Daily report [Jan. 31, 2008]

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

TOMORROW'S FORECAST
* The House will reconvene for its 10th Legislative Day on Friday, February 1, at 09:00 AM. * 1 resolution is expected to be debated on the floor.

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DAILY REPORT

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MOTIONS TO AGREE
HB 89 - Firearms; carrying and possession; change provisions
- BILL SUMMARY: House Bill 89 allows anyone licensed to carry a pistol or revolver under OCGA 16-11-129 to transport that pistol or revolver in any private passenger vehicle - Authored By: Rep. Timothy Bearden of the 68th - House Committee: Judiciary Non-Civil - A motion to agree represents final passage of this bill.
RULES CALENDAR
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 facility 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 liaison 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 facilities. 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 - Rule: Open - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 119; Nays: 48

HR 1025 - General Appropriations Act; statements of legislative intent; provide - CA
- BILL SUMMARY: A Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution so as to provide for the inclusion of statements of legislative intent in the general appropriations Act and so as to provide that certain appropriations must be expended as specifically authorized by the general appropriations Act; to provide for related matters; to provide for submission of this amendment for ratification or rejection; and for other purposes. - Authored By: Rep. Ben Harbin of the 118th - House Committee: Rules - Rule: Open - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 167; Nays: 1
LOCAL CALENDAR
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 - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 135; Nays: 0
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 - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 135; Nays: 0
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 - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 135; Nays: 0
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 - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 135; Nays: 0
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 - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 135; Nays: 0

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 - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 135; Nays: 0
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 - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 135; Nays: 0
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 - Rule: Open - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 167; Nays: 1
* The House will reconvene Friday, February 1, at 9:00 AM, for its 10th Legislative Day
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COMMITTEE ON RULES
The Committee on Rules has fixed the calendar for the 10th Legislative Day, Friday, February 1, and bills may be called at the pleasure of the Speaker.
RULES CALENDAR FOR NEXT LEGISLATIVE DAY
HR 1034 - National Collegiate Athletic Association; football; implement playoff system; urge
- BILL SUMMARY: This resolution urges the National Collegiate Athletic Association to implement a playoff system to determine a football national champion. - Authored By: Rep. Quincy Murphy of the 120th - House Committee: Higher Education - House Committee Passed: 1/29/2008 - Rule: Open
* The Rules Committee will next meet on Friday, February 1, at 8:00 AM, to set the Rules Calendar for the 11th Legislative Day.
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COMMITTEE ACTION REPORT
Governmental Affairs
SB 82 - Dunwoody, City of; incorporation, boundaries, and powers of the city
- BILL SUMMARY: This bill allows for a referendum to create the city of Dunwoody. - Authored By: Sen. Dan Weber of the 40th - Committee Action: Failed
Governmental Affairs
SB 83 - Municipalities; change certain local government provisions
- BILL SUMMARY: This bill provides for an orderly process for the transfer of county property used for municipal services to a newly incorporated city. - Authored By: Sen. Dan Weber of the 40th - Committee Action: Tabled
Intragovernmental Coordination - Local
HB 857 - Washington County; sheriff; change compensation
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to increase the compensation of the sheriff of Washington County. - Authored By: Rep. Jimmy Lord of the 142nd - Committee Action: Do Pass
Intragovernmental Coordination - Local
HB 869 - DeKalb County; office of tax commissioner; change certain provisions
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to provide for an interim appointment or a special election to fill a vacancy in the office of the DeKalb County Tax Commissioner. - Authored By: Rep. Billy Mitchell of the 88th - Committee Action: Do Pass
Intragovernmental Coordination - Local
HB 1038 - Douglasville, City of; Redevelopment Powers Law; authorize
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to authorize the City of Douglasville 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. Roger Bruce of the 64th - Committee Action: Do Pass
Intragovernmental Coordination - Local
HB 1039 - Douglas County; Redevelopment Powers Law; authorize
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to authorize Douglas County 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. Roger Bruce of the 64th - Committee Action: Do Pass
Motor Vehicles
HB 945 - Motor vehicles; registration and title records; allow certain persons access
- BILL SUMMARY: HB 945 allows persons engaged in providing notification to owners of towed or impounded vehicles to access motor vehicle registration records as well as motor vehicle certificate of title records. - Authored By: Rep. Tom Rice of the 51st - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Motor Vehicles
HB 961 - Persons with disabilities; special parking permits and license plates; change certain provisions
- BILL SUMMARY: HB 961 changes provisions relating to special parking permits and license plates for persons with disabilities by requiring those special parking permits to be laminated on both sides. Further, it creates a graduated scale of fines for individuals that illegally park in a parking place designated for persons with disabilities. - Authored By: Rep. Chuck Sims of the 169th - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute
Motor Vehicles
HB 1027 - Defensive driving courses; alcohol or drug programs; curriculum; provisions
- BILL SUMMARY: The purpose of HB 1027 is to authorize the Department of Driver's Services (DDS) to approve the Defensive Driving 6 hour course for on-line delivery. Further, it makes only DDS approved Defensive Driving and DUI Risk Reduction (20 hours) courses available for pre trial diversion and ticket dismissal. - Authored By: Rep. Tom Rice of the 51st - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute
State Institutions & Property
HB 967 - Certificate of need program; prisons and other secure correctional institutions; exempt
- BILL SUMMARY: This bill amends Code Section 31-6-47 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to exemptions from the certificate of need program. The exemptions would include prisoners and other secure correctional institutions of the Department of Corrections and the Department of Juvenile Justice from the certificate of need requirements. - Authored By: Rep. Charles E. Martin of the 47th - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute
Ways & Means
HB 926 - Revenue and taxation; Internal Revenue Code; define term
- BILL SUMMARY: HB 926 adopts the Internal Revenue Code as of January 1, 2008 so as to include federal tax law changes signed into law during 2007. It also adopts federal acts that were passed late in 2007 that are applicable to the 2007 tax year. This bill will provide about $38 million in tax relief from 2008 through 2012. - Authored By: Rep. Larry O`Neal of the 146th - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute
Ways & Means
HB 1014 - Georgia Higher Education Savings Plan; certain provisions; revise and change
- BILL SUMMARY: HB 1014 is a clean-up bill for legislation passed last year removing the means test for taking income tax deductions for contributions to college savings plans and permitting grandparents to contribute and deduct contributions. This bill clarifies provisions distinguishing between the program and the plan (the state entity that administers the program), provisions that allow for marketing of the savings plan program, and provisions relating to eligible tax years. - Authored By: Rep. Richard A Royal of the 171st - 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

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Friday, February 01, 2008 RULES BANKS & BANKING

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