Daily report [Jan. 30, 2008]

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

TOMORROW'S FORECAST
* The House will reconvene for its 9th Legislative Day on Thursday, January 31, at 10:00 AM. * 2 bills are expected to be debated on the floor.

GGEEOORRGGIIAAHHOOUUSSEE OOFF RREEPPRREESSEENNTTAATTIIVVEESS

DAILY REPORT

WWeeddnneessddaayy,, JJaannuuaarryy 3300,, 22000088
TODAY ON THE FLOOR

88tthh LLeeggiissllaattiivvee DDaayy

RULES CALENDAR
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.
Two amendments were adopted on the House Floor today prior to the passage of the bill: The first amendment decreases a cap on the amount a credit reporting agency can charge the consumer for each placement, temporary lift or removal of security freeze from a maximum of $10.00 to a maximum of $3.00. The second amendment requires the credit reporting agencies to develop ways by which they can electronically receive and process a consumer's request for a temporarily lift of a security freeze. - Authored By: Rep. Calvin Hill of the 21st - House Committee: Banks & Banking - Rule: Modified-Open - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 167; Nays: 2

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 - Rule: Open - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 164; Nays: 0
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 - House Committee: Judiciary Non-Civil - Rule: Modified-Structured - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 164; Nays: 0
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 - Rule: Open - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 166; Nays: 0
HB 995 - Haralson County; board of commissioners; staggered terms; provide
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to provide staggered terms for the Haralson County Board of Commissioners. - Authored By: Rep. Howard Maxwell of the 17th - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 141; Nays: 0
HB 998 - Rincon, City of; ad valorem tax; municipal purposes; provide homestead exemption
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to provide a homestead exemption from City of Rincon 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. - Authored By: Rep. Earl Carter of the 159th - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 141; Nays: 0
HB 1002 - Americus-Sumter County Parks and Recreation Authority Act; repeal
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to repeal the Act which created the Americus-Sumter County Parks and Recreation Authority. - Authored By: Rep. Mike Cheokas of the 134th - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open

- Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 141; Nays: 0
HB 1003 - Cobb County; solicitor-general; change compensation
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to provide compensation for the Solicitor General and Assistant Solicitors General of the State Court of Cobb County. - Authored By: Rep. Rich Golick of the 34th - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 141; Nays: 0
* The House will reconvene Thursday, January 31, at 10:00 AM, for its 9th Legislative Day
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
COMMITTEE ON RULES
The Committee on Rules has fixed the calendar for the 9th Legislative Day, Thursday, January 31, and bills may be called at the pleasure of the Speaker.
RULES CALENDAR FOR NEXT LEGISLATIVE DAY
HB 881 - Georgia Charter Schools Commission; establish
- BILL SUMMARY: This bill establishes a Charter School Commission that would serve independently of the Department of Education, but under supervision of the State Board and in collaboration with DOE. The commission would be appointed by the State Board of Education and consist of three appointees by the Governor, two by the President of the Senate and two by the Speaker of the House. These members will not be compensated. The commission will have the power to authorize and serve as a sponsor commission of charter schools, including both approval and denial. The commission will be able to authorize municipalities, state universities, community colleges and RESA's to act as cosponsors of charter schools. In addition, the commission may conduct facilitiy and curriculum reviews of charter schools. The commission shall develop, promote and disseminate best practices for charter schools and their sponsors. They will monitor and review yearly the performance of cosponsors approved and hold them accountable for their performance. It addition, they will monitor and review the academic and financial performance. The commission will also actively seek supplemental revenue from federal and institutional grants. The commission will review and recommend to the General Assembly any necessary revisions to statutory requirements and necessary revisions regarding the qualification and approval of municipalities, counties, consolidated governments, universities and colleges of the board of regents, technical institutions of DTAE and RESA's as cosponsors for commission charter schools. The commission will act as a liasion for cosponsors and commission charter schools in cooperating with local boards of education that may choose to allow charter schools to use excess space within public school facilites. The commission will collaborate with cosponsors for the purpose of providing the highest level of public education to low income, low performing, gifted or underserved student populations for students with special needs. The commission will serve to provide maximum access to information regarding commission charter schools to all parents in Georgia. It shall maintain information systems, including a user-friendly Internet website, that will provide information and data necessary for parents to make informed decisions. Each year, the chair shall submit a report regarding the academic performance and fiscal responsibility of all commission charter schools and cosponsors. If a charter is not renewed or is terminated the commission charter school is responsible for all debts incurred. The department may retain up to 3% of the funding calculated for each charter school it has approved for use in administering duties. - Authored By: Rep. Jan Jones of the 46th - House Committee: Education - House Committee Passed: 1/29/2008 - Rule: Open
HR 1025 - General Appropriations Act; statements of legislative intent; provide - CA
- BILL SUMMARY: No Summary Available - Authored By: Rep. Ben Harbin of the 118th - House Committee: Rules - House Committee Passed: 1/18/2008

- Rule: Open
* The Rules Committee will next meet on Thursday, January 31, at 9:00 AM, to set the Rules Calendar for the 10th Legislative Day.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
COMMITTEE ACTION REPORT
Agriculture & Consumer Affairs
HB 297 - Recreational vehicle dealers; conventions; provide certain exemptions
- BILL SUMMARY: Currently, it is unlawful for any dealer to sell or distribute any new recreational vehicle in Georgia unless the dealer has a franchise dealership agreement with a grantor with the express right to sell or distribute recreational vehicles in Georgia and meets certain requirements and definitions. This bill would allow dealers from outside Georgia to sell or distribute recreational vehicles at certain conventions or rallies involving more than 2500 recreational vehicles which are registered with the sponsor of such an event. In cases where a manufacturer intends to participate by inviting an out-of-state dealer to attend the convention or rally, that manufacturer must also invite all franchise Georgia dealers to said event. - Authored By: Rep. Allen G. Freeman of the 140th - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute
Agriculture & Consumer Affairs
HR 1032 - House Organic Farming and Raw Milk Study Committee; create
- BILL SUMMARY: This resolution creates the House Organic Farming and Raw Milk Study Committee. The study committee will focus on product certification and consumer protection as an increasing number of consumers are showing a desire to purchase organically grown agricultural produce. The study committee shall consist of five members. - Authored By: Rep. Terry England of the 108th - Committee Action: Do Pass
Governmental Affairs
HB 296 - Special elections; held on certain dates; provide
- BILL SUMMARY: This bill establishes the times a special election can be held to present a question to the voters. Those times are as follows:
(A) In odd-numbered years, any such special election shall only be held on: (i) The Tuesday after the first Monday in November
(B) In even-numbered years, any such special election shall only be held on: (i) The date of the general primary; or (ii) The Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
It becomes effective January 1, 2010 - Authored By: Rep. Jeff May of the 111th - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute
Governmental Affairs
HB 975 - County or municipal corporations; authorizing documents; provisions
- BILL SUMMARY: HB 975 makes it unlawful for any county, municipal corporation, or other issuing authority to issue any backdated license, permit, or other authorizing document, including but not limited to any building permit, sign permit, occupation tax certificate, zoning action, subdivision of land, final plat, or other similar authorization, in any territorial or geographic area which, due to the formation of a county, incorporation of a municipality, annexation or deannexation of territory, or other action, is no longer within the regulatory jurisdiction of said issuing authority. - Authored By: Rep. Mark Burkhalter of the 50th - Committee Action: Do Pass

Health & Human Services
HB 492 - Physicians; Composite State Board of Medical Examiners; provisions
- BILL SUMMARY: This bill would expand the Composite State Board of Medical Examiners (while renaming the body the Georgia Composite Medical Board) to include two laypersons not involved or connected in any way with the practice of medicine or the provision of health services. Additionally, the measure would add one additional physician member to the Board, bringing total Board members from 13 to 15. - Authored By: Rep. Mike Keown of the 173rd - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute
Health & Human Services
HB 692 - Schools and hospitals; recognition program; defibrillator training; establish
- BILL SUMMARY: This bill would authorize the department to recognize and coordinate with as well as publicly list secondary schools and hospitals that set up training programs to teach the use of automatic external defibrillators. - Authored By: Rep. Joe Wilkinson of the 52nd - Committee Action: Do Pass
Health & Human Services
HB 970 - Personal care homes; host homes; definitions; provisions
- BILL SUMMARY: Dealing with the provision of community care services within the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Diseases, and Addictive Diseases, this bill establishes a a distinct definition for "Host Home" living arrangements whereby less than two nonrelated persons may be cared for in the same home based setting, doubling the effective capacity of "Host Home" care provision throughout the state. - Authored By: Rep. Doug Collins of the 27th - Committee Action: Tabled
Intragovernmental Coordination - Local
HB 1007 - Lawrenceville, City of; Redevelopment Powers Law; authorize
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to authorize the City of Lawrenceville 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. John Heard of the 104th - Committee Action: Do Pass
Intragovernmental Coordination - Local
HB 1008 - Oglethorpe County Water Authority; composition of members; change
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to change the composition of the appointees to the Oglethorpe County Water Authority. - Authored By: Rep. Mickey Channell of the 116th - Committee Action: Do Pass
Intragovernmental Coordination - Local
HB 1010 - Liberty County State Court; solicitor-general; change compensation
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to provide compensation to the solicitor general of the State Court of Lliberty County. - Authored By: Rep. Al Williams of the 165th - Committee Action: Do Pass
Intragovernmental Coordination - Local
HB 1011 - Liberty County State Court; judge; full-time office; establish
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to provide that the office of Judge of the State Court of Liberty County shall be a full-time position. - Authored By: Rep. Al Williams of the 165th

- Committee Action: Do Pass
Intragovernmental Coordination - Local
HB 1012 - Darien, City of; ad valorem tax; municipal purposes; provide homestead exemption
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to provide a homestead exemption from City of Darien 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 base year assessed value of such homestead. - Authored By: Rep. Roger B. Lane of the 167th - Committee Action: Do Pass
Intragovernmental Coordination - Local
HB 1013 - McIntosh County; school district ad valorem tax; residents 65 or over; provide homestead exemption
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to provides a homestead exemption from McIntosh County school district ad valorem taxes for educational purposes in the full amount of the assessed value of the homestead for residents of that school district who are 65 years of age or older and whose annual income does not exceed $25,000.00. - Authored By: Rep. Roger B. Lane of the 167th - Committee Action: Do Pass
Intragovernmental Coordination - Local
HB 1025 - Garden City, City of; advisory referendum election; provide
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to provide for an advisory referendum in the City of Garden City to determine whether the members of the city council should be elected from at-large or single-member districts. - Authored By: Rep. Bob Bryant of the 160th - Committee Action: Do Pass
Judiciary Non-Civil
HB 333 - Weapons; crime or delinquent act; provisions
- BILL SUMMARY: The bill amends OCGA 17-5-52 to ensure that when weapons are confiscated in connection with the commission of a crime or delinquent act they are turned over to the chief of police or other executive officer of the law enforcement agency that originally confiscated the device. Current language requires that only the sheriff of the county dispose of the weapons, but in counties with sheriffs and chiefs of police it is often the chief of police who manages confiscated weapons. Because the language only refers to the sheriff the chiefs of police are unable to dispose of the weapons in their possession. They cannot transfer them to the sheriff for disposal because the sheriff is often not involved in the investigation. This is true in counties where the sheriff runs the county jail and the chief of police attends to all other judicial duties. - Authored By: Rep. Wade Starr of the 78th - Committee Action: Do Pass
* Bills passing committees are reported to the Clerk's Office, and are then placed on the General Calendar.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

COMMITTEE MEETING SCHEDULE

Thursday, January 31, 2008

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 506 CLOB

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM RULES

341 CAP

1:00 PM - 1:30 PM SPECIAL RULES

403 CAP

2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

STATE INSTITUTIONS & PROPERTY

506 CLOB

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM MOTOR VEHICLES

606 CLOB

2:00 PM - 4:00 PM JUDICIARY CIVIL

132 CAP or upon adjournment- whichever is later

3:00 PM - 5:00 PM GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS 406 CLOB

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM WAYS & MEANS

606 CLOB

* 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.
____________________________________________________________________________
CONTACT: BRENT CRANFIELD
(404) 656-0305 Brent.Cranfield@house.ga.gov