Senate first readers, 2022 March 3

SENATE FIRST READERS THURSDAY, MARCH 03, 2022
TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATIVE DAY
SB 574. By Senator Mullis of the 53rd:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 31-7-75.1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to proceeds of sale of hospital held in trust to fund indigent health care, so as to authorize use of proceeds for public health care; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to Health and Human Services Committee.
SB 575. By Senator Tippins of the 37th:
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 that local boards of education shall review the financial status of the local school system at least quarterly rather than monthly, subject to an exception; to make conforming changes; 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 576. By Senator Strickland of the 17th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 19-7-3 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to actions by grandparents or other family members for visitation rights or intervention, revocation or amendment of visitation rights, appointment of guardian ad litem, mediation, hearing, and notification to family members of child's participation in events, so as to revise provisions regarding visitation actions brought by certain grandparents of minor children; to provide for a rebuttable presumption; to provide for a response to Patten v. Ardis, 304 Ga. 140 (2018); to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to Judiciary Committee.
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SB 577. By Senator Strickland of the 17th:

A BILL to be entitled an O.C.G.A., relating to serious traffic offenses, so as to add aggressive driving to the underlying offenses for the offense of homicide by vehicle; to add overtaking a school bus, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, and aggressive driving to the underlying offenses for the offense of serious injury by vehicle; to provide for the offense of serious injury by vehicle when a habitual violator causes an accident resulting in bodily harm; to provide for penalties; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Committee.

SB 578.

By Senators Walker III of the 20th, Burns of the 23rd, Anderson of the 24th, Burke of the 11th and Summers of the 13th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 26 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to standards, labeling, and adulteration of food, so as to authorize the operation, licensure, inspection, labeling requirements, enforcement, and regulation of home kitchen operations; to provide for definitions; to authorize collection of license fees; to provide for conforming changes; to amend Chapter 60 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions applicable to counties and municipal corporations, so as to prohibit county and municipality prohibition and regulation of home kitchen operations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee.

SB 579.

By Senators Mullis of the 53rd, Hatchett of the 50th, Harbison of the 15th, Dixon of the 45th, Albers of the 56th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 1 of Article 2 of Chapter 13 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to schedules, offenses, and penalties under the regulation of controlled substances, so as to provide that minimum sentences imposed for the manufacture, delivery, distribution, dispensing, administering, selling, or possessing with intent to distribute certain controlled substances shall not be suspended, stayed, probated, deferred, or withheld by the sentencing court; to provide for an exception; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Committee.

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SB 581.

By Senators Walker III of the 20th, Ginn of the 47th, Gooch of the 51st, Dugan of the 30th and Miller of the 49th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 4 of Title 44 of the O.C.G.A., relating to determination of boundaries, so as to designate the most recent systems of plane coordinates for defining and stating geographic positions within this state as the Georgia State Plane Coordinate System; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Science and Technology Committee.

SB 582. By Senator Tate of the 38th:

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 require certain language on unsolicited written inquiries or mailings relating to the sale of real estate; to provide for class action suits and for damages for violating the requirements for such written inquiries or mailings; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee.

SB 583.

By Senators Anavitarte of the 31st, Robertson of the 29th, Summers of the 13th, Hufstetler of the 52nd and Butler of the 55th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 3 of Title 46 of the O.C.G.A., relating to generation and distribution of electricity generally, so as to change certain provisions relating to "The Georgia Cogeneration and Distributed Generation Act of 2001" and the "Solar Power Free-Market Financing Act of 2015"; 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 584. By Senators Robertson of the 29th and Hufstetler of the 52nd:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 3 of Article 3 of Chapter 5 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to compensation for county tax officials and administration, so as to require the state revenue commissioner to contract with the board of the Employees' Retirement System of Georgia to offer certain county tax commissioners the option to participate in a state administered deferred compensation plan; to provide for a limited state match of contributions; to provide for terms and conditions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Retirement Committee.

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SB 585. By Senator Tate of the 38th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 1 of Article 2 of Chapter 5 of Title 46 of the O.C.G.A., relating to general provisions relative to telephone service, so as to provide that telephone solicitations shall include calls relating to the sale of real property and other property, goods, or services; to provide for class action suits and for damages against certain persons for violating provisions relating to telephone solicitations; to provide for legislative findings; to revise a definition; to provide for actions and damages against persons and entities on whose behalf such provisions were violated; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee.

SB 586.

By Senators Gooch of the 51st, Dugan of the 30th, Watson of the 1st, Anavitarte of the 31st, Ginn of the 47th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 2 of Article 3 of Chapter 4 of Title 32 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to exercise by counties of power to contract for road projects generally, so as to authorize the use of the design-build contracting method by counties; to provide for procedures, conditions, and limitations upon such contracting method; to provide for an exception to contract limitations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Transportation Committee.

SB 587. By Senators Miller of the 49th, Dixon of the 45th and Harbin of the 16th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 20 of the O.C.G.A., relating to education, so as to provide for the establishment of promise scholarship accounts to be funded by the state in the amount of $6,000.00 per school year for each participating student, subject to appropriations; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Education and Youth Committee.

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SB 588.

By Senators Miller of the 49th, Albers of the 56th, Anavitarte of the 31st, Dixon of the 45th and Harbin of the 16th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 3 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to local boards of education, so as to provide that all meetings of local boards of education shall be open to the public except as otherwise provided by law; to provide that members of the public shall not be removed from such public meetings except for actual disruption and in accordance with rules adopted and published by the local board of education; to provide that visual and sound recording shall be permitted at such public meetings; to provide for the authority of superior courts to enforce compliance and award relief; to provide for attorneys' fees; to provide for construction; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Education and Youth Committee.

SR 596.

By Senators Ginn of the 47th, Dugan of the 30th, Cowsert of the 46th, Miller of the 49th, Gooch of the 51st and others:

A RESOLUTION honoring the life and memory of Mr. Isaiah Berry and dedicating an intersection in his memory; and for other purposes.

Referred to Transportation Committee.

SR 598.

By Senators Mullis of the 53rd, Miller of the 49th, Dugan of the 30th, Burke of the 11th, Albers of the 56th and others:

A RESOLUTION commending The Silver Skillet; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 599.

By Senators Thompson of the 14th, Miller of the 49th, Summers of the 13th, Mullis of the 53rd, Hickman of the 4th and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Nancy Rinn; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 600.

By Senators Thompson of the 14th, Miller of the 49th, Albers of the 56th, Mullis of the 53rd, Hickman of the 4th and others:

A RESOLUTION commending Dr. Robert "Bob" Jones IV; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

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SR 601.

By Senators Thompson of the 14th, Miller of the 49th, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Mullis of the 53rd, Hickman of the 4th and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Alicia Adams; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 602.

By Senators Miller of the 49th, Mullis of the 53rd, Ginn of the 47th, Gooch of the 51st, Goodman of the 8th and others:

A RESOLUTION commending Georgia's railroaders and recognizing March 1, 2022, as Georgia Railroaders Day at the capitol; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 603.

By Senators Butler of the 55th, Parent of the 42nd, Au of the 48th, Jackson of the 41st, Jordan of the 6th and others:

A RESOLUTION condemning the Russian government for illegally and immorally invading Ukraine; and for other purposes.

Referred to Rules Committee.

SR 604. By Senators Jackson of the 41st, Watson of the 1st and Au of the 48th:

A RESOLUTION recognizing March 3, 2022, as Electric Vehicle Day at the state capitol; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 605.

By Senators Anavitarte of the 31st, Miller of the 49th, Goodman of the 8th, Anderson of the 24th, Ginn of the 47th and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Georgia's truckers; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 606. By Senator Harbison of the 15th:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Kamiya Archie, the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Chattahoochee Valley's 2022 Youth of the Year; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

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HB 389.

By Representatives Jones of the 25th, Burchett of the 176th, Holly of the 111th, Gilligan of the 24th, Park of the 101st and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 8 of Title 34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to employment security, so as to change the definition of employment to include services performed by an individual for wages unless the Department of Labor makes a contrary determination based upon evidence that such individual has been, and will continue to be, free from control or direction over the performance of such services; to provide for civil penalties; to prohibit retaliation by employers against individuals who report violations of or noncompliance with the "Employment Security Law"; to provide for a civil cause of action for retaliation by employers; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Insurance and Labor Committee.

HB 961.

By Representatives Efstration of the 104th, Oliver of the 82nd, Williamson of the 115th, Smith of the 18th, Hatchett of the 150th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 51-12-33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to reduction and apportionment of award or bar of recovery according to percentage of fault of parties and nonparties, so as to authorize apportionment of damages in single-defendant lawsuits; to provide for evidence of fault of nonparties; to provide for related matters; to provide for applicability; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Committee.

HB 974.

By Representatives Gullett of the 19th, Gunter of the 8th, Scoggins of the 14th, Jones of the 25th, Holcomb of the 81st and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 44 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to recordation and registration of deeds and other instruments, so as to require electronic filing; to provide for the effect of a missing or incorrect tax parcel identification number on a recorded instrument; to amend Chapter 14 of Title 44, relating to mortgages, conveyances to secure debt, and liens, so as to require certain information on the first page of security deeds; to provide for an effective date; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Committee.

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HB 1009. By Representative Jones of the 25th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to motor vehicles and traffic, so as to authorize the use of personal delivery devices to transport cargo within this state; to provide for and change certain definitions; to provide requirements for the operation of personal delivery devices; to exempt personal delivery devices from requirements imposed on motor vehicles and other self-propelled vehicles; to require personal delivery device operators to obtain insurance; to provide for limitations on adoption of certain rules, regulations, ordinances, and resolutions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to Transportation Committee.
HB 1188. By Representatives Lott of the 122nd, Gravley of the 67th, Bazemore of the 63rd, Smith of the 18th, Momtahan of the 17th and others:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 16-6-4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to child molestation and aggravated child molestation, so as to provide that each act of child molestation shall be charged as a separate offense; to amend Code Section 16-12-100 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to sexual exploitation of children, reporting violation, civil forfeiture, and penalties, so as to specify that an offender can be charged and convicted for each separate image or depiction; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to Judiciary Committee.
HB 1292. By Representatives Jasperse of the 11th, Mathis of the 144th, Erwin of the 28th, England of the 116th and Pirkle of the 155th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to education, so as to prohibit students who participate in 4-H sponsored activities or programs from being counted as absent from school, subject to certain conditions; to provide for such conditions; to provide for related matters; to provide for a definition; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to Education and Youth Committee.
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HB 1302. By Representatives Bonner of the 72nd, Carpenter of the 4th, Lott of the 122nd, Mathiak of the 73rd, McDonald of the 26th and others:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 7 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to income taxes, so as to provide for a one-time tax credit for individual taxpayers who filed income tax returns for both the 2020 and 2021 taxable years; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to Finance Committee.
HB 1303. By Representatives Dickey of the 140th, England of the 116th, Pirkle of the 155th, Erwin of the 28th, Bentley of the 139th and others:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 3 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to educational programs, so as to transition a pilot program for elementary agricultural education to an ongoing program; to require schools to employ an agricultural education teacher; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee.
HB 1408. By Representative Greene of the 151st:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act to provide a new charter for the City of Shellman, approved April 19, 2000 (Ga. L. 2000, p. 4412), as amended, so as to revise provisions related to selection of the mayor pro tempore; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.
HB 1411. By Representatives Rhodes of the 120th and Williams of the 145th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act to revise, modernize, and consolidate the provisions of local law relating to the State Court of Putnam County (formerly the County Court of Putnam County), approved April 4, 1997 (Ga. L. 1997, p. 3839), as amended, so as to provide that on and after January 1, 2023, the district attorney of the judicial circuit within which Putnam County is located shall represent the state in all criminal prosecutions brought in the State Court of Putnam County and shall perform the duties of the office of solicitor-general of the state court; 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 1412. By Representative Rhodes of the 120th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act to provide that certain officials of Greene County who have served at least 15 years in office may, upon leaving, continue to participate in the county health insurance program for themselves and their dependents by paying the total cost of such participation, approved May 16, 2007 (Ga. L. 2007, p. 3664), as amended, so as to clarify the qualifications for participation in such health insurance program; to provide that certain officials of Greene County who have served at least 25 years in office may, upon leaving, continue to participate in the county health insurance program for themselves and their dependents with Greene County funding such coverage as it does for active employees; to clarify who is covered under such provisions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.
HB 1430. By Representative Williams of the 148th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to reconstitute the Board of Education of Crisp County; to provide for legislative purpose; to provide for the composition and election of said board; to provide for election districts; to provide for terms of office; to provide for qualifications for office; to provide for vacancies; to repeal specific acts; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.
HB 1445. By Representative DeLoach of the 167th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act to re-create and establish the Board of Commissioners of Long County, approved March 10, 1988 (Ga. L. 1988, p. 3755), as amended, particularly by an Act approved May 3, 2018 (Ga. L. 2018, p. 3604), so as to revise provisions for staggering of terms of office for commissioner districts; to provide for continuation in office; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.
HB 1447. By Representative Fleming of the 121st:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to authorize the City of Grovetown, Georgia, to exercise all redevelopment and other powers under Article IX, Section II, Paragraph VII(b) of the Georgia Constitution and Chapter 44 of Title 36 of the O.C.G.A., the "Redevelopment Powers Law," as amended; to provide for a referendum; to provide for effective dates; to provide for automatic repeal under certain circumstances; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.
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HB 1465. By Representative Campbell of the 171st: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act providing for the election of the members of the Board of Education of Mitchell County, approved March 4, 1970 (Ga. L. 1970, p. 2239), as amended, so as to change the education districts; to provide for definitions and inclusions; to provide for the continuation in office for current members; to provide an effective date; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee. HB 1471. By Representative Erwin of the 28th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act to divide the County of Stephens into school districts, approved March 23, 1977 (Ga. L. 1977, p. 3875), as amended, 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 manner of election; to provide for continuation in office of current members; 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.
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