Daily report [Feb. 4, 2016]

Georgia House of Representatives

DAILY REPORT 16th Legislative Day

Thursday, February 4, 2016

House Budget & Research Office (404) 656-5050

House Media Services (404) 656-0305

The House will reconvene for its 17th Legislative Day on Monday, February 8 at 11:00 a.m. The Rules committee will meet at 10:00 a.m. 6 bills / resolutions are expected to be debated on the floor.

Today on the Floor

Rules Calendar
HB 228 Sheriffs; collect and deposit certain fees; provide
Bill Summary: HB 228 clarifies that in all counties where the sheriff is paid on salary alone, the fees for sheriff's services allowed under Code Section 15-16-21 must be remitted to the county treasurer or fiscal officer.

Authored By: Rep. J. B. Jones (167th) House Committee: Judiciary

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 164 Nays: 3

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 01-28-2016 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 593

Low-voltage Contractors, Division of; require continuing education; authorize
Bill Summary: HB 593 allows for the Division of Low-voltage Contractors to have no more than four hours of board-approved continuing education annually. Continuing education courses or programs conducted by manufacturers specifically to promote their products are not allowed. In addition, the Division of Low-voltage Contractors shall be able to waive the continuing education requirements in circumstances as the division deems appropriate.

Authored By: Rep. Lee Hawkins (27th)

Rule Applied: Modified-Open

House Committee: Regulated Industries

Committee Action:

01-26-2016 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 81 Nays: 83

*This bill failed to pass, but a `Notice of a Motion to Reconsider' this bill was made

HB 730

Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council; commissioner of juvenile justice as a voting member; add
Bill Summary: HB 730 increases the voting members of the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council to 22 and includes the commissioner of Juvenile Justice and the commissioner of Natural Resources as part of the Council.

Authored By: Rep. Alan Powell (32nd) House Committee: Juvenile Justice

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 167 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Open 01-28-2016 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 4, 2016

Today on the Floor

HB 747

Motor vehicles; safe operation of motor carriers and commercial motor vehicles; update reference date to federal regulations
Bill Summary: House Bill 747 updates the reference date to federal regulations regarding the safe operation of motor carriers and commercial motor vehicles to take effect on January 1, 2016.

Authored By: Rep. Terry Rogers (10th) House Committee: Motor Vehicles

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 161 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Open 02-01-2016 Do Pass

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

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 166 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Open 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: Rep. Trey Rhodes (120th) House Committee: Agriculture & Consumer Affairs

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 158 Nays: 7

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Open 01-27-2016 Do Pass
AM 40 0151

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Daily Report for February 4, 2016

Today on the Floor

Local Calendar
HB 830 Jonesboro, City of; ad valorem tax; restate amount of homestead exemption; provisions
Bill Summary: A Bill to provide a homestead exemption from the City of Jonesboro ad valorem taxes for city purposes, to enact a new provision to restate the amount of the homestead exemption for the assessed value of the homestead for residents of the city.

Authored By: Rep. Mike Glanton (75th)

House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 153 Nays: 1

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

02-03-2016 Do Pass

HB 839

East Dublin, City of; corporate limits; change

Bill Summary: A Bill to change the corporate limits of the City of East Dublin.

Authored By: Rep. Matt Hatchett (150th)

Rule Applied:

House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Committee

Local

Action:

02-03-2016 Do Pass

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 153 Nays: 1

Amendments:

HB 857

McDuffie County; homestead exemption for residents 70 years of age or older; provide
Bill Summary: A Bill to provide a homestead exemption from McDuffie County school district ad valorem taxes for educational purposes in the amount of half the assessed value of the homestead for residents of that school district who are 70 years of age or older and in the full amount of the assessed value of the homestead for residents of that school district who are 75 years of age or older.

Authored By: Rep. Barry Fleming (121st)

House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination -

Local

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 153 Nays: 1

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

02-03-2016 Do Pass

HB 863 Stockbridge, City of; filling vacancies on the governing authority; revise manner
Bill Summary: A Bill to provide a new charter for the City of Stockbridge, so as to revise the manner of filling vacancies of the governing authority.

Authored By: Rep. Brian Strickland (111th)

House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 153 Nays: 1

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

02-03-2016 Do Pass

HB 867 Thomasville, City of; levy an excise tax Bill Summary: A Bill to authorize the City of Thomasville to levy a hotel/motel tax.

Authored By: Rep. Darlene Taylor (173rd)

House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 153 Nays: 1

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

02-03-2016 Do Pass

HB 880 St. Marys, City of; manner of election of mayor and council; provide
Bill Summary: A Bill to provide a new charter for the City of St. Mary's, so as to provide for the manner of election of the mayor and council.

Authored By: Rep. Jason Spencer (180th)

House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 153 Nays: 1

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

02-03-2016 Do Pass

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Daily Report for February 4, 2016

Next on the Floor

Next on the Floor from the Committee on Rules
The Committee on Rules has fixed the calendar for the 17th Legislative Day, Monday, February 8, and bills may be called at the pleasure of the Speaker. The Rules Committee will next meet on Monday, February 8,
at 10:00 a.m., to set the Rules Calendar for the 18th Legislative Day.

HB 649 Georgia Lactation Consultant Practice Act; enact Bill Summary: HB 649, the 'Georgia Lactation Consultant Practice Act,' requires the Georgia Composite Medical Board to appoint a lactation consultant advisory committee. The advisory committee will consult the board on the issuance, denial, suspension, and revocation of lactation consultant licenses.
Additionally, the board will have the power and responsibility to enforce the provisions of this act; draft, adopt, amend, repeal and enforce rules it deems necessary for the administration of this act; license qualified lactation consultants; implement the disciplinary process; set standards for competency of licenses; establish examination and licensing fees; and establish continuing education requirements.
The board may grant a license to a person without examination if that person holds a valid license to practice lactation care and services issued by another state if the board feels that the requirements in that state are substantially equal to or greater than in Georgia and as long as the applicant is in good standing with the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners.
Each applicant for a license must certification as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners. Additionally, to receive licensure, the applicant must be at least 18 years old and pass a criminal background check.

Authored By: Rep. Sharon Cooper (43rd) House Committee: Health & Human Services

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Open 01-26-2016 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

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

Authored By:

Rep. Johnnie Caldwell (131st)

House Committee: Code Revision

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 01-27-2016 Do Pass

HB 759 Courts; financial institutions; certain activities shall not constitute the unauthorized practice of law; provide
Bill Summary: This legislation updates the terms banks and banking with "financial institutions" and "financial services" in the Code section that allows for certain business-related advice and transactions to occur without being deemed the unauthorized practice of law.

Authored By:

Rep. Wendell Willard (51st)

House Committee: Judiciary

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Open 01-28-2016 Do Pass

HB 767 Motor vehicles; add utility service vehicles to the "Spencer Pass Law"; provisions
Bill Summary: House Bill 767 adds utility service vehicles to the "Spencer Pass Law," which states that a driver must make a lane change into a lane not adjacent to a stationary towing, recovery, or highway maintenance, or utility service vehicle. If a lane change would be impossible or unsafe, the driver must reduce the speed of the motor vehicle to a reasonable speed less than the posted speed limit and be prepared to stop.

Authored By:

Rep. Alan Powell (32nd)

House Committee: Motor Vehicles

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-01-2016 Do Pass

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Daily Report for February 4, 2016

Next on the Floor

HB 775 Health; restrictions on sale and dispensing of spectacles; provide
Bill Summary: HB 775 defines "over the counter spectacles" and "spectacles". Spectacles and contact lenses require a prescription, from a duly licensed examiner, and no prescriptions shall be given unless an eye examination is performed by such person writing the prescription. The penalty for writing a prescription without a license is lowered to a misdemeanor.

Authored By: Rep. Earl Ehrhart (36th) House Committee: Regulated Industries

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

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

HB 780 Health; certain nondiagnostic laboratories not subject to state licensure as a clinical laboratory; provide
Bill Summary: HB 780 excludes laboratories which are nondiagnostic only and regulated pursuant to the federal Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments from the definition of "clinical laboratory". These nondiagnostic labs examine human blood or blood components intended for use as a source material for the manufacture of biological products, whereas diagnostic labs examine blood for medical purposes such as recommendation of treatment of any disease.

Authored By: Rep. Jodi Lott (122nd) House Committee: Health & Human Services

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Open 01-26-2016 Do Pass

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Daily Report for February 4, 2016

Committee Actions

Committee Actions
Bills passing committees are reported to the Clerk's Office and are placed on the General Calendar.
Banks & Banking Committee
HB 811 Banking and finance; update, modernize, and streamline numerous Code sections; revise provisions
Bill Summary: HB 811 extensively amends Title 7, relating to banking and finance, to update, modernize, and streamline numerous Code sections to provide for efficient regulation of banks, trust companies, credit unions, merchant acquirer limited purpose banks, and the mortgage lending industry.

Specifically, the bill revises the powers and duties of the Department of Banking and Finance, as well and its commissioner, deputy commissioners and examiners. Before entering office, the commissioner of the Department of Banking and finance will still take the oath of office before the governor or a justice of the supreme court, but all other deputies and examiners may take the oath before the commissioner. Bond surety duties of the commissioner and deputy commissioners are removed. Collection of amounts owed through the Attorney General's office will no longer be limited to outstanding fees.

Financial institutions will not be required to publish an annual abstract summary of two of its reports unless requested to do so by the department.

Virtual currency is defined and includes digital representation of monetary value that does not have legal tender status and requires fair practice standards by those who deal with virtual currency.

The department shall provide rules for when and what type of insurance banks must obtain upon cancellation of deposit insurance, rather than the mandatory six-month period.

In order to comply with other parts of the Code, federal law and federal court decisions, the bill updates and eliminates certain provisions, such as: substituting the term "financial institution" for bank, and substituting specific provisions in favor of rules that are issued by certain federal public bodies for out-of-state banks. Georgia banks are allowed to establish branches in other states without obtaining permission by Georgia law or regulation.

The bill provides new provisions to remove a member of a credit union's board of directors, and requires meeting times to be set by bylaws, as well as other like provisions and principles on corporations regarding general fair dealings, mergers, consolidation, and criminal proceedings.

Finally, the bill deletes all appearances of and references to the term "building and loan associations."

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Bruce Williamson (115th) Banks & Banking

Committee Action:

02-04-2016 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Judiciary Committee
HB 804 Superior courts; fifth judge of the Clayton Judicial Circuit; provide
Bill Summary: HB 804 amends Code Section 15-6-2(10) relating to the number of judges of superior courts to add 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, and until his or her successor is elected and will have the same power and facilities of his counterparts in Clayton Judicial Circuit. The election will be in 2018 and the term, starting January 1, 2019, will be for four years and compensation will be the same as for other judges for the Clayton Judicial Circuit. The Clayton Judicial Circuit shall also be allowed to appoint an additional court reporter. The Act shall become effective on July 1, 2016.

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Daily Report for February 4, 2016

Committee Actions

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Ronnie Mabra (63rd) Judiciary

Committee Action:

02-04-2016 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 for probate judges from $25,000 to $100,000.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Barry Fleming (121st) Judiciary

Committee Action:

02-04-2016 Do Pass

HB 871

"Georgia Lemon Law"; consumer fees forwarded to the Department of Law for deposit in the new motor vehicle arbitration account; require

Bill Summary: HB 871 moves the quarterly deposits associated with the collection of Georgia's

'Lemon Law' consumer fees from the Governor's Office of Planning and Budget to the Department

of Law.

Authored By: Rep. Robert Dickey (140th)

House Committee:

Judiciary

Committee Action:

02-04-2016 Do Pass

Natural Resources & Environment Committee
HR 1198 Natural Resources, Department of; Environmental Protection Division; review its regulations providing for the protection of underground drinking water; encourage
Bill Summary: HR 1198 encourages the Environmental Protection Division (EPD) to review its current regulations regarding aquifer storage and recovery to ensure they are sufficient and to revise those rules if necessary. EPD is urged to report its review to the Board of Natural Resources no later than June 30, 2017.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Lynn Smith (70th) Natural Resources & Environment Committee
Action:

02-04-2016 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Transportation Committee
HR 1052 Thomas William Poole Memorial Bridge; Schley County; dedicate
Bill Summary: House Resolution 1052 dedicates the bridge on U.S. Highway 19 North over Buck Creek in Schley County is dedicated as the Thomas William Poole Memorial Bridge. The substitute also includes: - House Resolution 650 dedicates the bridge on US 441/SR 15 over Interstate 85 in Banks County as the Richard Chambers Bridge. (Rep. Dan Gasaway); - House Resolution 853 dedicates the bridge on State Route 127 over the Flint River Overflow, 3 miles west of Marshallville in Macon County, is dedicated as the Dr. Delores Felder Memorial Bridge. (Rep. Patty Bentley); - House Resolution 854 dedicates the bridge on State Route 26 over the Flint River Overflow in Macon County is dedicated as the William Brown Bridge. (Rep. Patty Bentley); - House Resolution 970 dedicates the bridge over Raccoon Creek on Georgia Highway 133 west of Cartersville in Bartow County is dedicated as the Solomon T. "Sol" Dover Memorial Bridge. (Rep. Paul Battles); and, - House Resolution 977 dedicates the bridge on U.S. 29 over the Savannah River in Hart County is dedicated as the Louie Morris Memorial Bridge. (Rep. Alan Powell)

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Mike Cheokas (138th) Transportation

Committee Action:

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02-04-2016 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 4, 2016

Committee Actions

Ways & Means Committee
HB 726 Excise tax; tobacco products; clarify certain charges
Bill Summary: This legislation exempts the amount of any federal excise tax or shipping charges listed separately on a dealer's or distributor's sales invoice from the state's tobacco excise tax. Retailers continue to pay the excise tax if the shipping and federal excise tax charges are not billed separately.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Kevin Tanner (9th) Ways & Means

Committee Action:

02-04-2016 Do Pass

HB 766

Property tax exemptions; definition to include any spouse; revise
Bill Summary: This legislation updates the terms "husband" and "wife" to "married person" and "spouse" in the Code section governing the eligibility of a homestead property tax exemption. The bill also provides for a ballot question to change the language in the State Constitution accordingly.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Beth Beskin (54th) Ways & Means

Committee Action:

02-04-2016 Do Pass

HB 769

Ad valorem tax; certain watercraft held for sale or resale; make permanent an exemption

Bill Summary: This legislation permanently exempts watercraft held in inventory by a dealer for

sale or resale from ad valorem taxation by removing the sunset provision set to expire on December

31, 2019.

Authored By: Rep. Lee Hawkins (27th)

House Committee:

Ways & Means

Committee Action:

02-04-2016 Do Pass

HB 802

Revenue and taxation; deduction from income for contributions to savings trust accounts; revise
Bill Summary: This legislation raises the deduction from taxable net income for contributions to a Georgia Higher Education Savings Plan (529 Plan) for married contributors filing joint returns from $2,000 per beneficiary to $4,000 per beneficiary.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Sam Teasley (37th) Ways & Means

Committee Action:

02-04-2016 Do Pass

HB 822 Sales and use tax; energy used in agriculture; revise definition
Bill Summary: This legislation revises the definition under the energy used in agriculture tax exemption by updating the obsolete reference to prepaid "state" tax to prepaid tax.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Christian Coomer (14th) Ways & Means

Committee Action:

02-04-2016 Do Pass

HB 862

Ad valorem tax; homestead exemption; clarify definition of disabled veteran
Bill Summary: This legislation allows an eligible disabled to veteran to qualify for the homestead exemption by meeting either, rather than both, of the standards required by law, which are: permanent loss of one or both feet, hands, or sight in one or both eyes; or honorably discharged and 100 percent disabled or compensated at the 100 percent level as unemployable.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. David Knight (130th) Ways & Means

Committee Action:

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02-04-2016 Do Pass

House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 4, 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.

Friday, February 05, 2016 NO MEETINGS
Saturday, February 06, 2016 Sunday, February 07, 2016 Monday, February 08, 2016 11:00 AM Floor Session (LD 17) House Chamber 10:00 AM RULES 341 CAP 1:30 PM Judiciary Civil Fleming Sub 403 CAP 1:30 PM JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL 406 CLOB 2:00 PM Appropriations Education Sub 606 CLOB 2:00 PM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM 506 CLOB 3:00 PM Regulations Sub 605 CLOB 3:00 PM Appropriations Human Resources Sub 341 CAP 3:00 PM Appropriations Public Safety Sub 506 CLOB

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