Daily report [Feb. 24, 2011]

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, Please contact:
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TOMORROW'S FORECAST
* The House will reconvene for its 20th Legislative Day on Monday, February 28, at 1:00 PM. * 7 bills are expected to be debated on the floor.

GEORGIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
DAILY REPORT

Thursday, February 24, 2011
TODAY ON THE FLOOR

19th Legislative Day

RULES CALENDAR
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 - Rule: Modified-Structured - Amendments(s): Am 34-0476 Burns - Yeas: 98; Nays: 69
LOCAL CALENDAR
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 - Rule: Modified-Structured - Yeas: 154; Nays: 8
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 - Rule: Modified-Structured - Yeas: 153; Nays: 11
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 - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Yeas: 156; Nays: 0

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 - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Yeas: 156; Nays: 0
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 - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Yeas: 156; Nays: 0
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 - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Yeas: 156; Nays: 0
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 - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Yeas: 156; Nays: 0
* The House will reconvene Monday, February 28, at 1:00 PM, 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, Monday, February 28, and bills may be called at the pleasure of the Speaker.
NEXT ON THE FLOOR
HB 24 - Evidence; revise, supersede, and modernize provisions; provide definitions
- BILL SUMMARY: This is an update and rewrite of Georgia's Evidence Code (Title 24). The bill is the result of a State Bar Study Committee, which began in 2005, a joint House/Senate Study Committee that met once weekly over the 2008 interim from July through November, a number of meetings with interested parties to discuss concerns with the version of the bill that passed the Judiciary Civil Committee during the 2009 Session, and a full Judiciary Civil Committee meeting.
This bill largely adopts the Model Rules of Evidence to the extent that the interpretation is consistent with the Georgia Constitution, re-codifies into Title 24 all rules and statutes of current law under the same title, and brings Georgia in line with 42 other states that have similarly adopted a version of the Federal Rules of Evidence. - Authored By: Rep. Wendell Willard of the 49th - House Committee: Judiciary - House Committee Passed: 2/17/2011 - Rule: Modified-Structured

HB 64 - Attorney fees; validity and enforcement; change provisions
- BILL SUMMARY: The bill would amend Code provisions relating to the payment of attorney fees upon notes or other evidence of indebtedness where such fees are provided for but a specified amount is not set forth in the instrument.
As originally introduced, HB 64 would revise Code section 13-1-11 and give discretion to the courts to set a reasonable amount necessary for asserting the rights of the aggrieved party. However, the committee substitute amends HB 64 by adding two (2) new subsections to Code section 13-1-11.
The first new subsection will provide that in a civil action if the award of attorney's fees provided under the Code section result in an amount greater than $10,000, the party who is required to pay may, prior to the entry of judgment, petition the court for a determination as to the reasonableness of the attorney's fees. The party requesting the attorney's fees will submit an affidavit and the party required to pay may respond. The court has discretion to decide whether the amount to be awarded is reasonable and necessary by hearing or based on the written evidence.
However, the bill will not allow for a civil action to be instituted solely for the purpose of determining the reasonableness of the attorney's fees. - Authored By: Rep. Mike Jacobs of the 80th - House Committee: Judiciary - House Committee Passed: 2/17/2011 - Rule: Modified-Open
HB 93 - Code enforcement boards; code enforcement officers; change definition
- BILL SUMMARY: The bill changes the definition of code inspector to reflect the new state and federal designations by professional organizations as a code enforcement officer.
The bill amends Article 2 of Chapter 74 of Title 36 relating to local government code enforcement boards created on or after January 1, 2003, to change references from code inspector to code enforcement officer.
As originally introduced, HB 93 also included a Section 7. Section 7 of the bill would have amended Code Section 41-27(b) relating to power of counties and municipalities to repair, close or demolish buildings for health hazard and give code enforcement officers the ability to find that property is a health or safety hazard and that such a finding serves as primafacie evidence that the property is a health or safety hazard. Section 7 from the original bill was deleted from the committee substitute. - Authored By: Rep. Tom Taylor of the 79th - House Committee: Judiciary - House Committee Passed: 2/17/2011 - Rule: Modified-Open
HB 116 - Public Service Commission; procedure for stocks or other debt; provide certain exemption
- BILL SUMMARY: This legislation allows telecommunications companies, under the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission, to conduct interstate financing transactions without prior approval from the Commission. - Authored By: Rep. Don Parsons of the 42nd - House Committee: Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications - House Committee Passed: 2/16/2011 - Rule: Modified-Open
HB 162 - Sexual offender registry; photograph minor without parent permission; prohibit
- BILL SUMMARY: The bill clears some ambiguity in legislation that was passed during the 2010 legislative session related to the sex offender registration.
The bill clarifies the Code section relating to photographing a minor child without the consent of the parent or guardian. Currently, it is a crime for any person to intentionally photograph a minor without parental or guardian consent. The bill limits the crime to only prohibit persons who are registered sex offenders. - Authored By: Rep. Ann Purcell of the 159th - House Committee: Judiciary Non-Civil - House Committee Passed: 2/18/2011 - Rule: Modified-Structured

HB 227 - Student health; school personnel administer auto-injectable epinephrine; authorize
- BILL SUMMARY: House Bill 227 will amend the current Code that allows students to carry and self-inject auto-injectable epinephrine. The bill will allow a teacher, school administrator, school nurse, or other appropriate school system employee to administer auto-injectable epinephrine to a student in the event they are unable to self-inject.
The legislation also will allow schools to receive and store epipens (epinephrine) for students who cannot self-administer due to age and/or other reasons. Parents or guardians will provide the epipen.
Additionally, the bill will require school systems to provide information on the symptoms of anaphylaxis and the proper administration for auto-injectable epinephrine.
Furthermore, the legislation will provide immunity to teachers, school administrators, school nurses, or other appropriate school system employees who administer the auto-injectable epinephrine in good faith and in an emergency situation. - Authored By: Rep. Josh Clark of the 98th - House Committee: Health & Human Services - House Committee Passed: 2/16/2011 - Rule: Modified-Structured
HB 238 - Legal defense for indigents; powers and duties of council; change provisions
- BILL SUMMARY: This bill revises the management structure for the legal defense of indigents to increase the accountability of Georgia's public defender system.
Section 1 revises Code section 17-12-4(a), relating to the authority of the Georgia Public Defender Standards Council ("council"), by removing (1) the council's authority to hire administrative and clerical personnel and (2) the council's other powers as may be necessary to fulfill its purposes.
Section 2 amends Code section 17-12-5 relating to the director and director's responsibilities.
The director will be both appointed and removed by the council, subject to the approval of the governor.
This Code section allows the director to take certain actions without the council's approval. For example, it allows the director to hire a director of the division of the office of mental health advocacy without approval of the council.
Section 3 revises Code section 17-12-7(d) relating to council members and their responsibilities.
As originally introduced, this Code section requires a majority of the entire council to approve the appointment or removal of the chairperson for cause, for annual approval of an alternative delivery system, and other matters as set forth in Code section 17-12-36. The committee substitute strikes the "removal" and "for cause" language. Thus, the committee substitute for HB 238 requires a majority of the entire council to approve the appointment of the chairperson, for annual approval of an alternative delivery system, and other matters as set forth in Code section 17-12-36.
As originally introduced, the vote of two-thirds of the entire council is required to remove the chairperson of the council without cause or to overturn the director's decision regarding the removal of a circuit public defender. The HB 238 committee substitute strikes the "without cause" language. Thus, a two-thirds vote of the entire council is required to remove the chairperson of the council.
HB 238 committee substitute added Section 4. Section 4 provides the council the power to approve and implement programs, services and policies which it will make available to the public. However, the power to implement rules, procedures and regulations will be with the director.
HB 238 committee substitute also added Section 5 which revises Code Section 17-12-9 relating to continuing legal education for public defenders and staff. This section keeps the Code consistent.
Section 6 amends Code section 17-12-10(c), relating to annual reporting, by requiring the director to provide its annual report to the General Assembly, the Supreme Court, and the Governor.
Section 7 amends Code section 17-12-10.1(f), relating to the legislative oversight committee, by requiring the committee to make an annual report of its activities and findings to the membership of the General Assembly, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and the Governor.
Section 9 revises Code section 17-12-20 relating to the public defender selection panel for each circuit and the appointment of the circuit public defender.

This Code section creates a circuit public defender supervisory panel to be composed of three members in each judicial circuit.
The committee substitute provides that the circuit public defender supervisory panel will nominate up to five (original bill had 3) people to serve as the circuit public defender in the circuit. The director will select the circuit public defender from the panel's list of nominees.
This Code section allows the director to remove a circuit public defender for cause. The circuit public defender may appeal the decision to remove to the council. A vote of two-thirds of the members of the entire counsel may overturn the director's decision.
The circuit public defender supervisory panels must convene annually to review the circuit public defender's job performance and the performance of the circuit public defender's office.
Section 10 revises 17-12-22 by requiring the director, with input from the council, to establish a procedure for providing legal representation in cases where the circuit public defender office has a conflict of interest.
The committee substitute also adds Sections 11-14 to keep the Code consistent. - Authored By: Rep. Rich Golick of the 34th - House Committee: Judiciary Non-Civil - House Committee Passed: 2/21/2011 - Rule: Modified-Structured
* The Rules Committee will next meet on Monday, February 28, at 10:00AM, to set the Rules Calendar for the 21st Legislative Day.
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COMMITTEE ACTION REPORT
Appropriations
HB 326 - HOPE program; comprehensive revisions; provide
- BILL SUMMARY: House Bill 326 revises provisions of the Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally (HOPE) Scholarship and Grant programs, as well as the `Georgia Lottery for Education Act.'
Section 1 refines the HOPE Scholarship program.
It removes the definitions for advanced degrees, teacher education programs, and critical educator shortage areas, which are related to programs eliminated in Section 8, and updates the accreditation entities able to qualify public and private high schools for eligibility in HOPE programs.
A formula for calculating HOPE awards at public postsecondary schools is set forth to include a "factor rate," or percentage, which will be included in the annual budget Act. The factor rate is used as a multiplier to the "HOPE award rate," defined as the amount based on the previous year's tuition at the school. That amount is then divided by 15, which is the maximum credit hour payment for the amount of the Scholarship. The "HOPE award amount" is the final payment based on the actual number of enrollment hours.
The Georgia Student Finance Commission is authorized to adjust the amount of the prior year's tuition for the "HOPE award rate" if a change in the public institution's mission prompts an increase or decrease.
Quarter system credit rates are paid at 2/3rds the semester rate. Remedial and developmental courses, which a school may require but do not count toward program requirements, do not qualify for the formula. PROMISE, PROMISE II and HOPE teacher's scholarships, as well as mandatory fees, are deleted.
The formula for private postsecondary institutions is based on a "tuition payment" established by the legislature in an appropriations Act. Students enrolled in 6 or more credit hours earn the tuition payment multiplied by the factor rate. Half-time students' awards are half the tuition payment multiplied by the factor rate.
Tuition is defined as the charges for postsecondary academic instruction.
The legislation creates the "Zell Miller Scholar," who in addition to meeting the requirements for attaining the HOPE Scholarship, also graduates from high school or completes a home school program with a 3.7 grade point average, scores a 26 on the ACT or a combined

1200 or better on the math and reading portions of the SAT in a single-sitting. Home school students who maintain a 3.5 grade point average after completing 45 quarter hours or 30 semester hours in their freshman year are eligible for the scholarship to be paid retroactively.
The bill requires Zell Miller Scholars to maintain a 3.5 grade point average, although the loss of the designation may be regained one time. Students who meet these requirements, but enrolled between July 1, 2007 and June 30, 2011, may also qualify for the designation.
Section 2 of the bill consolidates in one location, 20-3-519.1, the residency requirements for a student to qualify for participation in HOPE Scholarship or Grant programs. (Participants are eligible if they are classified as a legal resident under the regulations of the Student Finance Commission, which are based on the in-state tuition rules set forth by the Board of Regents and Technical College System. Students who graduate from high school or a home program as a legal resident must have residency for at least 12 months prior to the first day of classes for an award. Students who were not classified as a legal resident at the time of graduation must establish residency for 24 months. Active duty military members and their spouses or dependents stationed in Georgia qualify as legal residents.)
Section 3 eliminates restatements of the residency and eligibility requirements listed individually under freshman, sophomore, junior and senior years.
In Lines 260 through 331, which codify standards for entering freshmen seeking HOPE Scholarships, the word `public' is deleted to include private school as eligible postsecondary institutions.
HOPE Scholarship eligibility for sophomore, junior, senior or first-professional students are combined beginning on Line 332. This section of the bill codifies additional checkpoints at which a student's grade point average is reviewed for maintaining or attaining the scholarship. It adds language to provide for one opportunity to re-qualify if eligibility has been lost.
Effective July 1, 2011, the bill establishes a seven year time limit, from the date of graduation or an equivalent event, to receive the HOPE Scholarship. Time served in the military does not count against this threshold.
The bill states that the HOPE Scholarship under this section is equal to the "HOPE award amount." A new section is added to state that Zell Miller Scholars receive an additional amount to equal the tuition at their public institution or the additional amount between the "HOPE award amount" and the HOPE tuition payment for private schools.
Section 4 revises the HOPE Grant. It adds new language under 20-3-519.5(1) to establish a minimum 3.0 grade point average after 30 semester or 45 quarter hours, and defines the HOPE Grant award as equal to the "HOPE award amount." Students who hold a baccalaureate degree or higher diploma are not eligible to receive a HOPE Grant.
Section 5, O.C.G.A. 20-3-519.6, refines the HOPE General Equivalent Diploma (GED) Voucher to make it available to students for two years after completing a GED if the student enrolls in a postsecondary institution and uses the voucher to offset the cost of attending.
Section 6 limits HOPE Scholarships and Grants to no more than the amount of tuition.
Section 7 authorizes the Student Finance Commission to establish the rules for addressing outstanding grant, loan, and scholarship obligations in programs that are eliminated by this legislation (Section 8). In addition, it allows the Commission to perform compliance reviews of participating postsecondary schools on a minimum three-year cycle. Payments made on behalf of ineligible students must be refunded by the institution to the Commission, which will have the authority to withhold future payments for noncompliance. Lines 631 through 634 make it a misdemeanor offense to obtain the HOPE Grant or Scholarship for an ineligible student.
Section 10 establishes a service-cancelable loan program for students who become employed in a Georgia K-12 public school as a science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) teacher. The program repays one year of loan for each year as an educator.
Section 11 updates the Tuition Equalization Grants statute regarding nonproprietary postsecondary schools by adding language that requires accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, in addition to being domiciled and incorporated in Georgia as of January 1, 2011. Schools qualifying for proprietary status before this date are waived from the new definition as long as they remain in compliance.
The legislation strikes eligibility for students in a Department of Corrections institution.
Section 13 establishes in increments a core course competency requirement for high school students seeking the HOPE Scholarship. Graduates on or after May 1, 2015 must receive two credits; graduates on or after May 1, 2016 must receive three credits, and graduates on or after May 1, 2017 must have at least four credits in advanced math, science, foreign language, international baccalaureate and/or advanced placement core classes as governed by Student Finance Commission rules. Each course may only count as one credit.

Section 14 adds language to the `Georgia Lottery for Education Act' to restrict incentive and/or bonus payments to no more than 25 percent of an employee's base pay; Bonuses will be awarded only if the net proceeds deposited in the Lottery for Education Account exceed the prior year's transfers and they may not exceed more than one percent of that increased deposit.
Section 15 requires the Lottery Commission to make monthly, rather than quarterly, payments into the Lottery for Education Account. It establishes one shortfall reserve within that Account equal to 50 percent of the prior year's total deposits. Reserves may be used if lottery revenues are insufficient to meet appropriations, but language is added to trigger the review and adjustment of lottery-funded programs if half or more of the reserves are withdrawn.
In addition, this section removes the supplantation language and allows for programs started with lottery funds to be continued with state general funds. Once moved, however, the program may not be moved back to lottery funds as a revenue source.
Section 16 caps the vendor's commission for lottery retailers at 6 percent. Incentive payments may be authorized by the Governor until July 1, 2016, after which time the Lottery Commission will determine incentives. In the interim period beginning July 1, 2014, the Lottery Corporation may provide additional financial benefits if deposits to the Lottery for Education Account increase by $1 billion the previous year. - Authored By: Rep. Doug Collins of the 27th - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute
Education
HB 186 - High school students; expand career pathway options; provisions
- BILL SUMMARY: House Bill 186 is relating to the "Quality Basic Education Act" and to provide and expand options for high school students to ensure their career and college readiness. This bill will require a stronger coordination between high schools and institutions of higher education to ensure the readiness of students wanting to continue their education and lessen the need for remediation when entering an institution of higher education.
The State Board of Education (SBOE), the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia and the Board of Technical and Adult Education will develop policies to ensure that student's core curriculum will be accepted at any institution of higher education beginning with students entering school in the fall of 2011. The Department of Education and State Board shall approve models and curriculum framework for 16 specific career clusters of study no later than July 1st 2012.
House Bill 186 also requires SBOE to embed, to the extent possible, academic standards in CTAE courses and to provide for course credit in both the academic course and the CTAE course. Requires the DOE to develop forms and information for students in 8th-12th grades relating to the availability of dual enrollment courses.
The State Board of Education will adopt a state wide plan implementing methods for students to earn units of high school credit based on demonstration of subject area competency, instead of in combination with completing hours of classroom instruction.
The Governor's Office of Workforce Development will establish a certification in soft skills for students. Some of the areas that will be included in the soft skills are: punctuality, ability to learn, working in a team, reading for information applied mathematics and more. This soft skills certification will help the students be even more prepared for the workforce on top of the education they have received. - Authored By: Rep. Randy Nix of the 69th - Committee Action: Do Pass
Insurance
HB 47 - Health insurance; offer accident and sickness policies approved in other states; authorize
- BILL SUMMARY: HB 47 authorizes insurers to offer individual accident and sickness insurance policies in Georgia that have been approved for issuance in other states. - Authored By: Rep. Matt Ramsey of the 72nd - Committee Action: Do Pass
Insurance
HB 66 - Insurance; certificate of insurance forms approved by commissioner; provide
- BILL SUMMARY: HB 66 makes two changes to state insurance law. First, property and casualty certificate of insurance forms shall be filed with and approved by the Insurance Department. Alteration of these approved forms is prohibited. Second, certificate holders would be regulated by the Insurance Commissioner. - Authored By: Rep. Howard Maxwell of the 17th - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Insurance
HB 156 - Indemnification payment; injured state highway employees; change provisions
- BILL SUMMARY: HB 156 adds state employed highway workers to the list of individuals eligible for payment for indemnification for death or disability occurring while on duty. - Authored By: Rep. Mike Cheokas of the 134th - Committee Action: Do Pass
Insurance
HB 167 - Insurance Delivery Enhancement Act of 2011; enact
- BILL SUMMARY: HB 167 reduces regulation for "true associations" to pool together. This allows for a market-based solution to help small businesses offer group health insurance at an affordable rate. Further, HB 167 expands the "prompt pay" law to include third-party administrators of health insurance plans. - Authored By: Rep. Steve Davis of the 109th - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute
Insurance
HB 189 - Noncovered Dental Services Act; enact
- BILL SUMMARY: HB 189 provides that no contract or agreement between a dental insurer or network and a dentist shall require the dentist to accept an amount for dental care services that are not covered dental services under a dental benefit plan. Further, it provides that no dental insurer shall publish or otherwise communicate that discounts are available for non-covered dental services.
Violation of the provisions of this bill will be punishable as an unfair trade practice. - Authored By: Rep. Joe Wilkinson of the 52nd - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute
Insurance
HB 248 - Health Care Sharing Ministries Freedom to Share Act; enact
- BILL SUMMARY: HB 248 provides that a health care sharing ministry which enters into a health care cost sharing arrangement with its participants shall not be considered an insurance company, health maintenance organization, or health benefit plan of any class, kind, or character and shall not be subject to any laws related to such. - Authored By: Rep. Jay Neal of the 1st - Committee Action: Do Pass
Insurance
HB 347 - Applicant examination; Commissioner not exempt self from written exams; provide
- BILL SUMMARY: HB 347 provides that the Commissioner of Insurance shall not exempt himself or herself from any written examinations set forth in the Insurance Code. - Authored By: Rep. Bill Hembree of the 67th - Committee Action: Do Pass
Intragovernmental Coordination - Local
HB 98 - Macon-Bibb, Georgia; provide unified government
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to provide a unified form of government for the City of Macon and Bibb County and to provide for its powers and duties. - Authored By: Rep. Allen Peake of the 137th - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute
Intragovernmental Coordination - Local
HB 313 - Chatsworth, City of; annexation of certain territory; provide
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to change the corporate limits of the City of Chatsworth. - Authored By: Rep. Tom Dickson of the 6th - Committee Action: Do Pass

Intragovernmental Coordination - Local
HB 330 - Doraville, City of; Redevelopment Powers Law; provide
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to authorize the City of Doraville 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. Elena Parent of the 81st - Committee Action: Do Pass
Intragovernmental Coordination - Local
HB 335 - Doraville, City of; tax levies and elections; change certain provisions
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to amend the charter of the City of Doraville so as to authorize the levy of an ad valorem tax, to establish times and staggered terms of office for municipal elections, and to provide for notices of candidacy and qualifying periods. - Authored By: Rep. Elena Parent of the 81st - Committee Action: Do Pass
Intragovernmental Coordination - Local
SB 16 - Lowndes County; provide for a board of commissioners; powers and composition
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to reapportion the districts of the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners and to provide for its powers and duties. - Authored By: Sen. Tim Golden of the 8th - Committee Action: Do Pass
Judiciary
HB 198 - Superior court clerks; real estate or personal property filing fees; extend sunset dates
- BILL SUMMARY: HB 198 will extend the sunset for the filing fees for real estate and personal property from July 1, 2014 to July 1, 2016. - Authored By: Rep. Tom Rice of the 51st - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute
Ways & Means
HB 48 - Ad valorem tax; freeport exemptions; revise and change certain provisions
- BILL SUMMARY: HB 48 expands the current Freeport inventory exemption. It allows local governments to hold a local referendum to exempt inventory of finished goods. Currently, the Freeport exemption only applies to inventory for final destination outside Georgia or inventory in the process of manufacture of production. This bill creates a "Level Two" Freeport exemption that would include all inventory of a business not otherwise qualified for the current, or "Level 1" Freeport exemption. The county or city may exempt 20, 40, 60, 80, or 100% of such inventory, subject to local referendum. This level two Freeport may be granted either in lieu of or in addition to the current "level one" Freeport exemption. - Authored By: Rep. Jay Powell of the 171st - 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 - 10:00 AM 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Friday, February 25, 2011 Appropriations Education Subcommittee Appropriations Public Safety Subcommittee JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL

506 CLOB 406 CLOB 132 CAP

* This meeting schedule is up to date at the time of this report, but meeting dates and times are subject to change. To keep up with the latest schedule please visit the General and click on House Meetings.
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