Daily report [Feb. 11, 2014]

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 Monday, February 17

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

21st Legislative Day

TODAY ON THE FLOOR
RULES CALENDAR
HB 477 - Employees' Retirement System of Georgia; Georgia Judicial Retirement System; transfer service credit
- BILL SUMMARY: This bill adds language that any member of the Judicial Retirement System (JRS) who has not withdrawn their benefits can transfer them to the Employees' Retirement System (ERS) and must notify the board of trustees of each retirement system. If a member of JRS has withdrawn their retirement contributions, they may obtain creditable service by paying ERS an amount the member desires. ERS will only credit the member with the number of years of creditable service warranted by the amount the member desired to pay without creating any liability to JRS. No member will be granted creditable service in excess of the service they were credited under JRS. This is a fiscal retirement bill. - Authored By: Rep. Jay Powell of the 171st - House Committee: Retirement - Rule: Modified-Open - Yeas: 153; Nays: 2
HB 773 - Crimes and offenses; discharging a gun or pistol near public highway or street; change provisions
- BILL SUMMARY: HB 773 amends Part 1 of Article 4 of Chapter 11 of Title 16 of the O.C.G.A. to change provisions relating to discharging a gun or pistol near a public highway or street. Under HB 773, a firearm is defined as any handgun, rifle, or shotgun, and a public highway means every public street, road, and highway in this state. The legislation states that it shall be unlawful for any person without legal justification to discharge a firearm on or within 50 yards of a public highway. Exceptions include: indoor/outdoor sport shooting ranges, facilities used for firearm/hunting safety courses sponsored by unit of government, and any business location of any person, firm, dealer, or pawnbroker licensed as a firearm dealer pursuant to Chapter 16 of Title 43. This Code section shall not apply to any person engaged in legal hunting which occurs within 50 yards of a public highway, and any person who violates subsection (b) of the Code section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. - Authored By: Rep. Robert Dickey of the 140th - House Committee: Public Safety & Homeland Security - Rule: Modified-Structured - Yeas: 153; Nays: 2
HB 840 - Insurance; persons under authority of Commissioner and subject to penalties under Title 33; clarify
- BILL SUMMARY: HB 840 updates the Insurance Code as it relates to persons required to be licensed by the Commissioner of Insurance. During recent legislative sessions, several changes have been made in regards to those needing to be licensed and the requirements of those licenses. This bill seeks to provide continuity in the Code as it relates to these changes. - Authored By: Rep. Rich Golick of the 40th - House Committee: Insurance - Rule: Modified-Open - Yeas: 152; Nays: 2
HB 849 - Insurance; excess wear and use waivers shall not be construed as insurance; provide
- BILL SUMMARY: HB 849 amends Title 33 of the O.C.G.A. to clarify that an Excess Wear and Use Waiver is not considered insurance. - Authored By: Rep. Howard Maxwell of the 17th - House Committee: Insurance - Rule: Modified-Open - Yeas: 158; Nays: 0
POSTPONED
HB 516 - Retirement and pensions; election to participate in Regents Retirement Plan in lieu of Teachers Retirement System of Georgia shall be revocable at will; provide
- BILL SUMMARY: Under this bill, if a member declined participation in the Teachers' Retirment System (TRS) for participation in the Board of Regent's retirement plan they will now be eligible to revoke election in the Regent's retirement plan for membership in TRS. The member must notify the board of trustees of TRS and will become an active member the first day of

the month after the notification is received by the board. The member may be able to transfer creditable service covered under Regent's retirement plan. The creditable service would be based on the amount of funds paid to the board without creating any unfunded liability to the system. Also, the amount of creditable service may not exceed the person's actual years of service in the Regent's retirement plan. This is a fiscal retirement bill. - Authored By: Rep. Christian Coomer of the 14th - House Committee: Retirement - House Committee Passed: 2/5/2014 - Rule: Modified-Open
HB 758 - Bartow County; Superior Court; change terms of court
- BILL SUMMARY: HB 758 amends O.C.G.A. 15-6-3 by changing the terms of Court in Bartow County from February, August, April, and October, to February, May, August, and November. - Authored By: Rep. Christian Coomer of the 14th - House Committee: Judiciary - House Committee Passed: 2/4/2014 - Rule: Modified-Open
* The House will reconvene Monday, February 17, 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, Monday, February 17, and bills may be called at the pleasure of the Speaker.
NEXT ON THE FLOOR
HB 744 - General appropriations; State Fiscal Year July 1, 2014 - June 30, 2015
- BILL SUMMARY: House Bill 744 is the $20.8 billion state budget plan for Fiscal Year 2015 beginning July 1, 2014. In the $20.8 billion state fund budget, 54.1 percent of state revenues are designated for education. Health and human services agencies are authorized to receive 23.1 percent of available funds, and 8.4 percent of revenues are allocated for public safety agencies. - Authored By: Rep. David Ralston of the 7th - House Committee: Appropriations - House Committee Passed: 2/11/2014 - Rule: Modified-Open
HB 762 - Motor vehicles and traffic; procedure for passing sanitation vehicles; provide
- BILL SUMMARY: HB 762 requires that motor vehicles approaching a garbage truck in operation of its duty to both slow down and pass if allowable by law, or to stop and wait if passing is not allowed by a double yellow line. Violation of this code section would result in a fine of not more than $500.00. - Authored By: Rep. Brett Harrell of the 106th - House Committee: Motor Vehicles - House Committee Passed: 2/6/2014 - Rule: Open
HB 820 - Condominium associations; standing to participate in litigation under certain circumstances; clarify provisions
- BILL SUMMARY: Revision of 44-3-106(h), relating to the powers and responsibilities of condominium associations and tort actions. The added language states that it is the public policy of the state that standing shall not be changed in any way by any provision of any contract or document, including the condo instruments that were created prior to the expiration of the declarant's right to control the association as set forth in 44-3-101(a). - Authored By: Rep. Jay Powell of the 171st - House Committee: Judiciary - House Committee Passed: 2/6/2014 - Rule: Modified-Open

HB 842 - Appeal and error; payment of costs and indigency affidavits; clarify provisions
- BILL SUMMARY: Amends Article 1 of Chapter 6 of Title 5 by creating an $80.00 fee for criminal cases and $300.00 for civil cases appealed to the Georgia Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court, unless at the time of appeal, the applicant is incarcerated, counsel for the applicant was appointed due to indigency, or affidavit of indigency is filed. - Authored By: Rep. Wendell Willard of the 51st - House Committee: Judiciary - House Committee Passed: 1/28/2014 - Rule: Modified-Open
HR 1055 - Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012; repeal or amend; encourage
- BILL SUMMARY: House Resolution 1055 is an urges Congress to amend or repeal the 'Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012.' - Authored By: Rep. Alex Atwood of the 179th - House Committee: Insurance - House Committee Passed: 2/5/2014 - Rule: Modified-Open
HR 1158 - Congress; establish national energy policy to strengthen access to and removal of impediment to domestic sources of energy; encourage
- BILL SUMMARY: A Resolution of the House of Representatives encouraging the Administration and Congress to establish a national energy policy that strengthens access to and removal of impediments to all available domestic sources of energy to improve its affordability and reliability. - Authored By: Rep. Chuck Martin of the 49th - House Committee: Interstate Cooperation - House Committee Passed: 2/6/2014 - Rule: Open
HR 1159 - Congress; establish national energy policy to strengthen access to and removal of impediment to domestic sources of energy; encourage
- BILL SUMMARY: A Resolution by the General Assembly encouraging the Administration and Congress to establish a national energy policy that strengthens access to and removal of impediments to all available domestic sources of energy to improve its affordability and reliability. - Authored By: Rep. Chuck Martin of the 49th - House Committee: Interstate Cooperation - House Committee Passed: 2/6/2014 - Rule: Open
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COMMITTEE ACTION REPORT
Appropriations
HB 697 - HOPE; revise amount of grants; equal student's cost of tuition
- BILL SUMMARY: This bill defines "Zell Miller Grant Scholar" as a student who meets the requirements to receive a HOPE grant and earns at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA at the end of any semester or quarter. Under this bill, if a student is determined to be a Zell Miller Grant Scholar, the student will be awarded the difference between the awarded HOPE amount and the then current academic year standard undergraduate tuition at the institution to be paid, or, for programs with exceptional tuition rates in effect on January 1, 2014, the exceptional tuition rate amount in effect on January 1, 2014.
Zell Miller Grant eligibility will be determined on a semester or quarterly basis and paid for the next semester or quarter in which the student is enrolled. If the student was not eligible to be a Zell Miller Grant Scholar because he or she had no cumulative GPA, then the student will also receive one semester or quarter of retroactive payment. - Authored By: Rep. Stacey Evans of the 42nd - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute
Appropriations

HB 744 - General appropriations; State Fiscal Year July 1, 2014 - June 30, 2015
- BILL SUMMARY: House Bill 744 is the $20.8 billion state budget plan for Fiscal Year 2015 beginning July 1, 2014. In the $20.8 billion state fund budget, 54.1 percent of state revenues are designated for education. Health and human services agencies are authorized to receive 23.1 percent of available funds, and 8.4 percent of revenues are allocated for public safety agencies. - Authored By: Rep. David Ralston of the 7th - 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
* Please check the online meeting schedule on Friday, Feb. 14. To keep up with the latest schedule please visit www.house.ga.gov and click on Meetings Calendar.