GEORGIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Communications Office Room 609, Legislative Office Building (404) 656-0305 DAILY REPORT Tuesday, February 8, 2005 Legislative Day # 14 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. Randal Mangham (D-Decatur) to introduce the Chaplain of the Day, Bishop Eddie Long spoke to and then led the House in devotion. During morning orders, Speaker Richardson recognized Representatives Virgil Fludd (D-Fayetteville), Barry Loudermilk (R-Cartersville), James Mills (R-Gainesville), Ron Forster (R-Ringold), Carl Rogers (R-Gainesville), and Mike Cheokas (D-Americus) to speak at the well. Speaker Richardson then recognized members of the House to introduce Invite Resolutions. Ways & Means Chairman Larry O'Neal (R-Warner Robbins) presented H.R. 75 recognizing "Professional Educators Day" and "Page Day on Capitol Hill." Rep. Barbara Massey-Reece (D-Menlo) presented H.R. 111 recognizing Coosa High School in Floyd County for their 2004 AA Governor's Cup award and increasing their S.A.T. scores by 115 points. Agriculture Chairman Tom McCall (R-Elberton) recognized the Farm Bureau. Rep. Georganna Sinkfield (D-Atlanta) introduced the Doctor of the Day, Dr. Michael Benowitz from Dekalb County, and practices medicine in College Park and Marietta. Rules Calendar Bills & Resolutions Passed: H.B. 191 Income tax; corporations; allocation and apportionment formulas; revise - Yeas: 169 Nays: 2 H.B. 84 Supplemental appropriations; FY 2004-2005 - Yeas: 165 Nays: 5: By Committee Substitute Bills & Resolution Defeated: None Local Calendar No Local Calendar votes taken * House Bills 83 & 63 were postponed for a vote until Wednesday's session to be placed on the calendar then. * The House will reconvene on Wednesday, Feb. 9 at 10:00 AM for its 15th Legislative Day. Tuesday in Rules Committee The Committee on Rules today has fixed the calendar for the 14th Legislative Day, Tuesday, Feb. 8, as enumerated below: Debate Calendar H.B. 10 Female genital mutilation; define offense; penalties; exceptions H.R. 14 Hybrid or alternative fuel vehicles; urge Congress allow use in high occupancy vehicle lanes H.B. 218 Public records; economic development; exemption and disclosure of certain records H.B. 263 Income tax; deduction; cost of certain classroom supplies and materials by educators * The Rules Committee will meet tomorrow morning, Wednesday, Feb. 9 at 9:00 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. Tuesday's Committee Meetings' Actions Agriculture & Consumer Affairs NO REPORT AVAILABLE Appropriations Health Subcommittee: FY 2006 Budget Hearings Higher Education Subcommittee: FY 2006 Budget Hearings Public Safety Subcommittee: FY 2006 Budget Hearings Banks & Banking (DNM) Children & Youth (DNM) Defense & Veterans Affairs Chairman John Yates announced that no votes would take place today, but Amos Amerson (R-Dahlonega) spoke about his bill H.B. 80 would make it a misdemeanor for any person to impersonate a veteran or active duty member of the armed forces of the United States with the intent to defraud for personal gain or to facilitate any unlawful activity. Economic Development & Tourism (DNM) Education H.R. 50 Resolution creating the Joint Agricultural Education Study Committee to develop agricultural education instructional standards and develop cross-curricula instruction to all grade levels Ethics (DNM) Game, Fish, & Parks NO REPORT AVAILABLE Governmental Affairs (DNM) Health & Human Services (DNM) Higher Education H.R. 84 Resolution would provide for a name change for Valdosta State University's Peach State Summer Theatre as Georgia's Official Musical Theatre. This program used to be in partnership with the Jekyll Island Musical Theatre and has been dissolved. The program has been moved to the VSU campus and the name changed to Peach State Summer Theatre HB 272 This bill creates a program of grants for postsecondary tuition and other costs for Georgia's foster and adopted children. The grant is available to pay tuition, student fees and a cost-of-living expense for any undergraduate program at any of Georgia's pubic postsecondary institutions. HB 298 This is a "housekeeping" bill for the Georgia Student Finance Authority. It would increase their debt capacity, give them the ability to indemnify other parties and have collection tools to go after students who have defaulted on loans. HB 299 (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. HB 340 This bill would allow public colleges and universities to exempt their private donors from the open records act. Human Relations & Aging (DNM) Industrial Relations (DNM) Information & Audits The committee met, but there were not enough members present to meet a quorum Insurance (DNM) Interstate Cooperation (DNM) Intragovernmental Coordination NO REPORT AVAILABLE Judiciary Civil NO REPORT AVAILABLE Judiciary Non-Civil Subcommittee meetings Legislative & Congressional Reapportionment (DNM) MARTOC (DNM) Motor Vehicles NO REPORT AVAILABLE Natural Resources & Environment (DNM) Public Safety (DNM) Public Utilities & Telecommunications (DNM) Regulated Industries (DNM) Retirement (DNM) Science & Technology (DNM) Special Rules (DNM) State Institutions & Property (DNM) State Planning & Community Affairs (DNM) Transportation State Highways Subcommittee: HB 160 Bill regarding road signage marking work zones on highway Ways & Means (DNM) * These committee action reports are for bills that have passed either the committee or the subcommittee Committee Meetings for Wednesday, February 9, 2005 Due to Website difficulties, today's report does not include Thursday, February 10's calendar of committee meetings. Once the website is up and in working order, I will send a new updated copy of the committee calendar. * 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