Daily report [Feb. 3, 2014]

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

TOMORROW'S FORECAST
* The House will reconvene for its 16th Legislative Day on Tuesday, February 4, at 10:00 AM. * No bills are expected to be debated on the floor.

Monday, February 3, 2014

15th Legislative Day

TODAY ON THE FLOOR
RULES CALENDAR
HB 774 - Highways, bridges and ferries; require annual submission of State-wide Strategic Transportation progress report; provisions
- BILL SUMMARY: HB 774 amends Title 32 of the O.C.G.A. relating to highways, bridges, and ferries in order to require the annual submission of a State-wide Strategic Transportation Plan progress report. Under this bill, the director shall submit an annual report to the governor, lieutenant governor, the speaker of the House, and the chairpersons of both the House and Senate Transportation Committees covering the process of all construction projects valued at $10 million or more against the benchmarks. The bill further amends Code Section 32-4-63 by stating that both a county and a municipality are prohibited from negotiating a contract unless that contract involves the expenditure of less than $200,000. HB 774 further defines both yellow and red signal indications by adding language relating to flashing yellow and red arrow signals that does not require drivers to stop if the traffic signal is properly signed as a pedestrian hybrid beacon or ramp meter and operating in the unactivated dark mode. The speed limit on a highway on the federal interstate system inside an urbanized population area of 50,000 or more may be may be increased from sixty-five to seventy miles per hour. - Authored By: Rep. Sam Watson of the 172nd - House Committee: Transportation - Rule: Modified-Open - Yeas: 157; Nays: 7
LOCAL CALENDAR
HB 822 - Suwanee, City of; change corporate limits
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to change the corporate limits of the City of Suwanee. - Authored By: Rep. Brooks Coleman of the 97th - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Yeas: 160; Nays: 0
HB 836 - Sumter County; board of education and school superintendent; revise and restate law
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to revise the number of members and districts of the Sumter County Board of Education. - Authored By: Rep. Mike Cheokas of the 138th - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Yeas: 160; Nays: 0
HB 850 - Valdosta, City of; levy an excise tax
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to authorize the governing authority of the City of Valdosta to levy a hotel/motel tax. - Authored By: Rep. Dexter Sharper of the 177th - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Yeas: 160; Nays: 0
HB 856 - Coffee County; school district ad valorem tax; provide homestead exemption
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to provide a homestead exemption from Coffee County school district ad valorem taxes for educational purposes in the amount of 50 percent of the assessed value of the homestead for residents who are at least 65 but less than 70 years of age. - Authored By: Rep. Chuck Sims of the 169th - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Yeas: 160; Nays: 0

HB 857 - Bacon County; Board of Commissioners; remove limitation regarding membership on boards and authorities
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to amend the Act which created the Bacon County Board of Commissioners so as to remove the limitation regarding membership of the chairperson and commissioners on boards and authorities. - Authored By: Rep. Chuck Sims of the 169th - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Yeas: 160; Nays: 0
HB 858 - Columbus, City of; Recorder's Court; impose and collect technology fee for each fine imposed
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to authorize the Recorder's Court of Columbus, Georgia, to impose and collect a technology fee, not to exceed $25.00 for each fine imposed. - Authored By: Rep. Calvin Smyre of the 135th - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Yeas: 160; Nays: 0
HB 865 - Berrien County; board of elections and registration; provide for composition of board and selection and appointment of members
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to amend the Act creating the Berrien County Board of Elections and Registration so as to provide for the composition of the board and the selection and appointment of its members. - Authored By: Rep. Penny Houston of the 170th - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Yeas: 160; Nays: 0
HB 866 - Colquitt County; Board of Commissioners; change regular meeting requirements
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to amend the Act recreating and establishing the Colquitt County Board of Commissioners so as to change the regular meeting requirements. - Authored By: Rep. Jay Powell of the 171st - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Yeas: 160; Nays: 0
HB 867 - Polk County; board of commissioners of roads and revenue; revise place of board meeting; provisions
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to amend an Act creating the Polk County Board of Commissioners of roads and revenue. - Authored By: Rep. Trey Kelley of the 16th - House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Local - Rule: Open - Yeas: 160; Nays: 0
* The House will reconvene Tuesday, February 4, at 10:00 AM, for its 16th Legislative Day.
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COMMITTEE ON RULES
* The Rules Committee will next meet on Tuesday, February 4, at 9:30 AM, to set the Rules Calendar for the 17th Legislative Day.

Banks & Banking

COMMITTEE ACTION REPORT

HB 824 - Banking and finance; term "interest" does not include certain fees agreed upon by financial institution and depositor in written agreement between parties; clarify
- BILL SUMMARY: This bill clarifies the difference between financial charges and interest. Overdraft and nonsufficient funds, delinquency or default charges, returned payments, stop payment and automated teller machine charges are not to be considered interest. - Authored By: Rep. Richard Smith of the 134th - Committee Action: Do Pass

Economic Development & Tourism

HB 791 - Taxation; redrawing census tracts shall not disqualify a designated military zone as a less developed area; provide
- BILL SUMMARY: A bill that prevents areas adjacent to designated military zones from losing qualification, as a less developed area, because of redrawing of census tracts. - Authored By: Rep. Ron Stephens of the 164th - Committee Action: Do Pass

Human Relations & Aging

HB 290 - Labor; employees use sick leave for care of immediate family members; allow
- BILL SUMMARY: HB 290 known as the "Family Care Act" would allow employees working for any business with 10 or more employees to use five or more of their accrued sick/medical leave to care for a sick immediate family member; defined as child, spouse or parent. The Commission of Labor will be responsible for setting the rules and implementing this act. - Authored By: Rep. Katie M. Dempsey of the 13th - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Intragovernmental Coordination - Local

HB 851 - Sugar Hill, City of; incorporation of certain parcels of land into corporate limits; provide
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to change the corporate limits of the City of Sugar Hill. - Authored By: Rep. Brooks Coleman of the 97th - Committee Action: Do Pass

Intragovernmental Coordination - Local

HB 862 - Fulton County; Board of Education; amend a definition; provisions
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to amend an Act providing the Fulton County Board of Education a system for pension and retirement pay to teachers and employees. - Authored By: Rep. Harry Geisinger of the 48th - Committee Action: Do Pass

Intragovernmental Coordination - Local

HB 871 - Jeff Davis County; ad valorem tax for education; provide homestead exemption
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to provide a homestead exemption from Jeff Davis County school district ad valorem taxes for educational purposes in the amount of 50 percent of the assessed value of the homestead for residents of that school district who are at least 65 but less than 70 years of age. - Authored By: Rep. Chuck Sims of the 169th - Committee Action: Do Pass

Intragovernmental Coordination - Local
HB 873 - Stephens County Public Facilities Authority Act; enact
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to create the Stephens County Public Facilities Authority and to provide for its powers and duties. - Authored By: Rep. Dan Gasaway of the 28th - Committee Action: Do Pass
Intragovernmental Coordination - Local
HB 879 - Barrow County Community Improvement Districts Act; enact
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to provide for the creation of one or more community improvement districts in Barrow County. - Authored By: Rep. Terry England of the 116th - Committee Action: Do Pass
Intragovernmental Coordination - Local
HB 880 - Barrow County; Redevelopment Powers Law; provide referendum
- BILL SUMMARY: A Bill to authorize Barrow County 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. Terry England of the 116th - Committee Action: Do Pass
Regulated Industries
HB 737 - Alcoholic beverages; malt beverages produced in private residences to be transported to other locations and consumed by the producer and other individuals; allow
- BILL SUMMARY: HB 737 strikes Code Section 3-3-24.1 relating to the definition of "business establishment primarily engaged in the retail sale of alcoholic beverages in unbroken packages", and the penalty for person violating this code section.
HB 737 allows up to 128 ounces of malt beverages produced in a private residence to be transported to an unlicensed location and consumed by the producer, the owner of the unlicensed location, and any guests present at such location. HB 737 also stipulates that a governing authority must obtain a permit to hold home-brew special events within its jurisdiction. - Authored By: Rep. Brett Harrell of the 106th - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute
Regulated Industries
HB 784 - Alcoholic beverages; local authorization and regulation of sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises on Sundays during the St. Patrick's Day holiday period; allow
- BILL SUMMARY: HB 784 allows for local authorization and regulation of the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises on Sundays during the St. Patrick's Day holiday period. - Authored By: Rep. Ron Stephens of the 164th - 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 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM 1:30 PM - 4:00 PM 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Tuesday, February 04, 2014 FLOOR SESSION (LD 16) RULES Academic Support Subcommittee of Education INFORMATION & AUDITS Appropriations General Government Appropriations Education BANKS & BANKING Appropriations Health INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION Highway Regulations Subcommittee of Transportation PUBLIC SAFETY & HOMELAND SECURITY JUDICIARY CIVIL Appropriations Human Resources GAME, FISH & PARKS HIGHER EDUCATION Sales Tax Subcommittee of Ways & Means

HOUSE CHAMBER- 10:00am 341 CAP 515 CLOB 403 CAP 506 CLOB 341 CAP 606 CLOB 515 CLOB 406 CLOB 403 CAP 415 CLOB 132 CAP 415 CLOB 403 CAP 406 CLOB 133 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.