Daily report [Jan. 25, 2006]

HOUSE COMMUNICATIONS

TOMORROW'S FORECAST

Coverdell Legislative Office Bldg. * The House will reconvene for its 9th Legislative Day on Thursday, January

Suite. 609

26, at 10:00 am.

(404) 656-0305 Phone

* 2 bills are expected to be debated on the floor.

GEORGIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
DAILY REPORT

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2006

LEGISLATIVE DAY# 8

TODAY ON THE FLOOR

Speaker of the House Glenn Richardson gaveled the House into session today, at 10:00 am, for the 8th legislative day of the 2nd Session of the 148th General Assembly.

AGREE/DISAGREE

SB 84 - Polls; change forms of identification

- This bill provides for a free "Georgia Voter Identification Card" to be issued to individuals wishing to vote

that do not have another form of photo identification. Further, it requires each of the 159 county board of

registrars to provide at least one place in that county to receive applications and issue the identification

cards.

- Authored by: Sen. Cecil Staton

- House Committee: Government Affairs

- Y: 111

N: 60

- Agreement to the Senate amendment of the bill represents Final Passage of the bill.

DEBATE CALENDAR
HB 713 - Ronald Reagan Day in Georgia; designate February 6 annually
- This bill would designate February 6 of each year as 'Ronald Reagan Day' in Georgia. - Authored by: Rep. Bobby Franklin - House Committee: Rules - Rules Committee: Structured - Amendment(s): None - Y: 138 N: 19

SPECIAL EVENTS

Today, the Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court, Leah Ward Sears, addressed a joint session of the Georgia Senate and House of Representatives to deliver the "State of the Judiciary" Address.

* The House will reconvene Thursday, January 26 at 10:00 am for its 9th Legislative Day of the 2nd Regular Session of the 148th General Assembly.
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RULES COMMITTEE

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The Committee on Rules today has fixed the calendar for the 9th Legislative Day, Thursday, January 26, as enumerated below, and can be called at the pleasure of the Speaker of the House.
DEBATE CALENDAR HB 895 - Judicial Retirement System; superior court judge or district attorney; creditable
service
- Bill allows that certain law enforcement officers who are currently members of the Peace Officers' Annuity and Benefit Fund who were transferred to the Dept. Of Drivers Services or the Dept. of Public Safety into certain positions shall be entitled to retain membership in the fund. These officers serve as non-uniformed investigators for the Dept. of Motor Vehicle Safety and were transferred when the agency was replaced by the Dept. of Driver Services. - Authored by: Rep. John Yates - House Committee: Retirement - Rules Committee: Open
HB 999 - Veterinarians and veterinary technicians; certain requirements; change provisions
- This bill defines the professions of Veterinary Technologist and Veterinary Assistant. 'Veterinary technology' means the science and art of providing certain aspects of professional medical care and treatment for animals and the practice of veterinary medicine as may be delegated and supervised by a licensed veterinarian and performed by a person who is not a licensed veterinarian. Veterinary assistant means a person who engages in certain aspects of the practice of veterinary technology but is not registered by the board for such purpose. The bill also removes homeopathic and botanical medicine from the definition of what constitutes the practice of veterinary medicine. The last section provides for certain veterinary assistants to be grandfathered for a certain time period to allow for them to take the registration exam if they have been practicing veterinary technology under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian for five years prior to the enactment of this bill, and give them three years within which to take and pass their veterinary technology registration exam. - Authored by: Rep. Gene Maddox - House Committee: Agriculture & Consumer Affairs - Rules Committee: Open
* The Rules Committee will next meet on Thursday, January 26 at 9:00 am to set the Debate Calendar for the 10th Legislative Day.
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COMMITTEE ACTION REPORT
Appropriations - Economic Development 2006 Supplemental Budget Hearings
- Agriculture - Community Affairs - Economic Development
Appropriations - Education 2006 Supplemental Budget Hearings
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Appropriations - General Subcommittee 2006 Supplemental Budget Hearings
- Secretary of State - SOS, attached agencies - Governor's Office - Insurance - Veteran's Affairs - Merit System - DOAS
Appropriations - Public Safety 2006 Supplemental Budget Hearings
Judiciary - Non-Civil HB 1059 - Sexual offenders; punishment; registration requirements; change provisions
- Authored by: Rep. Jerry Keen - Committee Action: No action taken.
Legislative & Congressional Reapportionment SB 386 - Apportionment of House/Senate; provide for composition of state senatorial
districts 46,47,49; elections
- This bill would tweak Senate districts 46, 47, and 49, by changing the Federal Court map to leave Madison county whole as well as increase the number of Senators representing Athens-Clarke County two 2. - Authored by: Sen. Ralph Hudgens - Committee Action: Do Pass
Public Safety HB 465 - Loitering on school premises; failure to leave when requested; penalty
- This bill would tweak Senate districts 46, 47, and 49, by changing the Federal Court map to leave Madison county whole as well as increase the number of Senators representing Athens-Clarke County two 2. - Authored by: Rep. Pete Marin - Committee Action: Do Pass by Substitute
HB 1019 - "Taser Certification Act"; create
- Prior to use of electronic control weapons or similar devices, peace officers will be required to complete a course of instruction and certification approved by council provided by the Georgia Public Safety Training Center. All persons certified to use electronic control weapons will complete an update or refresher training course as may be prescribed by the council in order for their electronic control weapons certification to remain in force. The council is authorized to withdraw or suspend certification to operate an electronic control weapon of anyone for failure to meet the update or refresher requirements. - Authored by: Rep. Burke Day - Committee Action: Do Pass by Substitute
Retirement HB 101 - Peace Officers' Annuity and Benefit Fund; certain creditable service
- Prior to use of electronic control weapons or similar devices, peace officers will be required to complete a course of instruction and certification approved by council provided by the Georgia Public Safety Training Center. All persons certified to use electronic control weapons will complete an update or refresher training course as may be prescribed by the council in order for their electronic control weapons certification to
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remain in force. The council is authorized to withdraw or suspend certification to operate an electronic control weapon of anyone for failure to meet the update or refresher requirements. - Authored by: Rep. Tyrone Brooks - Committee Action: Do Pass by Substitute
HB 400 - Teachers Retirement; postretirement benefit increase; provisions
- Bill allows that all members of TRS who retired prior to July 1, 1974 with at least 20 years of creditable service would receive a benefit increase of 10%. If retired prior to July 1, 1974 with at least 10 years but less than 20 years, the benefit shall be reduced by 5% for each year less than 20 years. If less than 10 years no increase will be given. Members retiring from July 1, 1974 through June 30, 1982 shall receive 6% increase. Members retiring July 1, 1982 through June 30, 1987 shall receive 2%. No postretirement benefit increase is authorized for any person who retired after June 30, 1987. Any county, municipal, or local board of education is authorized, but not required, to provide a postretirement benefit increase as provided by this bill to any teacher who retired under this code section provided that: the actuary for the fund certifies that such increase would not result in any unfunded accrued liability or the affected political subdivision appropriate sufficient funds to cover the actuarial cost of granting such benefit. - Authored by: Rep. Brooks Coleman - Committee Action: Do Pass by Substitute
HB 644 - Employees' Retirement; allowable service; change provisions
- Bill allows members who had temporary full-time service in the legislative branch, before July 1, 2006, to purchase up to 10 years of service. The member must make application to the board before January 1, 2007 and pay the employee and employer contributions that would have been paid. - Authored by: Rep. Brooks Coleman - Committee Action: Do Pass
HB 1020 - Retirement; allowances; withdrawal of contributions; amend provisions
- The bill provides that the effective date of retirement is the first day of the month following the member's final month of employment. The bill also allows the Board of Trustees of the Georgia Defined Contribution Plan (GDCP) to establish the minimum amount of employee contribution and earned interest necessary to provide a monthly retirement allowance. - Authored by: Rep. Ben Bridges - Committee Action: Do Pass
Transportation Committee HR 1041 - J.T. Williams Honorary Bridge; designate
- Resolution for the purpose of naming a bridge after an individual in Henry County. The substitute includes HR 1041 and three others (HR825, HR 1108, and HR 1110) in one bill so that all road naming resolutions that were passed from the subcommittee on Tuesday 1-25-06 could be simplified into one bill. - Authored by: Rep. Steve Davis - Committee Action: Do Pass by Substitute
HB 1033 - Mass transportation; referendum to approve commuter rail project; provisions
- This bill will require a referendum before any county or municipality can use taxpayers' money to construct a commuter rail. - Authored by: Rep. John Lunsford - Committee Action: Committed to Sub-committee
* Committee action reports are edited for this report. For full content, please contact the House Committee Services Office at 404-656-3206. Bills passing committees are reported to the Clerk's Office and are then placed on the General Calendar for Rules Consideration.
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COMMITTEE MEETING SCHEDULE

8:00 AM 515 COB
8:00 AM 506 COB
8:30 AM 606 COB
9:00 AM 341 CAP
9:30 AM 133 CAP
12:00 PM 341 CAP
1:00 PM 606 COB
1:00 PM 415 COB
2:00 PM 406 COB
2:00 PM 506 COB
2:30 PM 515 COB
3:00 PM 506 COB
3:00 PM 415 COB
3:00 PM 133 CAP
4:00 PM 506 COB

APPROPRIATIONS - PUBLIC SAFETY SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY NATURAL RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENT RULES COMMITTEE WAYS & MEANS APPROPRIATIONS - HEALTH APPROPRIATIONS - HIGHER EDUCATION GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS - EDUCATION HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES MOTOR VEHICLES - DRIVER SAFETY SUBCOMMITTEE APPROPRIATIONS - GENERAL SUBCOMMITTEE HUMAN RELATIONS & AGING APPROPRIATIONS - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS - PUBLIC SAFETY PUBLIC UTILITIES & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

4:00 PM 406 COB

STATE INSTITUTIONS & PROPERTY

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* For full agendas, please visit the General Assembly website, select House Committees. This meeting schedule is set as of 5:00pm today. Times and locations may change at the request of the Committee Chairman. _____________________________________________________________________________________________
Contact: Brent Cranfield House Communications (404) 656--0305 Brent.cranfield@house.ga.gov
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