Daily report [Mar. 24, 2005]

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

Thursday, March 24, 2005 Legislative Day # 37 T ODAY ON THE F LOOR :
Speaker of the House Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram) gaveled the House into session this morning at 10:00 am. The Speaker then recognized Rep. Billy Horne (R-Newnan) who introduced the "Devotional Speaker of the Day," Dr. David Campbell, who spoke to and the led the House in the morning devotion. Rep. Rich Golick (R-Smyrna) introduced the "Doctor of the Day", Dr. Hailey. The first official vote by the House this morning was to adopt the Local Calendar, and it was adopted by a vote of Y-134: N-1. A Motion to Reconsider SB 283 failed by a vote of Y-65: N-84, and Rep. Mark Hatfield (R-Waycross) waived his motion to reconsider SB 90. The Speaker then recognized Representatives Dan Lakly ( R-Peachtree City), Carolyn Hugley (D-Columbus), and Pat Gardner (D-Atlanta) who spoke from the well during Morning Orders. The House then took up the Rules Debate Calendar. At Noon, the Speaker called for a recess until 1:00 pm, so that he could meet with the Conference Committee who were negotiating the final version of HB 85, the FY 2006-2007 General Appropriation Bill (Budget). Speaker Richardson called the House to order to introduce a special guest. Rep. Pete Marin who introduced Gwinnett County Police Chief Charles Walters and Ms. Ashley Smith to the House, and read House Resolutions honoring their service during the March 11 "Manhunt for Brian Nicholls."
S ESSION
R EPORT OF C ONFERENCE C OMMITTEES HB 282 - Income tax; deductions; purchases treated as expenses under federal law - Rep. Jay Roberts (R-Ocilla) moves to Agree to Conference Committee Report - House Agrees by vote of Y-153: N-0.
M OTIONS TO I NSIST/ A PPOINT A C OMMITTEE OF C ONFERENCE HB 291 - Insurance; amend Code Chapters 20A, 27, 29, and 30

- Rep. Carl Rogers made a motion to Insist on the House position, and requested that a Conference Committee be appointed - Committee Members: Rogers, Meadows, Knox
HB 366 - Indigents; legal defense; amend certain provisions - Rep. Jack Murphy made a motion to Insists on the House position, and requested that a Conference Committee be appointed - Committee Members:
HB 487 - Sales tax exemption; electricity sales for crop irrigation; amend - Rep. Roberts notified the House that the Senate had insisted on its position, and requested that the House insist on its position in order to form a Conference Committee.
M OTIONS TO A GREE/ D ISAGREE HB 1 - Bona fide conservation use property; breach of covenant; exceptions - Senate Substitute: - Rep. Richard Royal made a motion to Agree to the Senate version of the bill - House Agrees to Senate Version by a vote of Y: 159 N: 0
HB 58 - Working Against Recidivism Act; enact - Senate Amendment: - Rep. Allen Powell made a motion to Agree to the Senate version of the bill - House Agrees to Senate Version by a vote of Y: 122 N: 0
HB 200 - Subsequent Injury Trust Fund; reimbursement; dissolution - Senate Substitute: - Rep. Mike Coan made a motion to Agree to the Senate version of the bill, after his amendment

- House Agrees to Senate Substitute as amended by the House by a vote of Y: 113 N: 0
HB 216 - Pseudoephedrine sales; limitations and restrictions - Senate Substitute: - Rep. Jay Neal made a motion to Agree to the Senate version of the bill - House Agrees to Senate Version by a vote of Y: 140 N: 2
HB 279 - Highways; vehicles hauling certain products; weight limitation variance - Senate Amendment: - Rep. Virgil Fludd made a motion to Agree to the Senate version of the bill - House Agrees to Senate Version by a vote of Y: 141 N: 14
HB 291 - Insurance; amend Code Chapters 20A, 27, 29, and 30 - Senate Amendment: - Rep. Carl Rogers made a motion to Disagree to the Senate version of the bill - House Disagrees to Senate Version without Objection
HB 298 - Georgia Higher Education Assistance Corporation and Georgia Student Finance Authority; certain powers - Senate Substitute: - Rep. Chuck Martin made a motion to Agree to the Senate version of the bill - House Agrees to Senate Version by a vote of Y: 132 N: 1
HB 306 - Sales tax; certain tangible property used by contractors; amend provisions - Senate Amendment: - Rep. Tom Rice made a motion to Agree to the Senate version of the bill

- House Agrees to Senate Version by a vote of Y: 140 N: 0
HB 312 - State departments; revisions and transfer of powers and duties - Senate Amendment: AM 18 1229 - House Amendment: AM 28 0575 - Rep. Allen Freeman made a motion to Agree to the Senate version of the bill as amended by the House - House Agrees to Senate Version as amended by the House by a vote of Y: 131 N: 4
HB 366 - Indigents; legal defense; amend certain provisions - Senate Amendment: - Rep. Jack Murphy made a motion to Disagree to the Senate version of the bill - Rep. Jack Murphy requested that the House suspend its action until later in the legislative day. - House suspended action until later in the day - House eventually moved to Agree on the Senate version by a vote of Y-107: N-41.
HB 367 - Driver training and commercial driver training schools; licensing provisions - Senate Subsitute: - Rep. Tom Rice made a motion to Agree to the Senate version of the bill - House Agrees to Senate Version by a vote of Y: 145 N: 0
HB 394 - Disabled adults and elder persons; protective services; discharge and transfer from facilities - Senate Substitute: - Rep. Len Walker made a motion to Agree to the Senate version of the bill - House Agrees to Senate Version by a vote of Y: 153 N: 0

HB 428 - Property insurance; warranty service agreements; amend provisions - Senate Amendment: - Rep. Jerry Keen made a motion to Agree to the Senate version of the bill - House Agrees to Senate Version by a vote of Y: 142 N: 0
HB 487 - Sales tax exemption; electricity sales for crop irrigation; amend - Senate Substitute: - Rep. Jay Roberts made a motion to Agree to the Senate version of the bill - House Agrees to Senate Version HB 520 - Employment security; amend certain provisions; Department of Labor; supplemental appropriation - Senate Substitute: - Rep. Mike Coan made a motion to Agree to the Senate version of the bill - House Agrees to Senate Version by a vote of Y: 124 N: 12
D EBATE C ALENDAR Open Rule SB 4 - Public Funds; balancing of federal/state funds; change provisions - relating to the allocation of funds for public roads, so as to change the provisions regarding the balancing of federal and state funds - Authored by: Sen. Mitch Seabaugh (R-Sharpsburg) - House Transportation Committee Substitute: LC 34 0403S/hss - Rep. Tom Graves (R-Ranger) presented the bill to the House - Floor Amendments: Amendment 34 0054 - Adopted - Y: 141 N: 12
SB 6 - Criminal Background Checks; authorize national exchange of information - Bill allows local authorities to access NCIC for the purpose of finding criminal history background checks on providers of supervision and care of children, the elderly, and persons with

disabilities. - Authored by: Sen. Doug Stoner (R-Smyrna) - House Non-Civil Judiciary Committee: Favorable as passed by Senate - Rep. Rob Teilhet (D-Smyrna) presented the bill to the House - Floor Amendments: Amendment Adopted - Y: 152 N: 0
SB 46 - Mobile telephone service; publishing numbers; written consent of subscriber This bill is in regards to telephone service and provides that suppliers of wireless telephone `directory' service cannot dial telephone number without subscribers consent. Also, bill prohibits giving certain information to telemarketers. - Authored by: Sen. David Shafer (R-Duluth) - House Public Utilities Committee Substitute: Favorable - Rep. ----- presented the bill to the House - Floor Amendments: - Y: N: - Action was postponed until next Legislative Day
SB 56 - Tuberculosis Hospitalization; definition; confinement provision; revise - Bill targets patients that do not follow prescribed treatment. Confinement of tuberculosis patients is strictly a last resort. There will be minimum impact on state funds. Tuberculosis is a real problem, but on a small number of patients will have to be confined. (4-8 patients per year). Confinement must be court ordered. Supplement by Dr. Rose Marie Solace, Chair of Southeastern Regional Commission on tuberculosis. - Authored by: Sen. Thomas (R-Dalton) - House Health & Human Services Committee: Favorable as passed by Senate - Rep. Sue Burmeister presented the bill to the House - Floor Amendments: None - Y: 152 N: 0
SB 62 - Georgia Slam Spam E-mail Act; deceptive commercial e-mail; criminal penalties

- This bill deals with Spam, false or misleading emails. It provides for criminal penalties and for civil relief and venue for civil proceedings. It creates the new crime of initiation of deceptive commercial e-mail. - Authored by: Sen. David Shafer (R-Duluth) - House Science & Technology: Favorable as passed the Senate. - Rep. ----- presented the bill to the House - Floor Amendments: - Y: N: - Action was postponed until next Legislative Day
SB 93 - Motor Vehicles; use of material covering license plates; prohibit - This bill would prohibit the use of plastic or other types of material covering license plates in order to obscure the plate information from security cameras/readers. - Authored by: Sen. Seth Harp (R-Midland) - House Motor Vehicles Committee: Favorable - Rules Committee Substitute: Adopted - Rep. Tom Rice presented the bill to the House - Floor Amendments: AM 34 0066 - Adopted - Y: 111 N: 49
SB 94 - Child Custody Intrastate Jurisdiction Act; change certain provisions - the "Georgia Child Custody Intrastate Jurisdiction Act of 1978," so as to change certain provisions relating to actions by physical or legal custodians not being permitted in certain circumstances; to prohibit other persons or entities from maintaining certain actions under certain circumstances - Authored by: Sen. Seth Harp (R-Midland) - House Non-Civil Judiciary Committee Substitute: LC 29 1874S/hss - Rep. ----- presented the bill to the House - Floor Amendments: - Y: N: - Action was postponed until next Legislative Day

SB 174 - "Ga. Consumer Choice Benefits Health Insurance Plan Act"; add to health plans - This legislation is known as "Small Business Employee Choice of Benefits Health Insurance Plan Act." Provides that insurers must offer certain employees and consumers a choice between small business employee choice of benefits health insurance plan hospitalization policies; or, contracts not subject to state mandated health benefits and other policies or contracts subject to state mandated health benefits. - Authored by: Sen. Cecil Staton (R-Macon) - House Insurance Committee Substitute: LC 28 2443S/hss - Rep. ----- presented the bill to the House - Floor Amendments: - Y: N: - Action was postponed until next Legislative Day
SB 203 - Public Defenders; indigent defense services; attorney's fees/cost recovered relating to public defenders, so as to authorize the recovery of attorneys fees and costs from persons who receive indigent defense services - Authored by: Sen. John Wiles (R-Marietta) - House Civil Judiciary Committee Substitute: LC 29 1866S/hss - Withdrawn - Rep. Wendell Willard (R-Atlanta) presented the bill to the House - Floor Amendments: - Rep. Bordeaux amendment failed by 65:92 - AM 14 0798 Adopted - AM 34 0065 Adopted - AM 22 1132 Adopted - Y: 126 N: 38
SB 270 - Ga. Highway Authority; additional powers; public-private initiatives - relating to the general contracting powers of the Department of Transportation, so as to permit the acceptance of solicited as well as unsolicited proposals for public-private initiatives; to allow for the disclosure of nonproprietary matters from the unsolicited and solicited proposals in order to

encourage competition; to provide for a payment and performance bond sufficient to protect the interest of the public; to extend the time for submission of competing proposals; to amend Part 1 of Article 1 of Chapter 10 of Title 32 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Georgia Highway Authority generally, to provide for additional definitions and powers of the authority - Authored by: Sen. Tommie Williams (R-Lyons) - House Transportation Committee Substitute: LC 34 0388S/hss - Rep. ----- presented the bill to the House - Floor Amendments: - Y: N: - Action was postponed until next Legislative Day
SB 277 - Georgia Hazardous Site Reuse/Redevelopment Act; change provisions of definitions - This bill would extend the same limitation of liability to purchasers (Brownfield legislation) of properties contaminated by leaking petroleum underground storage tanks (contaminated gasoline stations). - Authored by: Sen. Casey Cagle (R-Chestnut Mtn) - House Natural Resources & Environment Committee: Favorable as passed by Senate - Rules Committee Substitute: Adopted - Rep. Lynn Smith (R-Newnan) presented the bill to the House - Floor Amendments: None - Y: 148 N: 7
SB 284 - Employees Health Benefits; create trust fund; community health; powers/duties - Bill creates the Georgia Retiree Health Benefit Fund to provide for the employer costs of retiree post-employment health insurance benefits. -Authored by: Sen. Mitch Seabaugh (R-Sharpsburg) - House Retirement Committee: Favorable as passed by Senate - Rep. Jeff Brown presented the bill to the House - Floor Amendments: None - Y: 148 N: 1

SR 294 - Cervical Cancer Elimination Task Force; create - This bill is to create the "Cervical Cancer Elimination Task Force."
- Authored by: Senator Thomas (R-Dalton)
- House Health & Human Services Committee: Favorable as passed by Senate
- Floor Amendments: None
- Y: 148 N: 0
Modified Structured Rule
SB 35 - Education; expenditure controls; charter schools; revisions of provisions - The Governor's Flexibility Bill addresses the opportunity provided by the standards and accountability systems in place for K-12 education. The bill provides local schools with flexibility over their state-provided resources, including an additional two years of flexibility over class size- due to fiscal constraints.
- Authored by: Sen. Dan Moody
- Education Committee: Do Pass by House Committee Substitute (4 amendments)
- Rep. ----- presented the bill to the House
- Floor Amendments:
- Y: N:
- Action was postponed until next Legislative Day
Structured Rule
SB 168 - License Plates; (NASCAR) logo; support Governor's Highway Safety Program relating to prestige license plates and special plates for certain persons and vehicles, so as to provide for special license plates bearing the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) logo and promoting specific drivers or general motorsports; to support the Governors Highway Safety Program; to provide for issuance, renewal, fees, licensing agreements, applications, transfers, and disposition of funds relative to such license plates
- Authored by: Sen. Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock)
- House Motor Vehicles Committee Substitute: LC 34 0389S/hss
- Rep. Tom Rice presented the bill to the House
- Floor Amendments: None

- Y: 157 N: 0
SB 227 - Ga. State Financing/Investment Commission; definitions; bonds; procedures More commonly known as derivatives or interest rate swaps and caps, the purpose of this bill is to enable the State through Georgia State Finance and Investment Commission (GSFIC) and political subdivisions to enter into interest rate swap agreements to reduce the cost of debt service in a controlled and risk minimized process. This bill will allow short-term, fixed to floating rate swaps to reduce debt service on the state's fixed interest rate bond portfolio and in the future may be used to provide fixed caps as a hedge to floating interest rate commercial paper. While the legislation does require reporting of existing swaps, it does not affect existing swaps.Each participating entity is required to adopt an interest rate management plan which controls and manages the type of trades entered into. The State as well as each local governing entity desiring to issue trades must also hire a qualified, independent interest rate advisor to develop the interest rate management plan. This advisor must issue a clean opinion that each trade complies with the plan and must opine that each trade is an appropriate risk for the issuing political division. Only institutions that retain two of the high highest credit ratings from Standard & Poors, Moody's Investment Service or Fitch's are eligible to sell these types of transactions.This legislation specifically restricts or prohibits the use of foreign currencies, equity derivatives, and highly sophisticated trades which can allow huge up-front payments to the issuing political division, thus circumventing the General Assembly appropriation process.
- Authored by: Sen. Casey Cagle (R-Chestnut Mtn)
- House Ways & Means Committee Substitute: LC 18 4446S/hss
- Rep. Larry O'Neal (R-Warner Robbins) presented the bill to the House
- Floor Amendments: None
- Y: 157 N: 0
SB 291 - Ad Valorem Taxation; tangible personal property located on airport; change provisions - This bill requires that the revenue collected from ad valorem taxes returned on all real property or tangible personal property located on airport property, which is situated entirely within one county, but has an airport authority which functions on behalf of more than one county, to be apportioned to each county in proportion to the number of authority board members from each county.
- Authored by: Sen. Bill Heath (R-Bremen)
- House Ways & Means Committee: Favorable as passed by Senate
- Rep. Howard Maxwell (R-Dallas) presented the bill to the House
- Floor Amendments: None
- Y: 154 N: 2

S UPPLEMENTAL C ALENDAR SB 103 - Athletic Associations; establish criteria according to student enrollment - Authored by: Sen. John Wiles (R-Marietta) - Y-65: N-88: Bill failed to gain a Constitutional Majority - Rep. Mark Burkhalter served notice of a Motion to Reconsider its actions on SB 103 on the next legislative day.
SB 190 - Environmental Advisory; judicial review of contested cases; filing of petition In cases involving grants, amendments or variances of permits by the director of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, this bill would limit - to 90 days OR until such time as an administrative law judge has rendered a decision - the length of time of any stay initiated by a third party interest. Petitions must be filed within 30 days of the date of the permit action by the director of EPD. Notice of petition must be transmitted to the administrative law judge within 7 days of receipt of petition. Stays may only be granted by order of the superior court upon motion for a temporary restraining order or interlocutory injunction in accordance with Code Section 9-11-65. Stays under these actions may be extended by order of the administrative law judge if all parties agree. - Authored by: Sen. Ross Tolleson (R-Perry) - House Natural Resources & Environment Committee: Substitute LC 25 4090S/hss - Rep. Lynn Smith presented the bill to the House - Bill was recommitted to the Rules Committee; Rules made two amendments to the bill, and placed it on a Supplemental Calendar for today. - Floor Amendments: None - Y: 132 N: 21
* The House will reconvene on Tuesday, March 29 at 9:00 AM for its 38 th Legislative Day.
R ULES C OMMITTEE

The Committee on Rules today has fixed the calendar for the 38 th Legislative Day, Tuesday, March 29, as enumerated below, and can be called at the pleasure of the Speaker of the House.
Uncontested House/Senate Resolutions Structured Rule HR 214 - Joint House and Senate All-terrain Vehicle (ATV) Safety Study Committee; create Authored by: Rep. Chuck Sims House Motor Vehicles Committee
HR 230 - House Local School District Development Impact Fees Study Committee; create Authored by: Rep. Jan Jones House Education Committee
HR 296 - State Registry Study Commission; create Authored by: Rep. Austin Scott House Governmental Affairs Committee
HR 428 - House Study Committee on Tobacco Tax Evasion; create Authored by: Rep. Calvin Hill House Special Rules Committee
HR 442 House HOPE Scholarship Program Study Committee; create Authored by: Rep. Bill Hembree House Education Committee

HR 486 - House Ad Valorem Inventory Tax Study Committee; create Authored by: Rep. Chuck Scheid House Ways & Means Committee
HR 488 - House Education Funding Study Committee; create Authored by: Rep. Jerry Keen House Ways & Means Committee
HR 494 - House Coastal Georgia Sound Science Initiative Study Committee; create Authored by: Rep. Lynn Smith House Natural Resources & Environment Committee
HR 515 - House Study Committee on Restructuring Georgia's Criminal Penalties; create Authored by: Rep. David Ralston House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee
HR 518 - House Study Committee on Children: Newborns to Age Five; create Authored by: Rep. Judy Manning House Children & Youth Committee
HR 641 - House Study Committee on Causes and Treatment of Lymphedema; create Authored by: Rep. Len Walker House Rules Committee
HR 642 - House Film and Video Game Technology Study Committee; create Authored by: Rep. Ron Stephens

House Rules Committee
HR 679 - House Study Committee on University System Institution Foundations; create Authored by: Rep. Barry Fleming House Rules Committee
SR 21 - Joint Early Learning Initiative Commission; create Authored by: Sen. Brian Kemp House Education Committee
SR 23 - Joint Port Authority; creating Authored by: Sen. Eric Johnson House Government Affairs Committee
SR 88 - Henry McNeal Turner Tribute Commission; creating Authored by: Sen. Vincent Fort House Special Rules Committee
SR 161 - Juvenile Code Rewrite; create Joint Study Committee Authored by: Sen. Bill Hamrick House Non-Civil Judiciary Committee
SR 280 - Designate; Thomas B. Darieng Sr.; Highway; Bryan County Authored by: Sen. Eric Johnson House Transportation Committee

SR 298 - Emerging Communication Technologies Study Committee; create Authored by: Sen. Mitch Seabaugh House Science & Technology Committee
SR 304 - O'Neal, Ronnie; Georgia's troopers who have died in the line of duty; honoring Authored by: Sen. Eric Johnson House Transportation Committee
SR 305 - Designate; Mack Mattingly Highway; Glynn County Authored by: Sen. Eric Johnson House Transportation Committee
D EBATE C ALENDAR Open Rule SB 51 - Clinical Laboratories; technicians; provide degree of supervision - Talks about supervision of laboratory technicians. Section 1 provides rules for testing supervision; Section 2 deals with applicability. - Authored by: Sen. Bill Hamrick (R-Carrollton) - House Health & Human Services Committee: Favorable as passed by Senate
SB 98 - Education; local boards; insurance/benefits; authorize expenditure of funds The bill authorizes the expenditure of funds of local boards of education for life, disability, and liability insurance, retirement and pension coverage, social security coverage, and similar benefits for members of local boards of education. - Authored by: Sen. Ralph Hudgens (R-Comer) - House Education Committee: Favorable as passed by Senate
SB 106 - Violent Video Game; display explanation of rating system; penalty - This bill requires retailers of "video games" to display information on the rating system used in rating said games. Written documentation of this rating system must be made available to

consumers as well.
- Authored by: Sen. Doug Stoner (R-Smyrna)
- House Non-Civil Judiciary Committee: Favorable as passed by Senate
SB 122 - Tire Disposal; extend collection of fees- The major portion of this bill would re-authorize the $1 per tire scrap tire fee collected on the sale of tires in this state to continue until June 30, 2008. A few small changes have been made to incorporate "scrap tire processors" into the code, along with an increase in the amount of surety bond those processors would need to post (from $10,000 (current) to $25,000 (if passed)), along with language to reflect the type of surety the tire processors would need to post.Some controversial language relating to the number of landfills that may be permitted within a certain area (that was added in the Senate) has been removed from this substitute.
- Authored by: Sen. Jim Whitehead (R-Evans)
- House Natural Resources & Environment Committee: Substitute
SB 145 - Cosmetologists; define terms; qualifications; certificate for registration for hair braiders/designers - relating to cosmetologists, so as to define certain terms; to provide for a certificate of registration for hair braiders and hair designers; to provide for qualifications; to provide for application and fees; to provide for reciprocity
- Authored by: Sen. Johnny Grant (R-Milledgeville)
- House Regulated Industries Committee Substitute:
SB 158 - State Space Management Act; repeal; transfer duties, powers - This bill related to administrative space (whether existing or to be constructed) that is required by a state entity for office, storage, special purposes and required for its core mission. The space must be necessary for and utilized in the performance of the duties that the state entity is obligated by law to perform; or the delivery of the services that the state entity is authorized or required by law to provide.
- Authored by: Sen. Jim Whitehead (R-Evans)
- House State Institutions & Property Committee: Favorable
SB 161 - Employees' Retirement; Housing/Finance Authority officer; payment to trustees - Bill provides that members of ERS, who became members on or after July 1, 1995, and who immediately prior to becoming a member was an employee of the Georgia Housing and Finance Authority, may purchase creditable service for prior service.

- Authored by: Sen. Bill Heath (R-Bremen)
- House Retirement Committee: Favorable
SB 204 - Health Records; provide electronic format; conditions; legal rights; copies This bill will modernize record keeping for healthcare providers by allowing them to keep their records only in electronic format.
- Authored by: Sen. Brian Kemp (R-Athens)
- House Judiciary-Civil Committee Substitute: Favorable
SB 224 - Ga. Athletic/Entertainment Commission; revise/clarify definitions; provision relating to the Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission, so as to revise and clarify definitions relative to the commission; to change a provision relating to the applicability of the chapter; to change a provision relating to the term of appointment for members of the commission; to provide that restrictions on members and employees of the commission apply to martial arts and wrestling in addition to boxing; to provide for the offense of promotion of unarmed combat; to provide for penalties; to revise provisions relating to taxation of promoters gross receipts; to change a provision relating to service charges for tickets sold by an authorized ticket agent
- Authored by: Sen. Don Balfour (R-Snellville)
- House Regulated Industries Committee Substitute: LC 19 6599S/hss
SB 230 - Consumer Reporting Agencies; notices of security breaches; definitions relating to selling and other trade practices, so as to provide definitions; to require investigative consumer reporting agencies to give notice to consumers of certain security breaches
- Authored by: Sen. Bill Hamrick (R-Carrollton)
- House Non-Civil Judiciary Committee Substitute: LC 29 1888S/hss
SB 267 - Disabled Persons; parking permits; provide annual renewal - relating to uniform rules of the road, so as to provide for annual renewal of certain parking permits for disabled persons; to provide for the certain specifications for such permits; to require that the person with the disability be the operator of or a passenger in the vehicle when such permit is being used
- Authored by: Sen. Renee Unterman (R-Buford)
- House Transportation Committee: Favorable as passed by the Senate

SB 269 - Pen Register; district attorney having jurisdiction; apply for/extend order - This bill allows District Attorneys of appropriate jurisdiction or the Attorney General to make application for monitoring devices - Authored by: Sen. Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock) - House Non-Civil Judiciary Committee: Substitute
SB 273 - Driver's Licenses; Class C; change definition - This bill changes the definition of a Class C license for commercial and noncommercial drivers licenses - Authored by: Sen. Greg Goggans (R-Douglas) - House Motor Vehicles Committee: Favorable
SB 287 - Permits; operation of movie theaters/athletic events on Sundays; repeal provisions - relating to selling and trade practices, so as to repeal provisions which provide that local government permits are required for the operation of movie theaters and athletic events to be held on Sundays - Authored by: Sen. Bill Heath (R-Bremen) - House Regulated Industries: Favorable as passed by the Senate
SR 80 - Public Property; conveyance; grant utility easements; 7 counties - This resolution grants easements over certain state owned properties in the following counties: Baldwin, Banks, Burke, Chatham, Douglas, Fulton, Newton and Chatham. - Authored by: Sen. Regina Thomas (D-Savannah) - House State Institutions & Property Committee: Favorable
Modified Open Rule SB 127 - Georgia Computer Security Act; definitions; deceptive acts; penalties - Georgia Computer Security Act of 2005; This bill makes it illegal for a person o entity that is not an authorized user of a computer to cause computer software to be copied onto such computer and use the software to modify: the page that appears when authorized user launches an internet browser, the default internet provider, the authorized user's bookmarks.Collect through intentionally deceptive means personal information. Prevent the authorized user from blocking the installation or disabling the software by causing it to automatically reinstall it self.

Intentionally misrepresent that software will be uninstalled or disabled by a certain action with knowledge that the software will not be uninstalled or disabled by that action. Trough intentionally deceptive means, remove, disable, or render inoperative security, anti-spy ware, or ant-virus software installed on the computer.
- Authored by: Sen. Cecil Staton (R-Macon)
- House Science & Technology Committee Substitute: Favorable
Modified Structured Rule
SB 206 - Hunting Wildlife; season/bag limits; weapons; change provisions - Section 1 of this bill adds a new code section relating to lands managed by the Department of Natural Resources. The department is directed to exercise its authority, subject to valid existing rights and not in conflict with public safety or homeland security or other limitations in the law, in a manner to support, promote, and enhance recreational hunting and trapping opportunities to the extent authorized by law. The department is further directed, to the greatest practical extent, to make decisions in such a way that will result in no net loss of land acreage available for hunting and trapping opportunities. Section 2 of this bill clarifies and modifies existing language as it relates to permits to hunt deer with dogs. As written, permits to hunt deer with dogs may be granted to owners or lessees of lands of at least 1000 contiguous acres, but to only owners of properties of at least 250 contiguous acres. Currently, permits may not be issued to anyone for tracts of land less than 1000 contiguous acres.
- Authored by: Sen. Tommie Williams (R-Lyons)
- House Game, Fish & Parks Committee: Favorable
- House Rules Committee Amendments:
- # 1 removes the word "trapping" in all its locations in the bill
- # 2 changes the acreage requirement back to the original statute of 1,000 square acres
Structured Rule
SB 57 - Repeat Offenders; convicted of murder; punishment - This bill provides that individuals charged with the offense of Murder, and have three prior felony convictions, to be given the sentence of "Life Without Parol". Further, the bill exempts physicians who have participated in state sanctioned executions from being subject to challenges, suspension, or revocations of their license due to their participation.
- Authored by: Sen. Bill Hamrick (R-Carrollton)
- House Non-Civil Judiciary Committee: Substitute

SB 117 - License Plates; issued in or before 1970; authentic; authorize display - Provides that any Georgia license plate issued in the year 1970 or before shall be an authentic historical Georgia license plate - Authored by: Sen. Bill Heath (R-Bremen) - House Motor Vehicles Committee: Favorable
SB 160 - Highways; dimensions/weight of vehicles/loads; signs; primary system; prov. relating to general provisions relative to highways, bridges, and ferries, so as to amend the definition of terms; to amend Article 2 of Chapter 6 of Title 32 of the O.C.G.A., relating to dimensions and weight of vehicles and loads, so as to remove all references to national highways; to amend Part 1 of Article 3 of Chapter 6 of Title 32 of the O.C.G.A., relating to control of signs and signals on public roads generally, so as to remove all references to a federal-aid primary road - Authored by: Sen. Chip Pearson (R-Dawsonville) - House Transportation Committee: Favorable as passed by the Senate
SB 255 - License Plates, Special; family member serving in military - This bill would provide for special license plates for families with a member serving in the military. - Authored by: Sen. John Douglas (R-Covington) - House Motor Vehicles Committee: Favorable
SB 257 - License Plates, Special; supporting Georgia troops - This bill would provide for special license plates supporting Georgia troops. - Authored by: Sen. John Douglas (R-Covington) - House Motor Vehicles Committee: Favorable as passed by the Senate
SB 259 - Firearms; discharging on Sunday; repeal provision - relating to crimes involving dangerous instrumentalities and practices, so as to repeal provisions relating to the crime of discharging a firearm on Sunday - Authored by: Sen. Eric Johnson (R-Savannah) - House Non-Civil Judiciary Committee: Favorable as passed by the Senate

* The Rules Committee will not hold another official meeting for this session, but may call special meetings as needed during the final legislative days of this session.
Committee Meetings Report Thursday, March 24, 2005
Committee Reports prepared by House Research & Policy Office
Banks & Banking Thursday, March 24 HB 864 - Pawn transactions; motor vehicle sales surplus; provisions - This bill deals title pawn brokers. It would provide for the return of sales surplus to the debtor. - Authored by: Rep. James Mills (R-Gainesville) - House Banks & Banking Committee: Favorable
Children & Youth Wednesday, March 23 HR 518 - House Study Committee on Children: Newborns to Age Five; create -The Committee will be composed of 10 members and is authorized to meet for 5 days. In the event the committee makes a report, it shall be made on or before December 1, 2005, at which time the committee shall stand abolished. - Authored by: Rep. Judy Manning (R-Marietta) - House Children & Youth Committee Substitute: Favorable
Education Wednesday, March 23 SR 21 - Joint Early Learning Initiative Commission; create creates the Joint Early Learning Initiative Commission. The commission would provide a comprehensive review of early learning opportunities currently available and recommendations for improvement. - Authored by: Sen. Brian Kemp (R-Athens)

- House Education Committee Substitute: Favorable
SB 1 - Early Care/Learning; provide voluntary parent education services This bill requires that no later than September 1, 2005 that the Dept. of Early Care and Learning develop and implement a plan to give parents and teachers tools to help children succeed. The plan should focus on children ages birth to five years old. The plan should provide an assortment of parent education services. - Authored by: Sen. Preston Smith (R-Rome) - House Education Committee Substitute: Favorable
Game, Fish & Parks HR 632 - House Wildlife Management Study Committee; create - creating the House Wildlife Management Study Committee, to study the issues and concerns related to hunting over or near feed or bait used to entice game. - Authored by: Rep. Jay Roberts (R-Ocilla) - House Game, Fish & Parks Committee: Favorable
Government Affairs Wednesday, March 23 HR 633 - Oversight Committee for Planning to Provide Home and Community Based Services; create - urging and requesting the Department of Human Resources, the Department of Community Health, the Department of Education, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Juvenile Justice to take certain actions with respect to certain services for people with certain disabilities; creating the Oversight Committee for Planning to Provide Home and Community Based Services - Authored by: Rep. Judy Manning (R-Marietta) - House Government Affairs Committee: Favorable
SB 199 - Pharmacy, State Board; prescription drugs by mail; delete certain provisions relating to grounds for suspension, revocation, or refusal to grant licenses by the State Board of Pharmacy, so as to delete certain provisions relating to selling, distributing, and delivering prescription drugs by mail or other common carriers - Sen. Don Balfour (R-Snellville)

- House Government Affairs Committee Substitute
Non-Civil Judiciary Thursday, March 24 SB 2 - Trial; jury panels in misdemeanor, felony, death; peremptory challenges This bill is being introduced to help solve a problem in Richmond County's magistrate court. - Authored by: Sen. Bill Hamrick (R-Carrollton) - House Non-Civil Judiciary Committee
Public Utilities & Telecommunications Thursday, March 24 SB 91 - Physically Impaired; audible access; authorize Public Service Commission; establish guidelines/ funding for system. This bill relates to the telephone system for the physically impaired. It provides for the establishment of a state-wide telecommunication system capable of providing audible universal information access services to blind and print disabled citizens. This bill is identical to HB 1003 which was signed into law and became effective July 1, 2002. The only difference is $ 0.01 (maximum) of the monthly surcharge of $ 0.05 (per access line) is utilized to fund an audible universal information access service. - Authored by: Sen. David Adelman (R-Decatur) - House Public Utilities Committee: Favorable
Transportation
* 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 Friday, March 24, 2005

No Committee Meetings are scheduled
* 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