Daily report [Mar. 15, 2006]

MEMBER SERVICES
House Communications Office
Coverdell Legislative Office Bldg. , Ste. 609 (404) 656-0305 Phone

TOMORROW'S FORECAST
* The House will reconvene for its 33rd Legislative Day on Thursday, March 16, at 9:00 am. * 2 bills are expected to be debated on the floor.

GEORGIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
DAILY REPORT

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2006

LEGISLATIVE DAY# 32

TODAY ON THE FLOOR
Speaker of the House, Rep. Glenn Richardson, gaveled the House into session today, at 9:00 am, for the 32nd Legislative Day of the 2nd Session of the 148th General Assembly.
DEBATE CALENDAR
SB0120 Broadband, Voice over Internet, Wireless; no requirements by any state agency
- This bill will enact the "Competitive Emerging Communications Technologies Act of 2006". The Bill states that it is in the public interest to encourage deployment of the emerging communications technologies of broadband service, voice over Internet protocol, and wireless service by expressly removing any power the Georgia Public Service Commission may have to regulate rates and terms for the offering of such services. The bill also states that market based competition is the best mechanism for the selection and setting of such rates, terms, and conditions for such emerging communications technologies and to encourage the adoption and use of services by Georgia consumers; and that Georgia's consumers need timely and accurate information as to the actual cost and levels of service in order to make informed market based choices among competing offerings of such emerging technologies. - Authored By: Sen. Mitch Seabaugh - House Sponsor: Rep. Jeff Lewis - Special House Rules Applied: Open - House Committee: Public Utilities & Telecommunications - Yea: 157 Nay: 4
SB0264 Pataula Circuit; superior courts; change certain terms
- Relates to terms of superior courts, so as to change certain terms of court in the Pataula Circuit; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. - Authored By: Sen. John Bulloch - House Sponsor: Rep. Gerald Greene - Special House Rules Applied:Open - House Committee: Judiciary - Yea: 138 Nay: 0
SB0486 Employment Security Law; exempt direct sellers from definition of employment
- Adds new subsection 18 to 34-8-35 which provides that a direct seller will not be considered an employee. - Authored By: Sen. Don Balfour - House Sponsor: Rep. Mike Coan - Special House Rules Applied: Open - House Committee: Industrial Relations - Yea: 155 Nay: 0
* The House will reconvene Thursday, March 16 at 9:00 am for its 33rd Legislative Day of the 2nd Regular Session of the 148th General Assembly.
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COMMITTEE ON RULES
The Committee on Rules today has fixed the calendar for the 33rd Legislative Day, Thursday, March 16, as enumerated below, and can be called at the pleasure of the Speaker of the House.
DEBATE CALENDAR
SB0209 Public Service Commission; change time period for issuance; gas supply plan
- A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 46 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Public Service Commission, so as to change the time period for issuance of a commission order after a hearing regarding a gas supply plan and adjustment factors filed by a gas utility; to repeal conflicting laws, and for other purposes. - Authored By: Sen. Doug Stoner - House Sponsor: Rep. Don Wix - Special House Rules Applied: Open - House Committee: Public Utilities & Telecommunications
SB0472 Public Officers/Employees; provide for meritorious award program; definitions; establishment/implementation
-This legislation authorizes the State Personnel Board to formulate, establish, and maintain employees' Incentive Award Programs and Incentive Compensataion Plans to encourage state employees to improve the operation and perception of state government and its instrumentalities. This legislation repeals Incentive Award Programs and replaces them with Meritorious Award Programs. Also, the Board is authorized to establish Goal Based Plans. - Authored By: Sen. Chip Rogers - House Sponsor: Rep. Barry Loudermilk - Special House Rules Applied: Open - House Committee: Intragovernmental Cooperation
* The Rules Committee will next meet on Thursday, March 16 at 8:00 am to set the Debate Calendar for the 34th Legislative Day.
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COMMITTEE ACTION REPORT
Governmental Affairs
No Legislative Action was taken.
Higher Education
SB0506 HOPE Scholarships; set amount for mandatory fees; eligible public postsecondary institutions; January 1, 2004
- The bill provides for a set amount for mandatory fees for HOPE scholarships and HOPE grants for public institutions. The bill would make Georgia Gwinnett College in compliance with the mandatory fee establishment. - Authored By: Sen. Don Balfour - Committee Action: Do Pass
SB0561 HOPE Scholarships/Grants; definitions; correct scrivener's error; provide for students in professional level programs
- The bill contains two housekeeping amendments to the HOPE law. The bill clarifies a scrivener's error which had created uncertainty about the qualifications of students attending private proprietary institutions. The bill also clarifies the baccalaureate degree requirement to allow for pharmacy students who may only receive a doctorate degree. - Authored By: Sen. Seth Harp - Committee Action: Do Pass
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Judiciary Non-Civil
SB0135 Pretrial proceedings; indictment for children; jurisdiction for Superior Court
- SB 135: Juvenile cases sent to Superior Court shall be entitled to have charges brought within 180 days with one 90 day extension allowed; cases not charged within 180days shall revert back to Juvenile Court; does not apply if the juvenile is a codefendant with an adult in a capital case. HS: Adds to above language that when a child is detained in the Superior or Juvenile Courts the appropriate official shall furnish a list of said children -- with appropriate information regarding each child -- to the Chief Judge and the Prosecutinig Attorney at least once per week.
- Authored By: Sen. Preston Smith
- Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute
SB0136 Juvenile Proceedings; bail for delinquent children
- SB 136: Allows any child alleged delinquent or unruly the same rights to bail that adult defendants receive; any person with legal custody who is a blood relative can pose bail, but the juvenile must return to his or her legal guardian after bail is posted.
- Authored By: Sen. Preston Smith
- Committee Action: Do Pass
SR0700 Juvenile Law Commission; creating/continuing
- Resolution continues the Juvenile Law Commission which will study needs, issues, and problems in the juvenile justice and childe welfare system.
- Authored By: Sen. Bill Hamrick
- Committee Action: Do Pass
Regulated Industries
HR1795 House Study Committee on Tanning Salon Consumer Protection; create
- HR 1795 urges the creation of a Study Committee on Tanning Salon Consumer Protection, which will be composed of no more than six members. Melanoma is now the fastest growing cancer in the country, and dermatologists associate the rising popularity of tanning beds as one reason for this trend. Tanning salons are not presently licensed in Georgia, and there is no mechanism currently in place to determine how many tanning salons even exist within this state. - Authored By: Rep. Karla Drenner - Committee Action: Do Pass
SB0095 Soil Scientists Licensing Act; regulate practice of soil science
- SB 95 would change the regulation of soil scientists from the county boards of health, and transfer this regulation to the newly created State Licensing Board for Professional Soil Scientists. SB 95 provides for the creation, composition, and powers/duties of the new board. SB 95 also defines the criteria to be eligible for a soil scientist license. (It is important to note SB 95 does not prohibit one or more soil scientists from practicing a sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, or corporation). Revenue derived from the fees in this newly created code chapter would be appropriated to the Department of Human Resources for purposes of administration in the next fiscal year. - Authored By: Sen. Seth Harp - Committee Action: Do Pass
SB0145 Cosmetologists; define terms; qualifications; certificate for registration for hair braiders/designers
- SB 145 reduces the current requirements for hair braiders and hair designers in Georgia by creating a separate license for hair braiders and hair designers. SB 145 adds the definition of a "hair braider" and a "hair designer," and denotes the difference between the two. Likewise, a definition of "school of hair braiding" and "school of hair design" is differentiated. SB 145 would provide that any person calling himself a hair braider or hair designer would first need a certificate of registration to lawfully perform these services. Under SB 145, it would likewise be unlawful for a hair braiding or hair design shop or school to operate without a certificate of registration. Should an applicant have a current hair braider or hair design license in another state, reciprocity can be granted upon board approval. - Authored By: Rep. Karla Drenner - Committee Action: Do Pass
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Rules
HR1667 House State Fiscal Year Study Committee; create
- A resolution to create a committee to study the feasibility of adjusting the state's fiscal year timeline to begin on October 1 and end on September 30 of every year. This change would bring the state in line with the Federal governments fiscal year timeline. - Authored By: Rep. Jerry Keen - Committee Action: Do Pass
Transportation
HR1609 Lake Spivey Parkway; dedicate
- This resolution dedicates the Lake Spivey Parkway. - Authored By: Rep. Ron Dodson - Committee Action: Do Pass
HR1661 Hershel Stokes Memorial Overpass; dedicate
- Resolution to change the terms of Transportation Board members. - Authored By: Rep. Mark Hatfield - Committee Action: Do Pass
SB0282 Legislative Services Committee; change provisions; abolish Leg. Budget Office; Fiscal Affairs Subcommittees
- Resolution to dedicate the John Lee Drake, Sr. intersection. - Authored By: Sen. Tommie Williams - House Sponsor: Rep. Gerald Greene - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute
SR0639 SGT Mike Stokely Memorial Highway; dedicate (PF)
- Resolution dedicating the Sgt. Mike Stokely Memorial Highway. - Authored By: Sen. Mitch Seabaugh - House Sponsor: Rep. Billy Horne - Committee Action: Do Pass
SR0686 Designate; J. Alton Wingate, Sr. Memorial Parkway; Habersham County
- Resolution J. Alton Wingate, Sr. Memorial Parkway. - Authored By: Sen. Nancy Shaefer - Committee Action: Do Pass
State Institutions & Property
SB0044 Corrections; contracts with private detention/diversion centers; regulations
- This bill relates duties of the Board of Corrections by authorizing them to enter into contracts for the operation of private probation detention and diversion centers. - Authored By: Sen. Bill Hamrick - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute
SB0592 Disposition of Surplus Property; sale of certain property by fixed price; change provisions
- This bill relates to the disposition of surplus property for sale by fixed price and to permit the negotiated sale of surplus property to charitable institutions. DOAS is authorized to dispose of surplus property by: Selling to the highest responsible bidder for case; selling by fixed price; trade on the purchase of new equipment; or determining that the property has no value. No employee of DOAS or immediate family members may purchase the surplus property. - Authored By: Sen. Johnny Grant - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute
SR0823 Public Property; conveyance; 13 counties
- This resolution authorizes the conveyance of certain state owned real property located in the counties of: Appling; Baldwin; Wilkinson; Bibb; Bulloch; Emanuel; Fannin; Forsyth; Gilmer; Gwinnett; Lowndes; Screven; Terrell; Whitfield. - Authored By: Sen. Johnny Grant
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- Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee 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 BROADCAST SCHEDULE
THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2006
8:00 am Science & Technology
506 CLOB
8:00 am Committee on Rules
341 CAP
1:00 pm Motor Vehicles
606 CLOB
1:00 pm Public Utilities & Telecommunications
506 CLOB
1:00 pm Retirement
403 CAP
1:30 pm Governmental Affairs
406 CLOB
2:00 pm Health & Human Services
606 CLOB
2:00 pm Judiciary - Civil
132 CAP
3:00 pm Human Relations & Aging
506 CLOB
3:00 pm Insurance
341 CAP
* To view the committee broadcast, please the Georgia Legislative Network's link at www.legis.ga.gov.
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CONTACT: BRENT CRANFIELD
House Communications (404) 656-0305 Brent.cranfield@house.ga.gov
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