Daily report [Feb. 22, 2016]

Georgia House of Representatives

DAILY REPORT 25th Legislative Day

Monday, February 22, 2016

House Budget & Research Office (404) 656-5050

House Media Services (404) 656-0305

The House will reconvene for its 26th Legislative Day on Tuesday, February 23 at 10:00 a.m. The Rules committee will meet at 9:00 a.m. 16 bills / resolutions are expected to be debated on the floor.

Today on the Floor

Rules Calendar
HB 763 Sales and use tax; exemption regarding certain food and food ingredients; remove sunset
Bill Summary: This legislation provides a sales and use tax exemption to companies that donate nearly-expired food to food banks. Under current law, the food would not be taxed if it were thrown away, but it would be subject to a sales and use tax if donated in bulk to a food bank shortly before expiration. The bill has a sunset provision ending in 2021.

Authored By: Rep. Penny Houston (170th) House Committee: Ways & Means

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 168 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Structured 02-17-2016 Do Pass

HB 784

Insurance; advertising and promotional items not exceeding $100 will not be considered an unfair trade practice; provide
Bill Summary: House Bill 784 clarifies the prohibition of gifts from insurance agents to their current or prospective clients. It allows a gift, not to exceed $50 per year, for promotional purposes. The gift cannot be contingent upon the purchase of a policy or other product.

Authored By: Rep. John Carson (46th) House Committee: Insurance

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 170 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Open 02-17-2016 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 808

Courts; Judicial Qualifications Commission; create
Bill Summary: HB 808 adds new Code section 15-1-12.1 to create a new selection process for the Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC). The new JQC would still consist of seven members where two judges of any court of record are selected by the Supreme Court. The governor will make three appointments rather than the board of governors of the State Bar making those three appointments (one of which shall be a members of the State Bar of Georgia with at least ten years active status and the other two non-attorneys). The Speaker of the House and President of the Senate will each have one appointment. The new JQC could also adopt procedures for its own governance which are not otherwise provided by the Constitution. The bill also amends 50-14-3, to remove JQC meetings from being exempt from open meetings requirements. HR 1113 is the companion legislation that provides the amendment to the Constitution necessitating the general law provisions. Additionally, the Supreme Court of Georgia shall review decisions by the JQC.

Authored By: Rep. Wendell Willard (51st) House Committee: Judiciary

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 123 Nays: 45

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-11-2016 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Page 1 of 14

House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 22, 2016

Today on the Floor

HB 831

"Protecting Guardmen's Employment Act"; enact
Bill Summary: This legislation includes all armed forces reservists under the existing reemployment protections of the Georgia National Guard for civilian reemployment after being discharged from active service.

Authored By: Rep. Calvin Smyre (135th) House Committee: Defense & Veterans Affairs

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 165 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Open 02-10-2016 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 859

Firearms; weapons carry license holders; carrying and possession of certain weapons in certain buildings or real property owned or leased to public institutions of postsecondary education; authorize
Bill Summary: HB 859 amends Code relating to carrying weapons within a school safety zone to allow for license holders to keep their weapon on their person while in or on any building or real property owned by or leased to any technical school, vocational school, college, university, or other institution of postsecondary education. This exception will not apply to buildings or property used for athletic events or student housing including sorority and fraternity houses and only applies to the carrying of handguns which are concealed.

Authored By: Rep. Rick Jasperse (11th)

Rule Applied:

House Committee: Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee Action:

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 113 Nays: 59

Modified-Structured 02-16-2016 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 903

Labor and industrial relations; employment security; prevent fraud and abuse of the Unemployment Trust Fund
Bill Summary: HB 903 allows cross-referencing information across state departments to enhance the financial accountability of the Unemployment Trust Fund. The commissioner of the Department of Labor, or his or her duly authorized representative, may submit to the state revenue commissioner the names, earnings and social security numbers of any individuals who are required to report earnings to the department. The state revenue commissioner shall compare the submitted earnings with the income reported by the individuals to verify and report back to the Labor Department that the submitted earnings are equal to, greater than, or less than the amount of income reported by the individual to the Department of Revenue. Furthermore, the Labor Department may submit to the state revenue commissioner the name of any employer, along with the number of employees they report, during specified time periods. The state revenue commissioner shall compare those records with the number of employees reported by that employer to the Department of Revenue to verify and report back to the Labor Department that the number of employees reported to the department is equal to, greater than, or less than the number of employees reported to the Department of Revenue for state income tax withholding purposes for the specified time period.

Authored By: Rep. Brian Strickland (111th) House Committee: Industry and Labor

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 171 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-10-2016 Do Pass

HB 904

Labor and industrial relations; employment security; change certain contribution rates and credits
Bill Summary: House Bill 904 revises the repeal dates for the Code sections addressing employers' contributions to the Unemployment Trust Fund and modifies the division of the employer's contribution between the Unemployment Trust Fund and the Administrative Assessment.

Authored By: Rep. Brian Strickland (111th) House Committee: Industry and Labor

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 172 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-10-2016 Do Pass

Page 2 of 14

House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 22, 2016

Today on the Floor

HB 910

Health records; provisions relating to costs of copying and mailing patient records apply to psychiatric, psychological, and other mental health records; provide
Bill Summary: HB 910 amends O.C.G.A 31-33-3, relating to costs of copying and mailing health records and patient's rights as to records, by expanding this Code section to apply to psychiatric, psychological, and other mental health records of a patient.

Authored By: Rep. Spencer Frye (118th) House Committee: Health & Human Services

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 166 Nays: 1

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Open 02-16-2016 Do Pass

HB 965

"The Honorable Jimmy Carter Cancer Treatment Access Act"; enact
Bill Summary: House Bill 965 creates 'The Honorable Jimmy Carter Cancer Treatment Access Act.' It provides that no health benefit plan issued, delivered, or renewed in this state that directly or indirectly covers the treatment of stage four advanced, metastatic cancer as a provision of hospital, medical, or surgical services, shall limit or exclude coverage for a drug approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. It prohibits a plan from requiring that a patient prove a history of failure of such drug or drugs before administering an alternative drug used in best practices and supported by peer reviewed literature.

Authored By: Rep. Mike Cheokas (138th) House Committee: Insurance

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 166 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Open 02-17-2016 Do Pass

HR 1113 Judicial Qualifications Commission; create - CA
Bill Summary: HR 1113 amends Georgia Constitution Paragraph VI Section VII of Article VI by abolishing the existing Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC) as of December 31, 2016, in order for the General Assembly to create and provide by general law for the composition, manner of appointment, and governance of a new Judicial Qualifications Commission. The new commission would still have the power to discipline, remove, and cause involuntary retirement of judges, those provisions would not change. This bill would also provide that the JQC will be required to comport with due process requirements and its decisions be subject to review.

This amendment will be published for ballot approval as provided in Article X, Section I, Paragraph II of the Constitution.

Authored By: Rep. Wendell Willard (51st) House Committee: Judiciary

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 125 Nays: 43

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-11-2016 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Page 3 of 14

House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 22, 2016

Next on the Floor

Next on the Floor from the Committee on Rules
The Committee on Rules has fixed the calendar for the 26th Legislative Day, Tuesday, February 23, and bills may be called at the pleasure of the Speaker. The Rules Committee will next meet on Tuesday, February
23, at 9:00 a.m., to set the Rules Calendar for the 27th Legislative Day.

HB 93

Motor vehicles; law enforcement retaining license plate data obtained from automated license plate recognition systems for certain periods; prohibit
Bill Summary: House Bill 93 defines "automated license plate recognition system" and "captured license plate data" in the Code. Automated license plate recognition system means one or more highspeed cameras combined with computer algorithms to convert images of license plates into computer readable data. Captured license plate data means the GPS coordinates, data/time, photograph, license plate number, and any other data collected by the automated license plate recognition system. The data collect shall be destroyed by the law enforcement agency that collects the data after 90 days unless the data is the subject matter of a toll violation or law enforcement purpose. The bill allows law enforcement agencies to exchange data with other law enforcement agencies for official purposes but imposes penalties for improper use. Finally, the bill states that data collected is not subject to open records requests.

Authored By: Rep. John Pezold (133rd)

Rule Applied:

House Committee: Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee

Action:

Modified-Structured 02-09-2016 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 768 Handicapped persons; ABLE program establishment to use tax exempt accounts to pay for qualified expenses of eligible individuals with disabilities; provisions
Bill Summary: This legislation establishes the Georgia Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Program, which is modeled after education savings plans under Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code. The bill allows disabled individuals to save private funds in tax-exempt accounts to pay for qualified disability expenses without becoming ineligible for Medicaid by possessing over $2,000 in assets. The governing corporation will have a board of directors consisting of the: commissioner of the Department of Community Health, commissioner of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, state auditor, state treasurer, and three members appointed by the governor. Georgia may also participate jointly with other states with ABLE programs to raise the necessary assets required to fund the program.

Authored By: Rep. Lee Hawkins (27th) House Committee: Ways & Means

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Structured 02-17-2016 Do Pass

HB 792 Firearms; carrying, possession, and use of electroshock weapons by persons who are students or who are employed at a public institution; authorize
Bill Summary: House bill 792 would allow anyone at any postsecondary education institutions to carry electroshock weapons on campus. The bill requires the use of that weapon to be only in self-defense or the defense of another.

Authored By:

Rep. Buzz Brockway (102nd)

Rule Applied:

House Committee: Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-16-2016 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 804

Superior courts; fifth judge of the Clayton Judicial Circuit; provide

Bill Summary: HB 804 adds a fifth judge to the superior courts of the Clayton Judicial Circuit. The

additional judge will be appointed by the governor for a term beginning July 1, 2016 and continuing

through December 31, 2018. The Clayton Judicial Circuit is also empowered to appoint an additional

court reporter.

Authored By:

Rep. Ronnie Mabra (63rd)

Rule Applied: Modified-Open

House Committee: Judiciary

Committee Action:

02-04-2016 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Page 4 of 14

House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 22, 2016

Next on the Floor

HB 827 "Pursuing Justice for Rape Victims Act"; enact
Bill Summary: HB 827 outlines requirements for recording and reporting evidence collected during a forensic medical evaluation for investigations of rape or aggravated sodomy. Law enforcement officers collecting such evidence are required to provide notification to the GBI division of forensic sciences (the division). The bill also requires law enforcement to submit the evidence within 30 days and follow the procedures of the division, regardless of whether the evidence will be tested.

In addition, every law enforcement agency in the state is required to create a list of evidence resulting from any forensic medical evaluation during an investigation of rape or aggravated sodomy in the agency's possession on July 1, 2016. The list must be submitted to the division by September 16, 2016 and must identify whether the listed evidence should be tested or stored. Evidence on the list must be transferred to the division no later than November 16, 2016.

HB 827 requires the division to issue an annual report detailing the number of rape and aggravated sodomy cases for which the division has tested or stored in evidence. The division is required to submit this annual report to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Lieutenant Governor, the House Committee on Judiciary, House Committee on Judiciary Non-Civil, and the Senate Judiciary Non-civil Committee.

Authored By: Rep. Scott Holcomb (81st) House Committee: Judiciary Non-Civil

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-10-2016 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 851 Local government; annual audit of financial affairs, books, and records of boards of trustees of county law libraries; require
Bill Summary: HB 851 requires county law libraries to have an annual audit of its financial affairs, books, and accounts performed by a certified public accountant.

Authored By: Rep. Alex Atwood (179th)

Rule Applied:

House Committee: Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight Committee

Action:

Modified-Open 02-18-2016 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 856 Probate courts; bond required for judges; change provisions
Bill Summary: HB 856 increases the base bond or surety amount from $25,000 to $100,000 for probate judges.

Authored By:

Rep. Barry Fleming (121st)

House Committee: Judiciary

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Open 02-04-2016 Do Pass

HB 900 Crimes and offenses; electronic data base of prescription information; authorize the retention of data base information for 2 years
Bill Summary: HB 900 amends O.C.G.A 16-13-59 to allow the Georgia Drugs and Narcotics Agency (the "agency") to retain aggregated prescription information for two years, instead of one year, from the date the information is received.

Additionally, HB 900 amends O.C.G.A 16-13-60 to allow the agency to provide requested prescription information to delegates of such persons authorized to prescribe or dispense control substances. These delegates must be members of the prescriber or dispenser's staff and the delegates must retrieve and review information for the purposes of determining misuse, abuse, or underutilization of prescribed medicine. Additionally, the agency can provide requested prescription information to state and local law enforcement upon the issuance of a search warrant from an appropriate court or official in the county in which the office of such law enforcement officials are located. Finally, the agency can provide requested prescription information to the Department of Community Health for the state Medicaid program.

Authored By:

Rep. Sharon Cooper (43rd)

House Committee: Health & Human Services

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Page 5 of 14

Modified-Structured 02-16-2016 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 22, 2016

Next on the Floor

HB 923 Sales and use tax; fire districts which have elected governing bodies and are supported by ad valorem taxes; provide exemption
Bill Summary: This legislation exempts fire districts which have elected government bodies and are supported in whole or in part by ad valorem taxes from sales and use taxes.

Authored By: Rep. Regina Quick (117th) House Committee: Ways & Means

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Structured 02-17-2016 Do Pass

HB 941 Courts; review of incidents involving a peace officer's use of deadly force that results in death or

serious bodily injury; provide for procedure

Bill Summary: HB 941 changes the process for pre-trial inquiries and indictments for review od

incidents involving the use of deadly force by peace officers which results in death or serious bodily

injury. The bill allows an inquiry into use of deadly force by a police officer to be initiated either by

vote of 12 members of a standing grand jury or by the county District Attorney. The bill also enables

District Attorneys in all counties to empanel a special grand jury for the investigation of these incidents.

The proceedings exclude charges for non-serious traffic offenses.

Review by a civil grand jury must begin within one year of the incident but cannot begin until after

the law enforcement agency investigating the incident has submitted their investigative report. The civil

grand jury may not initiate an investigation if the DA has moved to indict the officer. At least 20 days

prior to beginning the inquiry, the peace officer involved and the CEO of the officer's agency must

receive notice of the proceeding.

During the proceeding, the DA is required to advise the grand jury of laws which apply to the use of

deadly force, including: justification for the use of force, use of force in the defense of others, and the

statutory authorization for the use of deadly force by law enforcement officers to effect an arrest.

All proceedings shall be recorded by a court reporter provided by the county. In the event that the

grand jury elects not to recommend further action, the grand jury must prepare a report containing a

summary of the evidence considered and the reasoning and findings of the grand jury. The transcript of

the proceeding, the presented evidence, and the grand jury report will be made available to the public by

the District Attorney within 6 months or by the end of the next term of the court, whichever is later.

Portions of the report or evidence that are subject to statutory privilege may be redacted only on motion

by the DA and approval of a Superior Court Judge.

For criminal grand jury proceedings, the DA or the accused officer may request a court reporter, who

will be appointed by the DA and paid for by the county. The transcript will be furnished to the DA, who

will retain recordings, notes, and the transcript of the recording. For testimony of a witness who has

been granted immunity, the original transcript will be filed with the court clerk under seal and a copy

will be given to the DA.

At least 20 days prior to beginning the indictment, the peace officer involved and the CEO of the

officer's agency must receive, in writing, a copy of the indictment, notice of the grand jury hearing, as

well as the time and location of the hearing. The officer must also be notified of his right to testify

before the grand jury after the DA has presented their case and that their testimony will be subject to

cross examination and/or rebuttal witnesses.

The DA must inform the Grand Jury of the officer's right to testify or refuse testimony and the

inapplicability of that decision to their decision. During the proceeding, the DA is required to advise the

grand jury of laws which apply to the use of deadly force, including: justification for the use of force,

use of force in the defense of others, and the statutory authorization for the use of deadly force by law

enforcement officers to effect an arrest.

At any time during the proceedings, the grand jury may instruct the DA to create a new bill of

indictment, which must be subsequently provided to the officer. During deliberation, no individual

other than grand jury members or needed interpreters may be present.

Authored By:

Rep. Rich Golick (40th)

Rule Applied: Modified-Structured

House Committee: Judiciary Non-Civil

Committee Action:

02-17-2016 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Page 6 of 14

House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 22, 2016

Next on the Floor

HB 944

Health; pronouncement of death of patients in nursing homes who are organ donors by a physician assistant or registered professional nurse; provide
Bill Summary: HB 944 would allow a physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or a registered professional nurse to pronounce the death of a patient in a nursing home if said patient dies of natural causes. Further, this bill allows a physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or a registered professional nurse employed by a hospice to pronounce the death of a patient in hospice care.

Authored By:

Rep. Sheri Gilligan (24th)

House Committee: Health & Human Services

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Open 02-16-2016 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 970

Fire protection and safety; issuance of certificates of compliance for fire departments; revise requirements
Bill Summary: House bill 970 revises and updates Title 25 relating to fire protection and safety relating to issuance of certificates, definitions, functions and powers of the Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council, and qualifications of firefighters.

Authored By: Rep. Eddie Lumsden (12th)

Rule Applied:

House Committee: Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee Action:

Modified-Open 02-16-2016 Do Pass

HB 975 Commerce and trade; assets and liabilities; provide certain updates to the standard valuation law
Bill Summary: House bill 975 updates Georgia's Principal Based Reserve standard in order to maintain its accreditation with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' requirements.

Authored By: Rep. Jason Shaw (176th) House Committee: Insurance

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Open 02-17-2016 Do Pass

HB 1030 Georgia Seed Development Commission; change certain provisions
Bill Summary: HB 1030 refines the Georgia Seed Development Commission Board by updating the definition of "licensee" members as "the holder of a license authorizing the propagation and marketing of seed, turfgrass, or horticultural plants developed by the College of Agricultural and Environmental Science of the University of Georgia" for membership in the Georgia Seed Development Commission. In addition, it makes the associate dean for research of the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences of the University of Georgia a nonvoting participant and adds another licensee as a non-voting member.

Authored By: Rep. Sam Watson (172nd) House Committee: Agriculture & Consumer Affairs

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Open 02-17-2016 Do Pass

HR 1312 Houston County; certain property currently dedicated as a heritage preserve; authorize the change of use
Bill Summary: HR 1312 authorizes the Department of Transportation to use approximately three acres of a heritage preserve in Houston County belonging to the Department of Natural Resources for the widening of State Route 96.

Authored By:

Rep. Barbara Sims (123rd)

House Committee: State Properties

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-17-2016 Do Pass

HR 1363 House Special Study Committee on Judicial Qualifications Commission Reform; create
Bill Summary: HR 1363 creates a study committee for the reform of the Judicial Qualifications Commission. The committee has the authority to issue and enforce subpoenas for witness and documents. The committee is composed of seven members to be appointed by the speaker of the House.

Authored By:

Rep. Wendell Willard (51st)

House Committee: Rules

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-17-2016 Do Pass

Page 7 of 14

House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 22, 2016

Committee Actions

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

Human Relations & Aging Committee
HB 934 Human Services, Department of; website providing kinship caregivers with information and access to apply for public assistance benefits; provide
Bill Summary: HB 934 authorizes the Department of Human Services to provide a separate link or portal on its website specifically for kinship caregivers in order to provide information on public assistance benefits.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Tom Kirby (114th) Human Relations & Aging

Committee Action:

02-22-2016 Do Pass

Insurance Committee
HB 838 Insurance; carriers that sell certain health plans through an agent shall compensate such agent a minimum of 5 percent of collected premiums; provide
Bill Summary: HB 838 requires insurance companies that sell health insurance plans through an agent in Georgia to compensate the agent with a minimum of five percent of the collected premium required for small group policies and four percent of the collected premium required for individual policies.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Shaw Blackmon (146th) Insurance

Committee Action:

02-22-2016 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 943

Contracts; additional limitations on indemnification and duty to defeat clauses which are void and enforceable in contracts for engineering or architectural services; provide
Bill Summary: House Bill 943 addresses the use of indemnification clauses in contracts that force architects and engineers to indemnify other parties, even when there is no fault by the engineer or architect. It codifies case law and prohibits parties in construction contracts from having to indemnify another party within said contract for that third parties' negligence.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Carl Rogers (29th) Insurance

Committee Action:

02-22-2016 Do Pass

Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
HB 1010 Cobb County; Board of Commissioners; compensation of the chairperson and other commissioners; change provisions
Bill Summary: A Bill to amend an Act creating the Board of Commissioners of Cobb County, so as to change the provisions relating to the compensation of the chairperson and other commissioners of the board.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. John Carson (46th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Committee Action:

02-22-2016 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Page 8 of 14

House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 22, 2016

Committee Actions

HB 1038 Eatonton, City of; levy an excise tax Bill Summary: A Bill to authorize the City of Eatonton to levy a hotel/motel tax.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Trey Rhodes (120th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Committee Action:

02-22-2016 Do Pass

HB 1042 Polk County; Board of Commissioners; change provisions relating to the filling of vacancies of members
Bill Summary: A Bill to amend an Act to create a Board of Commissioners of Roads and Revenues, so as to change provisions relating to the filling of vacancies in the offices of members of the governing authority.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Trey Kelley (16th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Committee Action:

02-22-2016 Do Pass

HB 1044 Lowndes County; election of the Board of Tax Assessors; repeal
Bill Summary: A Bill to repeal the amendment to the Constitution of Georgia providing the election of the Board of Tax Assessors of Lowndes County and thereby end the elective terms of members of the Board of Tax Assessors of Lowndes County on December 31, 2020.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. John Corbett (174th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Committee Action:

02-22-2016 Do Pass

HB 1047 Coweta County; State Court; revise terms
Bill Summary: A Bill to amend an Act continuing the State Court of Coweta County, so as to revise the terms of court of the State Court of Coweta County.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Lynn Smith (70th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Committee Action:

02-22-2016 Do Pass

HB 1048 Houston County; Commission on Children and Youth; repeal an Act
Bill Summary: A Bill to repeal an Act creating the Houston County Commission on Children and Youth.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Shaw Blackmon (146th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Committee Action:

02-22-2016 Do Pass

HB 1049 Savannah, City of; Board of Public Education; authorize to censure its members
Bill Summary: A Bill to amend an Act to provide for the Board of Public Education for the City of Savannah and Chatham County.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Ron Stephens (164th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Committee Action:

02-22-2016 Do Pass

HB 1050 Savannah, City of; mayor and aldermen; authorize to censure its members
Bill Summary: A Bill to amend several Acts relating to and incorporating the mayor and aldermen of the City of Savannah, so as to authorize members of the governing body to censure its members.

Page 9 of 14

House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 22, 2016

Committee Actions

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Ron Stephens (164th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Committee Action:

02-22-2016 Do Pass

HB 1051 Chatham County; governing authority; provide additional power of the board to censure members
Bill Summary: A Bill revising the laws relative to the governing authority of Chatham County, so as to provide for an additional power of the board to censure members.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Ron Stephens (164th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Committee Action:

02-22-2016 Do Pass

Judiciary Non-Civil Committee
HB 979 Crimes and offenses; assault and battery; increase the punishment committed upon hospital emergency department and medical services personnel
Bill Summary: HB 979 increases the penalty for the offense of aggravated assault on hospital emergency, and medical services personnel when those individuals are in the performance of their duty. The penalty is a felony punishable with imprisonment from 5 to 20 years.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Johnnie Caldwell (131st) Judiciary Non-Civil

Committee Action:

02-22-2016 Do Pass

Juvenile Justice Committee
HB 825 "Protecting Military Children Act"; enact
Bill Summary: HB 825 requires the child welfare agency to notify the Department of Defense Family Advocacy Program if it is determined that suspected child abuse has involved a military parent or guardian.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Earnest Smith (125th) Juvenile Justice

Committee Action:

02-22-2016 Do Pass

HB 887

Courts; parental rights; prioritize placement of a child with an adult or fictive kin qualified to care for such child
Bill Summary: HB 887 prioritizes the placement of a child with a relative who is an adult or fictive kin when such individual is qualified to care for such child and it is in the best interests of the child in a dependency hearing.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Chuck Efstration (104th) Juvenile Justice

Committee Action:

02-22-2016 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 962

Human Services, Department of; creation, appointment, removal, and duties of a kinship care enforcement administrator; provide
Bill Summary: HB 962 creates the position of Kinship Care Enforcement Administrator within the Department of Human Services which is approved and removed by the board, subject to the approval of the Governor. The purpose of the position is to coordinate and ensure compliance with Federal regulations regarding children being raised by family members of that child or close family friends.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Stacey Abrams (89th) Juvenile Justice

Committee Action:

02-22-2016 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Page 10 of 14

House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 22, 2016

Committee Actions

State Planning & Community Affairs Committee
HB 749 State government; councils to meet by teleconference or similar means; authorize
Bill Summary: HB 749 allows regional commission councils to meet by teleconference or similar means.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. William Werkheiser (157th) State Planning & Community Affairs Committee
Action:

02-22-2016 Do Pass

Ways & Means Committee
HB 899 Commerce and trade; tobacco product manufacturers; revise and add certain definitions
Bill Summary: This legislation makes certain changes to Georgia's escrow laws relating to tobacco product manufacturers to satisfy state commitments relating to the tobacco master settlement agreement.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Jay Powell (171st) Ways & Means

Committee Action:

02-22-2016 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 911

Sales and use tax; agricultural machinery and equipment; provide exemption
Bill Summary: This legislation makes changes to the Georgia Agricultural Tax Exemption (GATE) program. It raises the threshold for the GATE card from $2,500 to $10,000 in order to preserve the exemption for career farmers. It requires retailers to separate GATE purchases from other purchases and to validate those purchases. It requires the transfer of public tax information from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Revenue so that the Department of Revenue can track GATE purchases and perform oversight over GATE participants, and the transfer of such information is protected by confidentiality provisions contained within the bill. The Department of Agriculture is also authorized to raise GATE annual fees up to $150 per year, prorated in monthly increments.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Geoff Duncan (26th) Ways & Means

Committee Action:

02-22-2016 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 919

Health; rural health care organizations which provide health care services to underserved areas; approve
Bill Summary: This legislation provides for tax credits to rural 'health care organizations,' defined as health organizations located in rural counties, participating in both Medicaid and Medicare, providing health care to primarily indigent patients, and receiving at least 25% of their gross net revenues from the treatment of indigent patients.
In the case of a single individual or head of household, the credit shall be for 90% of the actual amount expended or $2,500 per year, whichever is less. In the case of a married couple filing a joint return, the credit shall be for 90% of the actual amount expended or $5,000 per year, whichever or less. In the case of a corporation, the credit shall not exceed 90% of the amount expended or 75% of the corporation's income tax liability, whichever is less. The tax credit cannot exceed a taxpayer's income tax liability. Credits can carry forward, but cannot be applied retroactively. Aggregate tax credits are capped at $250 million per year.

To apply for the credit, the donor must notify the Department of Public Health of the total amount of contributions, at which point the Department will preapprove the donation within 30 days. The donation must then be made by the donor within 60 days of receiving preapproval from the Department.

Page 11 of 14

House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 22, 2016

Committee Actions

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Geoff Duncan (26th) Ways & Means

Committee Action:

02-22-2016 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 922

Income tax credit; creating quality jobs; add definition of taxpayer
Bill Summary: This legislation provides that a taxpayer may elect to include disregarded entities, as defined by the Internal Revenue Code, as part of the taxpayer for purposes of calculating the number of new quality jobs created under a jobs tax credit.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Bruce Williamson (115th) Ways & Means

Committee Action:

02-22-2016 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 935 Ad valorem tax; properties eligible for a freeport exemption; add certain fulfillment centers
Bill Summary: HB 935 adds certain fulfillment centers to properties eligible for a freeport exemption for inventory retained in Georgia until the inventory can be transported out of the state.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Brett Harrell (106th) Ways & Means

Committee Action:

02-22-2016 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 951

Sales and use tax; admissions to major sporting events; create exemption
Bill Summary: This legislation provides a sales and use tax exemption for admission to major sporting events determined by the commissioner of the Department of Revenue to generate at least $50 million in state revenue, to include: the National Football League championship; any semifinal or championship of a national collegiate tournament; Major League Baseball; Major League Soccer; or National Basketball Association all-star game. The House and Senate have oversight and can overturn any decision to apply the exemption by the Department of Economic Development.

The bill also provides a "back-to-school" sales tax holiday and the tax exemption period for energy efficient products.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Chad Nimmer (178th) Ways & Means

Committee Action:

02-22-2016 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 981

Taxation; certain for profit corporations to participate in the indirect ownership of a home for the mentally disabled for primarily financing purpose; allow
Bill Summary: This legislation provides a property tax exemption on homes for the mentally disabled indirectly owned by limited liability companies (LLCs) if the LLC's parent organization is qualified 501(c)(3)organization under Internal Revenue Code.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Brett Harrell (106th) Ways & Means

Committee Action:

02-22-2016 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 987

Ad valorem tax; property; change certain definitions
Bill Summary: This legislation allows all or part of a property that is subject to conservation use restrictions to be used to host a non-profit rodeo event to which admission is charged in an amount that, on aggregate, does not exceed the cost of hosting the event.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Jay Powell (171st) Ways & Means

Committee Action:

02-22-2016 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 22, 2016

Committee Actions

HB 991

Ad valorem tax; property; change certain definitions
Bill Summary: This legislation provides that a tax commissioner shall waive the collection of penalties and interest resulting from a default on ad valorem taxes when that tax commissioner can determine that a default was due to a taxpayer's active duty military service in a combat zone, provided that the taxpayer makes full payment within thirty days of returning from active duty.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Jay Powell (171st) Ways & Means

Committee Action:

02-22-2016 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Page 13 of 14

House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 22, 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.

Tuesday, February 23, 2016 10:00 AM Floor Session (LD 26) House Chamber 9:00 AM RULES 341 CAP 1:00 PM TRANSPORTATION 406 CLOB 1:00 PM JUVENILE JUSTICE 506 CLOB 2:00 PM HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES 606 CLOB 2:00 PM REGULATED INDUSTRIES 506 CLOB 2:00 PM Energy Sub 403 CAP 3:00 PM Setzler Sub Judiciary Non-Civil 415 CLOB 3:00 PM PUBLIC SAFETY & HOMELAND SECURITY 406 CLOB 3:15 PM Special Sub Regulated Industries 506 CLOB 3:30 PM HIGHER EDUCATION 606 CLOB 4:00 PM Caldwell Sub Judiciary Civil 132 CAP 4:00 PM Ballinger Sub Juvenile Justice 515 CLOB

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