Daily report [Feb. 17, 2012]

HOUSE BUDGET & RESEARCH OFFICE (404) 656-5050 HOUSE COMMUNICATIONS (404) 656-0305

TOMORROW'S FORECAST
* The House will reconvene for its 22nd Legislative Day on Tuesday, February 21, at 10:00 AM. * 9 bills are expected to be debated on the floor.

GEORGIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
DAILY REPORT

Friday, February 17, 2012
TODAY ON THE FLOOR

21st Legislative Day

RULES CALENDAR
HB 407 - Payment of taxes; population bracket under 2010 census; update
- BILL SUMMARY: This legislation updates two sets of property brackets in 48-5-24 in subsections (b) and (e). This is to ensure that the property tax penalty for late payment established in subsection (b) of the code continues to only affect DeKalb County. Additionally, the penalty for late payment of property taxes located in subsection (e) of the code will continue to only affect Cobb County. - Authored By: Rep. Sam Teasley of the 38th - House Committee: Ways & Means - Rule: Structured - Yeas: 163; Nays: 2
HB 636 - Brookhaven, City of; provide a charter
- BILL SUMMARY: The House Committee on Governmental Affairs substitute to HB 636 provides for a public referendum for the incorporation of the city of Ashford. Further, it contains the proposed charter for the city. In the original version, the proposed city was named Brookhaven. - Authored By: Rep. Mike Jacobs of the 80th - House Committee: Governmental Affairs - Rule: Modified-Structured - Yeas: 101; Nays: 57
HB 824 - Quality Basic Education Act; calculating equalization grants; revise method
- BILL SUMMARY: House Bill 824 revises the methodology for calculating equalization grants as well as adds an eligibility requirement for receiving the grant.
SECTION 1: Defines "equivalent millage" for the purpose of being eligible for Equalization. This section also changes the benchmark for Equalization from the 75% percentile to the statewide average (less any outliers based on wealth). Specifically: Lines 37-40 Language is added defining "equivalent millage" as the combination of property tax and sales tax revenue representing the amount generated by a designated millage rate. This language is applicable to school systems that have a Lost Option Sales Tax (LOST) for maintenance and operations. Lines 41-51 Strikes language that says the guaranteed valuation (the benchmark that is equalized to) is the school system at the 75th percentile. Instead, the new guaranteed valuation will be a modified statewide average of assessed valuation per Weighted FTE (WFTE). Systems will continue to be ranked in wealth/WFTE, but for the purposes of calculating the statewide average, the top 5% and bottom 5% of systems will be removed from the averaging calculation. Lines 65-72 Adds new language that requires any school system that falls below the guaranteed valuation to have a millage of 12 mills or the equivalent in order to be eligible for Equalization. This provision has an effective date of July 1, 2015. Lines 85-86 Removes language related to the benchmark school system (75th percentile). Lines 121-126 Removes language related to the benchmark school system (75th percentile) and replaces it with the new guaranteed valuation (modified state-wide average). Lines 159 161 Removes outdated language that only applied to FY 2006.

SECTION 2: All laws or parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed. - Authored By: Rep. Mike Dudgeon of the 24th - House Committee: Education - Rule: Modified-Structured - Yeas: 143; Nays: 23
LOCAL CALENDAR
HB 693 - Screven County; board of commissioners; provide member elections
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to reapportion the Screven County Board of Commissioners. - Authored By: Rep. Jon G. Burns of the 157th - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Yeas: 169; Nays: 0
HB 788 - Camden County; Board of Education; change description of districts
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to reapportion the Camden County Board of Education. - Authored By: Rep. Jason Spencer of the 180th - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Yeas: 169; Nays: 0
HB 789 - Camden County; board of commissioners; change description of districts
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to reapportion the Camden County Board of Commissioners. - Authored By: Rep. Jason Spencer of the 180th - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Yeas: 169; Nays: 0
HB 860 - Lowndes County; Board of Education; change description of districts
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to reapportion the Lowndes County Board of Education. - Authored By: Rep. Amy Carter of the 175th - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Yeas: 169; Nays: 0
HB 904 - Monroe County Probate Court; future elections for the office of judge shall be nonpartisan; provide
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to provide for the nonpartisan election of the Probate Judge of Monroe County. - Authored By: Rep. Robert Dickey of the 136th - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Rule: Modified-Open - Yeas: 154; Nays: 15
HB 907 - Jackson County; board of commissioners; change description of districts
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to reapportion the Jackson County Board of Commissioners. - Authored By: Rep. Tommy Benton of the 31st - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Yeas: 169; Nays: 0
HB 909 - Jefferson, City of; public schools; change description of the education districts
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to reapportion the City of Jefferson Board of Education. - Authored By: Rep. Tommy Benton of the 31st - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Yeas: 169; Nays: 0

HB 912 - Columbia County; Board of Education; change description of districts
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to reapportion the Columbia County Board of Education. - Authored By: Rep. Ben Harbin of the 118th - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Yeas: 169; Nays: 0
HB 913 - Columbia County; Board of Commissioners; change description of districts
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to reapportion the Columbia County Board of Commissioners. - Authored By: Rep. Ben Harbin of the 118th - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Yeas: 169; Nays: 0
HB 923 - Richmond County; City of Augusta; change description of commissioner districts
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to reapportion the Augusta/Richmond County Board of Commissioners. - Authored By: Rep. Henry "Wayne" Howard of the 121st - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Yeas: 169; Nays: 0
HB 924 - Richmond County; school board; change description of districts
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to reapportion the Augusta/Richmond County Board of Education. - Authored By: Rep. Henry "Wayne" Howard of the 121st - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Yeas: 169; Nays: 0
HB 941 - Houston County; Board of Education; change description of districts
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to reapportion the Houston County Board of Education. - Authored By: Rep. Larry O`Neal of the 146th - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Yeas: 169; Nays: 0
HB 947 - Warren County; Board of Education; change description of districts
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to reapportion the Warren County Board of Education. - Authored By: Rep. Sistie Hudson of the 124th - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Yeas: 169; Nays: 0
HB 962 - Bibb County; board of commissioners; change description of districts
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to reapportion the Bibb County Board of Commissioners. - Authored By: Rep. Nikki T. Randall of the 138th - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Yeas: 169; Nays: 0
HB 963 - Bibb County; Board of Public Education; change description of districts
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to reapportion the Bibb County Board of Education. - Authored By: Rep. Nikki T. Randall of the 138th - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Yeas: 169; Nays: 0

HB 975 - Habersham County; school district ad valorem tax; provide homestead exemption
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to provide a homestead exemption from Habersham County school district ad valorem taxes for educational purposes in the amount of $130,000.00 of the assessed value of the homestead for residents of that school district who are 65 years of age or older and which grants a homestead exemption on the full value of the homestead for residents who are totally and permanently disabled and repeals and replaces other local acts. - Authored By: . Terry Rogers of the 10th - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Yeas: 169; Nays: 0
SB 363 - Board of Commissioners of Thomas County; change description of the commissioner districts; definitions and inclusions
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to reapportion the Thomas County Board of Commissioners. - Authored By: Sen. John Bulloch of the 11th - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Yeas: 169; Nays: 0
* The House will reconvene Tuesday, February 21, at 10:00 AM, for its 22nd Legislative Day.
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COMMITTEE ON RULES
The Committee on Rules has fixed the calendar for the 22nd Legislative Day, Tuesday, February 21, and bills may be called at the pleasure of the Speaker.
NEXT ON THE FLOOR
HB 472 - Brewpub distribution system; maximum barrels of beer manufactured and sold; increase
- BILL SUMMARY: The bill amends existing language so as to amend the terms and conditions that exist for owner and operators of brewpubs. The legislation increases the maximum quantity of barrels of beer that may be manufactured (from 5,000 to 10,000) and sold (from 500 to 5,000), as well as removing the requirement that beer be sold solely in draft form. - Authored By: Rep. Richard H. Smith of the 131st - House Committee: Regulated Industries - House Committee Passed: 2/8/2012 - Rule: Structured
HB 634 - Ad valorem tax; population brackets and census; change provisions
- BILL SUMMARY: This legislation adjusts the population brackets in 48-5-24 (c)(1). In doing so the act continues to only affect Fulton County, and does not affect Gwinnett County which has a population that would now be covered under the act. - Authored By: Rep. Donna Sheldon of the 105th - House Committee: Ways & Means - House Committee Passed: 2/7/2012 - Rule: Structured
HB 635 - Macon Water Commissioners - Pension Plan; change provisions
- BILL SUMMARY: HB 635 amends provisions relating to the Macon Water Commissioners Pension Plan. This bill excludes individuals whose hire date is on or after July 1, 2012 and it gives existing participants the ability to participate in a new plan established by the Board. The bill also changes the definition of "final average monthly compensation" used to calculate benefits and it amends the definition of "disability" to exclude disabilities that are self-inflicted or that occurred while committing a crime. This is a fiscal retirement bill. - Authored By: Rep. David Lucas of the 139th - House Committee: Retirement - House Committee Passed: 1/25/2012 - Rule: Open

HB 733 - Family violence; holdover provisions for appointees; add
- BILL SUMMARY: HB 733 provides a holdover provision for members of the Georgia Commission of Family Violence in the absence of a Governor's new appointment or reappointment. - Authored By: . Dustin Hightower of the 68th - House Committee: Judiciary Non-Civil - House Committee Passed: 2/15/2012 - Rule: Modified-Open
HB 786 - Consumers' insurance advocate; not necessary to file insurance rate filings until appropriately funded; provide
- BILL SUMMARY: HB 786 provides that, until such time as the consumers' insurance advocate is appropriately funded, it shall not be necessary to file copies of insurance rate filings with the consumers' insurance advocate. - Authored By: Rep. Bill Hembree of the 67th - House Committee: Insurance - House Committee Passed: 2/8/2012 - Rule: Modified-Open
HB 886 - Banking and finance; credit exposure as a counterparty in derivative transactions; limit certain obligations
- BILL SUMMARY: This legislation adds credit exposure as a counterparty in derivative transactions with any one person or corporation to the lending limits to such persons or corporations for state-chartered banks. - Authored By: Rep. Bruce Williamson of the 111th - House Committee: Banks & Banking - House Committee Passed: 2/7/2012 - Rule: Modified-Open
HB 895 - Sexual Offender Registration Review Board; gathering information relating to sexual offenders; provide more effective methods
- BILL SUMMARY: HB 895 provides for more effective methods of gathering information relating to sexual offenders by expanding GBI's powers to assist the Sexual Offender Registration Review Board in gathering information relative to its sexual offender evaluations and transferring investigators from the Board to GBI. - Authored By: Rep. Amy Carter of the 175th - House Committee: Judiciary Non-Civil - House Committee Passed: 2/15/2012 - Rule: Structured
HB 929 - Judicial circuits; assistant district attorney for certain populations; repeal office
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to repeal the population act creating the office of assistant district attorney in the Houston and Waycross Judicial Circuits. - Authored By: Rep. Larry O`Neal of the 146th - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - House Committee Passed: 2/15/2012 - Rule: Modified-Open
HB 930 - Judicial circuits; superior court judge for certain populations; repeal supplemental expense allowance
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to repeal the population act providing a supplemental expense allowance for the judges of the superior courts in the Houston and Waycross Judicial Circuit. - Authored By: Rep. Larry O`Neal of the 146th - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - House Committee Passed: 2/15/2012 - Rule: Modified-Open
* The Rules Committee will next meet on Tuesday, February 21, at 09:00 AM, to set the Rules Calendar for the 23rd Legislative Day.
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COMMITTEE ACTION REPORT
No standing committee action took place today.

* 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

9:00 AM - 12:00 PM 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Monday, February 20, 2012 Education Finance Subcommittee #2- Support Services Setzler Subcommittee of Judiciary Non-Civil HB 968 Subcommittee of State Institutions and Property MARTOC Appropriations Public Safety Subcommittee

415 CLOB 132 CAP 403 CAP 406 CLOB 506 CLOB

* 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 www.house.ga.gov and click on Meetings Calendar.

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