GEORGIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Communications Office Contact: Brent Cranfield House Communications (404) 656-0305 1.877.222.2768 bcranfield@legis.state.ga.us DAILY REPORT Monday, March 14, 2005 Legislative Day # 32 T ODAY ON THE F LOOR : Speaker of the House Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram) gaveled the House into session this morning at 1:00 pm. The Speaker then recognized Rep. Charles Jenkins (D-Blairsville) who introduced the "Devotional Speaker of the Day", his son Rick Jenkins, of the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention covering Middle America and the Caribbean Region, who spoke to, and the led the House in the morning devotion. Speaker Richardson also recognized Rep. Ben Bridges to introduce the "Doctor of the Day," Dr. Marc A. Chetta of Habersham County. The Speaker then recognized members who all spoke from the well during Morning Orders. The House then took up the Rules Debate Calendar. After voting on the Debate Calendar, Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Rep. Ben Harbin (R-Evans), announced that the Senate had voted and passed an amended version of the House FY 2006-2007 Budget, and moved that the House disagree with the Senate version of the budget. The House did disagree, and a conference committee will be formed to negotiate a final version. HOUSE RULES CALENDAR D EBATE C ALENDAR SB 49 - Annual Reports, Budgets, Audits; General Assembly members; notification of availability All state agencies are required by law to send hard copies of audits & reports. This legislation simply changes the language to notify General Assembly members of the availability of reports rather than sending hard copies. - Authored by: Sen. Brian Kemp (R-Athens) - House Special Rules Committee: Favorable as passed by Senate - Rep. Hill presented the bill to the House - Floor Amendments: None - Y: 163 N: 0 SB 55 - Accountancy, Board; change composition; certification; provisions - This legislation relates to the State Board of Accountancy and removes references to any registered public accountants. You can no longer get a degree as a "registered public accountant", and this legislation just cleans up that language. - Authored by Sen. Mitch Seabaugh (R-Sharpsburg) - House Regulated Industries Committee: Favorable as passed by Senate - Rep. David Knight (R-Griffin) presented the bill to the House - Floor Amendments: None - Y: 159 N: 3 SB 89 Controlled Substances, Schedule 1; definitions, exceptions; change - relating to controlled substances, so as to change certain provisions relating to Schedule I controlled substances; to change certain provisions relating to the definition of dangerous drug - Authored by: Sen. Don Thomas (R-Dalton) - Judiciary-NonCivil Committee: As passed by Senate - Rep. Graves presented the bill to the House - Floor Amendments: None - Y: 166 N: 0 SB 97 - Juvenile Court Supervision Fees; used for truancy intervention services - relating to juvenile court supervision fees, so as to provide that fees may be used for truancy intervention services - Authored by Sen. Bill Hamrick (R-Carrollton) - Non-Civil Judiciary Committee: Favorable as passed by Senate - Rep. David Knight presented the bill to the House - Floor Amendments: None - Y: 159 N: 3 * The House will reconvene on Tuesday, March 15 at 10:00 AM for its 33 rd Legislative Day. R ULES C OMMITTEE The Committee on Rules today has fixed the calendar for the 33 rd Legislative Day, Tuesday, March 15, as enumerated below, and can be called at the pleasure of the Speaker of the House. D EBATE C ALENDAR Open Rule SB 100 - Georgia Residential Mortgage Fraud Act; define offense; provide penalties - relating to offenses involving theft, so as to provide for the "Georgia Residential Mortgage Fraud Act"; to provide a short title; to provide for definitions; to define the criminal offense of residential mortgage fraud; to provide for venue; to provide penalties; to authorize district attorneys and the Attorney General to investigate and prosecute cases of residential mortgage fraud; to provide for the forfeiture of real and personal property; to amend Chapter 14 of Title 16 of the O.C.G.A., the "Georgia RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) Act," so as to include residential mortgage fraud within the definition of racketeering activity - Authored by: Sen. Bill Hamrick (R-Carrollton) - House Banks & Banking Committee: Favorable as passed by Senate SB 121 - Tollway Authority; motorist identity, travel history on project; exempt record This bill provides that public disclosure is not required for any information obtained by the State Road and Tollway Authority in connection with its operation of a toll project, to the extent such records would reveal the identity, financial accounts, or travel history of an individual. This is aimed at protecting the information on Cruise Card applications, which could be dangerous in the wrong hands. - Authored by: Sen. Dan Moody (R-Alpharetta) - House Judiciary-Civil Committee Substitute: LC 29 1830S/hss SB 124 - Licensing Board for Residential/General Contractors; method of appointing members This legislation changes the method of appointing board members. It follows the uniformed statewide standard for appointments to boards in the State of Georgia. It pushes up the effective date to be licensed, and asks the State for "seed money" for the new state board...board to reimburse the State. - Authored by Sen. Mitch Seabaugh (R-Sharpsburg) - House Regulated Industries Committee: Favorable as passed by Senate SB 134 - Juvenile Justice; persons violate terms/ conditions of probation; change prov. - relating to juvenile proceedings, so as to provide that the Department of Juvenile Justice operate certain programs for persons who violate the terms and conditions of probation; to provide that the Department of Juvenile Justice operate certain community based alternative programs under certain circumstances; to change provisions relating to disposition of a delinquent child - Authored by: Sen. Brian Kemp (R-Athens) - House Judiciary-NonCivil Committee Substitute: LC 29 1851S/hss SR 33 - Gwinnett University Center; approve creation of four-year college - The Resolution would create a new four-year college in Gwinnett County by the Board of Regents; Chancellor Meredith spoke in favor of the resolution and gave information to the committee about the growing need in that area for a four-year institution. - Authored by: Sen. Don Balfour (R-Snellville) - House Higher Education Committee: Favorable as passed by Senate Modified Structured Rule SB 107 - Developmental Highway System; additional route This bill adds an additional route to the Developmental Highway System of the State. - Authored by: Sen. Tommie Williams (R-Lyons) - House Transportation Committee Substitute: LC 34 0310S/hss SB 129 - Public Transit; unlawful to solicit money /sell goods and services to operators/passengers; penalties - This bill prohibits "pan handling" on all public transit systems. Violators will be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined. - Authored by: Sen. David Adelman (D-Decatur) - House Transportation Committee: Favorable as passed by Senate Structured Rule SB 99 - MARTA Act; code of ethics; conflict of interest; board members; provisions - This legislation simply adds to the MARTA Act a provision regarding the removal of a member of the board of directors found in violation of a provision of a code of ethics approved by the Board. - Authored by: Sen. Dan Moody (R-Alpharetta) - House Transportation Committee: Favorable as passed by Senate * The Rules Committee will next meet, Monday, March 14 at 11:00 AM. Monday's Committee Meetings' Actions - Committee Reports prepared by House Research & Policy Office Government Affairs SB 41 - State Amphibian, Official; designate the green tree frog A bill to designate the green tree frog as the official state amphibian of Georgia. - Authored by: Sen. Preston Smith (R-Rome) - House Government Affairs Committee: Favorable as passed the Senate SB 68 - Real Estate Appraisers; change definitions; continuing education courses; prov - relating to real estate appraisers, so as to change certain definitions; to provide for board member recusals under certain circumstances; to provide for board approval of schools and instructors offering continuing education courses; to change certain provisions relating to hearings and investigations; relating to real estate brokers and salespersons, so as to change certain definitions; to provide for recusal of a commission member in certain circumstances; to change a provision relating to removal of a commission member; to provide for the appointment of a director or coordinator for each approved school - Authored by: Sen. Mitch Seabaugh (R-Sharpsburg) - House Government Affairs Committee: Favorable as passed the Senate Insurance Meeting Agenda: No Report Available SB 81, HUDGENS SB 140, WILLIAMS SB 166, ROGERS SB 167, ROGERS SB 174. STATON SB 217, HUDGENS SB 225, HUDGENS SB 234, TOLLESON SB 236. HUDGENS Interstate Cooperation HR 391 - Violence Against Women Act; urge Georgia Congressional Delegation to reauthorize - A resolution urging the congressional delegation of the State of Georgia to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act in 2005 - Authored by: Rep. Sharon Cooper (R-Marietta) - House Interstate Cooperation: Favorable * These committee action reports are for bills that have passed and/or were deemed favorable by the Full Committees.* Committee action reports are sometimes edited for this report. For full content, please contact the House Research & Policy Office at 404-656-3206. Committee Meetings for Tuesday, March 15 www.legis.state.ga.us 8:30 am-9:30 amEnvironmental Quality Subcommittee of Nat. Resources & Env. Committee (House Meetings) 216 Capitol 9:00 am-10:00 Rules Committee Meeting Schedule (House Meetings) am 341 State Capitol 9:15 am-10:00 Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee Meeting. (House Meetings) am State Capitol, Room 230 12:00 pm-1:00 Judiciary (Non-Civil) Juvenile/General Subcommittee (Two) (House Meetings) pm 506 LOB 1:00 pm-2:00 pm Resource Management Subcommittee of Nat. Res. & Env. Committee (House Meetings) 230 Capitol 1:00 pm-4:00 House Health & Human Services Committee Meeting Notice (House Meetings) pm 406 LOB 2:00 pm-3:00 Banks and Banking Committee (House Meetings) pm 216 CAP 2:00 pm-3:00 Judiciary (Non-Civil) Committee (House Meetings) pm 132 CAP 3:00 pm-4:00 General Government Subcommittee of Governmental Affairs (House Meetings) pm 515 LOB 3:00 pm-4:00 Game, Fish and Parks Committee Meeting (House Meetings) pm State Capitol, Room 230 * For meeting details & agendas, please click on the Committee Name. * This Committee Meeting Schedule is set as of the publication 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