Daily report [Feb. 19, 2008]

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

TOMORROW'S FORECAST
* The House will reconvene for its 20th Legislative Day on Wednesday, February 20, at 10:00 AM. * 6 bills are expected to be debated on the floor.

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DAILY REPORT

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RULES CALENDAR
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 - Rule: Open - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 155; Nays: 0
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 - Rule: Open - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 154; Nays: 0
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 - Rule: Open - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 159; Nays: 0

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 - Rule: Open - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 99; Nays: 67
HB 1137 - Ware County; commissioner districts; change boundaries
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to reapportion the districts of the members of the Ware County Board of Commissioners. - Authored By: Rep. Mark Hatfield of the 177th - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 133; Nays: 0
HB 1182 - Toombs County; board of commissioners; vice-chairperson election; provide
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to create the office of County Manager, provide for the duties of the commission Chairman, and establish provisions for the election of a commission Vice Chairman in Toombs County. - Authored By: Rep. Greg Morris of the 155th - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 133; Nays: 0
HB 1185 - Union City, City of; ad valorem tax; residents 65 years or older; provide homestead exemption
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to provide a homestead exemption from City of Union City ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes for the full value of the homestead for residents of that city who are 65 years of age or older. - Authored By: Rep. Virgil Fludd of the 66th - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 133; Nays: 0
* The House will reconvene Wednesday, February 20, at 10:00 AM, for its 20th Legislative Day
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COMMITTEE ON RULES
The Committee on Rules has fixed the calendar for the 20th Legislative Day, Wednesday, February 20, and bills may be called at the pleasure of the Speaker.
RULES CALENDAR FOR NEXT LEGISLATIVE DAY
HB 1015 - Special districts divided into noncontiguous areas; certain excess funds; provide additional requirements
- BILL SUMMARY: HB 1015 gives a county direction and authority to transfer tax revenues paid to a Special Service District, by formerly unincorporated residents for city-like services, to the newly incorporated city. Under current law, the Special Service District dollars exist in limbo, unable to be spent by the county. - Authored By: Rep. Jan Jones of the 46th - House Committee: Governmental Affairs - House Committee Passed: 2/13/2008 - Rule: Open

HB 1016 - Commissioner of Natural Resources; blue crabs; manage certain aspects; provide
- BILL SUMMARY: This bill provides the Commissioner of Natural Resources with the ability to close all or any portion of the salt waters of Georgia to commercial and recreational fishing for blue crabs. This bill resulted from the sunset of the current statute prohibiting the harvest of the sponge crab. - Authored By: Rep. Bob Lane of the 158th - House Committee: Game, Fish, & Parks - House Committee Passed: 2/12/2008 - Rule: Open
HB 1026 - Transportation, Department of; utility facilities; provisions
- BILL SUMMARY: Amends Code Section 32-6-171 relating to the authority of the DOT to order the removal, relocation, or adjustment of utility facilities. The bill will add to the code section language that will now include utility facilities that are adjacent to any part of the public road which the department intends to improve or is improving. The bill also provides language making the utility exempt from the eminent domain requirements in Code Section 22-1-10 and 22-1-10.1 in the event that the Department has notified the utility in writing that the facility is a hindrance to the construction, use, or safe operation of the roadway. - Authored By: Rep. Vance Smith of the 129th - House Committee: Transportation - House Committee Passed: 2/13/2008 - Rule: Open
HB 1123 - Transportation, Department of; commissioner; file reports to General Assembly; require
- BILL SUMMARY: This legislation adds a new Code section to Chapter 2 of Title 32 relating to the Department of Transportation. This Code section 32-2-41.1 says that beginning on December 1, 2008, and annually thereafter, the commissioner shall prepare a report for a report for the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the House, and the chairpersons of the House and Senate Transportation Committees detailing the progress the department has made in certain areas. These areas are: - Disposal of county maintenance barns and surplus equipment. The report shall detail the location and amount of property and equipment sold and remaining unsold - Road maintenance. Report shall include the commissioner's plans for maintaining existing roads in this state. It shall also detail the amount of money to be spent on maintenance and the money's source. Analysis of the overall condition of roads in Georgia and the possible effect a lack of maintenance may have shall be in the report. - Bridge maintenance. . Report shall include the commissioner's plans for inspecting and maintaining existing bridges in this state. It shall also detail the amount of money to be spent on inspecting and maintaining existing bridges and the money's source. Analysis of the overall condition of bridges in Georgia and the possible effect a lack of maintenance may have, as well as an analysis of whether the inspections already performed were adequate shall be in the report. - Authored By: Rep. Jay Shaw of the 176th - House Committee: Transportation - House Committee Passed: 2/13/2008 - Rule: Open
HR 1081 - Legislative Service Awards; presentation; authorize and provide
- BILL SUMMARY: Authorizes the creation of the Legislative Service Award. This award is given by Representatives to individuals who have contributed to the public good. The award shall: consist of a certificate and pin. The House may accept financial donations or may expend appropriated funds. Each member of the House can award one (1) person each year. - Authored By: Rep. John Lunsford of the 110th - House Committee: Special Rules - House Committee Passed: 2/12/2008 - Rule: Open
HR 1206 - Georgia-North Carolina and Georgia-Tennessee Boundary Line Commission; create
- BILL SUMMARY: HR 1206 provides a number of references to the history of the Georgia-Tennessee and Georgia-North Carolina border and the survey of the 35th parallel, and proposes the creation of a Georgia-Tennessee Boundary Line Commission and Georgia-North Carolina Boundary Line Commission. The Commissions would each have three members of the Georgia House and three members of the Georgia Senate, and would have the ability to employ consultants and contractors to study the boundary line issue. The Commissions would report back to the General Assembly by the beginning of the 2009 legislative session. - Authored By: Rep. Harry Geisinger of the 48th - House Committee: Judiciary - House Committee Passed: 2/12/2008 - Rule: Open

* The Rules Committee will next meet on Wednesday, February 20, at 09:00 AM, to set the Rules Calendar for the 21st Legislative Day.
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COMMITTEE ACTION REPORT
Children & Youth
HB 984 - Children's transition care centers; definitions; revise and add new
- BILL SUMMARY: This bill relates to children's transition care centers and defines them as a temporary, home-like environment for medically fragile children, technology dependent children, and children with special health care needs, up to age 21, who are deemed clinically stable by a physician but dependent on life-sustaining medications, treatments, and equipment and who require assistance with activities of daily living to facilitate transitions from a hospital or other facility to a home or other appropriate setting. These centers are designated sites that provide nursing care, clinical support services, and therapies for a period of one to 14 days for shortterm stays and up to 12 months to facilitate transitions to a home or other appropriate setting. The centers may not serve more than 16 children at a time. Childrens transition care center services shall be available to all families in Georgia, including those whose care is paid for through the Department of Community Health or the Department of Human Resources or by insurance companies that cover home health care services or private duty nursing care in the home. - Authored By: Rep. Clay Cox of the 102nd - Committee Action: Do Pass as Amended
Children & Youth
HB 1159 - Income tax credit; adoption of a qualified foster child; provide
- BILL SUMMARY: This bill provides a tax credit for those adopting a foster child for $2000 per year until the child reaches 18 years of age. - Authored By: Rep. John Lunsford of the 110th - Committee Action: Do Pass
Children & Youth
HB 1177 - Health; newborns; require hearing screening
- BILL SUMMARY: This bill requires a hearing screening for all newborns. - Authored By: Rep. Judy Manning of the 32nd - Committee Action: Tabled
Intragovernmental Coordination - Local
HB 1208 - Gwinnett County; Redevelopment Powers Law; authorize
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to authorize Gwinnett County to exercise all Redevelopment Powers under the State Constitution's Redevelopment Powers Law pending a local referendum to approve the authorization. - Authored By: Rep. Bobby C Reese of the 98th - Committee Action: Do Pass
Judiciary
HB 111 - Delayed birth certificates; petitions in probate and superior court; permit
- BILL SUMMARY: HB 111 amends O.C.G.A. 31-10-12 to allow a petition for the issuance of a birth certificate to be filed in probate court, when a delayed certificate of birth is rejected. Currently, the petition must be filed in superior court, and the bill proposes to allow the petitions to be filed in either superior or probate court. - Authored By: Rep. Austin Scott of the 153rd - Committee Action: Do Pass

Judiciary
HB 540 - Domestic relations; child support; provisions
- BILL SUMMARY: Substitute LC-29-3232-S to HB 540 defines "disabled" with the Social Security standard in Section 1 and adds a provision in Section 3 to prevent the award of child support to cause a disabled child from becoming ineligible for Social Security benefits. The bill passed the Committee last year and previously this Session, and was referred back to the Committee this Session to address the two issues outlined above.
HB 540 enacts new versions of O.C.G.A. 19-6-9 and O.C.G.A. 19-6-10 to allow a party to petition the court to order their spouse to provide for the support of a mentally or physically disabled child over the age of 18 who is incapable of self-support and requires substantial care and supervision due to the disability. The bill also allows a separated spouse to file a petition for such support even when no divorce action is pending, and also allows a child's guardian, custodian, or the child to file such a petition.
The bill also enacts replacements of O.C.G.A. 19-6-15 and O.C.G.A. 19-6-34 to provide for child support and life insurance in such circumstances. The bill provides judges with discretion to award such additional support. HB 540 provides for support of the child in addition to, and not in lieu of, public assistance to the disabled child. - Authored By: Rep. Tommy Smith of the 168th - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute
Judiciary
HB 646 - Handicapped persons; community trusts; provisions
- BILL SUMMARY: HB 646 amends Title 30, Chapter 10's community trust provisions to prohibit age discrimination in the use of community trusts, to ensure that community trusts are available for the benefit of persons with mental or physical impairments who are over age 65. The bill allows individuals over age 65 to fund or add funds to a community trust. The bill amends provisions about the distribution of funds held by the community trust after the death of the beneficiary. HB 646 also adds a community trust joinder agreement form to Title 30. - Authored By: Rep. Len Walker of the 107th - Committee Action: Tabled
Judiciary Non-Civil
HR 413 - English; official language of the State of Georgia; declare - CA
- BILL SUMMARY: Provides that English is the official language of the State of Georgia; Requires that official actions of the state be in English and that no law, ordinance, decree, program or policy of the state be required to be in any other language than English including driver examinations; A person who speaks only English will be eligible to participate in all programs, benefits and opportunities, including employment and no law will penalize any person solely because that person speaks only English; Another language may be used in the following instances; To teach a language other than English; To protect public health and safety; To teach English to those not fluent; For use of American Sign Language or to comport with any other applicable federal law; To protect the rights of criminal defendants and victims of crime and to provide equal access to courts of competent jurisdiction; To promote diplomacy, trade, commerce and tourism; In state mottos or other acts that customarily use languages other than English; To use terms of art from other languages with are commonly used in communications; The declaration of English as the official language is not intended to infringe upon the rights of any person to use a different language in private communications including the right of government officials to communicate with others while not performing official actions of the state; Gives any resident of the state or any person doing business standing to sue any state agency or official to seek injunctive relief; A qualified person or the Attorney General may file suit on behalf of all citizens of the state; A person who prevails shall be entitled to costs including reasonable attorney's fees. - Authored By: Rep. Timothy Bearden of the 68th - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute
Motor Vehicles
HB 1165 - Special license plates; reciprocity agreements between states; provide
- BILL SUMMARY: This bill allows the commissioner of Department of Revenue to enter into reciprocity agreements with other states on special license plates recognizing an institution of higher education or its affiliated athletic program or logo located outside the borders of this state. In regards to existing specialty plates, until a reciprocal agreement has been executed with the appropriate agency of the other state, the department shall not issue or renew special license plates recognizing an institution of higher learning or its affiliated athletic program or logo located outside the borders of this state. - Authored By: Rep. Barry A Fleming of the 117th - 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 MEETING SCHEDULE

8:00 AM 9:00 AM 8:00 AM 9:00 AM 9:00 AM 10:00 AM 9:00 AM 10:00 AM 12:30 PM 1:30 PM 1:00 PM 5:00 PM 1:00 PM 3:00 PM 1:30 PM 4:30 PM 2:00 PM 5:00 PM 2:00 PM 3:00 PM 2:00 PM 3:00 PM 2:00 PM 3:30 PM 2:00 PM 3:00 PM 2:00 PM 4:00 PM 2:30 PM 4:30 PM 3:00 PM 4:00 PM 3:00 PM 4:00 PM

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Environmental Quality Subcommittee of Natural Resources

606 CLOB

AGRICULTURE & CONSUMER AFFAIRS 406 CLOB

STATE PLANNING & COMMUNITY AFFAIRS

415 CLOB

RULES

341 CAP

Resource Management Subcommittee of Natural Resources

403 CAP

Joint Appropriations Health Subcommittee 606 CLOB

Appropriations Human Resources Subcommittee

341 CAP

Appropriations Special Projects Subcommittee 403 CAP

Judiciary Civil Subcommittee One (Lindsey)
Ways and Means Public Finance and Policy Subcommittee PUBLIC SAFETY & HOMELAND SECURITY

406 CLOB or upon adjournmentwhichever is later 133 CAP
506 CLOB

Appropriations Education Subcommittee

216 CAP

HIGHER EDUCATION JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL Appropriations General Subcommittee

415 CLOB
132 CAP or upon adjournmentwhichever is later
515 CLOB

TRANSPORTATION

506 CLOB

RETIREMENT

415 CLOB

3:00 PM 5:00 PM
4:00 PM 5:30 PM

Ways and Means Tax Reform Subcommittee
Academic Achievement Subcommittee of Education

341 CAP 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