Daily report [Feb. 10, 2005]

GEORGIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Communications Office
Room 609, Legislative Office Building (404) 656-0305
DAILY REPORT

Thursday, February 10, 2005

Legislative Day # 16

Today on the Floor:

Speaker of the House Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram) gaveled the House into session today at 10:00 a.m. The Speaker recognized Rep. Howard Maxwell (R-Dallas) to introduce the Chaplain of the Day, Dr. Richard Walker spoke to and then led the House in devotion. Majority Leader Keen presented and moved to adopt the House Resolution establishing the order of business for the day.
After First and Second Readers of both House and Senate Bills/Resolutions orders, the House took up its Local Calendar and Speaker Richardson recognized Representatives Tom Benton (R-Jefferson), Tom Rice (R-Norcross), Lester Jackson (DSavannah), Stephanie Benefield (D-Decatur), and Jeff Brown (R-LaGrange) to speak at the well for privileged resolutions and recognition of guests.
Rep. Terry Johnson (D-Marietta) introduced the Doctor of the Day, Dr. John Kale. The House then took up the House Rules Calendar.

House Rules Calendar Bills & Resolutions Passed:
SB 3 Torts; evidentiary matters; civil practice; revisions of provisions; (w/ committee substitute)
- Passed to Debate Calendar with 4 amendments as a modifiedstructured rule Amendments: AM 29 0305 - adopted
AM 29 0317 - defeated AM 29 0312 - adopted AM 14 0724 defeated

Bills & Resolutions Defeated: None * The House will reconvene on Monday, Feb. 14 at 1:00 PM for its 17th Legislative Day.

Thursday in Rules Committee
The Committee on Rules today has fixed the calendar for the 16th Legislative Day, Monday, Feb. 14, as enumerated below, and can be called at the pleasure of the Speaker of the House.

Debate Calendar Open Rules

HB 184

Residential and General Contractors State Licensing Board; membership - relating to creation of State Licensing
Board for Residential and General Contractors, so as to change the manner of appointment of members of the board; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

HB 296

Family Court Division; Superior Court of Fulton County; pilot project - relating to courts, so as to authorize
the Family Court Division of the Superior Court of Fulton County in the Atlanta Judicial Circuit as a pilot project of limited duration;

HR 66

SBA regulations of certain nonprofit corporations; service area include entire state a resolution providing
that the Department of Community Affairs may provide that the service area of any nonprofit corporation created by a regional development center and designated as a certified development company by the federal Small Business Administration may include all or part of the entire State of Georgia solely for the purpose of providing authorized program services in accordance with SBA regulations;

Structured Rule HB 293 State Accounting Office; create - so as to create the State
Accounting Office; to provide for a state accounting officer; to provide for the appointment and removal of such officer; to provide for staff and offices; to provide for duties and responsibilities of such officer;

* The Rules Committee will NOT meet tomorrow morning, Friday, Feb. 11, but will hold next regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, Feb. 14, 2005 at 11:00 AM * Bills and Resolutions that are passed by the Rules Committee today will not be added to the House Calendar until the next legislative day.

Thursday's Committee Meetings' Actions
- Committee Reports prepared by House Research & Policy Office
Agriculture & Consumer Affairs
(DNM)
Appropriations
General Subcommittee Meeting

Economic Development Subcommittee Meeting
Banks & Banking
(DNM)

Children & Youth
(DNM)

Defense & Veterans Affairs
(DNM)

Economic Development & Tourism
(DNM)

Education
Subcommittee on Academic Educations

Ethics
(DNM)

Game, Fish, & Parks
(DNM)

Governmental Affairs
(DNM)

Health & Human Services
(DNM)

Higher Education
(DNM)

Human Relations & Aging
HB 206 Assisted living facilities; Levels I and II; provisions - There is a gap in residential long term care for seniors. This legislation's focus is on quality of life in nursing homes or assisted living homes. This bill will enable seniors with freedom of choice and options for long term care. Legislation is directed exclusively at seniors at facilities that require private payments. It has no effect on Medicaid, etc.

HB 50

Criminal history background checks; authorize national exchange - This bill will allow authorized non-law enforcement agencies (i.e. nursing homes) to access the federal criminal record database.

Industrial Relations
(DNM)

Information & Audits

(DNM)
Insurance
(DNM)

Interstate Cooperation
(DNM)

Intragovernmental Coordination
(DNM)

Judiciary Civil
Meeting Canceled

Judiciary Non-Civil
(DNM)

Legislative & Congressional Reapportionment
(DNM)
MARTOC
(DNM)

Motor Vehicles
(DNM)

Natural Resources & Environment

HB 54

Septic tank waste; regulation and permitting; certain land disposal

sites - This bill is meant to clarify a grandfathering provision intended in

the original legislation passed in 2002, by explicitly stating that, "...no

such approval [of a governing authority in the county in which a site is

located] shall be required if such site was in operation as of July 1,

2002..."

Public Safety (DNM)

Public Utilities & Telecommunications
(DNM)

Regulated Industries
(DNM)

Retirement
(DNM)

Science & Technology
8:00 AM Meeting: Committee did meet, but there were no votes taken. Committee met for a presentation by Jim Flowers, Board of Regents about technology in Georgia. After the presentation Jim Flowers introduced Mr. Mike Adkinson, founder and editor of TechLINKS the Guide of Technology in Georgia magazine who explained the in and outs of that publication and offered his services t the Committee.

2:00 PM Meeting: No legislation was entertained by the committee. BG&E Lobbyist Pam Davidson and four members from BG&E explained Committee members the in and outs of the Biomass process and its benefits as an alternative, environmentally friendly source of energy. A power point presentation was also shown to the members.

Special Rules

HB 312

Relating to State Government; substantial revision, transfer of powers

- This bill stems from the Governor's "New Georgia Commission" and

addresses improvements in procurement, and asset management functions,

including fleet management.

State Institutions & Property

HR 48

Martha K. Glaze Regional Youth Detention Center; designate -

Property bill designating the Clayton Regional Youth Detention Center as

the Martha K. Glaze Regional Youth Detention Center.

HB 155

Managerial control over acquisition of professional services; amend provisions - This legislation relates to managerial control over acquisition of professional services to provide control by the state for qualified professionals to be considered for contract.

HB 58

Working Against Recidivism Act; enact - "Working Against Recidivism Act". This bill allows Georgia to apply for federal certification and state operation of the Prison Industry Enhancement Certification Program (PIE). HB 58 would authorize work programs employing inmates as voluntary, paid labor for privately owned profit-making employers under certain rules and regulations.

State Planning & Community Affairs
(DNM)

Transportation

HB 273

Flex Auto Lanes; authorize DOT to implement - Authorizes

implementation of Flex Lanes (using shoulder of an interstate highway) in

Georgia.

Adopted Rules for Road Naming Resolutions

Ways & Means
(DNM)

* These committee action reports are for bills that have passed either the committee or the subcommittee
Committee Meetings for Friday, February 11, 2005
The House will not be in session on Friday, therefore, there are no scheduled committee meetings to report.
* For meeting details & agendas, please click on the Committee Name. * This Committee Meeting Schedule is set as of 5:00 p.m. the day of this report. Committee Meeting Schedules are subject to change, and are updated via the General Assembly's website at www.legis.state.ga.us
Contact: Brent Cranfield House Communications (404) 656-0305 bcranfield@legis.state.ga.us