Daily report [Feb. 3, 2006]

HOUSE COMMUNICATIONS

TOMORROW'S FORECAST

Coverdell Legislative Office Bldg. * The House will reconvene for its 14th Legislative Day on Monday, February

Suite. 609

6, at 1:00 pm.

(404) 656-0305 Phone

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

GEORGIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
DAILY REPORT

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2006

LEGISLATIVE DAY# 13

TODAY ON THE FLOOR

Speaker of the House Glenn Richardson gaveled the House into session today, at 9:00 am, for the 13th legislative day of the 2nd Session of the 148th General Assembly.

DEBATE CALENDAR

HB 476 - Superior Court Clerks' Retirement; amend provisions

- Membership dues will be increased to $75 per month (currently $50) due on the first of each month, late

payment penalties are calculated from that date. No creditable service shall be granted for any month for

which dues are in arrears on the last day of the calendar quarter during which the dues were due. After that

time, the board shall not accept payment of such dues, and creditable service for any such month shall be

forever forfeited. Fines shall be collected in any case that is a criminal violation of state or local law,

ordinance, or regulation and be paid to the board each month (currently quarterly) due on the first day of the

month and will be considered delinquent if not received within 90 days (currently 60 days). In addition to all

other legal costs, the sum of $1.00 (currently $.50) shall be charged and collected for the processing of all

instruments pertaining to real estate filed in the superior courts. Fees will be collected on monthly basis, due

on the first of the month. Funds collected must be remitted within 90 days of due date, and such money shall

be delinquent and a penalty of 5% of the principal, plus 6% interest, shall be assessed for each month (not to

exceed a total of 25% of the principal) the funds continue to be delinquent. In the area of Retirement

Benefits & Spousal Benefits, the members receive retirement benefits after attaining 8 years of service ei-

ther as a clerk or deputy clerk (currently 12 years. Member with 8 years will receive a monthly benefit of

$680, and there will be incremental increases for years 9 through 11, and monthly benefit of members with

12 or more years does not change. 15 or more days will count as a full month of service. All retiring

members can elect the option of survivor's benefits. A member, upon retirement, may elect to receive 90%

of the benefits the member is entitled to receive and after his/her death, the member's surviving spouse shall

receive a monthly sum equal to 50% of the benefit. The board shall be authorized to provide, by rule and

regulation, for a

surviving spouse's benefit in the event of the death of a member who would be eligible except for not being

age 55.

- Authored by: Rep. Robert Mumford

- House Committee: Retirement

- Rules Committee: Open

- Amendments:

- Y: 139

N: 4

HB 1026 - Supplemental appropriations; FY 2005-2006 - This bill is the amended version of the 2005-2006 budget appropriations bill - Authored by: Rep. Glenn Richardson
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- House Committee: Appropriations

- Rules Committee: Modified Open

- Amendments: None

- Y: 159

N: 1

HB 1085 - Finfish; certain species; open seasons, creel, and possession limits; amend

- This bill would reduce possession and creel limits on tripletail from 5 fish to 2 fish.

- Authored by: Rep. Bob Lane

- House Committee: Game, Fish & Parks

- Rules Committee: Open

- Amendments:

- Y: 151

N: 0

* The House will reconvene Monday, February 6 at 1:00 pm for its 14th Legislative Day of the 2nd Regular Session of the 148th General Assembly.
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RULES COMMITTEE
The Committee on Rules today has fixed the calendar for the 14th Legislative Day, Monday, February 6, as enumerated below, and can be called at the pleasure of the Speaker of the House.
DEBATE CALENDAR
HB 719 - Municipalities; courts; home rule powers; maximum fines - Amends 36-32-1(c) to provide that it will rule over the local law in terms of the maximum punishment a municipal court may impose changes language from "unless otherwise provided" to "notwithstanding any contrary provision". Raises amount of fines and forfeitures in Code Section 36-35-6(C) from $1,000.00 to $2,500.00. Adds a new subsection (d) to 36-35-6 to allow municipal corporations to adopt ordinances punishable by fines up to $2,500.00, notwithstanding other lower limits in the local law - Authored by: Rep. Ed Lindsey - House Committee: Judiciary Non-Civil - Rules Committee: Open
HB 728 - "Mattie's Call Act"; enact - The legislation adds a new Article 7 that shall be known and cited as the "Mattie's Call Act". Section 38-3-111 defines the following terms: 1. Alert system means the state-wide alert system for missing disabled adults 2. `Disabled adult' means an adult who is developmentally impaired or who suffers from dementia 3.`Local law enforcement agency means a local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the investigation of a missing disabled adult. The office of the Governor, the Georgia Lottery Corporation, and other appropriate law enforcement agencies shall develop and implement a state-wide alert system to be coordinated by a director. This `agency' shall recruit public and commercial television and radio broadcasters, private commercial entities, state or local governmental entities, the public and other appropriate persons to assist in developing and implementing the alert system. After having established that a disabled adult is missing, a local law enforcement agency shall notify the director to activate the alert system and notify the appropriate participants in the alert systems. 1. A local law enforcement agency believes that a disabled adult is missing. 2. A local law enforcement agency believes that the disabled adult is in immediate danger of serious bodily injury or death. 3.A local law enforcement agency confirms than an investigation has taken place that verifies the disappearance and eliminates alternative explanations for the disabled adult's disappearance. 4.Sufficient information is available to disseminate to the public that could assist in locating the disable adult. The Georgia Lottery Corporation shall notify its vendors within an alert area designed to disseminate alert information to customers at its retail locations.

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- Authored by: Rep. Bobby Franklin - House Committee: Human Relations & Aging - Rules Committee: Open
HB 912 - Civil practice; production of documents; amend provisions - HB 912 reinstitutes a procedure in place regarding the release of medical records. In cases where a party's medical condition is at issue, and medical records are requested from a hospital or health care facility, the hospital may release the records, immune from civil or criminal liability, so long as the patient was given 20 days notice and does not object to the release of the records. This shifts the burden to object to the release of privileged information within medical records from the hospitals to the patient. - Authored by: Rep. Barry Fleming - House Committee: Special Committee on Civil Justice Reform - Rules Committee: Modified Open
HB 1022 - Members of constitutional commissions; reimbursements; provide - Authored by: Rep. Ben Bridges - House Committee: Appropriations - Rules Committee: Open
* The Rules Committee will next meet on Monday, February 6 at 11:00 am to set the Debate Calendar for the 15th Legislative Day.
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COMMITTEE ACTION REPORT
PUBLIC SAFETY
HB 998 - Firearms; "Georgia's Self-Defense Act"; enact - This bill is known as the `Georgia's Self-defense Act' with the intent to reinforce and protect the right of law-abiding citizens to enter and exit parking facilities (along with spaces set aside for parking) while lawfully transporting and storing a firearm(s) in the motor vehicle. The firearms must be locked in or locked to the motor vehicle. Protection of persons and business entities are covered under this bill and will not be liable in any civil action for any occurrence which results from use of a firearm which is lawfully transported. If an employee is discharged for legally carrying a firearm in their motor vehicle and parking on property set aside for that entity, they are entitled to fully recover reimbursement. If denied they may file a civil action in the courts of this state. - Authored by: Rep. Tom Graves - Committee Action: Do Pass by Substitute
* 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 BROADCAST SCHEDULE
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2006
2:30 pm Interstate Cooperation 2:30 pm Banks & Banking 4:00 pm Insurance Committee
* 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.
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Contact: Brent Cranfield
House Communications (404) 656-0305 Brent.cranfield@house.ga.gov
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