Daily report [Mar. 20, 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 35th Legislative Day on Wednesday, March 22, at 10:00 am. * 8 bills are expected to be debated on the floor.

GEORGIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
DAILY REPORT

MONDAY, MARCH 20, 2006

LEGISLATIVE DAY# 34

TODAY ON THE FLOOR
Speaker of the House, Rep. Glenn Richardson, gaveled the House into session today, at 1:00 pm, for the 34th Legislative Day of the 2nd Session of the 148th General Assembly.
MOTION TO AGREE/DISAGREE
HB0081 Homestead exemption; un-remarried surviving spouse of deceased spouse; provisions
- This bill permits an un-remarried, surviving spouse of a deceased spouse with a base year assessed homestead exemption, to keep that exemption as long as that spouse meets the specified requirements for that exemption. - Authored By: Rep. Burke Day - House Committee: Ways & Means - Motion to Disagree sends the bill back to the Senate.
HB0173 Ad valorem tax; veterans organizations; exemption
- This bill extends the ad valorem tax exemption for veteran organizations to include any qualified nonprofit 501(c)(3) veteran organization. - Authored By: Rep. John Lunsford - House Committee: Ways & Means - Motion to Disagree sends the bill back to the Senate.
HB0251 Judges of the Probate Courts Retirement Fund; designating surviving beneficiary
- Bill allows that a member who is unmarried at the time of retirement may designate a survivor. The survivor shall be a person related to the member through blood, marriage, or adoption. Bill allows a that a member who is married at the time of retirement may designate a survivor, other than the spouse, provided the spouse agrees in writing to such designation. Electing this retirement option will reduce the benefit for the member and the designated survivor. - Authored By: Rep. Ben Bridges - House Committee: Retirement - Motion to Agree represents Final Passage of the Bill.
HB0543 Education; local boards; allow certain donations of sick leave
- The bill allows local boards of education to allow their employees to donate up to 10 days of sick leave to a spouse who is also an employee of the local board of education for purposes of maternity leave, illness or illness of a family member. - Authored By: Rep. David Casas - House Committee: Education - Motion to Agree represents Final Passage of the Bill.
HB0595 DeKalb County; homestead exemption; current year assessed value
- The bill provides a freeze on ad valorem residential taxes in DeKalb County. - Authored By: Rep. Fran Millar - House Committee: State Planning & Community Affairs - Motion to Agree represents Final Passage of the Bill.

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HB0912 Civil practice; production of documents; amend provisions
- A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 9-11-34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to production of documents and things and entry upon land for inspection and other purposes, so as to change certain provisions relating to applicability to nonparties; to provide that silence may act as a waiver under certain circumstances; to change certain provisions relating to confidentiality; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. - Authored By: Rep. Barry Fleming - House Committee: Special Committee on Civil Justice Reform - Motion to Disagree sends the bill back to the Senate.
HB0984 Education; parent in military service; excused absences; provide
- House Bill 984 amends subpart 2 of Part 1 of Article 16 of Chapter 2 of title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, which relates to compulsory attendance for students in elementary and secondary education, to provide that a student whose parent is in military service is granted excused absences from school to visit with his or her parent prior to deployment or while on leave; to provide for related matters and to repeal conflicting laws. Section 1 states that a student in elementary and secondary education whose parent is in military service in the armed forces of the United States or the National Guard, and such that parent is called for duty overseas or on leave from overseas deployment, will be granted excused absences, up to a maximum of five days per school year, to visit the parent, and the student will be credited as being present. Section 2 states that all laws in conflict with this act to be repealed. - Authored By: Rep. Mike Coan - House Committee: Defense & Veterans Affairs - Motion to Agree represents Final Passage of the Bill.
HB1032 Licenses to carry pistol or revolver; temporary renewal permit; provide for restrictions
- Amends Code section 16-11-129 regarding licensing exceptions for pistols or revolvers to prevent a pistol or revolver license from being granted to a person who: is under indictment; is addicted to or using illegal drugs has been adjudicated as a mental defective or committed to a mental institution; is an illegal alien with exceptions for persons admitted to the United States for hunting, or for foreign officials or law enforcement officers; has been dishonorably discharged from the armed services; has renounced his or her United States citizenship is subject to a restraining order; has been convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence; Would also require fingerprints of any person not a United States citizen to be sent to GCIC for a search of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement records. - Authored By: Rep. John Lunsford - House Committee: Judiciary Non-Civil - Motion to Disagree sends the bill back to the Senate.
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 - Motion to Recommit the bill back to the Committee on Rules was adopted.
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 - Yea: 151 Nay: 7
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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 - Yea: 154 Nay: 6
SB0210 Public Service Commission; superior court filing; provide venue, judgment
- 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 - Yea: 160 Nay: 0
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 - Yea: 156 Nay: 0
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 - Yea: 163 Nay: 0
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 - Special House Rules Applied: Open - House Committee: State Institutions & Property - Yea: 150 Nay: 0
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 - Yea: 157 Nay: 0
* The House will reconvene Wednesday, March 22 at 10:00 am for its 35th 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 35th Legislative Day, Wednesday, March 22, as enumerated below, and can be called at the pleasure of the Speaker of the House.
DEBATE CALENDAR
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 - Special House Rules Applied: Open - House Committee: Regulated Industries
SB0208 Central Registry for Traumatic Brain/Spinal Injuries; create state-wide
- Creates a Central Registry for Traumatic Brain and Spinal Injuries by ordering all licensed medical providers in the state to forward information about identities of qualified individuals to the Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund Commission inside the Dept. of Human Resources, so as to disseminate information to said individuals, as well as provide the state with data. - Authored By: Sen. Michael Meyer von Bremen - Special House Rules Applied: Open - House Committee: Health & Human Services
SB0238 Torts; immunity from civil liability for non- profit organizations
-A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 51 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to torts, so as to provide for immunity from civil liability for nonprofit organizations and individuals that financially sponsor charitable fundraising events; to provide for an exception; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. - Authored By: Sen. Judson Hill - Special House Rules Applied: Modified-Structured - House Committee: Special Committee on Civil Justice Reform
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. Funding - A additional fee of $3.00 will be added to civil filing fees. The clerks of the magistrate courts shall collect the $3.00 fee and remit to the board on a quarterly basis. Vesting 8 years and member is eligible for retirement benefits with at least 8 years of service and age 60 of age. Retirement benefits will be a monthly sum equal to 4% of his/her average final monthly compensation for each year served up to a total of 20 years. The final monthly compensation used for calculating a benefit shall not exceed $33,772.50. Spousal benefits will be equal to 50% of benefit being collected by member. Disability benefit a member who becomes totally and permanently disabled, must have 4 years of creditable service to collect benefits. - Authored By: Sen. Ralph Hudgens - Special House Rules Applied: Open - House Committee: Retirement
SB0398 Criminal Proceedings; plea of insanity; revise procedures of psychiatric evaluations
- Provides that custody of a defendant who is found guilty but mentally ill at the time of the crime will be placed only in the custody of the Department of Corrections, who will have the responsibility of evaluating and treating said defendant. Previously, custody could be placed with either the Department of Corrections or Department of Human Resources. Further provides that the Department of Corrections can refer said defendant to Department of Human Resources for treatment, if
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they so desire. For any examination performed by the Department of Human Resources, a report, along with other documents, must be received by the Department of Corrections within 10 business days. - Authored By: Sen. Seth Harp - Special House Rules Applied: Modified-Open - House Committee: Judiciary Non-Civil
SB0445 Civil War Commission; editorial changes; change administrative assignment; codify certain provisions
-Senate Bill 445 changes the administrative assignment of the commission and the facilitating state department from the Department of Natural Resources to the Department of Economic Development. - Authored By: Sen. Jeff Mullis - Special House Rules Applied: Open - House Committee: Intra-governmental Coordination
SB0506 HOPE Scholarships; set amount for mandatory fees; eligible public postsecondary institutions; January 1, 2004
-This bill provides for a set amount for mandatory fees for HOPE scholarship and HOPE grants for eligible public postsecondary institutions created after January 1, 2004. - Authored By: Sen. Don Balfour - Special House Rules Applied: Open - House Committee: Higher Education
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. - Authored By: Sen. Jeff Mullis - Special House Rules Applied: Open - House Committee: Public Safety
* The Rules Committee will next meet on Wednesday, March 22 at 9:00 am to set the Debate Calendar for the 36th Legislative Day.
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COMMITTEE ACTION REPORT
Governmental Affairs
SB0286 Employees; legislative branch; state merit system; optional coverage; repeal
- A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 20 of Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the state merit system of personnel administration in general, so as to repeal provisions relating to optional coverage of legislative branch employees under the classified service of the state merit system; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. - Authored By: Sen. Ralph Hudgens - Committee Action: Do Pass
SB409 Elections; require courts to determine contested elections/primaries on expedited basis
- This bill requires that the courts determine contested elections and primaries on an expedited basis, preferably before the election is held. - Authored By: Sen. Bill Hamrick - Committee Action: Do Pass
SB0435 County Directors of Family/Children Services; appointment; change provisions
- This bill will change certain provisions relating to the appointment of the county DFCS directors by not requiring they be appointed through the State Merit System. - Authored By: Sen. Don Thomas - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute
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SB0574 Municipal Corporation; incorporation; provide certification of compliance
- SB 574 provides that no municipal corporation shall be incorporated which has the same name as an existing municipal corporation or a name which is confusingly similar to that of an existing municipal corporation. - Authored By: Sen. John Bulloch - Committee Action: Do Pass
Intra-governmental Coordination
HR1820 Threatened or endangered species; protect; urge
- A resolution urging Congress to pass meaningful changes to protect threatened or endangered species - Authored By: Rep. John Burns - Committee Action: Intra-governmental Coordination
Judiciary Non-Civil
SB0077 Feticide; parental notification; define/eliminate terms; provide reports
- This bill revises the definition of feticide to prohibit the voluntary manslaughter of an unborn child, and to prohibit assaults and batteries of unborn children under certain circumstances. The assault and battery of an unborn child would be punished as a misdemeanor, the crime of voluntary manslaughter of an unborn child would be punished as a felony with a prison sentence of 1-20 years. The bill further amends Article 15 of Chapter 6 of Title 40 of the O.C.G.A., related to serious traffic offenses, by removing the requirement that an unborn child be quick in the definition of feticide by vehicle, and the bill amends Article 1 of Chapter 7 of Title 52 of the O.C.G.A., regarding watercraft to remove the requirement that an unborn child be quick in the definition of feticide by vessel - Authored By: Sen. Renee Unterman - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute
SB0462 Sheriffs; authority of courthouse security; remove courthouses/jails from list of properties protected
- Amends 15-16-10 so as to mandate that a security plan be prepared for all county courthouses and that said plan be submitted to the chief judge of the superior court. Further removes courthouses and jails form properties protected by the sheriff. - Authored By: Sen. Joseph Carter - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute
SB572 Medical Assistance Managed Care Fraud; establish; define crime; administrative hearings/appeals; change certain prov.
- Bill amends 49-4-146.1 so as to add managed care organizations operated and/or funded by the Georgia Medicaid program to be considered a provider. This allows any fraud brought against such facilities to be prosecuted under said statue. Bill further amends 49-4-153 so as to change certain provisions regarding hearings and procedures before an Administrative Law Judge. - Authored By: Sen. Greg Goggans - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute
Rules
SB0260 General Assembly; furnishing/approval of bonds; repeal provisions
- A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 3 of Title 28 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives, so as to repeal provisions relating to furnishing and approval of bonds by said officers; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. - Authored By: Sen. Eric Johnson - Committee Action: Do Pass
Transportation
HR0484 Reverend George Vandiver Memorial Bridge; designate
- This resolution honors the memory of Reverend George Vandiver through the dedication of a memorial bridge. - Authored By: Rep. Charles Jenkins - Committee Action: Do Pass
HR0485 Adam Poole Vandiver Memorial Bridge; designate
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- This resolution honors the memory of Adam Poole Vandiver through the dedication of a memorial bridge - Authored By: Rep. Charles Jenkins - Committee Action: Do Pass
HR1662 Mary Will Robinson Memorial Highway; dedicate
- A resolution celebrating the life of Mary Will Robinson and dedicating the Mary Will Robinson Memorial Highway in her memory. - Authored By: Rep. Debbie Buckner - Committee Action: Do Pass
SB0285 Trains, Operation of; signal whistles; lights; remove certain provisions
- This bill is a "housing cleaning" bill. The sections in this bill repeal and reserve archaic and federally pre-empted state laws in the OCGA. - Authored By: Sen. Chip Rogers - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute
SR0126 Designate; Clint H. Bryant Memorial Bridge; Murray County
- This is a resolution designating the Clint H. Bryant Memorial Bridge. - Authored By: Sen. Don Thomas - Committee Action: Do Pass
SR0433 Designate; Mayor Johnny Bradfield Highway; Telfair County
- This is a resolution designating the Roger Caudell Highway. - Authored By: Sen. Ross Tolleson - Committee Action: Do Pass
SR0434 Designate; Martin Luther King, Jr., Blvd.; Telfair County
- This is a resolution designating Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard. - Authored By: Sen. Ross Tolleson - Committee Action: Do Pass
SR0849 Kimberly Boyd Memorial Bridge; dedicating
- This is a substitute combining three resolutions dedicating the Antoine J. Holt Memorial Bridge, the Kimberly Boyd Memorial Bridge, and the Mary McCall Memorial Overpass. - Authored By: Sen. John Wiles - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute
SR0864 SGT Mike Stokely Memorial Highway; dedicating
- This is resolution dedicating the Sgt. Mike Stokely Memorial Highway. - Authored By: Sen. John Douglas - Committee Action: Do Pass
SR1093 Durward (Red) Murphy Memorial Bridge; dedicate
- This is a resolution dedicating the Durward (Red) Murphy Memorial Bridge. - Authored By: Sen. Johnny Grant - Committee Action: Do Pass
SR1094 Charles S. (Buddy) Cowan, Jr. Memorial Bridge; dedicate
- This is a resolution dedicating the Charles S. (Buddy) Cowan, Jr. Memorial Bridge. - Authored By: Sen. Johnny Grant - 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.
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COMMITTEE BROADCAST SCHEDULE
TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 2006
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8:30 am Agriculture & Consumer Affairs
406 CLOB
8:30 am Special Rules
506 CLOB
9:00 am Committee on Rules
341 CAP
9:00 am Appropriations - General
415 CLOB
10:00 am Natural Resources & Environment
606 CLOB
12:00 pm Public Utilties & Telecommunications
406 CLOB
1:00 pm Governmental Affairs (1)
406 CLOB
1:00 pm Judiciary - Civil
515 CLOB
2:00 pm Transportation
506 CLOB
2:00 pm Motor Vehicles
406 CLOB
3:00 pm Governmental Affairs (2)
406 CLOB
3:00 pm Ways & Means
133 CAP
3:30 pm Education
606 CLOB
4:00 pm Children & Youth
406 CLOB
* 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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