Northwest Georgia Logistics Corridor as an official logistics growth corridor in Georgia; and for other purposes. Referred to Transportation Committee. SR 566. By Senator Harbison of the 15th: A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Albert L. Hutchinson and for other purposes. Read and Adopted. SR 567. By Senators Rahman of the 5th, Jones of the 10th, Butler of the 55th, Dugan of the 30th, James of the 35th and others: A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Representative Calvin Smyre on his nomination as United States ambassador to the Dominican Republic; and for other purposes. Read and Adopted. SR 568. By Senators Seay of the 34th, James of the 35th, Harrell of the 40th, Tate of the 38th, Orrock of the 36th and others: A RESOLUTION commending Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. for its 109 years of service and recognizing March 2, 2022, as Delta Day at the state capitol; and for other purposes. Read and Adopted. SR 569. By Senators Walker III of the 20th, Anderson of the 24th, Goodman of the 8th, Harper of the 7th, Burke of the 11th and others: A RESOLUTION commending the Georgia peanut industry and recognizing March 2022 as Georgia Peanut Month at the state capitol; and for other purposes. Read and Adopted. SR 570. By Senators Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Strickland of the 17th, Miller of the 49th, Harper of the 7th, Tippins of the 37th and others: A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Senator Sheila M. McNeill on her outstanding public service; and for other purposes. Read and Adopted. - 5 - SR 571. By Senators Thompson of the 14th, Miller of the 49th, Harbin of the 16th, Hickman of the 4th, McNeill of the 3rd and others: A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Milton "Buddy" Blankinship; and for other purposes. Read and Adopted. SR 572. By Senators Thompson of the 14th, Tippins of the 37th, Hickman of the 4th, Harbin of the 16th, McNeill of the 3rd and others: A RESOLUTION honoring the life and memory of Mike Boyce; and for other purposes. Read and Adopted. SR 573. By Senators Thompson of the 14th, Hufstetler of the 52nd, Hickman of the 4th, Harbin of the 16th, McNeill of the 3rd and others: A RESOLUTION honoring Steve Taylor; and for other purposes. Read and Adopted. SR 574. By Senator Butler of the 55th: A RESOLUTION honoring the life and memory of Joshua David Frary; and for other purposes. Read and Adopted. SR 575. By Senators Butler of the 55th and Parent of the 42nd: A RESOLUTION congratulating and commending Celena M. Stewart for receiving the 2022 Yellow Rose Nikki T. Randall Servant Leader Award; and for other purposes. Read and Adopted. SR 576. By Senators Hickman of the 4th, Albers of the 56th, Dugan of the 30th, Mullis of the 53rd and Kennedy of the 18th: A RESOLUTION commending Rebecca Hickman, Metter Middle School's 2022 STAR Teacher; and for other purposes. Read and Adopted. SR 577. By Senators Jones of the 10th, Anderson of the 43rd, Harbison of the 15th, Lucas of the 26th, Seay of the 34th and others: A RESOLUTION commending Hank Stewart; and for other purposes. Read and Adopted. - 6 - SR 578. By Senators Orrock of the 36th, Tate of the 38th, Butler of the 55th, Halpern of the 39th and Parent of the 42nd: A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Black Art in America; and for other purposes. Read and Adopted. SR 579. By Senators Orrock of the 36th, Butler of the 55th, Tippins of the 37th, Hufstetler of the 52nd and Parent of the 42nd: A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending the Honors College at Georgia State University on the occasion of its 10th anniversary; and for the purposes. Read and Adopted. SR 580. By Senators Harper of the 7th, Walker III of the 20th, Goodman of the 8th, Anderson of the 24th, Hatchett of the 50th and others: A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending the Georgia Cattlemen's Association upon its 60th anniversary; and for other purposes. Read and Adopted. SR 581. By Senators Anavitarte of the 31st, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Strickland of the 17th, Payne of the 54th, Merritt of the 9th and others: A RESOLUTION congratulating the City of Rockmart; and for other purposes. Read and Adopted. SR 582. By Senators Anavitarte of the 31st, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Strickland of the 17th, Payne of the 54th, Merritt of the 9th and others: A RESOLUTION congratulating and commending Smith-Lockwood Inc.; and for other purposes. Read and Adopted. HB 896. By Representatives Crowe of the 110th and Holmes of the 129th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 48-5-40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to definitions for property tax exemptions, so as to update the population bracket and census date for a certain property tax exemption for certain leased property; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to Finance Committee. - 7 - HB 1008. By Representatives Hawkins of the 27th, Newton of the 123rd, Dempsey of the 13th, Hatchett of the 150th, Lott of the 122nd and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 11 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 and Chapter 9 of Title 30 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the higher education savings plan and Georgia Achieving A Better Life Experience (ABLE), respectively, so as to provide for the governance of the Georgia ABLE program by the board of directors of the Georgia Higher Education Savings Plan; to revise the composition and chairperson of the board of directors of the Georgia Higher Education Savings Plan; to provide for the transfer of rights and obligations; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to Banking and Financial Institutions Committee. HB 1059. By Representatives Gambill of the 15th, Williams of the 148th, Lumsden of the 12th, Smith of the 18th and Taylor of the 173rd: 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 provide for exclusions to unfair trade practices and unlawful inducements; to allow an insurer or insurance producer to offer or provide a value-added product or service under certain conditions; to allow an insurer or insurance producer to implement a pilot program offering or providing a valueadded product or service under certain conditions; to allow an insurer or insurance producer to offer or give a charitable donation under certain conditions; 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. HB 1088. By Representatives Gunter of the 8th, Gambill of the 15th, Scoggins of the 14th, Smith of the 18th, Hogan of the 179th and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 7 of Article 5 of Chapter 3 of Title 44 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to miscellaneous provisions regarding timeshare projects and programs, so as to authorize nonjudicial foreclosure of time-share estates; to provide for notice; to provide for transfer of title; to provide for a power of attorney; to provide for existing contractual obligations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to Judiciary Committee. - 8 - HB 1186. By Representatives Houston of the 170th, Dubnik of the 29th, Erwin of the 28th, Cooper of the 43rd, Lott of the 122nd and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 44 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state speech-language pathology and audiology licensing, so as to allow persons who are not licensed audiologists to use otoacoustic emissions or auditory brainstem response technology as part of a screening process for the initial identification of communication disorders in individuals up to age 22, subject to certain conditions; to provide for compliance with certain notifiable disease reporting requirements; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to Health and Human Services Committee. HB 1215. By Representatives Thomas of the 21st, Wade of the 9th, Jones of the 47th, Carson of the 46th, Gullett of the 19th and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 20-2-2089 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to funding for state charter schools, so as to remove a provision that reduced the amount of certain funding provided to state charter schools that offer virtual instruction; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to Education and Youth Committee. HB 1217. By Representatives Erwin of the 28th, Jones of the 47th, Dubnik of the 29th, McDonald of the 26th, Mathiak of the 73rd and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to provide for the inclusion of methods for the promotion of the safe and appropriate use of technology and responsible digital citizenship in the comprehensive character education program; to repeal a provision regarding applicability; to provide for implementation; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to Science and Technology Committee. HB 1233. By Representatives Rhodes of the 120th, LaRiccia of the 169th and Corbett of the 174th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 2 of Title 12, Title 27, and Article 1 of Chapter 7 of Title 52 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions of the Department of Natural Resources, game and fish, and general provisions of the registration, operation, and sale of watercraft, respectively, so as to delay the earliest effective date for certain rules and regulations for which criminal violations may be established; to set certain requirements for weapons used for hunting migratory game birds; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to Natural Resources and the Environment Committee. - 9 - HB 1276. By Representatives Hawkins of the 27th, Bennett of the 94th, Houston of the 170th, England of the 116th, Parrish of the 158th and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Department of Community Health, so as to require that statistical reports containing data relating to state health plans be posted on the department website; to provide for a definition; to provide for content of the reports; to provide for statutory construction; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to Insurance and Labor Committee. HB 1307. By Representative Houston of the 170th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 25 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to fire protection and safety, so as to revise the "Georgia Utility Facility Protection Act" to require an excavator that strikes or damages a utility facility that carries gas or hazardous liquid to alert emergency services; to provide for definitions; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to Public Safety Committee. HB 1320. By Representatives Knight of the 130th, Blackmon of the 146th and Williamson of the 115th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to revenue and taxation, so as to revise the terms "Internal Revenue Code" and "Internal Revenue Code of 1986" and thereby incorporate certain provisions of the federal law into Georgia law; to revise provisions for granting the extension of time for returns; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to Finance Committee. - 10 -