MEMBER SERVICES Coverdell Legislative Office Bldg. Suite 609 Phone: (404) 656-0305 TOMORROW'S FORECAST * The House will reconvene for its 22nd Legislative Day on Tuesday, February 26, at 10:00 AM. * 9 bills are expected to be debated on the floor. GGEEOORRGGIIAAHHOOUUSSEE OOFF RREEPPRREESSEENNTTAATTIIVVEESS DAILY REPORT TThhuurrssddaayy,, FFeebbrruuaarryy 2211,, 22000088 TODAY ON THE FLOOR 2211sstt LLeeggiissllaattiivvee DDaayy RULES CALENDAR HB 611 - State Construction Industry Licensing Board; Class I; provide changes - BILL SUMMARY: 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. - Authored By: Rep. Howard Maxwell of the 17th - House Committee: Regulated Industries - Rule: Open - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 153; Nays: 1 HB 656 - Teachers Retirement System; survivor's benefits; provisions - BILL SUMMARY: This bill affects members of TRS who, upon retirement, elect survivor's benefits for his or her spouse and for one or more other persons, then subsequently divorce the spouse. Such members would be authorized to revoke the election of benefits to a spouse upon the final judgment of divorce. After revoking the election, the member would be authorized to elect one of the following options: The member may allocate the spouse's percentage of benefits among the beneficiaries other than the spouse. The member's retirement benefits would then be recalculated to compensate for the remaining survivor's benefit as determined by an actuary; or The beneficiaries, other than the spouse, will continue to be entitled to receive the same percentage of the member's retirement allowance. The member's retirement allowance would then return to the allowance which would otherwise be payable to him or her if the member had not elected such option, except there would be a reduction to compensate for the remaining survivor's benefit as determined by an actuary. - Authored By: Rep. Earnest Williams of the 89th - House Committee: Retirement - Rule: Open - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 152; Nays: 3 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 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 - House Committee: Judiciary - Rule: Modified-Structured - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 156; Nays: 0 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 - House Committee: Motor Vehicles - Rule: Modified-Structured - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 142; Nays: 10 LOCAL CALENDAR HB 1223 - Marietta, City of; school board; provide compensation - BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to provide compensation for the board members of the Marietta City Schools. - Authored By: Rep. Rob Teilhet of the 40th - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Amendments(s): N/A - Yeas: 132; Nays: 0 * The House will reconvene Tuesday, February 26, at 10:00 AM, for its 22nd Legislative Day ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ COMMITTEE ON RULES The Committee on Rules has fixed the calendar for the 22nd Legislative Day, Tuesday, February 26, and bills may be called at the pleasure of the Speaker. RULES CALENDAR FOR NEXT LEGISLATIVE DAY HB 241 - Opticians; licensure; practical training; specify certain requirements - BILL SUMMARY: 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. - Authored By: Rep. Jill Chambers of the 81st - House Committee: Regulated Industries - House Committee Passed: 2/14/2008 - Rule: Open HB 373 - Public Safety, Department of; State Patrol; retirement benefits; amend - BILL SUMMARY: This bill adds a new subsection to Code Section 47-2-223, which amends provisions related to retirement benefits for members of Employees' Retirement System in service in the Uniform Division of the Department of Public Safety. Such members would be eligible to retain their retirement benefits if they return to full-time service within the Uniform Division of the Department of Public Safety after at least 12 months following their retirement. Such individuals will not be considered active members of the ERS and will not accrue any additional benefits or creditable service. The Department of Public Safety is given the sole discretion to allow any person to return to work under the provisions of this legislation. - Authored By: Rep. Ben Bridges of the 10th - House Committee: Retirement - House Committee Passed: 2/13/2008 - Rule: Open HB 732 - Peace Officers' Annuity and Benefit Fund; certain persons; provide membership - BILL SUMMARY: This bill provides for certain persons employed by the Composite State Board of Medical Examiners as investigators to be eligible for membership in the Officers' Annuity and Benefit Fund. - Authored By: Rep. Ron Stephens of the 164th - House Committee: Retirement - House Committee Passed: 2/20/2008 - Rule: Open HB 815 - Teachers Retirement System; Regents Retirement Plan; change provisions - BILL SUMMARY: This bill revises subsection (a) of Code Section 47-3-68, relating to membership in the Optional Retirement Plan for certain employees of the University System of Georgia. Eligibility for membership in the Optional Retirement Plan would be expanded to include faculty and all exempt employees employed by the University System of Georgia on or after July 1, 2008, provided they were eligible for membership in TRS as of the date of employment. Only persons hired after June 30, 2008 that are faculty or exempt employees will have the opportunity to elect to participate in ORP rather than TRS. The bill also authorizes the Board of Regents to determine the employer contribution rate after consulting with the State Auditor, the Director of OPB and the State Accounting Officer. This would be effective on January 1, 2009. - Authored By: Rep. Carl Rogers of the 26th - House Committee: Retirement - House Committee Passed: 2/13/2008 - Rule: Open 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 - House Committee: Judiciary - House Committee Passed: 2/14/2008 - Rule: Modified-Structured HB 972 - Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act; enact - BILL SUMMARY: HB 972 enacts the Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act into Title 44, Chapter 15 of the Code. HB 972 provides standards for charities to use in managing investments and spending from endowments, and the management of institutional funds. The bill provides standards for charities to use both in managing investments themselves and in selecting an agent to manage their investments. HB 972 allows a donor or a court to modify original restrictions in a gift. The bill has prospective effect, only. - Authored By: Rep. Steve Tumlin of the 38th - House Committee: Judiciary - House Committee Passed: 2/12/2008 - Rule: Modified-Structured HB 1066 - Alcoholic beverages; vaporized forms; prohibit certain conduct - BILL SUMMARY: 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. - Authored By: Rep. Terry England of the 108th - House Committee: Regulated Industries - House Committee Passed: 2/14/2008 - Rule: Open HB 1126 - Downtown development authorities; directors; provisions - BILL SUMMARY: Adds a new subsection to Code Section 36-42-7. Allows one director of a downtown development authority to reside outside of the county so long as that director owns a business in the downtown development area. If that director no longer owns a business in the development area, they must relinquish their seat on the board. - Authored By: Rep. Billy Horne of the 71st - House Committee: State Planning & Community Affairs - House Committee Passed: 2/13/2008 - Rule: Open SB 369 - Revenue Dept.; parking permit for disabled persons; affidavit of active duty military physicians - BILL SUMMARY: Adds a new subsection to Code Section 40-2-74.1. Allows any military physician to submit an affidavit in support of the application of active duty or retired military personnel for parking permits for persons with disabilities whether or not such physician is licensed to practice in Georgia. The affidavit will state that the applicant is in active service or is a resident of Georgia and is a disabled person as specified in paragraph (5) of Code Section 40-6-221 - Authored By: Sen. John Douglas of the 17th - House Committee: Defense & Veterans Affairs - House Committee Passed: 2/12/2008 - Rule: Open * The Rules Committee will next meet on Tuesday, February 26, at 9:00 AM, to set the Rules Calendar for the 23rd Legislative Day. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ COMMITTEE ACTION REPORT Appropriations HB 887 - Tobacco Prevention Master Settlement Agreement Oversight Committee; create - BILL SUMMARY: This bill is designed to amend chapter 13 of title 10 of the official code of Georgia Annotated, which will provide for the creation of an oversight committee dedicated for tobacco prevention. The board would be established by individuals from the dept. of health, the dept. of human resources, groups dedicated to health and smoking prevention, as well as appointed officials by the Governor, Speaker of the House, and Lt. Governor. The committee will aim to establish tobacco use prevention programs, give recommendations to the governor, review current programs, and report progress. - Authored By: Rep. Mark Butler of the 18th - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute Appropriations HR 228 - Sales and use tax; jet fuel; allocate funds for public-use airports - CA - BILL SUMMARY: House Resolution 228 proposes an amendment to the Constitution that will allow the Georgia General Assembly to specify and direct proceeds from the sales and use and motor fuel taxes of jet fuel and aviation gasoline towards the Public-use Airports Improvement Fund. - Authored By: Rep. Carl Rogers of the 26th - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute Education HB 1169 - Early care and learning programs; day-care center; revise definition - BILL SUMMARY: This bill excludes K-12 private schools from regulation as day-care centers. - Authored By: Rep. Alisha Thomas Morgan of the 39th - Committee Action: Do Pass Education HR 791 - House Study Committee on Georgia's Pre-K Program; create - BILL SUMMARY: This resolution creates a House Study Committee on Georgia's Pre-K Program. The bill would also require review of not only current 4 year old programs, but the possibility of creating a pre-K program for 3 year olds as well. - Authored By: Rep. Jan Jones of the 46th - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute Governmental Affairs HB 1034 - Counties and municipalities; open top rolloff dumpsters; franchise agreements; provide - BILL SUMMARY: HB 1034 authorizes local governments to enter into franchise agreements with private persons, firms, associations, or corporations with respect to open top rolloff dumpsters placed at construction sites for the collection and disposal of construction debris or inert debris as long as the dumpster is longer than twenty two feet. - Authored By: Rep. James Mills of the 25th - Committee Action: Do Pass Health & Human Services HB 1222 - 'Health Share' Volunteers in Medicine Act; definitions; revise certain provisions - BILL SUMMARY: This bill would update the Healthshare Volunteers in Medicine Act to allow the program to refuse participation by any provider who is under sanction, restriction, or penalty as determined by the appropriate professional licensing or standard board. - Authored By: Rep. Mickey Channell of the 116th - Committee Action: Do Pass Health & Human Services HR 1224 - Congress; enact H. Con. Res. 182; idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; encourage - BILL SUMMARY: This resolution encourages the United States Congress to enact H. Con. Res. 182 and to support funding for the development of a cure for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. - Authored By: Rep. Richard A Royal of the 171st - Committee Action: Do Pass Insurance HB 342 - Insurance; anatomic pathology services; provide direct billing - BILL SUMMARY: HB 342 requires direct billing of anatomical pathology services. Direct billing is already required by federal law in public payer healthcare. This will codify that standard in the private health insurance market. - Authored By: Rep. Bill Hembree of the 67th - Committee Action: Do Pass Insurance HB 472 - Insurance; policies; languages other than English; provide - BILL SUMMARY: This bill allows an insurer to conduct business in languages other than English through an agent, an interpreter, or through print. This can include policies or any other printed material. In the event of a dispute between languages, the English version shall control resolution of the dispute. - Authored By: Rep. John Meadows of the 5th - Committee Action: Do Pass Insurance HB 544 - Multiple employer self-insured health plans; certain institutions; provisions - BILL SUMMARY: HB 544 allows private colleges and universities to create risk pool arrangements between two or more institutions for the purpose of providing self-funded health insurance plans. The purpose is to provide cheaper premiums and better benefits in order to gain and maintain quality employees. - Authored By: Rep. Bill Hembree of the 67th - Committee Action: Do Pass Insurance HB 864 - Insurance; group life policy coverage; remove participation requirement - BILL SUMMARY: HB 864 will protect annuity proceeds paid to a beneficiary from creditors. Further, this bill changes the number of persons required in order to create a group life plan from 75% participation to zero. - Authored By: Rep. Tom Knox of the 24th - Committee Action: Do Pass Insurance HB 1121 - Condominiums; associations; insurance coverage; change certain provisions - BILL SUMMARY: HB 1121 clarifies who has the insurable interest in regards to condominium insurance. It states that the condominium association has the insurable interest on everything that is original to the condo unit when it was sold. The owner of the unit will have the insurable interest on anything additional or, in the instance something is replaced, for the dollar amount that exceeds the original fixture's value. - Authored By: Rep. Wendell Willard of the 49th - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute Intragovernmental Coordination - Local HB 1250 - Cobb County State Court; judges; change compensation - BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to provide compensation for the judges of the State Court of Cobb County. - Authored By: Rep. Steve Tumlin of the 38th - Committee Action: Do Pass Intragovernmental Coordination - Local HB 1255 - Monroe Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Authority Act; enact - BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to provide for the creation of the Monroe Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Authority and provide for its duties and responsibilities. - Authored By: Rep. Jeff May of the 111th - Committee Action: Do Pass Judiciary HB 958 - Magistrate court; certain judgments; clarify appeal procedure - BILL SUMMARY: HB 958 amends a number of provisions in the Magistrate Court statutes codified in Title 15, Chapter 10. Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. 15-10-41 to provide that a party does not have appeal rights from a dismissal for want of prosecution or due to nonappearance at trial, and that a post-judgment motion to vacate a judgment shall be by certiorari. Section 2 amends O.C.G.A. 15-10-43 to require the plaintiff to provide more information in the plaintiff's complaint, and allows certain procedural motions by a defendant to be considered by the Magistrate Court. Section 3 requires a counterclaim by a defendant to contain the same amount of additional information that Section 2 requires of plaintiffs. Section 4 revises the form for a plaintiff's complaint. Section 5 removes the 30-day time limit for propounding post-judgment discovery. - Authored By: Rep. Tom Rice of the 51st - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute Judiciary HB 1160 - Transferable development rights; severance; provide - BILL SUMMARY: HB 1160 makes two minor amendments the transfer of development rights statutes codified in O.C.G.A. 36-66A-1, et seq. Section 1 of the bill makes two minor changes, and defines "transfer ratio." Section 2 adds language concerning transfer ratios. - Authored By: Rep. Len Walker of the 107th - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute Judiciary HB 1174 - Education; employment contracts; termination or suspension; change certain provisions - BILL SUMMARY: HB 1174 makes two amendments to 20-2-940 relating to the termination or suspension of the employment contract of a teacher, principal, or other employee with an employment contract. Section (e)(1) of the statute is amended to require that hearing boards be comprised of qualified board members from another school district. Section (h) is added to the statute to allow a prevailing teacher or principal to obtain an award of attorney's fees and expenses of litigation. - Authored By: Rep. Wendell Willard of the 49th - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute Natural Resources & Environment SB 352 - Government; legislative override; change certain exemptions - BILL SUMMARY: Currently, the legislature does not have oversight authority regarding the Dept. of Natural Resources' Environmental Protection Division regarding state statutes. With the creation of the "Statewide Water Management Plan" and future legislation regarding water supply in the State of Georgia, the legislature feels that oversight is necessary as the Department begins implementing and executing laws, rules, and regulations. This bill does NOT grant the legislature oversight on federal issues, just state ones. - Authored By: Sen. Bill Cowsert of the 46th - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute Regulated Industries HB 393 - Farm wineries; licensing; change certain provisions - BILL SUMMARY: This bill revises provisions of Chapter 6 of Title 3. This legislation: Redefines `farm winery' as a winery that: - makes at least 40% of its annual production from agricultural produce grown in the state in which the winery is located - is located on premises, a substantial portion (determined by the commissioner) of which is used for cultivating agricultural produce utilized in the manufacture or production of wine by the winery. - is owned and operated by persons who are engaged in the production of a substantial portion (determined by the commissioner) of the agricultural produce used in its annual production. Defines "Georgia farm winery" as a farm winery licensed by the commissioner to manufacture wine in Georgia. Allows the commissioner to authorize any Georgia farm winery to offer wine samples and make retail sales of its wine and the wine of any other Georgia farm winery in tasting rooms at the winery and at five additional locations in the state for consumption on the premises and in closed packages for consumption off the premises. Allows the commissioner to authorize any farm winery licensee to sell any farm and non-farm wine for consumption on premises or in facilities adjacent to and owned by the winery where permitted by law. Takes out the provisions of Code Section 3-6-29, relating to rules, regulations and the content requirements for wines manufactured by domestic and farm wineries. - Authored By: Rep. Ron Stephens of the 164th - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute Regulated Industries HB 798 - Pharmacy Consumer Protection and Transparency Act; enact - BILL SUMMARY: This bill adds a new article to be known as "Georgia Pharmacy Practice Act" to Chapter 4 of Title 26. This legislation provides that pharmacy benefit managers must be regulated and licensed by the Department of Insurance. It further identifies licensing criteria and procedure as well as provides for rules and regulations. - Authored By: Rep. Austin Scott of the 153rd - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute Regulated Industries HB 1061 - Wine; shipped to one customer; limit number of cases - BILL SUMMARY: This bill revises the provisions of Code Section 3-6-31 regarding the special order shipping license requirements and regulations. This legislation: Provides that the special order shipping license will only be issued to a shipper or manufacturer who holds a valid federal basic wine manufacturing permit. This license will authorize such shipper or manufacturer to make direct shipments of wine to consumers in this state. Reduces the number of cases of wine that is allowed to be shipped per household by the special order shipping licensee to 12 cases per year. Requires the special order shipping licensee to verify the age of the person placing the order either by checking that individual's ID or by using an internet based age and identification verification service. Prohibits the special order shipping licensee to authorize the shipment of any wine to any premises licensed to sell alcoholic beverages. Establishes provisions relating to the tax payments, sales reports and documentation to be provided by the special order shipping licensee. - Authored By: Rep. Ron Stephens of the 164th - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute Regulated Industries HB 1217 - State Licensing Board of Home Inspectors; create - BILL SUMMARY: This bill amends Title 43, relating to professions and businesses. This legislation creates the State Licensing Board of Home Inspectors which will be authorized to regulate and license home inspectors. This bill requires every home inspector to obtain the home inspector license from the board by January 1, 2010 in order to lawfully conduct business in the state of GA and therefore establishes the process of obtaining and renewing such license as well as provides for education and examination requirements. It further makes provisions regarding the home inspection reports, liability insurance, unlawful acts, etc. - Authored By: Rep. Sean Jerguson of the 22nd - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute Ways & Means HB 140 - Sales and use tax; joint county and municipal; change certain procedures - BILL SUMMARY: HB 140 changes provisions applicable to the renegotiations of distribution of joint county and municipal sales tax collections. Currently, should an agreement not be reached by the second year following a decennial census, the distribution certificate expires and the local governing authorities do not receive the tax proceeds until the distribution certificate is renegotiated. HB 140 provides that, should the parties not reach a new agreement, the previous provisions of the certificate will be in effect. The bill also provides for judicial proceedings should the parties involved not be able to reach an agreement after sixty days of non-binding arbitration or mediation. After sixty days, any party may file a petition in superior court of the county seeking resolution of the dispute. The petition will be assigned to a judge who is not a judge in the circuit in which the county is located. The judge's decision as to the allocation of tax proceeds shall adopt the best and final offer of one of the parties and shall also include findings of fact. The judge enters a final order which contains a new distribution certificate, and appeals will be allowed only for the judge's disregard of the law, for partiality of the judges, or for corruption, fraud, or misconduct by the judge or a party. - Authored By: Rep. Wendell Willard of the 49th - Committee Action: Do Pass Ways & Means HB 938 - Local government; franchise tax; provisions - BILL SUMMARY: HB 938 provides that "franchise fees" imposed on public utilities or companies and on cable television providers shall be deemed a "franchise tax". The bill provides that municipalities may not grant a franchise nor collect a franchise tax for the operation of cable television systems or for the operation of public utilities within the unincorporated area of a county. The bill further provides that municipalities that are collecting a franchise tax as of June 30, 2008 must conduct at least two public hearings held at least two weeks apart, between July 1, 2008, and September 30, 2008. Prior to imposing a new franchise tax or increasing a franchise tax on or after July 1, 2008, a municipality must conduct at least two public hearings as well. The bill also provides that a statement must be included on municipal customer bills or invoices for utility services that states that the charge for the franchise tax is a tax and that clearly indicates the municipality which will receive the tax. - Authored By: Rep. Earl Ehrhart of the 36th - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute Ways & Means HB 979 - The Property Tax Reform Amendment; implementation; provide - BILL SUMMARY: HB 979 implements HR 1246 which provides property tax relief on homesteads and on motor vehicles. The bill provides for the funding of such relief by instituting a state (4%) sales tax on services, lottery tickets, and groceries. The bill also provides for a $20 fee on all motor vehicles, half of which will be used for trauma care funding. The relief and the fee on motor vehicles and the tax on groceries and lottery tickets would become effective on January 1, 2009. The tax on services would become effective on January 1, 2010 to correspond with the effective date of the relief on homesteads. - Authored By: Rep. Glenn Richardson of the 19th - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute Ways & Means HB 1065 - Sales tax; local charter schools; capital outlay projects; authorize - BILL SUMMARY: HB 1065 provides that local charter schools, state chartered special schools, or both may constitute capital outlay projects, for which revenues from local sales taxes for educational purposes may be used. - Authored By: Rep. Richard A Royal of the 171st - Committee Action: Do Pass Ways & Means HB 1129 - Georgia Tourism Development Act; enact - BILL SUMMARY: The purpose of HB 1129 is the promotion and development of tourism attractions in Georgia which will preserve and create jobs and tax revenues for the support of public services provided by the state. The bill provides that companies seeking to undertake a tourism attraction project may be granted a sales and use tax refund for the incremental state and local sales taxes generated by the approved company and arising at the tourism attraction. The total refund allowed to the company over a 10 year term is equal to the lesser of the total amount of sales tax liability of the company or 25% of the approved costs for the tourism attraction project. "Tourism attractions" may include cultural or historic sites, recreation or entertainment facilities, areas of natural phenomenon or beauty, convention hotels and conference centers, race tracks, golf facilities, marinas and water parks, or entertainment destination centers designed to attract tourists to Georgia. The bill provides for the commissioner of economic development to establish standards for the filing of applications for tourism attraction projects by administrative regulations, and specifies what must be included in applications filed with this department. Approval may be granted if the project shall have approved costs in excess of $25 million for new attractions or $10 million for additions to existing attractions, have a significant and positive economic impact on Georgia, produce sufficient revenues and public demand to be operating and open to the public for a minimum of 120 days per year, and not adversely affect existing employment in Georgia. - Authored By: Rep. Jeff Lewis of the 15th - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute Ways & Means HR 1246 - The Property Tax Reform Amendment; enact - CA - BILL SUMMARY: HR 1246 provides property tax relief on homesteaded real property and on motor vehicles titled in an individual name. It provides for the property tax relief on homesteads through the Homeowner Tax Relief Grant system, in the amount of the property taxes for education. For taxpayers in certain counties that are already currently exempt from all property taxes for education on their homesteads, such taxpayers would receive a benefit equal to up to a $30,000 exemption on the assessed values of their homestead, which is a greater benefit amount than they currently receive on their county and city property taxes. The resolution also eliminates the state portion of the property tax, equal to one quarter mill on each dollar of assessed values, and provides for the Motor Vehicle Tax Relief Grant system, similar to the Homeowner Tax Relief Grant, which provides each taxpayer with a motor vehicle titled in an individual name with a credit in the full amount of the property taxes on that vehicle. - Authored By: Rep. Glenn Richardson of the 19th - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute Ways & Means SR 796 - Ad Valorem Tax Reform; freeze valuation of real property except certain adjustments; procedures, conditions, and limitations for certain increases - BILL SUMMARY: SR 796 freezes real property values at 2008 values with the exception of a 2% annual increase for residential properties and a 3% increase for nonresidential properties. Additions or improvements will be appraised at their fair market value which will be added to the 2008 value. If a property is sold or transferred it will be appraised at fair market value. SR 796 also provides that total ad valorem tax revenues in each taxing jurisdiction, not attributable to new construction, may only increase each year up to the state government inflation rate. If a local taxing jurisdiction wishes to increase such ad valorem tax revenues by more than the inflation rate a local referendum approving such increase will be required. The resolution also provides that the 20 mill limitation for school districts may be increased or decreased only after approval by a local Act of the General Assembly and a local referendum. - Authored By: Sen. Chip Rogers of the 21st - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute * Bills passing committees are reported to the Clerk's Office, and are then placed on the General Calendar. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ COMMITTEE BROADCAST SCHEDULE 8:00 AM 9:00 AM 1:00 PM 3:30 PM 2:00 PM 4:00 PM 1:00 PM 3:00 PM 2:00 PM 4:00 PM RULES Friday, February 22, 2008 Children's Outpatient/Community Services Subcommittee Special Subcommittee of Judiciary Civil Saturday, February 23, 2008 : No Meetings Today Sunday, February 24, 2008 : No Meetings Today Monday, February 25, 2008 NATURAL RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENT Judiciary Civil Subcommittee One (Lindsey) 341 CAP 403 CAP 132 CAP 606 CLOB 216 CAP 2:00 PM 4:00 PM JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL 132 CAP * 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