Daily report [Feb. 10, 2010]

OFFICE OF COMMITTEE SERVICES 609 Coverdell Legislative Office Bldg. (404) 656-0305 Phone (404) 656-5630 Fax

TOMORROW'S FORECAST
* The House will reconvene for its 17th Legislative Day on Thursday, February 11, at 10:00 AM. * 3 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 542 - Public School Employees Retirement System; maximum allowable benefit; increase
- BILL SUMMARY: This bill relates to retirement benefits payable upon normal, early or delayed retirement under the Public School Employees Retirement system so as to increase the maximum allowable benefit contingent upon funding. - Authored By: Rep. Brooks Coleman of the 97th - House Committee: Retirement - Rule: Modified-Structured - Yeas: 166; Nays: 0
HB 969 - Retirement and pensions; comply with federal law; amend certain provisions
- BILL SUMMARY: The bill authorizes the payment of death benefits if a member of a retirement system dies while performing qualified military service. It clarifies provisions regarding the distribution of benefits for persons who have reached the age 70 . It specifies that earnable compensation for members of TRS will include deferral contributions as defined by Internal Revenue Code. It clarifies the definition of "plan year" for TRS. Stipulates that "pick-up" contributions paid by employers as pre-tax employee contributions must be paid as retirement contributions that are 100% vested and cannot be received by the members in cash. Requires the employer to certify the retirement date for a member of the TRS and to certify no agreement exists to allow the employee to return to service. It also amends other provisions within TRS, requiring members who wish to purchase additional creditable service to file their application and make their payment at the same time that they file their application for retirement. The bill makes technical corrections to ensure that 60 is the age reported as the normal retirement age in all sections that refer to TRS. It lastly amends provisions relating to the return to service of retired members under the Public School Employees Retirement System. - Authored By: Rep. Howard Maxwell of the 17th - House Committee: Retirement - Rule: Open - Yeas: 165; Nays: 1

* The House will reconvene Thursday, February 11, at 10:00 AM, for its 17th Legislative Day
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COMMITTEE ON RULES
The Committee on Rules has fixed the calendar for the 17th Legislative Day, Thursday, February 11, and bills may be called at the pleasure of the Speaker.
TOMORROW ON THE FLOOR
HB 947 - Supplemental appropriations; State Fiscal Year July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010
- BILL SUMMARY: This bill makes certain changes to the General Appropriations Act that was approved on May 11, 2009. It will provide appropriated sums of money for the State Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 2009, and ending June 30, 2010. - Authored By: Rep. David Ralston of the 7th - House Committee: Appropriations - House Committee Passed: 2/10/2010 - Rule: Modified-Open
HB 974 - Peace Officers' Annuity and Benefit Fund; credible service for absence; provisions
- BILL SUMMARY: This bill changes the vesting in Peace Officers Annuity and Benefit fund from 10 years to 15 years and requires individuals taking a Leave of Absence to return to work for the number of months they took the Leave of Absence. - Authored By: Rep. Howard Maxwell of the 17th - House Committee: Retirement - House Committee Passed: 2/3/2010 - Rule: Open
HB 997 - Social Security Coverage Group; State Personnel Administration jurisdiction; provide
- BILL SUMMARY: This legislation updates Chapter 18 of Title 47 relating to Social Security and moves the responsibilities to the State Personnel Administration. - Authored By: Rep. Howard Maxwell of the 17th - House Committee: Retirement - House Committee Passed: 2/3/2010 - Rule: Open
* The Rules Committee will next meet on Thursday, February 11, at 9:00 AM, to set the Rules Calendar for the 18th Legislative Day.
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COMMITTEE ACTION REPORT
Appropriations
HB 947 - Supplemental appropriations; State Fiscal Year July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010
- BILL SUMMARY: This bill makes certain changes to the General Appropriations Act that was approved on May 11, 2009. It will provide appropriated sums of money for the State Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 2009, and ending June 30, 2010. - Authored By: Rep. David Ralston of the 7th - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute
Appropriations
SB 206 - Governor; require tax expenditure reviews as part of budget report; provide for definition
- BILL SUMMARY: This bill requires that the Department of Audits and Accounts prepare a tax expenditure review for the state, and provide such to the Office of Planning and Budget to be included as part of the budget report. The report must detail for each tax expenditure item the amount of tax revenue foregone for a three-year period, including the period covered in the Governor's budget submitted in the preceding January, the current budget, and an estimate of the following year. It will also include the citation of the statutory or other legal authority and the year it was enacted or became effective. The Department of Revenue will be responsible for tracking, compiling, and transferring of said expenditure information to the Department of Audits and Accounts. - Authored By: Sen. Greg Goggans of the 7th - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Human Relations & Aging
HB 1054 - Public assistance; food stamp recipients may order food over Internet; provide
- BILL SUMMARY: This legislation would allow food stamp recipients to make online orders for food from non-profit corporations, pending approval of the USDA. - Authored By: Rep. Len Walker of the 107th - Committee Action: Do Pass
Intragovernmental Coordination - Local
HB 1026 - Ringgold, City of; corporate city limits; extend
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to change the corporate limits of the City of Ringgold. - Authored By: Rep. Tom Weldon of the 3rd - Committee Action: Do Pass
Intragovernmental Coordination - Local
HB 1075 - Fayetteville, City of; Redevelopment Powers Law; authorize
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to authorize the City of Fayetteville 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. Virgil Fludd of the 66th - Committee Action: Do Pass
Intragovernmental Coordination - Local
HB 1080 - Catoosa County; board of utilities commissioners election; provide
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to amend the Act creating the board of utilities commissioners in Catoosa County so as to provide a time period for qualifying for election to the board. - Authored By: Rep. Tom Weldon of the 3rd - Committee Action: Do Pass
Intragovernmental Coordination - Local
HB 1089 - Funston, City of; election and terms of mayor and councilmembers; provide
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to provide terms of office for the mayor and councilmembers in the City of Funston. - Authored By: Rep. Jay Powell of the 171st - Committee Action: Do Pass
Intragovernmental Coordination - Local
HB 1122 - Chamblee, City of; corporate city limits; change
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to change the corporate limits of the City of Chamblee. - Authored By: Rep. Fran Millar of the 79th - Committee Action: Do Pass
Intragovernmental Coordination - Local
HB 1123 - Wayne County; levy excise tax; authorize
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to authorize Wayne County to levy a hotel/motel tax. - Authored By: Rep. Mark Williams of the 178th - Committee Action: Do Pass
Judiciary Non-Civil
HB 180 - Public health and morals; tattooing near the eye; change certain provisions
- BILL SUMMARY: Under the current code tattooing around the eye-socket is not permitted under any circumstances. This bill provides that such procedures will be permissible in Georgia when performed by a physician or an appropriately licensed technician under supervision of a physician, and that physician's principal practice location is in Georgia. Tattooing around the eye-socket will still be prohibited in tattoo parlors. - Authored By: Rep. Melvin Everson of the 106th - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Judiciary Non-Civil
HB 901 - Repeat offenders; fourth felony offense punishment; change provisions
- BILL SUMMARY: This bill would remove an exception for capital felons and require them to serve the maximum sentence upon conviction of a fourth or subsequent felony. Currently, the code includes the phrase "other than a capital felony". This bill removes that language. - Authored By: Rep. Kevin Levitas of the 82nd - Committee Action: Do Pass
Judiciary Non-Civil
HB 927 - Public schools disciplinary tribunals; bullying; expand definition
- BILL SUMMARY: This bill expands and clarifies the definition of `bullying,' and allows remedial action to be taken in any grade level (not just six through 12). The bill reiterates that local school systems have discretion to transfer a student for bullying. The DOE would be required develop a model bullying policy which requires a process to notify parents of incidents of bullying, a duty for school employees to report bullying, and to prohibit retaliation for reporting bullying. - Authored By: Rep. Mike Jacobs of the 80th - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute
Judiciary Non-Civil
HB 1015 - Street gang terrorism and prevention; expand and change provisions
- BILL SUMMARY: This bill strengthens and clarifies the Georgia Street Gang and Terrorism Prevention Act. Some of the changes are a result of the Georgia Supreme Court decision Rodriguez v. State. Others are to clean up the language to make it consistent, to conform to the definitions, and to remove unclear provisions that could be subject to challenge. It also adds new offenses for, among other things, initiation, encouragement, and retaliation against those who perform acts to gain membership, attempt to recruit new members, or who threaten with retaliation those who refuse to join a gang or testify against a gang. It will also, should funding become available, authorize the GBI to create and manage a Georgia Criminal Street Gang Database. - Authored By: Rep. Rich Golick of the 34th - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute
Public Safety and Homeland Security
HB 981 - Law enforcement vehicles; painted solid color; authorize
- BILL SUMMARY: This legislation amends Code Section 40-8-91 to allow the Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety to have State Patrol cars painted a solid color instead of a two toned scheme. The current regulations regarding two toned color schemes remain unchanged. HB 981 just offers another option when considering painting of patrol cars. - Authored By: Rep. Jill Chambers of the 81st - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute
Regulated Industries
HB 1117 - State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors; executive director; provide
- BILL SUMMARY: This bill enables the State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors to appoint its own full-time executive director and outlines the executive director's powers and responsibilities. This bill also requires the Board to file a written report with the Secretary of State, outlining its yearly activities. It further emphasizes that the funding for the operation and administration of the Board, which is achieved through the collection of appropriate fees, will constitute a distinct and separate budget unit. - Authored By: Rep. Ben Harbin of the 118th - 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.
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COMMITTEE MEETING SCHEDULE

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

Thursday, February 11, 2010

BUDGET & FISCAL AFFAIRS OVERSIGHT

515 CLOB

Environmental Quality Subcommittee of Natural Resources & Environment

606 CLOB

Agronomic and Horticultural Subcommittee

403 CAP

RULES

341 CAP

Environmental Relations Sub of Special Committee on Small Business

515 CLOB

Life & Health Subcommittee of Insurance

415 CLOB

Setzler Subcommittee of Judiciary Non-Civil

403 CAP

Ramsey Subcommittee Judiciary Non-Civil

133 CAP

EDUCATION

506 CLOB

Ports and Local Government Subcommittee of Transportation

415 CLOB

JUDICIARY CIVIL

132 CAP

WAYS & MEANS

606 CLOB

Consumer Protection Investigation and Oversight Subcommittee

515 CLOB

Jacobs Subcommittee of Judiciary Civil

132 CAP or Upon Adjournment

INFORMATION & AUDITS

506 CLOB

* This broadcast schedule is up to date at the time of this report, but meetings dates and times are subject to change. To keep up with the latest schedule please visit the General Assembly website www.legis.ga.gov and click on House Meetings. To view the live stream of these meetings, please visit the Georgia Legislative Network.

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