Daily report [Mar. 8, 2016]

Georgia House of Representatives

DAILY REPORT 33rd Legislative Day

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

House Budget & Research Office (404) 656-5050

House Media Services (404) 656-0305

The House will reconvene for its 34th Legislative Day on Thursday, March 10 at 10:00 a.m.

Today on the Floor

Postponed Until Next Legislative Day
SB 343 Decatur, City of; provide for homestead exemption; independent school district; educational purposes
Bill Summary: This bill provides a homestead exemption from City of Decatur independent school district ad valorem taxes for educational purposes for five years in the full amount of the assessed value of the homestead for residents of that school district who are 65 years of age or older.

Authored By: Sen. Elena Parent (42nd)

Rule Applied:

Local Calendar
HB 1092 Habersham County; Airport Authority; provide for the assets and encumbrances Bill Summary: A Bill to repeal an Act creating the Habersham County Airport Authority.

Authored By: Rep. Terry Rogers (10th)

House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 163 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

03-07-2016 Do Pass

HB 1093 Carroll County; tax commissioner; increase the percentage of educational funds retained and remitted
Bill Summary: A Bill to provide that the tax commissioner of Carroll County shall retain one percent of educational funds collected and remit those funds to the governing authority of Carroll County to reimburse the county for the cost of collecting school taxes.

Authored By: Rep. Dustin Hightower (68th)

House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 163 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

03-07-2016 Do Pass

HB 1097 Fayette County; Board of Education; increase compensation of the chairperson and members
Bill Summary: A Bill to provide for the compensation and expenses of the chairperson and members of the Board of Education of Fayette County, so as to increase the compensation of the chairperson and members.

Authored By: Rep. John Yates (73rd)

House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 163 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

03-07-2016 Do Pass

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for March 8, 2016

Today on the Floor

HB 1101 Jenkins County; Board of Commissioners; levy an excise tax
Bill Summary: A Bill to authorize the governing authority of the Board of Commissioners of Jenkins County to levy a hotel/motel tax.

Authored By: Rep. Butch Parrish (158th)

House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 163 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

03-07-2016 Do Pass

HB 1102 Forsyth County; school district; revise the eligibility of residents for homestead exemption
Bill Summary: A Bill to provide a homestead exemption from all Forsyth County school district ad valorem taxes for educational purposes, so as to revise the eligibility of residents for such homestead exemption.

Authored By: Rep. Mike Dudgeon (25th)

House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 163 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

03-07-2016 Do Pass

HB 1104 Muscogee County; homestead exemption; revise
Bill Summary: A Bill to revise the homestead exemption for Muscogee County formerly provided for by a local constitutional amendment which provides for the valuation of certain homestead property of Muscogee County for purposes of ad valorem taxation for school and consolidated citycounty government purposes.

Authored By: Rep. Calvin Smyre (135th)

House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination -

Local

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 163 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

03-07-2016 Do Pass

HB 1105 Cherokee County; levy an excise tax
Bill Summary: A Bill to authorize the governing authority of Cherokee County to levy a hotel/motel tax.

Authored By: Rep. John Carson (46th)

House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 163 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

03-07-2016 Do Pass

HB 1108 Waycross and Ware County Development Authority; provisions
Bill Summary: A Bill to amend an Act creating the Waycross and Ware County Development Authority, so as to provide for the composition, qualifications, appointment, filling of vacancies, terms and limits thereon, officers, and compensation.

Authored By: Rep. Jason Shaw (176th)

House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 163 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

03-07-2016 Do Pass

HB 1109 Acworth, City of; adopt by reference a certain map
Bill Summary: A Bill to amend an Act entitled "An Act to reincorporate and provide a new charter for the City of Acworth."

Authored By: Rep. Ed Setzler (35th)

House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 163 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

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03-07-2016 Do Pass

House of Representatives

Daily Report for March 8, 2016

Today on the Floor

HB 1110 Roberta-Crawford County; unified government; provide Bill Summary: A Bill to provide for the unified government of Roberta-Crawford County.

Authored By: Rep. Robert Dickey (140th)

House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Floor Vote:

Yeas: Nays:

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

03-07-2016 Do Pass

HB 1111 Kennesaw, City of; powers and duties of the mayor; revise
Bill Summary: A Bill to provide a new charter for the City of Kennesaw, so as to revise the powers and duties of the mayor.

Authored By: Rep. Ed Setzler (35th)

House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination -

Local

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 163 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

03-07-2016 Do Pass

SB 225

DeKalb County; community improvement districts created within municipalities; change certain provisions
Bill Summary: A Bill to amend an Act creating one or more community improvement districts within DeKalb County.

Authored By: Sen. Steve Henson (41st)

House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 163 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

03-07-2016 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

SB 339

Decatur, City ; modify the amount of homestead exemption; municipal purposes
Bill Summary: A Bill to amend a homestead exemption from certain City of Decatur ad valorem taxes, so as to modify the amount for municipal purposes except for ad valorem taxes levied to pay interest on and to retire municipal bonded indebtedness in the amount of $25,000 of the assessed value of the homestead for residents.

Authored By: Sen. Elena Parent (42nd)

House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 163 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

03-07-2016 Do Pass

SB 340 Decatur, City of; provide for homestead exemption; municipal purposes
Bill Summary: A Bill to amend an Act providing an additional $2,000 homestead exemption from the City of Decatur ad valorem taxes for certain residents.

Authored By: Sen. Elena Parent (42nd)

House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 163 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

03-07-2016 Do Pass

SB 341

Decatur, City of; repeal a former local constitutional amendment; homestead exemption
Bill Summary: A Bill to repeal a former local constitutional amendment which provides for a homestead exemption from certain city ad valorem taxes for residents of the City of Decatur in an amount to be fixed by the governing authority of the city at not more than $2,000 for the first year, and which may be increased periodically, but which exemption shall not exceed $10,000.

Authored By: Sen. Elena Parent (42nd)

House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 163 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

03-07-2016 Do Pass

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for March 8, 2016

Today on the Floor

SB 342

Decatur, City of; provide for homestead exemption; municipal purposes; specify terms and conditions
Bill Summary: A Bill to provide a homestead exemption from City of Decatur ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes except for ad valorem taxes levied to pay interest on and to retire municipal bonded indebtedness in the amount of $15,000 of the assessed value of the homestead for residents of that city who are 62 years of age or older and whose income does not exceed $50,000.

Authored By: Sen. Elena Parent (42nd)

House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 163 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

03-07-2016 Do Pass

SB 358 City of Stockbridge; provide for an oath of office and its administration
Bill Summary: A Bill to provide a new charter for the City of Stockbridge, so as to provide for an oath of office and its administration.

Authored By: Sen. Emanuel Jones (10th)

House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination -

Local

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 163 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

03-07-2016 Do Pass

SB 359

City of Stockbridge; terminate the employment of appointed officers upon such persons qualifying to seek public office
Bill Summary: A Bill to provide a new charter for the City of Stockbridge, so as to terminate the employment of appointed officers upon such persons qualifying to seek public office.

Authored By: Sen. Emanuel Jones (10th)

House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 163 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

03-07-2016 Do Pass

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for March 8, 2016

Committee Actions

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

Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications Committee
SB 191 Blasting and Excavating Near Utility Facilities; prohibit local governing authorities from adopting ordinances
Bill Summary: SB 191, relating to blasting or excavating near utility facilities, prohibits local governing authorities from adopting or enforcing ordinances which mandate marking requirements or standards which are different from those contained in state law or the rules and regulations of certain departments of this state.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Lindsey Tippins (37th) Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications

Committee Action:

03-08-2016 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Health & Human Services Committee
SB 273 Clinical Laboratories; provide certain nondiagnostic laboratories not subject to state licensure as clinical laboratory
Bill Summary: SB 273 excludes laboratories, which are non-diagnostic only and regulated pursuant to the federal Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments, from the definition of "clinical laboratory". These non-diagnostic 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: House Committee:

Sen. Dean Burke (11th) Health & Human Services

Committee Action:

03-08-2016 Do Pass

SB 305

Health; Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment form; require department to provide certain notification prior to modification
Bill Summary: SB 305 requires the Department of Public Health to notify the chairpersons and members of the House and Senate Health and Human Services Committees at least 60 days before implementing changes to the Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) form.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Renee Unterman (45th) Health & Human Services

Committee Action:

03-08-2016 Do Pass

SB 308

Positive Alternatives for Pregnancy and Parenting Grant Program; establish; definitions; administration and duties
Bill Summary: SB 308 creates the Positive Alternatives for Pregnancy and Parenting Grant Program within the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH). The purpose of this grant program is to promote healthy pregnancies and childbirth by awarding grants to non-profit organizations that provide pregnancy support services. DPH will oversee the program and execute a legal contract with a contract management agency ("agency") to administer the program. The agency will be responsible for creating a grant application process, monitoring compliance, and coordinating correspondence between DPH and direct client service providers ("providers").

The grant program will fund these eight services: 1) medical care and information (such as pregnancy tests, STI tests, health screenings, ultrasounds, prenatal care, and birth classes); 2) nutritional services and education; 3) housing, education, and employment assistance; 4) adoption education, planning, and services; 5) child care assistance; 6) parenting education and support services for up to one year after the birth of the child; 7) material items such cribs, car seats,

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for March 8, 2016

Committee Actions

formula, etc.; and 8) information regarding health care benefits. Grants will be awarded annually on competitive basis to providers that display competent experience in providing the eight grant-funded services above. DPH will determine the maximum grant amount awarded to each provider. Grants cannot exceed 85 percent of such provider's annual revenue for the prior year.

Further, the bill requires each provider to maintain accurate records and report data to the agency on an annual basis. Reports must include the number of clients who utilized pregnancy support services; are pregnant; chose childbirth after receiving pregnancy support services; chose adoption after receiving pregnancy support services; and chose abortion after receiving pregnancy support services.

All information collected under the grant program must remain confidential by DPH, the agency, and providers in accordance with federal and state laws on privacy and medical records (including HIPAA). Annual audits of each provider must be conducted by an independent certified public accountant within 120 days of completing a fiscal year.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Renee Unterman (45th) Health & Human Services

Committee Action:

03-08-2016 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Industry and Labor Committee
SB 277 "Protecting Georgia Small Business Act"; neither a franchisee/franchisee's employee shall be deemed employee of franchisor
Bill Summary: Senate Bill 277 is titled the 'Protecting Georgia Small Business Act'. It provides that neither a franchisee nor a franchisee's employee is an employee of the franchisor for any purpose.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. John Albers (56th) Industry and Labor

Committee Action:

03-08-2016 Do Pass

Judiciary Committee
SB 168 State Symbols; designate the Old Governor's Mansion as the official state historic house
Bill Summary: SB 168 designates the Old Governor's Mansion, located at Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville, as the official state historic house. The bill encourages the Department of Economic Development and other public agencies and leaders in the tourism industry to work together to maximize advertising programs that permit citizens of other states and nations to learn about the Old Governor's Mansion and to visit Georgia for tourism purposes.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Burt Jones (25th) Judiciary

Committee Action:

03-08-2016 Do Pass

SB 262

Courts; when a judge, judicial officer, grand juror; may be disqualified by being related by consanguinity/affinity to a party; provisions
Bill Summary: This bill amends 15-1-8, 15-12-70, and 15-12-135 to change the disqualification of judges or judicial officers, grand jurors, and trial jurors, respectively, for being related to an interested party to the fourth degree as computed according to civil law. The bill also allows superior and state courts, by court rule, to accept electronic filings and submission of funds or other transfers of monies to the courts.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Jesse Stone (23rd) Judiciary

Committee Action:

03-08-2016 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for March 8, 2016

Committee Actions

SB 331

Courts; causing a child to be conceived; violating certain prohibitions relating certain offenses; additional ground for terminating parental rights
Bill Summary: Senate Bill 331 allows the termination of a father's parental rights when, by clear and convincing evidence, the father caused his child to be conceived as a result of non-consensual sexual contact. For purposes of legitimation proceedings, there shall be a presumption against legitimation where the court finds that the father caused his child to be conceived in such a manner. Such fathers shall also be barred from inheriting from a child so conceived; however, a child conceived as a result on non-consensual sex may still inherit from she father.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Bruce Thompson (14th) Judiciary

Committee Action:

03-08-2016 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee
SB 263 Law Enforcement Officers; provide governing authority; employs sworn police officers who are P.O.S.T certified; policies; disability in line of duty
Bill Summary: Senate bill 263 allows for the governing authority of each municipality and county in this state, as well as each board of education, which employs sworn police officer who are POST certified to adopt policies under which officers may retain their weapon or badge upon retirement or leaving employment as a result of a disability arising in the line of duty.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Bruce Thompson (14th) Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee
Action:

03-08-2016 Do Pass

SB 279

Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council; include Commissioners of Juvenile Justice/Natural Resources as voting members
Bill Summary: Senate bill 279 adds two voting members to the Georgia Peace Officers Standards and Training Council to bring the number of voting members to 22. The two additional members are the commissioner of juvenile justice or his designee and the commissioner of natural resources or his designee.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Tyler Harper (7th) Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee
Action:

03-08-2016 Do Pass

Regulated Industries Committee
SB 316 Bingo; remove the daily permissible prize limitation while preserving the weekly permissible prize limitation
Bill Summary: SB 316 removes the daily $1,500 maximum amount of cash and prizes for bingo play, but retains the $3,000 maximum cash and prize award cap for a calendar week. Moreover, the bill prohibits free standing electronic bingo machines from being used for bingo play.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Steve Gooch (51st) Regulated Industries

Committee Action:

03-08-2016 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for March 8, 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.

Wednesday, March 09, 2016 8:00 AM INSURANCE 606 CLOB 9:30 AM JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL 406 CLOB 10:00 AM Professions-Boards-Commissions Sub 515 CLOB 10:00 AM STATE PROPERTIES 506 CLOB 1:00 PM Fleming Sub Judiciary Civil 132 CAP 1:00 PM GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS 406 CLOB 2:00 PM SMALL BUSINESS 406 CLOB 2:00 PM RETIREMENT 515 CLOB 2:00 PM EDUCATION 606 CLOB 3:00 PM Regulations Sub - Canceled 506 CLOB 3:00 PM SPECIAL RULES 515 CLOB

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