Daily report [Jan. 28, 2008]

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

TOMORROW'S FORECAST
* The House will reconvene for its 7th Legislative Day on Tuesday, January 29, at 10:00 AM. * 4 bills are expected to be debated on the floor.

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RULES CALENDAR
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. Attending a dogfight would be punished as a misdemeanor of a high and aggravatednature for a first offense, punished as 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 or training dogs to hunt, training dogs to work with livestock,or training dogs to work with police. - Authored By: Rep. Bobby C Reese of the 98th - House Committee: Judiciary Non-Civil - Rule: Modified-Structured - Amendments(s): Roberts AM: 165-2 - Yeas: 165; Nays: 6
Local Legislation HB 932 - Board of Elections and Registration of Towns County; re-create
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to recreate the board of elections of Towns County as a board of elections and registration and to provide for its powers and duties. - Authored By: Rep. Charles F Jenkins of the 8th - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 154; Nays: 0
HB 933 - Towns County; ad valorem tax; school district; provide homestead exemption
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to provide a homestead exemption from Towns County school district ad valorem taxes for educational purposes in an amount equal to the amount by which the current year assessed value of a homestead exceeds the adjusted base year assessed value of such homestead by more than 3 percent. - Authored By: Rep. Charles F Jenkins of the 8th - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 154; Nays: 0

HB 934 - Towns County; ad valorem tax; county purposes; provide homestead exemption
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to provide a homestead exemption from Towns County ad valorem taxes for county purposes in an amount equal to the amount by which the current year assessed value of a homestead exceeds the adjusted base year assessed value of such homestead by more than 3 percent. - Authored By: Rep. Charles F Jenkins of the 8th - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 154; Nays: 0
HB 935 - Hiawassee, City of; ad valorem tax; municipal purposes; provide homestead exemption
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to provides a homestead exemption from City of Hiawassee ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes in an amount equal to the amount by which the current year assessed value of a homestead exceeds the adjusted base year assessed value of such homestead by more than 3 percent. - Authored By: Rep. Charles F Jenkins of the 8th - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 154; Nays: 0
HB 936 - Young Harris, City of; ad valorem tax; municipal purposes; provide homestead exemption
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to provide a homestead exemption from City of Young Harris ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes in an amount equal to the amount by which the current year assessed value of a homestead exceeds the adjusted base year assessed value of such homestead by more than 3 percent. - Authored By: Rep. Charles F Jenkins of the 8th - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 154; Nays: 0
HB 944 - Roswell, City of; Redevelopment Powers Law; authorize
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to authorize the City of Roswell to exercise all redevelopment powers as permitted under the State Constitution and the Redevelopment Powers Law pending a local referendum to approve the authorization. - Authored By: Rep. Harry Geisinger of the 48th - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 154; Nays: 0
* The House will reconvene Tuesday, January 29, at 10:00 AM, for its 7th Legislative Day
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COMMITTEE ON RULES

The Committee on Rules has fixed the calendar for the 7th Legislative Day, Tuesday, January 29, and bills may be called at the pleasure of the Speaker.
RULES CALENDAR FOR NEXT LEGISLATIVE DAY
HB 130 - Identity theft; security freezes; definitions; provisions
- BILL SUMMARY: This bill adds new Code Sections 10-1-913 and 10-4-914 relating to protection from identity theft. This legislation allows a consumer to request a credit reporting agency not to release that consumer's credit report information by placing a "security freeze" on his or her credit report in order to prevent the extension of credit without the consumer's authorization. It, consequently, allows the consumer to temporary lift or remove a "security freeze" in order to make the credit report information available. This bill further: Permits a consumer to place a security freeze on his or her credit report by requesting it in writing via certified mail and requires a credit reporting agency to place a security freeze on a consumer's credit report, within 3 business days after receiving such request. Requires a credit reporting agency to send a written confirmation of the security freeze to the consumer and provide the consumer with a personal ID number or password within 10 business days of receiving consumer's request for security freeze. Requires a credit reporting agency to comply with the consumer's request to temporarily lift a freeze within 3 business days after receiving a written request or within 15 minutes after receiving a request electronically or by phone along with the consumer's proper identification and payment. Provides that a consumer credit reporting agency shall remove or temporarily lift a security freeze placed on a consumer's credit report only if the consumer requests it, or the consumer's credit report was frozen due to a material misrepresentation of fact by the consumer. Requires a credit reporting agency to remove a security freeze within 3 business days of receiving a request from the consumer with the consumer's proper identification, unique personal ID number or password provided by the credit reporting agency and the applicable fee. Places a cap at a maximum of $10.00 on the amount a credit reporting agency can charge the consumer for each placement, temporary lift or removal of security freeze and at a maximum of $5.00 for each replacement of a personal ID number. Exempts victims of identity theft from such fees. Allows the person in violation of this code to be fined by the appointed administrator at a maximum of $100.00 for a violation concerning a specific consumer. - Authored By: Rep. Calvin Hill of the 21st - House Committee: Banks & Banking - House Committee Passed: 1/14/2008 - Rule: Modified-Open
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 - House Committee: Retirement - House Committee Passed: 1/16/2008 - Rule: Open
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 - House Committee: Retirement - House Committee Passed: 1/16/2008 - Rule: Open
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 - House Committee: Judiciary Non-Civil - House Committee Passed: 1/16/2008 - Rule: Modified-Open
* The Rules Committee will next meet on Tuesday, January 29, at 9:00 AM, to set the Rules Calendar for the 8th Legislative Day.
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COMMITTEE ACTION REPORT
Judiciary Non-Civil
HB 259 - Certain nonprofit organizations; certain noncash prizes; allow give away
- BILL SUMMARY: Amends definitions related to gambling in OCGA 16-12-20 to ensure that if a non-profit gives away noncash prizes that cannot be exchanged for cash it will not be considered or subject to the laws governing lotteries as long as the prizes are solely to advance the purposes of the nonprofit organization, and a person eligible to receive the prize is not required to pay any consideration for the prize. This must be clearly stated in the rules and the method used to select winners will not discriminate against people who have not paid any consideration to become eligible. Businesses or nonprofits offering prizes by mechanical means may not offer more than two promotions in one location at one time. - Authored By: Rep. Harry Geisinger of the 48th - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute
Judiciary Non-Civil
HB 578 - State court proceedings; first time; death sentence; change certain provisions
- BILL SUMMARY: Changes certain provisions related to first-time petitions challenging state court proceedings resulting in a death sentence. After the close of evidence the petitioner will have 90 days to file any brief, the respondent will have 60 days after the petitioner's brief to file a response, and the petitioner will have ten days after that to file any reply to respondent's brief. Upon a showing of good cause the court may grant either party an extension not to exceed 60 days. The judge will issue findings of fact within 180 days of the filing of respondent's brief or petitioner's reply, whichever is later. If the judge cannot issue findings of fact within 180 days he or she will provide an updated status report setting forth the reasons for the delay, and will update the report every 30 days. - Authored By: Rep. David Ralston of the 7th - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute
* Bills passing committees are reported to the Clerk's Office, and are then placed on the General Calendar.
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COMMITTEE SCHEDULE

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

8:30 AM - 10:00 Appropriations General

AM

Subcommittee

506 CLOB

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

RULES

341 CAP

1:30 PM - 3:30 PM GAME, FISH & PARKS

506 CLOB

1:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Appropriations Human Resources Subcommittee

341 CAP

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM CHILDREN & YOUTH

403 CAP

2:00 PM - 5:00 PM EDUCATION

406 CLOB or upon adjournmentwhichever is later

2:00 PM - 4:00 PM WAYS & MEANS

606 CLOB

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

DEFENSE & VETERANS AFFAIRS

515 CLOB

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM HIGHER EDUCATION

415 CLOB

2:00 PM - 4:00 PM JUDICIARY CIVIL

132 CAP upon adjournment-whichever is later

* 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 Meeting 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