Daily report [Feb. 23, 2011]

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, Please contact:
(404) 656-5050 or (404) 656-0305

TOMORROW'S FORECAST
* The House will reconvene for its 19th Legislative Day on Thursday, February 24, at 10:00 AM. * 4 bills are expected to be debated on the floor.

GEORGIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
DAILY REPORT

Wednesday, February 23, 2011
TODAY ON THE FLOOR

18th Legislative Day

RULES CALENDAR
HB 90 - Heritage Trust Program; transfer State properties to local government; provide
- BILL SUMMARY: This bill authorizes the State of Georgia to transfer its interest in heritage preserve properties in the Heritage Trust Program to a county or local government upon certain conditions. - Authored By: Rep. Timothy Bearden of the 68th - House Committee: State Institutions & Property - Rule: Modified-Open - Yeas: 162; Nays: 3
HB 172 - Education; temporarily extend multiple provisions
- BILL SUMMARY: House Bill 172 extends the sunset date to 2015 in Code Section 20-2-83.3 relating to certain expenditure controls relating to funds earned for direct instructional costs, media center cost, staff and professional development costs, additional days of instruction, maximum class size requirements and deadlines relating to annual teacher contracts. - Authored By: Rep. Brooks Coleman of the 97th - House Committee: Education - Rule: Modified-Structured - Yeas: 128; Nays: 42
HB 192 - State Education Finance Study Commission; evaluate Formula and funding; establish
- BILL SUMMARY: House Bill 192 is relating to the "Quality Basic Education Act" and establishes the State Education Finance Study Commission to evaluate the Quality Basic Education Formula and education funding for public schools. The Commission will be composed of 27 members from different departments, parents, business people, teachers and the General Assembly. Areas in which the commission shall study are: QBE formula, State and local funding partnership, equalization, student transportation, State school funding, capitol outlay, charter schools, career technical and agriculture education, dual enrollment, virtual schools, teacher pay, non-QBE grants and other Title 20 revisions. The bill states the staff support and assistance that will available to the commission from state agencies. Deadlines are in place for the commission to follow with everything being completed by December 31st 2012 with the proposed legislation for final recommendations. Final recommendations shall include prioritization of all recommendations including those that do or do not require a fiscal note. - Authored By: Rep. Brooks Coleman of the 97th - House Committee: Education - Rule: Modified-Structured - Yeas: 160; Nays: 3

HB 223 - Building codes; certain farm buildings or structures; provide exemption
- BILL SUMMARY: This bill provides an exemption for state-wide application of minimum standard building codes for farm buildings. Farm buildings are defined as a building or structure that is located on a farm, and designed by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), not used for residential purposes, and not intended primarily for public use. - Authored By: Rep. Rick Jasperse of the 12th - House Committee: Governmental Affairs - Rule: Modified-Open - Yeas: 169; Nays: 1
HB 223 - Building codes; certain farm buildings or structures; provide exemption
- BILL SUMMARY: This bill provides an exemption for state-wide application of minimum standard building codes for farm buildings. Farm buildings are defined as a building or structure that is located on a farm, and designed by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), not used for residential purposes, and not intended primarily for public use. - Authored By: Rep. Rick Jasperse of the 12th - House Committee: Agriculture & Consumer Affairs - Rule: Modified-Open - Yeas: 169; Nays: 1
* The House will reconvene Thursday, February 24, 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, Thursday, February 24, and bills may be called at the pleasure of the Speaker.
NEXT ON THE FLOOR
HB 126 - Holidays; Patriots Day the nineteenth of April each year; designate
- BILL SUMMARY: This legislation would designate April 19th every year as "Patriots Day" in Georgia, in remembrance all of the sacrifices' made for the revolution. - Authored By: Rep. Tommy Benton of the 31st - House Committee: Defense & Veterans Affairs - House Committee Passed: 2/16/2011 - Rule: Modified-Structured
HB 179 - State highway system; permits for legally erected signs; change provisions
- BILL SUMMARY: Current law allows billboard operators the ability to thin vegetation along a 500' roadside 500' fence line area in public right of way. HB 179 allows for a small window 250' fence line 350' provided operators lower signs to no higher than 75 feet, creating a quick, but clear view of sign. Operators pay full mitigation costs so any vegetation removed is replaced elsewhere. Adopts quick take provisions for illegal signs, provides incentives for the removal of illegal and nonconforming signs (at no cost to State), adopts obscenity standards on static boards, and allows locals to decide where or if billboards exist in their communities. - Authored By: Rep. Jon G. Burns of the 157th - House Committee: Transportation - House Committee Passed: 2/15/2011 - Rule: Modified-Structured
HB 193 - Union County; chief magistrate elections; provide
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to provide for the non-partisan election of the Chief Magistrate of Union County. - Authored By: Rep. Stephen Allison of the 8th - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - House Committee Passed: 2/15/2011 - Rule: Modified-Structured

HB 194 - Union County; probate court judge elections; provide
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to provide for the non-partisan election of the Probate Judge of Union County. - Authored By: Rep. Stephen Allison of the 8th - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - House Committee Passed: 2/15/2011 - Rule: Modified-Structured
* The Rules Committee will next meet on Thursday, February 24, at 09:00 AM, to set the Rules Calendar for the 20th Legislative Day.
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COMMITTEE ACTION REPORT
Economic Development & Tourism
HB 76 - Economic Development, Department of; Georgia Certified Retirement Community Program; create
- BILL SUMMARY: This legislation creates the Georgia Certified Retirement Community Program, which will assist Georgia communities in their marketing efforts to encourage retirees and those planning to retire to make their homes in Georgia. The Department of Economic Development will score communities to determine their eligibility for the program based on the following: state and local tax structure housing opportunities and cost climate personal safety working opportunities health care and continuing services transportation continuing education leisure living recreation performing arts festivals and events sports
Eligibility requirements state that a certified community: be within 30 miles of an emergency facility seek and gain the support of local businesses establish a retiree attraction committee pay an application fee of $2,000 or $.05 time the population of the county whichever is greater submit a marketing and public relations plan, and a long term maintenance plan
Certification for said communities will expire 5 years after issue date. Pilot programs will be implemented by the Department of Economic Development in Baldwin County and the City of Milledgeville. The Department of Economic Development will provide a formal report to the Governor on the pilot project no later than December 31, 2012. - Authored By: Rep. E. Culver "Rusty" Kidd of the 141st - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute
Economic Development & Tourism
HB 264 - Georgia Council for the Arts; power and authority; revise certain provisions
- BILL SUMMARY: This legislation transfers the power, authority, authority, and related matters of the Georgia Council for the Arts from the Office of Planning and Budget to the Department of Economic Development. - Authored By: Rep. Amy Carter of the 175th - Committee Action: Do Pass
Economic Development & Tourism
HR 251 - Savannah Harbor; cruise ship terminal facility; support
- BILL SUMMARY: House Resolution 251 calls for the support of the Members of the Georgia House of Representatives in the public and private efforts to make Savannah the first cruise ship port in Georgia. - Authored By: Rep. Ron Stephens of the 164th - Committee Action: Do Pass

Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications
HB 216 - Public Service Commission; chairperson selection; change certain provisions
- BILL SUMMARY: This legislation amends the Georgia Code Section pertaining to the organization and members of the Public Service Commission, by calling for the selection of a chairperson on an annual basis who will take office within 15 days of the new calendar year. The members of the Public Service Commission may select a chairperson by a majority vote for any given year. - Authored By: Rep. Roger Williams of the 4th - Committee Action: Do Pass
Governmental Affairs
HB 80 - Annexation of territory; unincorporated islands; repeal
- BILL SUMMARY: HB 80 repeals the law allowing unrestricted annexation of unincorporated islands by municipal governments. - Authored By: Rep. Mark Hamilton of the 23rd - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute
Governmental Affairs
HB 124 - Annexation disputes; compensation for arbitration panel members; revise
- BILL SUMMARY: HB 124 sets the compensation for arbitration panel members considering annexation disputes at $115 dollars per diem plus mileage for travel. - Authored By: Rep. Mark Hamilton of the 23rd - Committee Action: Do Pass
Governmental Affairs
HB 262 - Elections; add 1 percent judicial qualifying fee to fund the Commission; provide
- BILL SUMMARY: HB 262 adds an additional 1 percent qualifying fee for judicial candidates for the purpose of funding the Judicial Qualifications Commission. - Authored By: Rep. Timothy Bearden of the 68th - Committee Action: Do Pass
Governmental Affairs
HB 290 - State purchasing; protect against fraudulent use of state purchasing cards; correct oversight
- BILL SUMMARY: HB 290 corrects an oversight in provisions protecting against fraudulent use of state purchasing cards as discovered and recommended by the House Committee on Information and Audits and to apply such fraud protection provisions to all state entities including state authorities. - Authored By: Rep. Mike Cheokas of the 134th - Committee Action: Do Pass
Governmental Affairs
HR 153 - House Study Committee on Tenth Amendment Enforcement; create
- BILL SUMMARY: HR 153 creates the House Study Committee on Tenth Amendment Enforcement. - Authored By: Rep. Ed Setzler of the 35th - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute
Health & Human Services
HB 147 - Patient Right to Know Act of 2001; medical malpractice insurance; include
- BILL SUMMARY: This bill will provide patients a way to ascertain whether or not a physician carries malpractice coverage. This information will be added to the other demographic and professional information already contained in the system. - Authored By: Rep. Ben Watson of the 163rd - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Health & Human Services
HB 214 - Public Health, Department of; establish
- BILL SUMMARY: This bill will establish the Department of Public Health and reassign functions of the division of Public Health of the Department of Community Health to the Department of Public Health. - Authored By: Rep. Mickey Channell of the 116th - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute
Health & Human Services
HB 249 - Health; pertussis disease information to parents of newborns; provide
- BILL SUMMARY: This bill will require hospitals to provide to the parents of newborns information on the transmission of pertussis (Whooping Cough) between newborns and their parents. This bill in no way shall be construed to require a hospital to provide or pay for the vaccination. - Authored By: Rep. Barbara Sims of the 119th - Committee Action: Do Pass
Intragovernmental Coordination - Local
HB 195 - Dunwoody, City of; Redevelopment Powers Law; authorize
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to authorize the City of Dunwoody 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. Tom Taylor of the 79th - Committee Action: Do Pass
Intragovernmental Coordination - Local
HB 251 - Jackson County Community Improvement District Act; enact
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to authorize community improvement districts in Jackson County and the municipalities located therein. - Authored By: Rep. Tommy Benton of the 31st - Committee Action: Do Pass
Intragovernmental Coordination - Local
HB 294 - Paulding County; staggered terms of office; provide
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to provide staggered terms of office for the members of the Paulding County Board of Elections and Registration. - Authored By: Rep. Howard Maxwell of the 17th - Committee Action: Do Pass
Intragovernmental Coordination - Local
HB 300 - Putnam County; compensation of board members; provide
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to provide compensation for the members of the Putnam County Board of Commissioners. - Authored By: Rep. Mickey Channell of the 116th - Committee Action: Do Pass
Intragovernmental Coordination - Local
SB 56 - Americus-Sumter County Airport Authority; change membership
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to increase the membership of the Americus-Sumter County Airport Authority. - Authored By: Sen. George Hooks of the 14th - Committee Action: Do Pass

Judiciary Non-Civil
HB 123 - Weapon removal from public official; include stun guns and tasers; clarify
- BILL SUMMARY: The legislation will amend Code Section 16-10-33 relating to the removal or attempted removal of a weapon from a public official and punishment therefore so as to clarify that the Code Section includes stun guns and tasers.
The legislation adds a new subsection clarifying that the term 'firearm' as used in this particular Code Section will include stun guns and tasers thereby making it unlawful for a person to knowingly remove or attempt to remove a stun gun or taser from a public official. - Authored By: Rep. Jay Powell of the 171st - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute
Judiciary Non-Civil
HB 199 - Controlled substances; additional Schedule I substances; provide
- BILL SUMMARY: The bill adds the chemicals used to manufacture "bath salts" or synthetic cocaine to the list of Schedule I. - Authored By: Rep. Jay Neal of the 1st - Committee Action: Do Pass
Judiciary Non-Civil
HB 200 - Crimes and offenses; human trafficking; change compensation; provisions
- BILL SUMMARY: This legislation amends Titles 16, 17, and 35 of the Official Code of Georgia to discourage the trafficking of persons for labor or sexual servitude. It will clarify the definition of sexual servitude; increase penalties for individuals who are found guilty of human trafficking; provide law enforcement with more tools to combat the practice of human trafficking; and expand the forfeiture law to help combat human trafficking.
The legislation will: add to the definitions of coercion, sexual servitude and deception and also adds definitions for performance and sexually explicit conduct to be used in the Code section. make real and personal property subject to forfeiture if (1) used or intended for use in the course of, (2) derived from, or (3) realized through a violation of the Code section. amend OCGA 16-6-13 relating to the penalties for violating the Code sections of prostitution, keeping a place of prostitution, pimping or pandering (OCGA 16-6-10 through 12). The penalty is increased if the offense involves persons under the age of 16. revise Code section 17-15-2 relating to definitions for victim compensation. The section adds trafficking persons for labor or sexual servitude to the definitions of crime and victim. create an exception to the rule that a person who is responsible or an accomplice to a crime would be ineligible for an award. Any persons who suffer a serious mental or emotional trauma as a result of being trafficked for labor or sexual servitude are eligible. requires the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council and the Georgia Public Safety Training Center to establish guidelines and procedures for the incorporation of training materials and information in: (1) methods for identifying, combating, and reporting incidents where a person has been trafficked for labor or sexual servitude; (2) methods for providing proper detention facilities or alternatives to detention facilities for persons for persons who have been trafficked for labor or sexual servitude, including information on therapeutic facilities; and (3) methods for assisting persons who have been trafficked for labor or sexual servitude, including information on social service organizations.
The committee substitute also gives the GBI authority to investigate crimes involving the trafficking of persons for labor or sexual servitude. - Authored By: Rep. Edward Lindsey of the 54th - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute
Judiciary Non-Civil
HB 265 - 2011 Special Council on Criminal Justice Reform for Georgians; Joint Committee; create
- BILL SUMMARY: HB 265 will create the 2011 Special Council on Criminal Justice Reform for Georgians and the Special Joint Committee on Georgia Criminal Justice Reform.
The 2011 Special Council will study the state's current criminal justice structure and report its findings and recommendations for legislation. As originally introduced, the legislation would provide that the findings be submitted no later than January 9, 2012. The committee substitute requires that the findings be made no later than November 1, 2011. The council will consist of 11 members with at least one member being nominated by each branch of government as well as at least one member from each party.
The Special Joint Committee on Georgia Criminal Justice Reform will consist of 17 members from both sides of the legislature and from both parties. The Chairman of the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee will introduce legislation based on the

recommendations of the council during the 2012 legislative session. The legislation will be referred to the Joint Committee. If the legislation passes the House, it will be referred back to the Joint Committee in the Senate.
HB 265 provides that the Rules in either chamber may contain provisions to allow this legislative process to occur. It will repeal itself on July 1, 2012. - Authored By: Rep. Jay Neal of the 1st - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Regulated Industries
HB 70 - Barbers; license to operate mobile barbershops; provide
- BILL SUMMARY: The bill amends Code Section 43-7-12 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to barbers. The bill provides for the license to operate a mobile barbershop shall be issued, renewed or restored to any barber who can show that such mobile barbershop maintains such physical and sanitary facilities and equipment as shall be required by rules and regulations promulgated by the board. The bill also provides that only barbering and no other business shall be conducted from a mobile barbershop. - Authored By: Rep. Al Williams of the 165th - Committee Action: Do Pass

Retirement
HB 293 - Retirement bills; define a certain term
- BILL SUMMARY: This bill expands the definition of a fiscal retirement bill to include any bill or amendment that grants a public retirement system an insurable interest in active or retired members, or authorizes or directs a public retirement system to expend or obligate funds to purchase life insurance on its members.
This is a nonfiscal retirement bill. - Authored By: Rep. Tommy Benton of the 31st - Committee Action: Do Pass

Retirement
HB 297 - Retirement and pensions; public systems prohibited from expending fund for certain purposes; provide
- BILL SUMMARY: This legislation would prevent a public retirement system from expending or obligating funds under the control of the retirement system to purchase life insurance on its members unless all benefits are paid to the member's estate or designated beneficiary.
This is a nonfiscal retirement bill - 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.
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COMMITTEE MEETING SCHEDULE

TBD 7:30 AM - 8:00 AM 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Thursday, February 24, 2011 FLOOR SESSION (LD 19) Appropriations Higher Education Subcommittee NATURAL RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENT APPROPRIATIONS MOTOR VEHICLES RULES Children & Youth Nutrition Subcommittee Appropriations Health Subcommittee INSURANCE EDUCATION WAYS & MEANS

House Chamber 341 CAP 606 CLOB 341 CAP 506 CLOB- CANCELED 341 CAP 403 CAP 406 CLOB 606 CLOB 506 CLOB 606 CLOB