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 12th Legislative Day on Thursday, February 4, at 10:00 AM. * 2 bills are expected to be debated on the floor. GGEEOORRGGIIAAHHOOUUSSEE OOFF RREEPPRREESSEENNTTAATTIIVVEESS DAILY REPORT WWeeddnneessddaayy,, FFeebbrruuaarryy 0033,, 22001100 1111tthh LLeeggiissllaattiivvee DDaayy TODAY ON THE FLOOR Today the House passed HR 1262, a new Adjournment Resolution. The current dates for session are as follows: Monday - 2/8 Tuesday - 2/9 Wednesday - 2/10 Thursday - 2/11 Tuesday - 2/16 Wednesday - 2/17 Thursday - 2/18 Tuesday - 2/23 Wednesday - 2/24 Thursday - 2/25 Monday - 3/2 RULES CALENDAR HB 916 - Retirement ages; nullify application for retirement; provisions - BILL SUMMARY: This legislation clarifies requirements for members returning to service after retirement. Specifically, a member that has not reached normal retirement age (60 with at least 10 years of service) on the effective date of their retirement is required to wait two consecutive calendar months prior to returning to employment. The employer of the member is also required to certify that no agreement exists to allow such employee to return to service, including service as an independent contractor. Members that have reached normal retirement age and return to service as a independent contractor are required to have their employing agency provide the Board of Trustees with certification that: The contracting entity has multiple employees; The contracting entity has multiple contracts, and the contracts are not limited to employers; and The contractual relationship with the employer was not created to allow a retired employee to continue employment after retirement in a position similar to the one held before retirement. - Authored By: Rep. Howard Maxwell of the 17th - House Committee: Retirement - Rule: Open - Yeas: 167; Nays: 1 * The House will reconvene Thursday, February 4, at 10:00 AM, for its 12th Legislative Day COMMITTEE ON RULES The Committee on Rules has fixed the calendar for the 12th Legislative Day, Thursday, February 4, and bills may be called at the pleasure of the Speaker. TOMORROW ON THE FLOOR HB 54 - Georgia Judicial Retirement System; survivors' benefits; provisions - BILL SUMMARY: This bill relates to survivors' benefits under the Georgia Judicial Retirement System, ceasing spouses' benefits, vesting and designation of survivors benefits. It would provide that certain members of the Georgia Judicial Retirement System who rejected spouses' benefits may elect such benefits by paying to the board of trustees such amount as determined by the actuary as necessary to grant such benefit without creating any accrued actuarial liability. It would also provide that in order to vest for spouses' benefits, such member must have 10 years of membership service. - Authored By: Rep. John Lunsford of the 110th - House Committee: Retirement - House Committee Passed: 1/26/2010 - Rule: Open HB 486 - Superior Court Clerks' Retirement Fund of Georgia; not entitled credit for service after July 1, 2010; provisions - BILL SUMMARY: This bill eliminates the 8 year credit for Deputy Clerk service for those who enter the Retirement Fund AFTER July 1, 2010. Allows for all elected to the Office of Superior Court Clerk to enter the Retirement Fund on an equal footing. The bill also offers a one time $5000.00 death benefit to the member's estate. Fiscal Bill Although the First year cost is $3,621, the employer contribution would not need to be raised because the fund is well-funded and the revenue from fines, fees, and bond forfeitures is sufficient to cover additional cost thus there is $0 dollar impact on fund. - Authored By: Rep. John Meadows of the 5th - House Committee: Retirement - House Committee Passed: 1/26/2010 - Rule: Open * The Rules Committee will next meet on Thursday, February 4, at 9:00 AM, to set the Rules Calendar for the 13th Legislative Day. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ COMMITTEE ACTION REPORT *The House adjourned for the day, so committee reports will not be "officially" reported until Thursday, February 4. Agriculture & Consumer Affairs HB 62 - Cancelable educational loans; State Veterinary Education Board; provisions - BILL SUMMARY: Involves the creation of a Veterinarian Education Board which will be comprised of five(5) members whose criteria of membership is established by the bill. The primary purpose of the board will be to purchase educational loans on behalf of veterinarian students, up to 5, who have received necessary certification and agree to apply their practice in a "rural" county which is defined to be one whose population, as of the 2000 census or any subsequent census, to be at or below 35,000. This bill further requires that any veterinarian receiving these funds must make themselves available to service food-stuff animals such as cattle or sheep. - Authored By: Rep. Gene Maddox of the 172nd - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute Agriculture & Consumer Affairs HB 883 - Sanitary Activity for Food-Processing Enterprises (SAFE) Act; enact - BILL SUMMARY: Bill would require food-processors to maintain sanitization plans on premises. Would also require that such plans meet minimum standards and provide penalties for violations of the requirement, and would punish food processors who knowingly introduce tainted product into the stream of commerce. - Authored By: Rep. Kevin Levitas of the 82nd - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute Agriculture & Consumer Affairs HB 1048 - Conveyances; structures require certified termite and wood-destroying organism inspection; provide - BILL SUMMARY: This bill requires all deeds conveying an interest in real property on which is situated a residential or commercial structure shall include certification by a person employed by a licensee. - Authored By: Rep. Tom McCall of the 30th - Committee Action: Do Pass Defense & Veterans Affairs HR 1106 - Congress of the United States; Honor and Remember Flag designation; urge - BILL SUMMARY: This resolution urges congress to adopt Honor and Remember Flag as the national symbol for service members who have fallen in service to our country. - Authored By: Rep. Larry O`Neal of the 146th - Committee Action: Do Pass Governmental Affairs HB 122 - Counties and municipalities; budget excess; searchable website; provisions - BILL SUMMARY: This bill requires counties and municipalities with an annual budget exceeding $1 million to post on a single searchable website, accessible by the public, their annual budget and annual audit report. - Authored By: Rep. Edward Lindsey of the 54th - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute Governmental Affairs HB 478 - Municipal courts; judges to be attorneys; require - BILL SUMMARY: HB 478 provides that municipal court judges shall be attorneys. There is a grandfather clause in this bill for those municipal court judges serving prior to June 30, 20010. - Authored By: Rep. Jay Powell of the 171st - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute Governmental Affairs HB 665 - Elections; 2010 pilot program; electronic transmission of absentee ballots; provisions - BILL SUMMARY: House Bill 665 provides for a pilot program for the 2012 general primary and general election for the electronic transmission of absentee ballots by military and overseas citizens. Implementation of its provisions is subject to the availability of funding. - Authored By: Rep. Mark Hamilton of the 23rd - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute Judiciary Non-Civil HB 896 - Continuances; witness on active duty; change provisions - BILL SUMMARY: When a defendant demands a speedy trial a continuance tolls the running of that demand if a necessary witness is unavailable for trial because of deployment. The current Code requires a request to the proper military authority, pursuant to the United States Code and other regulations. The bill strikes the current provisions and only requires a party to provide testimony via affidavits or other documents that the witness has been activated to military duty - Authored By: Rep. Doug Collins of the 27th - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute Judiciary Non-Civil HB 898 - Driving under the influence; notice of conviction publication; change provisions - BILL SUMMARY: Currently, if a person is convicted of a second or subsequent DUI within 5 years, then the notice of conviction is published in the local paper. The publication includes, among other information, the photograph, name, and address of that person. The bill strikes the provision that the convicted person's address will be published. - Authored By: Rep. Doug Collins of the 27th - Committee Action: Do Pass Retirement HB 249 - Public Retirement Systems Investment Authority Law; define certain terms; provisions - BILL SUMMARY: This bill relates to the Georgia Firefighters Pension Fund, (GFPF,) and provides a definition of "alternative investments" and provides that the Fund may make such investments, as well as private placements and other private investments. Such investments are not to exceed a certain amount. The bill shield the investment from public scrutiny and provides for a code of ethics. the bill amends Code Section 50-18-72 relating to when public disclosure of records is not required and disclosure exempting legal authority, exempting certain public records from inspection. - Authored By: Rep. Charles E. Martin of the 47th - Committee Action: Do Pass Retirement 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 contigent upon funding. - Authored By: Rep. Brooks Coleman of the 97th - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute Retirement HB 960 - Georgia Defined Contribution Plan; make lump sum payment upon death; change - BILL SUMMARY: This bill changes the default beneficiary for Georgia Defined Contribution Plan members when a designation has not been made from the member's estate to follow the Per Stirpes Rules. - Authored By: Rep. Tommy Benton of the 31st - Committee Action: Do Pass Retirement HB 969 - Retirement and pensions; comply with federal law; amend certain provisions - BILL SUMMARY: This bill relates to retirement and pensions, amends certain provision to comply with federal law, provides for benefits for memebrs of public retirement systems in qualified military service, and for required minimum distributions. The bill defines certain terms relating to Teachers Retirement System of Georgia, provides for employee contributions and for application for certain creditable services. It also clarifies provisions relative to post-retirement employments and amends certain provisions relative to disability retirement. - Authored By: Rep. Howard Maxwell of the 17th - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute Retirement 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 - Committee Action: Do Pass Retirement 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 - Committee Action: Do Pass * Bills passing committees are reported to the Clerk's Office, and are then placed on the General Calendar. The House adjourned for the day, so committee reports will not be "officially" reported until Thursday, February 4. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ COMMITTEE MEETING SCHEDULE Thursday, February 04, 2010 1:00 AM - 3:00 AM EDUCATION 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM INSURANCE 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM Lane Subcommittee of Judiciary Civil 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM Ad Valorem Tax Subcommittee of Ways & Means 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM RULES 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM PUBLIC SAFETY & HOMELAND SECURITY 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & JOB CREATION 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM EDUCATION 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Sales Tax Subcommittee of Ways & Means 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM HUMAN RELATIONS & AGING 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM STATE PLANNING & COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM BUDGET & FISCAL AFFAIRS OVERSIGHT 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM STATE INSTITUTIONS & PROPERTY 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM JUDICIARY 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM General Government Subcommittee of Governmental Affairs 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM WAYS & MEANS 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM Appropriations Higher Education Subcommittee 506 CLOB 606 CLOB 132 CAP 133 CAP 341 CAP 606 CLOB 515 CLOB 506 CLOB 133 CAP 403 CAP- CANCELED 132 CAP 415 CLOB 515 CLOB 406 CLOB 132 CAP- CANCELED 403 CAP- CANCELED 606 CLOB 403 CAP * 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. ____________________________________________________________________________