Daily report [Feb. 1, 2008]

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

TOMORROW'S FORECAST
* The House will reconvene for its 11th Legislative Day on Tuesday, February 5, at 1:00 PM. * 4 bills are expected to be debated on the floor.

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DAILY REPORT

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MOTIONS TO INSIST
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
RULES CALENDAR
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 - Rule: Open - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 151; Nays: 9
LOCAL CALENDAR
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 - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 147; Nays: 0
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 - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 147; Nays: 0

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 - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 147; Nays: 0
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 - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 147; Nays: 0
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 - Rule: Open - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 151; Nays: 9
* The House will reconvene Tuesday, February 5, at 1:00 PM, for its 11th Legislative Day
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COMMITTEE ON RULES
The Committee on Rules has fixed the calendar for the 11th Legislative Day, Tuesday, February 5, and bills may be called at the pleasure of the Speaker.
RULES CALENDAR FOR NEXT LEGISLATIVE DAY
HB 422 - Specialized land transactions; minimum amount for liens; provide
- BILL SUMMARY: HB 422 amends O.C.G.A. 44-3-109 and O.C.G.A. 44-3-232 to establish $2,000.00 as the minimum amount for a lien at issue in a lawsuit seeking the judicial foreclosure of a condominium association or homeowners association assessment lien. The bill leaves the current provisions in these two statutes intact, and merely adds a sentence providing that a lien foreclosure cannot occur unless the lien is at least $2,000.00. Debts below $2,000.00 could still be collected by way of a lien or judgment, but not through a lien foreclosure. - Authored By: Rep. Wendell Willard of the 49th - House Committee: Judiciary - House Committee Passed: 1/29/2008 - Rule: Open
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 - House Committee: Ways & Means - House Committee Passed: 1/31/2008 - Rule: Structured

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 - House Committee: Governmental Affairs - House Committee Passed: 1/30/2008 - Rule: Open
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 - House Committee: Ways & Means - House Committee Passed: 1/31/2008 - Rule: Structured
* The Rules Committee will next meet on Tuesday, February 5, at 11:00 AM, to set the Rules Calendar for the 12th Legislative Day.
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COMMITTEE ACTION REPORT
Banks & Banking
HB 921 - Mortgage lenders and brokers; nation-wide automated licensing system; create
- BILL SUMMARY: This bill adds a new Code Section 7-1-1003.5, relating to licensing of mortgage lenders and mortgage brokers. This legislation authorizes the Department of Banking and Finance to participate in a nation-wide residential mortgage licensing system for the purpose of facilitating the sharing of information and standardization of the licensing and application processes for mortgage brokers and mortgage lenders. It further grants the Department of Banking and Finance the powers necessary for its participation in this system. In addition, this bill makes provisions for privacy policies, disclosure of information, disbursement of fees and changes in the license renewal dates. - Authored By: Rep. James Mills of the 25th - Committee Action: Do Pass
**These bills passed during Thursday's Judiciary committee meeting, but due to substitutes the bills were not reported to the Clerk's Office until today.
Judiciary
HB 188 - Jury duty; primary caregiver of certain persons; provide exemption
- BILL SUMMARY: Committee substitute LC370459S to HB 188 adds an exemption from jury duty to O.C.G.A. 15-12-1's list of exemptions, for a person who is a primary, unpaid caregiver for a person over age 6 who has physical or cognitive limitations. The individual seeking the exemption must sign an affidavit and present a statement from a physician or medical provider. - Authored By: Rep. Ed Rynders of the 152nd - Committee Action: Do Pass as Amended
Judiciary
SB 88 - Care of a Grandchild Act; provide subsidy to certain grandparents raising grandchildren under certain circumstances
- BILL SUMMARY: Adds the "Care of a Grandchild Act" to Title 19, Chapter 9 to allow a parent to delegate to a grandparent the care of a minor child by way of a power of attorney in hardship cases including, but not limited to, death of the other parent, terminal illness,

physical or mental condition, incarceration, or natural disaster. The bill provides a form Georgia Power of Attorney for the Care of a Minor Child.
While use of this Act could result in a change in a child's school, the bill forbids the use of this statute for the sole purpose of moving a child to a different school.
Part 2 of SB 88 is the "Grandchildren's Caregiver Subsidy Act." Part 2 establishes a subsidy to be administered by DHR, which would provide an electronic funds transfer card and other financial assistance to up to 1,500 grandparents who are financially eligible for the subsidy. The bill outlines permissible expenditures of the subsidy by grandparents. Senator Unterman reported at the January 17, 2008 Committee meeting that funds are budgeted for this proposal. - Authored By: Sen. Renee S Unterman of the 45th - Committee Action: Do Pass as Amended
* 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

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM 2:30 PM - 5:00 PM

Tuesday, February 05, 2008 Property & Casualty Subcommittee of Insurance RULES Academic Support Subcommittee of Education

515 CLOB 341 CAP 415 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