Senate first readers, 2023 February 6

SENATE FIRST READERS TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2023 TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATIVE DAY

SB 258.

By Senators Hatchett of the 50th, Anderson of the 24th, Albers of the 56th, Still of the 48th, Ginn of the 47th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 11 of Chapter 11 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Georgia Child Advocate for the Protection of Children Act, so as to provide for additional duties regarding legal representation of children and parents; to provide for an annual report; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Children and Families Committee.

SB 259.

By Senators Hatchett of the 50th, Kennedy of the 18th, Gooch of the 51st and Brass of the 28th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 6 of Title 15 of the O.C.G.A., relating to general provisions regarding the superior courts, so as to move the Superior Court of Banks County from the Piedmont Judicial Circuit to the Mountain Judicial Circuit; to revise the composition and terms of court of the Piedmont Judicial Circuit to the Mountain Judicial Circuit; to provide for the composition and terms of court of the Piedmont Judicial Circuit to the Mountain Judicial Circuit; to provide for related matters; to provide effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Rules Committee.

SB 260.

By Senators Hatchett of the 50th, Kennedy of the 18th, Ginn of the 47th, Still 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 50 of the O.C.G.A., relating to general provisions relative to the Department of Economic Development, so as to authorize the establishment of a state-wide electric vehicle manufacturing program for the promotion of electric vehicle and component manufacturing in this state; 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.

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SB 261.

By Senators Dolezal of the 27th, Dixon of the 45th, Goodman of the 8th, Setzler of the 37th, Harbin of the 16th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 1 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions for education, so as to prohibit the use of political litmus tests in postsecondary educational institutions, local school systems, and elementary and secondary schools; to prohibit such entities from passing certain tests or meeting certain qualifications as a condition of admission into, or promotion within, any public educational institution of the state, as teacher, employee, or student; to provide for penalties; to provide for such tests and conditions; to provide for definitions; to provide for legislative findings and intent; 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.

SB 262.

By Senators Watson of the 11th and Goodman of the 8th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 5 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to ad valorem taxation of property generally, so as to provide for the return of aircraft for property taxation to the state revenue commissioner; to provide for appeals; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Finance Committee.

SB 263.

By Senators Watson of the 11th, Goodman of the 8th, Anderson of the 24th and Gooch of the 51st:

A BILL to be entitled an Act 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 local governments from disconnecting interconnected public water systems if it is likely to negatively impact the ability of users to acquire fire insurance; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Insurance and Labor Committee.

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SB 264.

By Senators Jackson of the 41st, Dugan of the 30th, Butler of the 55th, Payne of the 54th, Hickman of the 4th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 2 of Article 2 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the university system, so as to provide that noncitizen students with certain refugee, special immigrant, or humanitarian parolee status under federal law are classified as in-state for tuition purposes subject to certain conditions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Higher Education Committee.

SB 265.

By Senators Tillery of the 19th, Dugan of the 30th, Hufstetler of the 52nd, Gooch of the 51st, Summers of the 13th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 17 of Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding notaries public, so as to provide for electronic notarization of certain notarial acts using real time audio-video communication technology when certain requirements are satisfied; to provide for and revise definitions; to provide for an electronic seal of office; to provide for requirements and exemptions; to provide for criminal penalties and civil liability, including compensatory and punitive damages; to provide for class action lawsuits; to provide for related matters; to provide for conforming changes; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Committee.

SB 266.

By Senators Harbin of the 16th, Dixon of the 45th, Setzler of the 37th, Goodman of the 8th, Williams of the 25th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 47 of the O.C.G.A., relating to retirement and pensions, so as to provide for a fiduciary duty to invest retirement assets solely in the financial interests of participants and their beneficiaries; to provide for duties; to provide for a definition; to revise the minimum and maximum allowable benefit multiplier for current and future retirees of the Public School Employees Retirement System; to provide for related matters; to provide conditions for an effective date and automatic repeal; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Retirement Committee.

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SB 267.

By Senators Islam of the 7th, Parent of the 42nd and Halpern of the 39th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 31-9-6.1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to disclosure of certain information to persons undergoing certain surgical or diagnostic procedures, failure to comply, exceptions, and regulations establishing standards for implementation, so as to prohibit certain examinations on an anesthetized or unconscious patient without prior informed consent; to provide that informed consent shall be deemed valid consent for other medical personnel under certain conditions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Health and Human Services Committee.

SB 268.

By Senators Islam of the 7th, Merritt of the 9th and Rahman of the 5th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the O.C.G.A., relating to elementary and secondary education, so as to provide for limitations on waiver and variance requests by local school systems requesting flexibility; to remove the requirement that local school systems requesting flexibility must select at least one waiver or variance request from a prescribed list of options; to provide for certain conditions upon local charter schools and the individual schools of charter school systems; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Education and Youth Committee.

SB 269.

By Senators Islam of the 7th, Parent of the 42nd and Esteves of the 6th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 16-11-172 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to transfers or purchases of firearms subject to the NICS, information concerning persons who have been involuntarily hospitalized to be forwarded to the FBI, penalties for breach of confidentiality, and exceptions, so as to prohibit the transfer or purchase of a firearm in proximity of a school safety zone or hospital; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Interstate Cooperation Committee.

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SB 270.

By Senator Summers of the 13th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 9 of Chapter 12 of Title 16 of the O.C.G.A., relating to access to medical cannabis, so as to provide for legislative oversight; to authorize the location of retail outlets for the dispensing of low THC oil and products to registered patients at Class 1 and Class 2 production facilities; to authorize the dispensing of low THC oil and products from any Class 1 or Class 2 production licensee by any dispensing licensee; to provide for additional Class 1 and Class 2 production licenses; to provide for criteria; to amend Code Section 31-2A-18 of the O.C.G.A., relating to the Low THC Oil Patient Registry, so as to add ulcerative colitis as a condition for which low THC oil may be used for treatment; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee.

SB 271.

By Senators Albers of the 56th, Anavitarte of the 31st, Kennedy of the 18th, Hufstetler of the 52nd, Hickman of the 4th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Sections 15-6-94 and 45-17-8.1 of the O.C.G.A., relating to Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority and signature and date of notarial act, respectively, so as to authorize in-person electronic execution of notarial certificates and provide for issuance of standards; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Committee.

SB 272.

By Senators Kennedy of the 18th, Tillery of the 19th, Strickland of the 17th, Hatchett of the 50th, Butler of the 55th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to Title 15 of the O.C.G.A., relating to courts, is amended so as to supplement the duties of administrative judges; to reestablish the Criminal Case Data Exchange Board; to repeal Code Section 15-6-50.3, relating to Criminal Case Data Exchange Board created, membership, operation, role, and public access, in its entirety; to amend Article 2 of Chapter 3 of Title 35 and Code Section 50-25-7.1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to Georgia Crime Information Center and technology empowerment fund, appropriations, initiatives, steering committee, and release of funds, respectively, so as to provide for cross-references; to provide for related matters; repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Rules Committee.

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SB 274.

By Senators Harbin of the 16th and Davenport of the 44th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 30 of the O.C.G.A., relating to handicapped persons, so as to create the Commission for the Blind and the Visually Impaired; to transfer the direction and supervision of Georgia Industries for the Blind from the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency to the commission; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Government Oversight Committee.

SR 214.

By Senators Ginn of the 47th, Still of the 48th, Robertson of the 29th, Kennedy of the 18th, Williams of the 25th and others:

A RESOLUTION creating the Joint Study Committee on Local Option Sales Tax and Service Delivery Strategy; and for other purposes.

Referred to Rules Committee.

SR 215.

By Senators Anavitarte of the 31st, Esteves of the 6th, Summers of the 13th, Hodges of the 3rd, Brass of the 28th and others:

A RESOLUTION commending the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and recognizing March 7, 2023, as GHCC Day at the Capitol; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 216.

By Senators Harbin of the 16th, Strickland of the 17th, Payne of the 54th, Dixon of the 45th, Rahman of the 5th and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Paulla R. Groover for her 40 years of dedicated service with the Harbin Agency; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 217.

By Senators Goodman of the 8th, Walker III of the 20th, Sims of the 12th, Watson of the 11th, Burns of the 23rd and others:

A RESOLUTION commending the Georgia peanut industry and recognizing March 2023 as Georgia Peanut Month at the state capitol; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

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SR 218.

By Senators Walker III of the 20th, Ginn of the 47th, Cowsert of the 46th, Hickman of the 4th and Kennedy of the 18th:

A RESOLUTION congratulating and commending the University of Georgia Archway Partnership; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 219.

By Senators Anavitarte of the 31st, Esteves of the 6th, Watson of the 1st, Still of the 48th, Albers of the 56th and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing February 14, 2023, as New Americans Day at the state capitol; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 220.

By Senators Strickland of the 17th, Jones of the 10th, Williams of the 25th, Harbin of the 16th and Tillery of the 19th:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending the accomplishments of Rusty Strawn as CEO of Strawn & Co. Insurance, an accomplished golfer, and a dedicated family man; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 221.

By Senators Burns of the 23rd, Williams of the 25th, Beach of the 21st, Summers of the 13th, Jones II of the 22nd and others:

A RESOLUTION creating the Joint Study Committee on Run-off Elections; and for other purposes.

Referred to Rules Committee.

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HB 122.

By Representatives Hawkins of the 27th, Newton of the 127th, Hatchett of the 155th, Lott of the 131st and Bennett of the 94th:

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 O.C.G.A., 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 remove the maximum amount of contributions currently allowed per beneficiary; to authorize the board to establish such maximum amount; 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 Higher Education Committee.

HB 147.

By Representatives Wade of the 9th, Jones of the 47th, Dubnik of the 29th, Erwin of the 32nd, Hitchens of the 161st and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the O.C.G.A., relating to elementary and secondary education, so as to provide for a school safety and anti-gang endorsement for eligible certificated professional personnel issued by the Professional Standards Commission; to require school safety plans to be submitted to the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency; to require intruder alert drills in all public schools in this state; to require public schools to report completion of such drills to the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency; to provide for parents and guardians to opt their children out of such drills; to provide for a definition; 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.

HB 220.

By Representatives Leverett of the 123rd and Smith of the 18th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 44 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to property, so as to provide for means of enforcement of condominium and property owners' association instruments, rules, and regulations; to provide for compliance with, and means of enforcement of, covenants and instruments for certain planned subdivisions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Committee.

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HB 237.

By Representatives Hagan of the 156th, Werkheiser of the 157th, Seabaugh of the 34th and Hatchett of the 155th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 3 of Chapter 3 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state symbols, so as to designate the Southeast Georgia Soap Box Derby as the official soap box derby of the State of Georgia; to provide for promotion of the Southeast Georgia Soap Box Derby; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Economic Development and Tourism Committee.

HB 254.

By Representatives Jenkins of the 136th, Cannon of the 172nd, Pirkle of the 169th, Horner of the 3rd and Lott of the 131st:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 9-13-142 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the requirements of an official legal organ, so as to provide an alternative procedure for the designation of the official legal organ; to amend Chapter 80 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to provisions applicable to counties, municipal corporations, and other governmental entities, so as to provide an additional manner of publishing certain legal notices by counties and municipalities; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations (General) Committee.

HB 268.

By Representatives Corbett of the 174th, Powell of the 33rd, Ridley of the 6th, Mathis of the 149th and Barton of the 5th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 6A of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to criminal justice coordinating council, so as to provide for the establishment of a grant program to support local law enforcement agencies and multi-jurisdiction task forces relative to motor vehicle related crime prevention initiatives; to provide for standards and conditions for such grant program; to provide for recommendations and reporting; to provide for the establishment of the Georgia Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Advisory Board; to provide for membership; to provide for clarifying changes relative to current boards and advisory boards; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Public Safety Committee.

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HB 440.

By Representatives Stoner of the 40th, Cooper of the 45th, Hawkins of the 27th, Erwin of the 32nd, Bentley of the 150th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 3 of Article 16 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the O.C.G.A., relating to student health in elementary and secondary education, so as to authorize public and private schools to stock a supply of undesignated ready-to-use glucagon; to provide for a definition; to provide for requirements for the storage, maintenance, and distribution of undesignated ready-to-use glucagon; to provide for the authorized use of undesignated ready-touse glucagon; to provide for arrangements with manufacturers; to provide for regulations; to amend Chapter 4 of Title 26 of the O.C.G.A., relating to pharmacists and pharmacies, so as to authorize certain healthcare practitioners to prescribe or dispense glucagon to an authorized entity for emergency purposes; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Health and Human Services Committee.

HB 444.

By Representatives Reeves of the 99th, Gunter of the 8th, Silcox of the 53rd, Evans of the 57th and Stoner of the 40th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 9 of Chapter 14 of Title 44 of the O.C.G.A., relating to lis pendens, so as to revise when an action may operate as a lis pendens; to provide for related matters; to provide for applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Committee.

HB 480.

By Representatives Franklin of the 160th, Werkheiser of the 157th, McClain of the 109th, Park of the 107th, Thomas of the 65th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 9 of Title 34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to workers' compensation, so as to change certain provisions related to workers' compensation benefits; to change provisions relating to surviving spouse dependency determination and termination; to increase the compensation benefits for total disability and temporary partial disability; to increase the total compensation payable to a surviving spouse as a sole dependent at the time of death; 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.

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