Daily report [Jan. 16, 2008]

MEMBER SERVICES
Coverdell Legislative Office Bldg. Suite 609 Phone: (404) 656-0305

TOMORROW'S FORECAST
* The House will reconvene for its 4th Legislative Day on Thursday, January 17, at 10:00 AM. * No bills are expected to be debated on the floor.

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DAILY REPORT

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TODAY ON THE FLOOR
Speaker of the House, Glenn Richardson, gaveled the House into session today at 1:00pm to gather House membership along with the State Senate to hear from Governor Sonny Perdue, and the delivery of his State of the State address.

There were no bills debated on the floor of the House today.

* The House will reconvene Thursday, January 17, at 10:00 AM, for its 4th Legislative Day of the 1st Regular Session of the 149th General Assembly.
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COMMITTEE ON RULES
The Committee on Rules has fixed the calendar for the 4th Legislative Day, Thursday, January 17, and bills may be called at the pleasure of the Speaker.
RULES CALENDAR FOR NEXT LEGISLATIVE DAY
No Rules Calendar Available
* The Rules Committee will next meet on Friday, January 18, at 8:30 AM, to set the Rules Calendar for the 5th Legislative Day.
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COMMITTEE ACTION REPORT
Judiciary Non-Civil
HB 301 - Dogfighting; prohibit; punishments; amend provisions
- BILL SUMMARY: Prohibits owning or training a dog to fight. Prohibits causing dogs to fight; betting on a dog fight; knowingly permitting or aiding in a dog fight. A violation would be punished as a felony with a first offense punished by one to five years imprisonment and/or a $5000.00 fine and a second offense punished by one to ten years imprisonment and/or a $15,000.00. Spectators at dogfights would be punished with a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature for a first offense, a felony carrying a term of imprisonment of 1-5 years and a fine of $5000 or both for a second offense, and a third offense would carry a term of imprisonment of 1-10 years with a fine of $15,000 or both. Dogs subject to fighting would be impounded. The Code section would not prevent husbandry, lawful dog shows, hunting with dogs or training dogs to hunt, work with livestock, or work with police. - Authored By: Rep. Bobby C Reese of the 98th - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Judiciary Non-Civil
HB 908 - Certain sexual offenders; residency and employment restrictions; repeal certain provisions
- BILL SUMMARY: Amends the definition of "area where minors congregate" to add public libraries to the list of prohibited areas; amends 42-1-12 to provide a definition of the term "day care center;" amends 42-1-15 to provide that no registered sex offender or designated sexual predator shall volunteer within 1000 feet of a school, church, child care facility or area where minors congregate; amends 42-1-15 to provide that the 1000 foot measurement for the workplace will be measured from outer boundary to outer boundary of the location where the registered individual actually carries out the functions of his or her job; adds language to provide that a registered individual who owns real property or who has established employment before a school, child care facility, church or area where minors congregate locates itself within 1000 feet of the individual's home or place of employment will not be in violation of the 1000 foot regulatory requirement; the registered individual will have ten days within which to prove, through acceptable documentation, to the sheriff that his residence or employment was established prior to the location of the school, church, child care facility or area where minors congregate. - Authored By: Rep. David Ralston of the 7th - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute
Retirement
HB 358 - Sheriffs' Retirement Fund; death benefits; increase amount
- BILL SUMMARY: This bill increases the amount of the death benefit paid under the Sheriffs' Retirement Fund of Georgia to beneficiaries of members from $7,000 to $15,000. If this legislation is enacted, the benefit increase will become effective on July 1, 2008. - Authored By: Rep. Willie Talton of the 145th - Committee Action: Do Pass
Retirement
HB 875 - Employees' Retirement System; established benefit formula; provide continuation
- BILL SUMMARY: This bill sets the multiplier used to calculate retirement allowances under the Employees' Retirement System at 2 percent. Therefore, the total retirement allowance will equal 2% of the member's highest average monthly earnable compensation during a period of 24 consecutive calendar months while a member of the retirement system multiplied by the number of years of creditable service. - Authored By: Rep. Brooks Coleman of the 97th - Committee Action: Do Pass
* Bills passing committees are reported to the Clerk's Office, and are then placed on the General Calendar.
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COMMITTEE BROADCAST SCHEDULE

8:30 AM - 10:00 AM 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Thursday, January 17, 2008 NATURAL RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENT STATE INSTITUTIONS & PROPERTY WAYS & MEANS JUDICIARY CIVIL

606 CLOB 406 CLOB 606 CLOB 132 CAP or upon adjournment

* This schedule is accurate at the time of this report, but meeting dates and times are subject to change. To view the most up to date meeting schedule, please visit http://www.legis.ga.gov and click on Meetins Notices. To view the live streaming video of the meeting, please visit the Georgia Legislative Network website.
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CONTACT: BRENT CRANFIELD
(404) 656-0305 Brent.Cranfield@house.ga.gov