Daily report [Feb. 7, 2013]

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

TOMORROW'S FORECAST
* The House will reconvene for its 14th Legislative Day on Friday, February 8, at 09:30 AM. * 2 bills are expected to be debated on the floor.

GEORGIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
DAILY REPORT

Thursday, February 8, 2013
TODAY ON THE FLOOR

13th Legislative Day

Today from the House floor, the Honorable Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia, Carol Hunstein delivered the State of the Judiciary Address.
There were no bills debated on the floor of the House today. * HB 3 was postponed until the next legislative day.

* The House will reconvene Friday, February 8, at 9:30 AM, for its 14th Legislative Day.
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COMMITTEE ON RULES
The Committee on Rules has fixed the calendar for the 14th Legislative Day, Friday, February 8, and bills may be called at the pleasure of the Speaker.
NEXT ON THE FLOOR
HB 105 - Supplemental appropriations; State Fiscal Year July 1, 2012 - June 30, 2013
- BILL SUMMARY: The Amended Fiscal Year 2013 budget totals $19.3 billion in state funds and provides for a Mid-year adjustment for Education of $172.7 million. The revenue estimate for this cycle has been reduced by $26.3 million in state funds to reflect an estimated 3.9% growth in revenues for the year ending June 30, 2012. - Authored By: Rep. David Ralston of the 7th - House Committee: Appropriations - Rule: Modified-Open
* The Rules Committee will next meet on Friday, February 8, at 9:00 AM, to set the Rules Calendar for the 15th Legislative Day.
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COMMITTEE ACTION REPORT
Governmental Affairs
HB 87 - Elections; use of the boundaries of a gated community as the boundaries of a precinct; authorize
- BILL SUMMARY: HB 87 adds the private property lines of a restricted access (gated) community to the list of acceptable boundaries for voting precincts. - Authored By: Rep. Dustin Hightower of the 68th - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute
Insurance
HB 103 - Insurance; issuance of group life insurance policy to certain groups as approved by the Commissioner; allow
- BILL SUMMARY: HB 103 allows the issuance of a group life insurance policy to certain groups as approved by the Commissioner that do not otherwise qualify as a group. Further, it removes the participation requirement before the extension of group life policy coverage to dependents of employees or members. - Authored By: Rep. Jason Shaw of the 176th - Committee Action: Do Pass
Insurance
HB 198 - Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; licensing of health insurance navigators; provide
- BILL SUMMARY: HB 198 provides for limited licensing by the Commissioner of Insurance for individuals serving as "Navigators" under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). It also establishes the criteria to get and maintain that license. They are:
(1) The applicant shall establish to the satisfaction of the Commissioner that he or she has the background, experience, knowledge, and competency in the subject matter that will enable him or her to deliver accurate information and advice to individuals and groups in this state seeking to obtain health insurance coverage under the provisions of the federal act;
(2) The applicant shall have successfully completed not less than 35 hours of instruction in health benefit insurance and the exchange provisions of the federal act satisfactory to the Commissioner through a training program approved by the Commissioner;
(3) The applicant shall pass such examination as shall be required by the Commissioner unless such applicant is exempted by the Commissioner based on the applicant's experience and qualifications and pursuant to regulations adopted by the Commissioner;
(4) An applicant shall be not less than 18 years of age and of good moral character and must submit in a form approved by the Commissioner such information, including without limitation criminal history and regulatory background information, as the Commissioner may require; and
(5) An applicant for a renewal license shall have completed continuing education classes approved by the Commissioner. - Authored By: Rep. Richard Smith of the 134th - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute
Intragovernmental Coordination - Local
HB 174 - Lavonia, City of; change and extend the coporate limits
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to change the corporate limits of the City of Lavonia. - Authored By: Rep. Alan Powell of the 32nd - Committee Action: Do Pass

Intragovernmental Coordination - Local
HB 201 - Grady County Lake Authority Act; enact
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to create the Grady County Lake Authority and to provide for its powers and duties. - Authored By: Rep. Darlene Taylor of the 173rd - Committee Action: Do Pass
Intragovernmental Coordination - Local
HB 204 - Sale City, City of; staggered, four-year terms of office for city council; provide
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to provide four-year, staggered terms of office for the city council and four-year terms of office for the mayor in the City of Sale City. - Authored By: Rep. Jay Powell of the 171st - Committee Action: Do Pass
Intragovernmental Coordination - Local
HB 206 - Hoschton, City of; corporate boundaries and powers; provide
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to provide a new charter for the City of Hoschton. - Authored By: Rep. Tommy Benton of the 31st - Committee Action: Do Pass
Intragovernmental Coordination - Local
HB 220 - Crisp County; Board of Commissioners; change descriptions of districts
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to reapportion the Crisp County Board of Commissioners. - Authored By: Rep. Buddy Harden of the 148th - Committee Action: Do Pass
Intragovernmental Coordination - Local
HB 223 - Banks County; board of elections and registration; create
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to create a board of elections and registration for Banks County and to provide for its powers and duties. - Authored By: Rep. Dan Gasaway of the 28th - Committee Action: Do Pass
Judiciary
HB 160 - Mortgages; vacant and foreclosed real property registries; revise provisions
- BILL SUMMARY: Section 1 of HB 160 provides cleanup language to the new Code section added to the Property title last year dealing with vacant real property.
Section 2 prohibits future fees on transfers except in limited circumstances such as homeowner's association dues and service fees. - Authored By: Rep. Mike Jacobs of the 80th - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute
Judiciary
HB 175 - Covenants and warranties; certain covenants run with the land as a matter of public policy of this state; provide
- BILL SUMMARY: HB 175 states that a covenant runs with the title to land if a property owner and a third party agree to it for no more than 20 years, and it is adequately described in the covenant. - Authored By: Rep. Dustin Hightower of the 68th - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Judiciary
HB 194 - Public utilities; venue for actions against gas companies; provide
- BILL SUMMARY: In a tort or breach of contract suit against a railroad or electric utility, a case is heard in the county where the incident occurred. HB 194 applies this same standard to gas utilities. - Authored By: Rep. Jay Powell of the 171st - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute
Judiciary
HR 4 - Georgia and Tennessee; boundary dispute; propose settlement
- BILL SUMMARY: HR 4 urges the State of Tennessee to accept a settlement of the boundary dispute between the State of Georgia and the State of Tennessee and to reflect the flawed 1818 survey with a metes and bounds exception which would be made a part of the State of Georgia so that Georgia can exercise its riparian water rights to the Tennessee River at Nickajack.
The resolution further authorizes the Governor to enter into any necessary negotiations with the State of Tennessee to resolve this dispute. - Authored By: Rep. Harry Geisinger of the 48th - Committee Action: Do Pass
Transportation
HB 202 - Highways, bridges, and ferries; performing value engineering studies; provide requirements
- BILL SUMMARY: This is the annual GDOT bill and amends two sections of the Code. Section 1 amends Code Section 32-2-41.2, relating to the development of benchmarks, reports, and value engineering studies by the Department of Transportation to require value engineering studies to be performed on all projects whose costs exceed $50 million, except for any design build projects. Section 2 amends Code Section 32-5-30, relating to congressional balancing of funds. Congressional balancing currently is not applied to any federal funds specifically designated for projects earmarked by a member of Congress in excess of appropriated funds but this legislation would also exclude from the balancing requirement any funds for a project undertaken for purposes of improving the Eisenhower Interstate System, and any funds for a project undertaken for improving any part of the state designated freight corridor, when the designation is made by the director or planning with the approval of a majority of the board. The committee substitute included language resolving an issue with last year's emergency tow permit created by HB 835. - Authored By: Rep. James Epps of the 144th - 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

TBD 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM

Friday, February 08, 2013

Floor Session (LD14)

HOUSE CHAMBER (9:30am)

RULES

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