Daily report [Jan. 27, 2016]

House of Representatives

Daily Report for January 27, 2016

Next on the Floor

Georgia House of Representatives
DAILY REPORT

11th Legislative
Day

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

House Budget & Research Office (404) 656-5050

House Media Services (404) 656-0305

The House will reconvene for its 12th Legislative Day on Thursday, January 28 at 10:00 a.m. No bills / resolutions are expected to be debated on the floor.

Next on the Floor from the Committee on Rules
The Committee on Rules has fixed the calendar for the 12th Legislative Day, Thursday, January 28, and bills may be called at the pleasure of the Speaker.

HB 742 Revenue and taxation; Internal Revenue Code; define terms; incorporate certain provisions of federal law into Georgia law
Bill Summary: House Bill 742 is the annual bill to align the Georgia Revenue Code with federal adjustments to the Internal Revenue Code.

Authored By: Rep. David Knight (130th) House Committee: Ways & Means

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Structured 01-25-2016 Do Pass

HB 750 Supplemental appropriations; State Fiscal Year July 1, 2015 - June 30, 2016
Bill Summary: House Bill 750, the Amended FY 2016 budget, recognizes $1.1 billion in additional revenue or 5.3% over the original FY 2016 budget. This includes $758 million in new revenue for transportation that was a result of HB 170 (2015 Session) that was not included in the base budget. This brings the total appropriation for Amended FY 2016 to $22.9 billion.

The bill and budget highlights may be found on the House Budget and Research Office website: http://www.house.ga.gov/budget/

Authored By:

Rep. David Ralston (7th)

House Committee: Appropriations

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Open 01-27-2016 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for January 27, 2016

Committee Actions

Committee Actions
Bills passing committees are reported to the Clerk's Office and are placed on the General Calendar.

Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee
HB 538 Medical records; confidentiality of veterinarian records necessary for medical treatment of an individual; provide an exception
Bill Summary: The legislation provides that a veterinarian shall disclose any medically-relevant information for the care and treatment of any person bitten by or in contact with a rabid animal within a veterinarian's care. Such information shall be made available to the person's physician by the veterinarian within 24 hours of receipt of the written request.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Scot Turner (21st) Agriculture & Consumer Affairs

Committee Action:

01-27-2016 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 579

Motor vehicles; operation of certain vehicles upon highways when used in connection with agricultural pursuits; provide
Bill Summary: The legislation creates a new Code section regarding uniform rules of the road and defines the term "farm vehicle" to mean an all-terrain vehicle, golf cart, low-speed vehicle, moped, multipurpose off-highway vehicle or personal transportation vehicle. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, any person age 18 or older may operate a farm vehicle on a public road, street, or highway when operation is connected with agricultural pursuits upon a tract of land and the vehicle has a slow-moving vehicle emblem. A person operating a farm vehicle pursuant to this Code section is granted all the rights and sis subject to all the duties applicable to the driver of any other vehicle under this chapter.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Tom McCall (33rd) Agriculture & Consumer Affairs

Committee Action:

01-27-2016 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 697

Unsolicited merchandise; solicitors to receive from consumers affirmative assent to continued receipt of certain merchandise following a free trial before charging; require
Bill Summary: HB 697 revises Code section 10-1-50 and provides that no "person", as used in Code section 10-1-2, shall offer for sale goods, wares or merchandise where the offer includes voluntary and unsolicited sending of goods, wares or merchandise not actually ordered or requested by the recipient. The receipt of such goods is deemed an unconditional gift to the recipient who may use or dispose of the items without any obligation to the sender unless the items were delivered as result of a bona fide mistake.

No person shall require payment for the continued provision of any goods, wares, or merchandise following the expiration of a trial period during which the items were provided free of charge unless the recipient of those goods assents to the receipt on a paid basis. In the absence of such assent, the receipt of the merchandise is deemed an unconditional gift to the recipient who may use or dispose of the items, unless the items were delivered as a bona fide mistake, without obligation to the sender.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Tom Kirby (114th) Agriculture & Consumer Affairs

Committee Action:

01-27-2016 Do Pass

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for January 27, 2016

Committee Actions

HB 800

Veterinarians; veterinarian-client-patient relationship; clarify scope
Bill Summary: The legislation defines the "veterinarian-client patient relationship" as a licensed veterinarian who assumes responsibility for making medical judgments regarding the health of an animal, the need for treatment and the client or owner has agreed to follow the instruction of the licensed veterinarian. The licensed veterinarian has sufficient knowledge of the animal to initiate a preliminary diagnosis of the medical condition of the animal by recently having seen and is personally acquainted with the care of the animal through by medically appropriate visits to the premises where the animal is kept or to premises within an operation where the animal or groups of animals are kept. A licensed veterinarian is readily available for follow-up in the case of adverse reactions or failure of the regimen of therapy.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Rick Jasperse (11th) Agriculture & Consumer Affairs

Committee Action:

01-27-2016 Do Pass

HB 815

Meat inspection; inspection and regulation of certain avian meat products and facilities; provide
Bill Summary: The bill provides for the Georgia Department of Agriculture to provide meat inspections of any avian species which are grown commercially for slaughter and preparation as human food but are not amenable to the 'Federal Poultry Products Inspection Act.' The Commissioner may exercise concurrent jurisdiction with the United States secretary of agriculture and may enforce this article and any regulations without regard to licensing agency. The legislation further provides for the department to inspect meat and meat products in retail and other service establishments.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Trey Rhodes (120th) Agriculture & Consumer Affairs

Committee Action:

01-27-2016 Do Pass

Appropriations Committee
HB 750 Supplemental appropriations; State Fiscal Year July 1, 2015 - June 30, 2016
Bill Summary: House Bill 750, the Amended FY 2016 budget, recognizes $1.1 billion in additional revenue or 5.3% over the original FY 2016 budget. This includes $758 million in new revenue for transportation that was a result of HB 170 (2015 Session) that was not included in the base budget. This brings the total appropriation for Amended FY 2016 to $22.9 billion.

The bill and budget highlights may be found on the House Budget and Research Office website: http://www.house.ga.gov/budget/

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. David Ralston (7th) Appropriations

Committee Action:

01-27-2016 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Code Revision Committee
HB 737 Code Revision Commission; revise, modernize and correct errors of said Code
Bill Summary: The bill revises, modernizes, corrects errors or omissions, removes obsolete and unconstitutional references in Georgia Code as recommended by the Code Revision Commission.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Johnnie Caldwell (131st) Code Revision

Committee Action:

01-27-2016 Do Pass

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for January 27, 2016

Committee Actions

Industry and Labor Committee
HB 402 Insurance; encourage employers to provide work based learning opportunities for students age 16 and older; provisions
Bill Summary: House Bill 402 provides for a five percent discount in worker's compensation insurance premiums for employers that provide work-based learning opportunities for students aged 16 years and older. Any work-based learning program must be certified by the State Board of Education. The participating student must be covered by the employer's worker's compensation policy.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Eddie Lumsden (12th) Industry and Labor

Committee Action:

01-27-2016 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Retirement Committee
HB 421 Retirement and pensions; officers employed by Department of Community Supervision shall be entitled to certain disability benefits; provide
Bill Summary: HB 421 amends O.C.G.A. 47-2-221 relating to the eligibility of Employees' Retirement System's enhanced disability benefits. This bill entitles community supervision officers employed by the Department of Community Supervision to enhanced disability benefits if they become permanently disabled due to an act of external violence or injury incurred in the line of law enforcement duty. This bill is certified by the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts as a nonfiscal retirement bill. The actuary has determined that a state appropriation is not required to implement the changes set forth in this bill.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Chad Nimmer (178th) Retirement

Committee Action:

01-27-2016 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 508

Appellate court judges; age of eligibility for certain benefits; decrease
Bill Summary: HB 508 amends O.C.G.A. 47-2-244 relating to retirement benefits payable to appellate court judges covered under the Employees' Retirement System of Georgia. The eligibility age to receive normal retirement benefits would decrease from age 65 to age 60. This bill has been certified by the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts as a fiscal retirement bill. The actuary has determined that a state appropriation of $455,000 per year for the next 20 years is required to implement the changes set forth in this bill. It is recommended that the employer contribution rate for appellate court judges be increased from 49.9 percent to 64.12 percent.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Barry Fleming (121st) Retirement

Committee Action:

01-27-2016 Do Pass

HB 635

Judges of Probate Courts Retirement Fund; increase number of years of mandatory contribution; provisions
Bill Summary: HB 635 amends O.C.G.A. 47-23-63 relating to member dues and creditable service for the Judges of the Probate Courts Retirement Fund. This bill increases the period of time in which a member must pay dues from 20 years to 30 years. Also, any member who is active on July 1, 2016 may obtain creditable service for any service in excess of 20 years as judge of the probate court, employee of the board, or secretary or treasurer, but not more than the number of years of service or 30 years, whichever is less. Any member who wishes to receive creditable service must apply and pay the member contributions they would have paid during that time period plus seven percent interest. This bill has been certified by the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts as a fiscal retirement bill. The actuary has determined that a state appropriation is not required to implement the changes set forth in this bill; the $311,000 per year cost for 30 years will be paid through fines, fees, and bond forfeitures.

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for January 27, 2016

Committee Actions

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. James Epps (144th) Retirement

Committee Action:

01-27-2016 Tabled

HB 690

Employees' Retirement System of Georgia; provide that certain law enforcement officers obtain creditable service in system under certain conditions; provisions
Bill Summary: HB 690 amends O.C.G.A. 47-2-226 relating to creditable service for certain members of the Employees' Retirement System (ERS). In this bill, the definition of "law enforcement officer" is expanded to include any member in service of the Uniform Division of the Department of Public Safety, any conservation ranger of the Department of Natural Resources, any officer of the Georgia Bureau of the Investigation, and any alcohol and tobacco officer or agent with the Department of Revenue. Any "law enforcement officer" would be eligible to obtain five years of creditable service for certain prior year service as a full time employee of a local governing authority. The "law enforcement officer" would have to meet the following criteria to receive creditable service: held a position where they were invested with the authority to enforce criminal or traffic laws, had the power to arrest, and had duties which included the preservation of public order, the protection of life and property, or the prevention, detection or investigation of crime; was not eligible for a defined benefit or defined contribution retirement or pension plan while employed by the local governing authority; and has been a member of ERS for at least 10 years. Any member wishing to receive creditable service must apply to the Board of Trustees of ERS and pay an amount determined to be sufficient to cover the full actuarial cost of granting creditable service. This bill has been certified by the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts as a fiscal retirement bill. The actuary has determined that a state appropriation is not required to implement the changes set forth in this bill.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Amy Carter (175th) Retirement

Committee Action:

01-27-2016 Do Pass

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for January 27, 2016

Committee Actions

Committee Meeting Schedule
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.

Thursday, January 28, 2016 10:00 AM FLOOR SESSION (LD 12) HOUSE CHAMBER
12:00 PM Judiciary Non-Civil Setzler Sub 515 CLOB 1:30 PM Education Sub on Academic Achievement & Curriculum 415 CLOB 2:00 PM JUDICIARY CIVIL 132 CLOB 2:00 PM TRANSPORTATION 506 CLOB 2:00 PM JUVENILE JUSTICE 406 CLOB 3:00 PM State Government Administrative Subcommittee 415 CLOB

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