Daily report [Mar. 4, 2014]

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

TOMORROW'S FORECAST
* The House will reconvene for its 32nd Legislative Day on Wednesday, March 5, at 10:00 AM. * 3 bills are expected to be debated on the floor.

Tuesday, March 04, 2014

31st Legislative Day

TODAY ON THE FLOOR
RULES CALENDAR
SB 23 - "Stacey Nicole English Act"; aid in the location of missing persons; incapacitated due to medical conditions; establish
- BILL SUMMARY: Senate bill 23 establishes the Stacey Nicole English Act. It prohibits law enforcement agencies from mandating a minimum waiting period for filing a missing persons report. The response to the report remains at the discretion of the law enforcement agency. The legislation defines a "medically endangered person" and adds such persons to the provisions of the Mattie's Call Act. In the event that a state-wide alert is activated, the law enforcement agencies are not prohibited from taking additional measures in response to the receipt of the missing persons report. Additional prohibition of a minimum waiting period for the activation of an alert or before a report may be given to the bureau is placed on the director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The discretion to activate is left to the director, however. In determining whether to activate the alert, the director and the requesting law enforcement agency are required to take into account the known medical condition of the missing person if the medical condition could reasonably be considered a cause for the inability to locate the person. If such condition may be immediately life-threatening or incapacitating, the director or other authorized person and the requesting law enforcement official shall be authorized, within his or her discretion, to initiate and request, respectively, a state-wide endangered person advisory. Finally, the bill amends Code section 40-2-26 to require the commissioner to provide to a registration applicant an opportunity to designate an alternative emergency contact telephone number that shall be made available to a law enforcement officer making a vehicle tag inquiry in the course of conducting official law enforcement business. - Authored By: Sen. Gail Davenport of the 44th - House Committee: Public Safety & Homeland Security - Rule: Modified-Open - Yeas: 164; Nays: 0
SB 128 - Professional Counselors; revise definitions relating to marriage and family therapy
- BILL SUMMARY: This legislation revises the scope of practice definition of "marriage and family therapy" to include the diagnoses of emotional and mental problems and conditions. It also names the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education as the national accrediting agency for marriage and family therapy education as recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. - Authored By: Sen. Fran Millar of the 40th - House Committee: Regulated Industries - Rule: Modified-Open - Yeas: 136; Nays: 26
* The House will reconvene Wednesday, March 5, at 10:00 AM, for its 32nd Legislative Day.

COMMITTEE ON RULES
The Committee on Rules has fixed the calendar for the 32nd Legislative Day, Wednesday, March 5, and bills may be called at the pleasure of the Speaker.
NEXT ON THE FLOOR
HR 1038 - Georgia Department of Education and others; place Georgia at the forefront of the return of manufacturing to the United States; recognize and encourage
- BILL SUMMARY: A resolution encouraging DOE, TCSG, USG, DCA, and Gov.'s Office of Workforce Development to place Georgia at the forefront of the return of manufacturing in the U.S. - Authored By: Rep. Ron Stephens of the 164th - House Committee: Economic Development & Tourism - House Committee Passed: 2/18/2014 - Rule: Modified-Open
SB 207 - Probation of first offenders; person disqualified from employment when discharged as felony offender; add private home care providers to list
- BILL SUMMARY: SB 207 adds 'private home care provider' to the definition of long-term care facilities. - Authored By: Sen. John Albers of the 56th - House Committee: Judiciary Non-Civil - House Committee Passed: 2/5/2014 - Rule: Modified-Structured
SB 273 - Public Health, Dept. of; required to establish the Maternal Mortality Review Committee to review maternal deaths
- BILL SUMMARY: SB 273 requires the Department of Public Health to establish a Maternal Mortality Review Committee to study and develop strategies to prevent maternal death. The Bill requires health care providers, health care facilities and pharmacies to provide the committee with reasonable access to relevant medical records. These records will not be admissible as evidence in any action of any kind in court. All medical records and findings of the committee shall be confidential. - Authored By: Sen. Dean Burke of the 11th - House Committee: Health & Human Services - House Committee Passed: 2/24/2014 - Rule: Modified-Structured
* The Rules Committee will next meet on Wednesday, March 5, at 9:00 AM, to set the Rules Calendar for the 33rd Legislative Day.

COMMITTEE ACTION REPORT

Judiciary
SR 736 - United States Constitution Article V; apply for a convention of the states
- BILL SUMMARY: Senate Resolution 736 call for a convention of the states under Article V of the United States Constitution. - Authored By: Sen. Cecil Staton of the 18th - Committee Action: Do Pass

Juvenile Justice
HB 1053 - Social services; registered organization are not exempt from regulation of early care and education programs; clarify
- BILL SUMMARY: House Bill 1053 amends Article 7 of Chapter 5 of Title 49 of the official code as it relates to organizations providing services to runaway and homeless youth. The bill amends the language of what youths are serviced by nonprofit charitable organizations. The youths that are serviced include children who have run away or have a history of running away, homeless, at risk of becoming involved with juvenile justice or child welfare, or have been placed by their parent or guardian. - Authored By: Rep. Joyce Chandler of the 105th - Committee Action: Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Public Safety & Homeland Security
SB 305 - Fire Protection and Safety; written notification prior to the denial of a permit; buildings/structures required to meet the state minimum fire safety standards
- BILL SUMMARY: SB 305 amends Chapter 2 of Title 25 of the O.C.G.A. relating to the regulation of fire and other hazards to persons and property generally. Under the new code section 25-2-14.2, a "written notification" is defined as notice citing the specific sections of the applicable codes that have been violated while also describing where and how the design/construction is noncompliant with such codes. The state fire marshal, the proper local fire marshal, state inspector, or designated code official may deny a permit/request for a certificate of occupancy or of completion if they determine that the building construction or plans do not comply with such applicable codes. - Authored By: Sen. Lindsey Tippins of the 37th - 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 - 2:30 PM 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM 2:00 PM - 3:00 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 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Wednesday, March 05, 2014 FLOOR SESSION (LD 32) RULES Academic Support Subcommittee of Education Environmental Quality Subcommittee of Natural Resources General Government Subcommittee of Governmental Affairs Jacobs Subcommittee of Judiciary Civil REGULATED INDUSTRIES ENERGY, UTILITIES & TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEFENSE & VETERANS AFFAIRS RETIREMENT STATE PROPERTIES GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS BUDGET & FISCAL AFFAIRS Resource Subcommittee of Natural Resources EDUCATION Fleming Subcommittee of Judiciary Civil

HOUSE CHAMBER- 10:00am 341 CAP 515 CLOB 605 CLOB 406 CLOB 514 CLOB 506 CLOB 606 CLOB 415 CLOB 515 CLOB 403 CAP 406 CLOB 506 CLOB 605 CLOB 606 CLOB 403 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.