Daily report [Feb. 18, 2005]

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

Friday, February 18, 2005

Legislative Day # 21

Today on the Floor:

Speaker of the House Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram) and gaveled the House into session today at 9:00 a.m. Speaker Richardson introduced the Devotional Speaker of the Day, Pastor Greg Potts, who spoke to the full House and then led it in devotion. Majority Leader Jerry Keen introduced the House Resolution establishing the order of business for the day.
Representative Tom Rice (R-Norcross) introduced the Doctor of the Day, Dr. Earl Grubbs.
The House then took up the House Rules Calendar.

House Rules Calendar Bills & Resolutions Passed:
Open Rule HB 54 Septic tank waste; regulation and permitting; certain land
disposal sites - This bill is meant to clarify a grand fathering 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..." - Bill sponsored by Rep. Alan Powell (D-Hartwell) - Rep. Carl Rogers (R-Gainesville) presented the bill to the House - Floor Amendments: None - Yeas: 138 Nays: 9

HB 266

Chiropractors; board of examiners; additional authority; to
correct language in last year's legislation regarding disciplinary action taken regarding any licensee advertising violations not defined in the rules of the board. - Bill sponsored by Rep. Joe Wilkinson (R-Sandy Springs) - Rep. Joe Wilkson presented the bill to the House - Floor Amendments: None - Yeas: 143 Nays: 2

SB 87

Georgia Seed Law; preempt certain local ordinances; exemptions - This bill comes as a response to counties in other states
enacting local ordinances that would ban the planting of genetically modified seed stock. This bill would preempt local governments from enacting ordinances relating to the labeling, packaging, sale, storage, transportation, distribution, notification of use, or use of seeds. - Sponsored by Sen. John Bulloch (R- Ochlocknee) - Kemp of the 46th Amends: Adds new code section 2-11-35 - Passed by Committee Substitute - Rep. Tom McCall (R-Elberton) presented the bill to the House - Floor Amendments: None - Yeas: 117 Nays: 36

SB 88

Georgia Fertilizer Act; preempt certain local ordinances; exemptions - This bill would preempt local governments from enacting
ordinances relating to the registration, labeling, packaging, sale, storage, transportation, distribution, use, or application of fertilizer. - Sponsored by Sen. John Bulloch (R-Ochlocknee) - Passed by Committee Substitute - Rep. Tom McCall (R-Elberton) presented the bill to the House - Floor Amendments: - Yeas: 130 Nays: 27

Bills & Resolutions Defeated: None * The House will reconvene on Tuesday, Feb. 22 at 1:00 PM for its 22nd Legislative Day.

Thursday in the Rules Committee
The Committee on Rules today has fixed the calendar for the 22nd Legislative Day, Tuesday, Feb. 22, as enumerated below, and can be called at the pleasure of the Speaker of the House.

Debate Calendar

Open Rule

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.

- Sponsored by Rep. Rob Teilhet (D-Atlanta)

HB 59

Minimum wage mandates by local governments; change certain provisions - Local governments are using bidder qualifications and evaluation factors to get around bill passed last year - This legislation will close up loophole left by previous bill - Sponsored by Rep. Earl Ehrhart (R-Powder Springs)

HB 172

Crime Victims Restitution Act of 2005; enact - substantially revise the

laws of this state relating to the conduct of criminal trials and the impact of the criminal justice system on victims of crime; relating to tolling of limitations in civil cases, so as to provide for a statute of repose in certain tort actions brought by victims of crimes against the persons accused of such crimes; relating to criminal procedure, so as to change the provisions relating to victim impact statements; to amend relating to definitions relating to setoff debt collection, so as to change the provisions relating to collection of restitution for victims of crime - Sponsored by Rep. Rich Golick (R-Smyrna)

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. - Sponsored by Rep. Len Walker (R-Loganville)

HB 299

HOPE scholarships; definitions; quarter or semester hour limitation (LC 28 2192S) This bill relates to the HOPE scholarship in hopes to ensure its long term existence. The original intent of the scholarship was to allow Georgia students to obtain a bachelor's degree. The bill sets the number of credit hours at 127 semester hours. It will not effect current students. There are no current time limitations on how long it takes to complete the 127 hours. The bill simply puts a cap on the number of semester hours HOPE will cover. - Sponsored by Rep. Bill Hembree (R-Douglasville)

HB 327

Workers' compensation; electronic documents; injuries; designation; computation - Require the implementation of electronic filing for workers compensation; redefine catastrophic injuries; adjust the weekly compensation cap (increasing it to $450 from $425.) - Speaking on behalf of the bill was Judge Carolyn Hall, Chairman of the State Board of Workers' Compensation. Judge Hall explained the main points of the new legislation: - Presented to committee by Chairman Mike Coan (R-Lawrenceville) - The Committee voted favorably to pass HB 327 by Committee Substitute.

HR 237

House of Representatives; establish redistricting standards This resolution set forth guidelines, principles, and standards for the House to follow during the redistricting process; these guidelines are to utilized during any and all future redistricting efforts by the House - Sponsored by Rep. Bobby Franklin (R-Marietta)

Structured Rule

HB 22

Sales and use tax; certain motor vehicle transactions; change tax situs

- Changes the Tax Situs for Certain Motor Vehicle Transactions; This bill

requires that the taxable situs of a motor vehicle retail sale, or a motor

vehicle lease or rental that exceeds thirty days, be the county of the motor vehicle registration of the purchaser or lessee. Current law requires the tax situs to be the point the point of delivery, i.e. the point that transfer of title takes place. - This bill passed out of committee unanimously by committee
substitute. - Sponsored by Rep. Calvin Hill (R-Woodstock)

HB 203

Ad valorem tax; exempt farm equipment under lease purchase agreement - Ad Valorem Tax Exemption on Lease Purchase Agreements; This bill expands the ad valorem exemption for farm equipment to include equipment held under a lease purchase agreement. This equipment includes farm tractors, combines, and all other farm equipment other than motor vehicles, whether fixed or mobile, directly used in the production of agricultural products by family owned qualified farm products producers. - This bill passed out of committee unanimously. - Sponsored by Rep. Richard Royal (D-Camilla)

HR 192

Rules of House; amend Rule 18 - A resolution amending the Rules of the House of Representatives with respect to local legislation - Sponsored by Rep. Tommy Smith (R-Nicholls)

* The Rules Committee will meet, Tuesday, Feb. 22 at 11:00 AM.
* Bills and Resolutions that are passed by the Rules Committee today will not be added to the House Debate Calendar until the next legislative day.

Friday's Committee Meetings' Actions
- Committee Reports prepared by House Research & Policy Office
The House Rules Committee was the only Full Committee to meet on Friday, Feb. 18, to set the House Floor Debate Calendar for the 22nd Legislative Day on Tuesday, Feb. 22.
Regular Committee Meetings will be held as usual next week.
* These committee action reports are for bills that have passed and/or were deemed favorable by the Full Committees. * (DNM) = Did Not Meet

Committee Meetings for Tuesday, February 22, 2005
Regular Committee Meetings will be held as usual next week.

* 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