MEMBER SERVICES House Communications Office Coverdell Legislative Office Bldg. , Ste. 609 (404) 656-0305 Phone TOMORROW'S FORECAST * The House will reconvene for its 34th Legislative Day on Monday, March 20, at 10:00 am. * 8 bills are expected to be debated on the floor. GEORGIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DAILY REPORT THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2006 LEGISLATIVE DAY# 33 TODAY ON THE FLOOR Speaker of the House, Rep. Glenn Richardson, gaveled the House into session today, at 9:00 am, for the 33rd Legislative Day of the 2nd Session of the 148th General Assembly. 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 - Yea: 157 Nay: 0 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 Compensation 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 - Yea: 140 Nay: 1 * The House will reconvene Monday, March 20 at 10:00 am for its 34th Legislative Day of the 2nd Regular Session of the 148th General Assembly. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ COMMITTEE ON RULES The Committee on Rules today has fixed the calendar for the 34th Legislative Day, Monday, March 20, as enumerated below, and can be called at the pleasure of the Speaker of the House. 1 DEBATE CALENDAR SB0025 Divorce; change time limit; effect on children; require education classes - Would grant total divorces per 19-5-1 pursuant to compliance with new code section 19-5-1.1 (if applicable). Creates new code section 19-5-1.1 . If divorcing parents have dependent children under 18 they must complete education classes that focus on the impact of divorce on children. A minimum of 3 hours of classes must be completed prior to the final divorce decree. Classes can be conducted by a therapist, physician, or member of the clergy. Divorcing parties may complete the classes together or separately. Committee Substitute refers to minor children rather than those born of a marriage, and changes the effective date to January 1, 2007. - Authored By: Sen. Mitch Seabaugh - Special House Rules Applied: Structured - House Committee: Judiciary SB0079 Education; local boards; additional elective courses; provide state funding - This bill provides for the offering of state funded high school courses in the History and Literature of the Old Testament Era and the History and Literature of the New Testament Era and for the adoption of the curricula for such courses by the State Board of Education. It also, provides for the topics of instruction, reading materials, and methods of teaching in such courses. In addition, it provides for the employment and assignment of teachers of such courses and the granting of academic credit for the successful completion of such courses. Finally, it provides for the monitoring of the content and teaching of such courses. - Authored By: Sen. Tommie Williams - Special House Rules Applied: Modified-Structured - House Committee: Education SB0195 Georgia Museum Property Act; establish ownership loaned to museums/archives - Relates to selling and other trade practices, so as to regulate loans to and abandoned property of museums and archives repositories; to provide a short title; to define certain terms; to provide a process for establishing ownership of property loaned to museums and archives repositories; to provide for notice; to provide for other related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes - Authored By: Sen. Nancy Schaefer - Special House Rules Applied: Open - House Committee: Judiciary SB0210 Public Service Commission; superior court filing; provide venue, judgement - 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 provide for superior court filing of certain commission orders; to provide for venue, judgment, and effect of judgment; to repeal conflicting laws, and for other purposes. - Authored By: Sen. Doug Stoner - Special House Rules Applied: Open - House Committee: Public Utilities & Telecommunications SB0399 Municipal Corporation; special services district; within 3 miles of noncontiguous area treated as same noncontiguous area - SB 399 provides that a noncontiguous area located within ten miles of another noncontiguous area may be treated as the same noncontiguous area for the purposes of special district taxes, fees, and assessments collected to be spent to provide services. - Authored By: Sen. David Shafer - Special House Rules Applied: Open - House Committee: Governmental Affairs SB0441 Milk; milk products; standards and requirements; change certain provisions - This legislation authorizes the state to adopt the standards and requirements of the May 2005 Amended Version of the Grade A Pasteurized Milk Ordinance Recommendations of the United States Public Health Services. The state currently uses the May 2001 standards and requirements. - Authored By: Sen. John Bulloch - Special House Rules Applied: Open - House Committee: Agriculture & Consumer Affairs 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: 2 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 - Special House Rules Applied: Open - House Committee: State Institutions & Property 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 - Special House Rules Applied: Open - House Committee: State Institutions & Property * The Rules Committee will next meet on Monday, March 20 at 9:00 am to set the Debate Calendar for the 35th Legislative Day. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ COMMITTEE ACTION REPORT Health & Human Services SB0480 Georgia Qualified Medication Aides Act; provide for delegation of certain nursing tasks; Georgia Board of Examiners of Licensed Practical Nurses - This bill sets up the regulatory environment for allowing "qualified medical aides" to work under the supervision of LPNs or APRNs in DHR operated or supported home living communities for disabled or mentally inpaired persons. - Authored By: Sen. Renee Unterman - Committee Action: Do Pass SB0507 Physicians for Rural Areas; priority for certain specialties; revise provisions - This bill revises the intent of 31-34 by changing the section to allow for loans to any physician who practices in an area that is experiencing a shortage and practices in a rural area. - Authored By: Sen. Don Thomas - Committee Action: Do Pass SR0785 Joint Comprehensive State Trauma Services Study Committee; create - This resolution would create the Joint Comprehensive State Trauma Services Study Committee, to investigate the outlay and provision of trauma care services in Georgia. - Authored By: Sen. Eric Johnson - Committee Action: Do Pass Human Relations & Aging HR1555 House Study Committee on Shared Parenting; create - HR 1555 creates the House Study Committee on Shared Parenting. The committee will study the conditions, needs, issues, and problems related to children of divorcing parents and child custody matters. The members will be composed of five members of the House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Speaker will designate a member of the committee as chair of the committee. - Authored By: Rep. Tom Rice - Committee Action: Do Pass Insurance SB0236 State Employees Insurance; coverage for surviving dependents/spouse - SB 236 provides that the surviving spouse and dependents of a state employee killed while acting in the scope of his or her employment shall be entitled to continue coverage under the state health insurance plan. Any person so eligible to continue such coverage shall pay the same premium as an active state employee. 3 - Authored By: Rep. Ralph Hudgens - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute SB0384 Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Compact; enact; regulate designated insurance products; create commission - This bill enacts the Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Compact to help states join together to establish an interstate compact to regulate designated insurance products. Further, SB 384 provides for implementation of such compact and for the organization of the commission. - Authored By: Rep. Ralph Hudgens - Committee Action: Do Pass SB0385 Insurers; investments in the obligations of certain Canadian cities - This bill provides that insurers may invest in the obligations of certain Canadian cities. - Authored By: Rep. Ralph Hudgens - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute SB0531 Motor Vehicle Liability Policies; uninsured motorist coverage; change certain provisions - This bill changes certain provisions relating to damages recoverable by an insured under uninsured motorist coverage. - Authored By: Rep. Chip Rogers - Committee Action: Do Pass Judiciary-Civil SB0465 General Provisions, O.C.G.A.; correct errors/omissions; reenact the statutory portion; provide necessary revisions/modernizations - Corrects typographical and other errors in the Code and revises and modernizes other sections of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated - Authored By: Sen. David Adelman - Committee Action: Do Pass SB0466 General Provisions, O.C.G.A; correct errors/omissions in Title 47 - Corrects typographical, stylistic, and other errors and omissions in Title 47. - Authored By: Sen. David Adelman - Committee Action: Do Pass SB0467 General Provisions, O.C.G.A; correct errors/omissions in Title 21 - Corrects typographical, stylistic, and other errors and omissions in Title 47. - Authored By: Sen. David Adelman - Committee Action: Do Pass SB0469 Corporations, Partnerships and Associations; update provisions - This bill relates to corporations, partnerships, and associations, so as to provide for the updating of provisions relating to corporations, partnerships, and associations; to provide confirmation when an order for relief with respect to a corporation has been entered pursuant to the federal Bankruptcy Code of the power and authority of such corporation to take action pursuant to the decree of order or the court or judge in such bankruptcy proceedings; to provide that a board of directors can commit a corporation to submit a matter for shareholder approval even if the board of directors subsequently determines to recommend against it later. - Authored By: Sen. Preston Smith - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute SB0534 Trustee's Compensation schedule of conservators - Relates to compensation for services, so as to specify that when a trustee's compensation is not specified in the trust instrument it shall be based on the compensation schedule of conservators. - Authored By: Sen. John Bulloch - Committee Action: Do Pass 4 Motor Vehicles SB0400 Motor Vehicles; law enforcement agencies; use of properly equipped all-terrain vehicles - This bill allows the use of properly equipped all-terrain vehicles by law enforcement agencies. - Authored By: Sen. Ross Tolleson - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute SB0570 Motor Vehicles; windshields; reduce light transmission/increase light reflectance; authorize certified optometrist to provide attestation - This bill authorizes a person who is a certified optometrist to provide an attestation in support of a medical exemption for restrictions to limitations on reducing light transmission or increasing light reflectance on windows of motor vehicles. - Authored By: Sen. Joseph Carter - Committee Action: Do Pass SB0619 License Plates, Special; persons with brain-related disorders/disabilities; provide for issuance, renewal, fees - This bill provides for a special license plate supporting programs for persons with brain-related disorders and disabilities. A portion of the revenue will go to Pilot International. - Authored By: Sen. Ross Tolleson - Committee Action: Do Pass SB0637 Georgia Driver's Education Commission; change membership; distribution of fines/ forfeitures; definition - This Bill amends "Joshua's Law," so as to change the membership of the Georgia Driver's Education Commission to six members; to repeal Section 1 of an Act approved May 10, 2005 (Ga. L. 2005, p. 1461), so as to repeal a priority concerning a certain distribution of fines and forfeitures. - Authored By: Sen. Preston Smith - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute Public Safety HR1462 House Study Committee on State Law Enforcement Salaries and Benefits; create - This resolution creates the House Study Committee on State law Enforcement Salaries and Benefits. The committee will focus its attention on salary and benefits of state law enforcement officers who have the exercise of power of arrest. - Authored By: Rep. Burke Day - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute HR1560 House Pandemic Preparedness and Response Study Committee; create - This resolution creates the House Pandemic Preparedness and Response Study Committee to undert6ake a study of the conditions, needs, issues, and problems essential to public health and safety. This study will prepare the State of Georgia in the event of a public health emergency caused by bioterrorism or the rapid transmission of a life threatening disease. The Speaker will appoint 5 members and designate of of them as chairperson. In the event the committee makes a report of it findings and recommendations, with suggestions for proposed legislation, such report will be made by December 31, 2006. At that time the committee will be abolished. - Authored By: Rep. Clay Cox - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute SB0454 Law Enforcement Vehicles; require patrol vehicle markings for Georgia State Patrol - This bill relates to marking and equipment of law enforcement vehicles and requires patrol vehicle markings for Georgia State Patrol vehicles and excludes other vehicles used by the Department of Public Safety from marking requirements. This bill also increase the number of solid color marked vehicles allowed per post. - Authored By: Sen. John Douglas - Committee Action: Do Pass SB0520 Public Safety, Board of; authorize to provide badge/revolver to sworn officers; state patrol; change provisions - This bill authorizes the Board of Public Safety to provide the badge and duty weapon (initially assigned) to sworn officers as compensation to members of the Uniform division of the Department of Public Safety upon their retirement. These provisions apply to sworn members who have accumulates 25 years of service. 5 - Authored By: Sen. John Douglas - Committee Action: Do Pass SB0581 Georgia Public Safety Training Center; emergency medical personnel; provide training; change certain provisions - This bill relates to Georgia Public Safety Training Center and authorizes the training center to provide training for emergency medical personnel. Emergency Medical Personnel includes: emergency technicians; emergency rescue specialists who are certified or seeking certification as emergency medical technicians; paramedics; tactical emergency medical officers, cardiac technicians; or, other medical first responders who are employed in the capacity for which they are certified or seeking certification. - Authored By: Sen. Jeff Mullis - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute Public Utilities & Telecommunications SB0532 United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission; enhance the protection of licensed facilities - A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend provisions of the O.C.G.A. so as to enhance the protection of facilities licensed by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. - Authored By: Sen. Jim Whitehead - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute Retirement SB0177 Teachers Retirement System; change benefit formula; provide conditions - Bill provides that all current and future employees and officers of the State Road and Tollway Authority shall become members of ERS. All employer contributions, including employee contributions made by the employer on behalf of members which are required by this code section shall be made from funds appropriated to or otherwise available for the operation of the State Road and Tollway Authority. - Authored By: Sen. Horacena Tate - Committee Action: Do Pass SB0244 Magistrates Retirement Fund; define terms; create board of commissioners; powers - Bill creates the Board of Commissioners of the Magistrates Retirement Fund of Georgia. The board shall consist of seven members: the Governor or designee; an appointee of the Governor who is not the Attorney General, and, five full-time chief magistrates who are members of the fund. The bill provides for terms of members of the board, provides for the office of secretary-treasurer to the board and provides for additional employees. Eligibility for membership in fund must be serving as a full-time magistrate of the county or secretary-treasurer to the board. Persons desiring to participate in the fund must make application to the board and such application must be made not later than July 1, 2007, or within six months after become eligible for membership, whichever is later. Each member shall pay dues of $105 per month, due on 10th of month. - Authored By: Sen. Ralph Hudgens - Committee Action: Do Pass * 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. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ COMMITTEE BROADCAST SCHEDULE FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 2006 NO COMMITTEE MEETINGS ARE SCHEDULED AT THIS TIME * To view the committee broadcast, please the Georgia Legislative Network's link at www.legis.ga.gov. 6 _____________________________________________________________________________ CONTACT: BRENT CRANFIELD House Communications (404) 656-0305 Brent.cranfield@house.ga.gov 7