Daily report [Feb. 14, 2008]

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

TOMORROW'S FORECAST
* The House will reconvene for its 19th Legislative Day on Tuesday, February 19, at 10:00 AM. * 5 bills are expected to be debated on the floor.

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DAILY REPORT

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TODAY ON THE FLOOR
RULES CALENDAR
HB 950 - Motor vehicles; assembled; registration and licensing; provide
- BILL SUMMARY: This bill changes current law so as to provide for a mechanism for the department of revenue to issue certificates of title as well as to register and license assembled (kit) motor vehicles and motorcycles. - Authored By: Rep. Alan Powell of the 29th - House Committee: Motor Vehicles - Rule: Open - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 159; Nays: 0
HB 951 - Used Motor Vehicle Dealers' Act; rebuilder; redefine term
- BILL SUMMARY: This bill changes the definition of 'Rebuilder' in OCGA 43-47-2 to read as follows: 'Rebuilder' means any person, partnership, limited liability company, firm, or corporation engaged in the business of buying more than two salvage or wrecked motor vehicles per year for the purpose of restoring or rebuilding them with used or new motor vehicle parts, or both, to be sold as motor vehicles." - Authored By: Rep. Alan Powell of the 29th - House Committee: Motor Vehicles - Rule: Open - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 152; Nays: 0
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 - House Committee: Motor Vehicles - Rule: Open - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 164; Nays: 0
HB 969 - Driver education training requirements; home schooling program; provisions
- BILL SUMMARY: This bill changes current law so as to provide that a course of instruction given within the context of a bona fide home schooling program shall constitute an approved driver education training course. - Authored By: Rep. John Lunsford of the 110th - House Committee: Motor Vehicles - Rule: Open - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 152; Nays: 0

HB 1055 - Professions and licenses; certain provisions; make revisions
- BILL SUMMARY: This bill amends Title 43 of OCGA by revising provisions relating to professions and licenses. This legislation: Allows a designee of the division director of the professional licensing boards to sign and attest orders and processes. Amends requirements relating to applications for certification as a registered interior designer. Revises provisions relating to inspector at auctions and division directors relating to geologists. Repeals provisions regarding license by reciprocity and revises provisions regarding license by endorsement for massage therapists. Provides for education and training requirements for the issuance of physical therapist licenses. Allows the board to waive the examination required to obtain a license in physical therapy to a person licensed in another state or territory of US and grant that person full privileges to engage in an equivalent practice, if that person, in judgment of the board, has equivalent qualifications, completed equivalent examination and is therefore properly licensed under the laws of another state or territory of the US. In such situations this bill further allows the board to require additional education or training. Provides for the establishment of the renewal period for expired licenses as well as the applicable fees for veterinarians and veterinary technicians by the division director. - Authored By: Rep. Roger Williams of the 4th - House Committee: Regulated Industries - Rule: Open - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 153; Nays: 4
HB 1105 - Hospitals; offer certain vaccinations to inpatients 65 years or older; require
- BILL SUMMARY: This bill would require that annually between October 1 through March 1, prior to discharging any inpatient who is 65 years of age or older, a hospital shall offer the inpatient vaccinations for the influenza virus and pneumococcal disease, unless contraindicated and contingent on availability of such vaccine. - Authored By: Rep. Donna Sheldon of the 105th - House Committee: Health & Human Services - Rule: Open - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 151; Nays: 9
HB 1111 - Drivers' licenses; requirements; fees; provisions
- BILL SUMMARY: This bill was brought on behalf of the Department of Drivers Services. It brings Georgia into compliance with federal standards in regards to commercial driver's licenses. - Authored By: Rep. Johnny L. Floyd of the 147th - House Committee: Motor Vehicles - Rule: Modified-Structured - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 153; Nays: 3
LOCAL CALENDAR
HB 1162 - Sky Valley, City of; reincorporate and provide new charter
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to provide a new charter to the City of Sky Valley. - Authored By: Rep. Charles F Jenkins of the 8th - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 125; Nays: 0
HB 1164 - Warren County Board of Education; member elections; revise districts
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to reapportion the districts of the members of the Warren County Board of Education. - Authored By: Rep. Sistie Hudson of the 124th - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 125; Nays: 0

HB 1166 - Liberty County; ad valorem tax; property's base year assessment; provide certain restrictions
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to provide that a homestead exemption from Liberty County ad valorem taxes for county purposes may be transferred to the surviving spouse upon the death of the person claiming exemption and provides the county a six-month period subsequent to a propertys original base year assessment to adjust such assessment for any purpose. - Authored By: Rep. Al Williams of the 165th - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 125; Nays: 0
HB 1167 - Liberty County School District; ad valorem tax; property's base year assessment; provide certain restrictions
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to provide that a homestead exemption from Liberty County School District ad valorem taxes for educational purposes may be transferred to the surviving spouse upon the death of the person claiming exemption and provides the county a six-month period subsequent to a propertys original base year assessment to adjust such assessment for any purpose. - Authored By: Rep. Al Williams of the 165th - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 125; Nays: 0
* The House will reconvene Tuesday, February 19, at 10:00 AM, for its 19th Legislative Day
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COMMITTEE ON RULES
The Committee on Rules has fixed the calendar for the 19th Legislative Day, Tuesday, February 19, and bills may be called at the pleasure of the Speaker.
RULES CALENDAR FOR NEXT LEGISLATIVE DAY
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. Additionally, as amended on the floor of the House, the measure would create a subcommittee of the Composite Medical Board composed of three nurses (appointed by the Board of Nursing) who hold advanced degrees and three physicians. This subcommittee will be required to review all past and future rules concerning the scope of practice for advanced practice nurses (43-34-26.3 (m)). The bill restricts the Composite Medical Board, allowing the CMB to adopt only such rules as have been previously approved by a majority vote of the new subcommittee. Additionally, if no concensus position is reached on an existing or proposed rule, it is declared null and void. - Authored By: Rep. Mike Keown of the 173rd - House Committee: Health & Human Services - House Committee Passed: 1/30/2008 - Rule: Modified-Structured
HB 839 - Employees' Retirement System; assistant district attorneys; provisions
- BILL SUMMARY: This bill provides that any person who was employed as an assistant district attorney on June 30, 1979, who rejected membership in the ERS at that time and then became a member of ERS on July 1, 1998 will be an active member of ERS and will be credited with membership service beginning on July 1, 1998. Also, the member will be entitled to obtain creditable service for prior service as an assistant district attorney rendered from July 1, 1979 through June 30, 1998 if such service is not being used towards creditable service in any other state or local retirement system. The member will be required to pay the full actuarial cost of the creditable service granted and will have to make the payments to the Board by December 31, 2008. - Authored By: Rep. David Ralston of the 7th

- House Committee: Retirement - House Committee Passed: 2/13/2008 - Rule: Open
HB 960 - Ecstasy; certain trafficking; bailable only before superior court judge; require
- BILL SUMMARY: Adds trafficking in the drug ecstasy to the list of offenses bailable only before a superior court judge current law provides that trafficking in cocaine, methamphetamine, heroine, and marijuana are bailable only before a superior court judge. - Authored By: Rep. Len Walker of the 107th - House Committee: Judiciary Non-Civil - House Committee Passed: 2/12/2008 - Rule: Open
HB 1044 - Adult day centers; licensure; respite care services programs; provisions
- BILL SUMMARY: Amends Article 7 of Chapter 6 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia. Allows respite care services to not be considered adult day care centers. Revises the definition of "Adult day center" to specifically exclude respite care services programs. Defines "Primary caregiver" as the one identified relative or other person in a relationship of responsibility who has assumed the primary responsibility for caring needed to maintain the health of an aging adult, who lives in the same residence, and who does not receive financial compensation for care provided. States that a primary caregiver can also be a health care agent. Defines "Respite care Services program" as a program for aging adults who can function in a group setting and who can feed and toilet themselves with or without the assistance of a personal aide. This program is operated by a nonprofit organization; staffed primarily by volunteers; and has its sole purpose to provide primary care givers of aging adults with relief from normal care giving duties. - Authored By: Rep. Len Walker of the 107th - House Committee: Human Relations & Aging - House Committee Passed: 2/12/2008 - Rule: Open
HB 1054 - Children and Family Service Strengthening Act of 2008; enact
- BILL SUMMARY: This bill would consolidate the Children and Youth Coordinating Council with the Childrens Trust Fund Commission, and place the functions of the Georgia Child Fatality Review Panel under the supervision of the Child Advocate for the Protection of Children. The measure would also create a statutory requirement for coordination between child protection agencies and gives planning and administrative authorities to the Governor's Office of Children and Families, to be attached administratively to the Office of Planning and Budget. - Authored By: Rep. Sharon Cooper of the 41st - House Committee: Health & Human Services - House Committee Passed: 2/7/2008 - Rule: Open
* The Rules Committee will next meet on Tuesday, February 19, at 9:30 AM, to set the Rules Calendar for the 20th Legislative Day.
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COMMITTEE ACTION REPORT
Education
HB 602 - School board members; selling school supplies; penalty; provide exception
- BILL SUMMARY: This bill allows a school board member to sell school supplies to the system, in systems where there are less than three sources for such supplies and equipment. - Authored By: Rep. Jim Cole of the 125th - Committee Action: Do Pass
Education
HR 1040 - Joint Study Committee on Emergency Response and Preparedness Curriculum for Georgia High Schools; create
- BILL SUMMARY: This resolution creates the Joint Study Committee on Emergency Response and Preparedness Curriculum for Georgia High Schools. - Authored By: Rep. Burke Day of the 163rd - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Judiciary
HB 904 - Early care and learning; fingerprint record checks; require certain employees
- BILL SUMMARY: HB 904 amends provisions in Title 20 relating to background checks for daycare center personnel. Currently, daycare center directors must undergo a GCIC background check. HB 904 requires the employees as well as the directors of daycare centers to undergo both a GCIC and NCIC background check.
There are three sizes of daycare centers defined in Title 20: larger "day-care centers", medium-sized "group day-care homes", and small "family day-care homes", and all three sizes of daycare centers are covered by the bill.
Additionally, HB 904 requires all persons age 18 or older who reside in a home where a family day-care home operates, to undergo the required background checks. The bill also modifies the "preliminary" background check provisions in the current law, and requires background check applications to accompany a daycare center license application. HB 904 also forbids daycares centers from having an employee or director who has been convicted of a number of crimes outlined in O.C.G.A. 16-12-1.1. - Authored By: Rep. Sean Jerguson of the 22nd - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute
Judiciary
HB 1018 - Superior court fees; recording an instrument; cross-indexing; provide additional filing fees
- BILL SUMMARY: HB 1018 amends O.C.G.A. 15-6-77 to allow Superior Courts to charge an additional fee of $2.00 for crossindexing certain instruments. The bill also enacts provisions relating to the cancellation or release, and cross-indexing, of certain instruments. - Authored By: Rep. Roger B. Lane of the 167th - Committee Action: Do Pass
Judiciary
HB 1040 - Juvenile courts; deprived child; permanent guardian; grant jurisdiction
- BILL SUMMARY: HB 1040, as amended, revises O.C.G.A. 15-11-30.1, to vest juvenile courts with jurisdiction to appoint a permanent guardian for a child whose custody is the subject of controversy due to an adjudication that the child is a deprived child. The bill allows the juvenile court to enter an order of support against the child's parent(s), and outlines notice and other procedures for the proceedings which propose to appoint a permanent guardian. A visitation provision has been added to HB 1040. HB 1040 was approved by Subcommittee One. - Authored By: Rep. Edward Lindsey of the 54th - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute
Judiciary
HB 1051 - Child abuse; county multiagency child fatality review committee; change certain provisions
- BILL SUMMARY: HB 1051 amends O.C.G.A. 19-15-3's multi-agency child fatality review committee provisions to require an annual report to be issued which contains certain information. The bill also requires the Georgia Child Fatality Review Panel to submit a report to the Governor, Lt. Governor, Speaker of the House, and House and Senate Judiciary Committees, which contains information concerning a number of child fatality issues. - Authored By: Rep. Wendell Willard of the 49th - Committee Action: Do Pass
Judiciary
SB 355 - Property; mortgages, conveyance to secure debt, liens; disbursement of certain settlement funds after closing; general provisions
- BILL SUMMARY: HB 918, sponsored by Rep. Roger Lane, and SB 355, propose to amend O.C.G.A. 44-14-13, which governs the form of funds to be provided at a real estate closing. Subcommittee Two amended and approved SB 355, as indicated in the Committee Substitute. The Substitute eliminates a number of categories of paper checks or instruments which can be used at a closing, and designates (1) cashier's checks issued by a bank for the purpose of a closing; (2) law firm or real estate broker escrow account checks, (3) government checks, or (4) checks for $5,000.00 or less as the only exceptions to "collected funds" at a closing. Therefore, wired funds are strongly encouraged by the bill. Subsection (d) of the Substitute also contains a provision requested by Rep. Larry O'Neal for the purpose of federal Truth in Lending Act compliance. - Authored By: Sen. Preston W. Smith of the 52nd - Committee Action: Do Pass

Regulated Industries
HB 241
By Rep. Jill Chambers Withdrawn and Recommitted
This bill amends Code Section 4-41-3 relating to license requirements for dispensing opticians and qualifications of applicants. This bill further: Establishes the requirements and alternatives for practical training and experience for applicants to obtain the dispensing optician license through an apprenticeship program. Authorizes the board to establish educational requirements for such apprenticeship program. Provides that prior to the beginning of an apprenticeship, the applicant must register with the board. Such registration will include identifying a proper professional who will supervise the apprenticeship and the primary location where it will take place. Makes provisions for those who have received practical training and experience prior to July 1, 2008. Status: Do Pass by Committee Substitute (LC 36 0950S)
HB 611
By Rep. Howard Maxwell
This bill amends Code Section 43-14-6, relating to the powers and duties of the divisions of the State Construction industry Licensing Board. This legislation restricts Class I licenses to electrical contracting involving multifamily structures of up to two levels or single family dwellings of up to three level. It also allows Class I licensees to work on structures that have single phase electrical installations of up to 400 amperes. Status: Do Pass (LC 36 0445)
HB 1066
By Rep. Terry England
This bill adds a new code section 3-3-33, which prohibits the purchase, use, sale or offer for sale or for use of any vaporized form of an alcoholic beverage produced by an alcohol vaporizing devise, with the exclusion of products prescribed by a licensed healthcare practitioner. It also prohibits an owner, license holder, operator, manager or any person in charge to possess or allow the possession of vaporized alcoholic beverages on the licensed premises. Individuals in violation of this code section will be guilty of misdemeanor. In addition, any individual in violation of this code section as it relates to the offer for sale or use to a person under 21 years of age will be guilty of misdemeanor and further such violations will result in misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature. Status: Do Pass by Committee Substitute (LC 39 051S)
* Bills passing committees are reported to the Clerk's Office, and are then placed on the General Calendar.
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COMMITTEE MEETING SCHEDULE

9:30 AM 10:00 AM 10:00 AM 11:00 AM
1:30 PM 4:30 PM 2:00 PM 5:00 PM 3:00 PM 4:00 PM

Friday, February 15, 2008 Property & Casualty Subcommittee of Insurance 415 CLOB

Judiciary Civil Subcommittee One (Lindsey) 132 CAP

Saturday, February 16, 2008 : No Meetings Today Sunday, February 17, 2008 : No Meetings Today
Monday, February 18, 2008

Appropriations General Subcommittee

606 CLOB

Judiciary Civil Subcomittee One (Lindsey)

406 CLOB or upon adjournment-whichever is later

SPECIAL RULES

506 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