Daily report [Feb. 1, 2017]

DAILY REPORT Wednesday
February 1, 2017

11th Legislative
Day

House Budget & Research Office (404) 656-5050

House Media Services (404) 656-0305

The House will reconvene for its 12th Legislative Day on Thursday, February 2 at 10:00 a.m. The Rules committee will meet at 9:00 a.m. 1 bill is expected to be debated on the Floor.

Today on the Floor

Rules Calendar
HB 38 Motor vehicles; issuance of a noncommercial Class C and Class M driver's license; provide
Bill Summary: House Bill 38 clarifies the law as it relates to the class of driver's license required for three-wheel motor vehicles. It provides that operators of three-wheel motor vehicles, which are controlled by a steering wheel rather than handlebars, are required to obtain a standard Class C license and not a Class M (motorcycle) license.

Authored By: Rep. Alan Powell (32nd) House Committee: Motor Vehicles

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 169 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Open 01-26-2017 Do Pass

HB 49

Livestock dealers and auctions; license and surety requirements; update
Bill Summary: HB 49 revises language pertaining to livestock dealers and auctions. Specifically, it updates license and surety requirements of livestock dealers and livestock market operators to allow the Georgia Department of Agriculture to charge an annual fee of $25 for livestock dealers and livestock order buyers, as well as a triennial fee for livestock markets based on the surety required, but not to exceed $200. The bill maintains current penalties and exemptions for who must register as a dealer. Georgia 4-H Clubs and Georgia Future Farmers of America chapters are not required to procure surety.

Authored By: Rep. Clay Pirkle (155th) House Committee: Agriculture & Consumer Affairs

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 170 Nays: 3

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Open 01-25-2017 Do Pass

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 1, 2017

Next 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, February 2, and bills may be called at the pleasure of the Speaker. The Rules Committee will next meet on Thursday, February 2, at 9:00 a.m., to set the Rules Calendar for the 13th Legislative Day.

HB 58

Motor vehicles; reference date to federal regulations regarding the safe operation of commercial motor vehicles and carriers; update
Bill Summary: House Bill 58 updates the reference date in Georgia Code to the federal regulations regarding the safe operation of motor carriers and commercial motor vehicles. Current law refers to those federal regulations in place as of January 1, 2016. This bill will reference those in force as of January 1, 2017.

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

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Open 01-26-2017 Do Pass

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 1, 2017

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 40 Evidence; confidentiality of certain medical information of animals within a veterinarian's care; provide exception
Bill Summary: This bill provides an exception for confidentiality of certain medical information of animals within a veterinarian's care. The bill states a veterinarian shall disclose the rabies vaccination history of any animal within the veterinarian's care within 24 hours of receiving a written request by the physician of any person bitten by the animal.

Authored By: House Committee:

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

Committee Action:

02-01-2017 Do Pass

HB 144

Animal protection; regulate retail sale of dogs and cats; provisions
Bill Summary: This bill, known as the "Georgia Retail Pet Store Purchase Protection Act," amends the general provisions relating to animal protection. The amendment regulates the sale of cats and dogs in the state. Cats and dogs for sale within the state or transferred into the state for sale will be protected against certain diseases and parasites and will have to receive examinations and certifications by veterinarians. The bill also guarantees certain rights of purchasers of dogs and cats, such as the right to return the purchased animal or obtain reasonable compensation for veterinarian bills. Any cats or dogs for sale that are suspected of carrying disease shall be quarantined. Furthermore, certain local regulations will be restricted and required to have regulatory consistency.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Earl Ehrhart (36th) Agriculture & Consumer Affairs

Committee Action:

02-01-2017 Do Pass

HB 176

Agriculture, Department of; enter into agreements with the federal government to enforce provisions of certain federal laws; authorize
Bill Summary: This bill provides an additional article for the Official Code of Georgia Annotated relating to standards, labeling, and contamination of food and allows for the Department of Agriculture to enter into agreements with the federal government to enforce certain federal laws.

Authored By: House Committee:

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

Committee Action:

02-01-2017 Do Pass

Higher Education Committee
HB 37 Education; private postsecondary institutions in Georgia shall not adopt sanctuary policies; provide
Bill Summary: HB 37 would prohibit any private postsecondary institution eligible for tuition equalization grants from implementing a sanctuary policy. Sanctuary policies include policies that would prohibit or restrict employees of postsecondary institutions from working with federal and state officials or law enforcement officers on reporting immigration status information. Any private postsecondary institution that violates this code section would be subject to the withholding of state funding or state administered federal funding. Withholding of state funds includes funding for scholarships, loans and grants for students of such private postsecondary institutions.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Earl Ehrhart (36th) Higher Education

Committee Action:

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02-01-2017 Do Pass

House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 1, 2017

Committee Actions

Industry and Labor Committee
HB 152 Occupational disease; firefighter show certain evidence; allow
Bill Summary: House Bill 152 adds certain cancers to the occupational diseases covered by worker's compensation insurance for firefighters. Those cancers include bladder, blood, brain, cervical, esophageal, intestinal, kidney, lymphatic, lung, prostate, rectal, respiratory tract, skin, testicular, and thyroid; leukemia; multiple myeloma or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
To be eligible, the firefighter must have served five consecutive years and must show, by a preponderance of the competent and credible evidence, that the cancer is attributable to the performance of his duties.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Micah Gravley (67th) Industry and Labor

Committee Action:

02-01-2017 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Insurance Committee
HB 64 Protection and Guarantee of Service for Health Insurance Consumers Act; enact
Bill Summary: House Bill 64 requires insurance carriers that sell health insurance through an insurance agent to provide the agent with a commission. The commission must be structured in a way that does not directly or indirectly discriminate in the amount paid to the agent for the sale of a group plan or an individual plan.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Shaw Blackmon (146th) Insurance

Committee Action:

02-01-2017 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 74

Insurance; life risk-based capital trend test to comply with accreditation standards; change
Bill Summary: House Bill 74 amends the Insurance Code relating to company action level events and preparation and submission of risk-based capital level plans so as to change the life risk-based capital trend test from 2.5 to 3.0.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Darlene Taylor (173rd) Insurance

Committee Action:

02-01-2017 Do Pass

HB 92

Insurance; automobile or motorcycle policies; expand definition of policy
Bill Summary: House Bill 92 modifies the definition of policy as it relates to the cancellation or nonrenewal of automobile or motorcycle polices to include policies issued by the same insurer.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. John Carson (46th) Insurance

Committee Action:

02-01-2017 Do Pass

HB 127 Insurance; nonprofit medical and hospital service corporations; revise provisions
Bill Summary: House Bill 127 repeals antiquated language throughout Title 33 relating to nonprofit medical service corporations and nonprofit hospital service corporations.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Richard Smith (134th) Insurance

Committee Action:

02-01-2017 Do Pass

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 1, 2017

Committee Actions

HB 146

Fire departments; purchase and maintain certain insurance coverage for firefighters; require
Bill Summary: HB 146 requires legally organized fire departments to maintain insurance coverage beginning January 1, 2018 for all firefighters in the department to pay claims for cancer diagnosed after a firefighter has served at the department for 12 consecutive months. The term "cancer" means bladder, blood, brain, breast, cervical, esophageal, intestinal, kidney, lymphatic, lung, prostate, rectal, respiratory tract, skin, testicular, thyroid, and cervical cancer; leukemia; multiple myeloma; or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The minimum benefit includes a lump sum benefit of $25,000 made payable to the firefighter upon submission of proof of their diagnosis to the fire department. This benefit is subordinate to any government health insurance benefit paid on behalf of, or as a reimbursement to, the member for such cancer, and shall be limited to the difference between the amount of such other paid benefit and the amount specified under this provision. If, as a result of such cancerous condition or treatment, the member is unable to perform his or her duties as a firefighter, then a monthly benefit equal to 60% of the member's monthly salary at the time of diagnosis or a monthly benefit of $5,000, whichever is less, will begin six months after submission of acceptable proof of diagnosis and will continue for a total of 36 consecutive months. If a member is a volunteer, as defined in Code Section 25-4-2, then a monthly benefit of $1,500 shall begin six months after submission of acceptable proof and continue for a total of 36 consecutive months. These benefits shall be subordinate to any other benefit actually paid to the firefighter for such disability from any other source, not including private insurance. They shall be limited to the difference between the amount of such other paid benefit and the amount specified in this bill.

Any person who was a member of more than one fire department at the same time shall not be entitled to receive benefits under this paragraph from or on behalf of more than one fire department. Any member who receives benefits may be required to have their condition reevaluated. In the event that the reevaluation reveals that the firefighter is able to perform duties as a firefighter, then his or her benefits shall cease. Benefits shall also cease upon the death of such person. A member who departs or retires after at least one year as a firefighter shall be entitled to continue his or her coverage through a continuation or conversion to individual coverage. At that point, the departing member is responsible for paying all premiums.

County and municipal governing authorities may use proceeds from county and municipal taxes to purchase insurance for the firefighters intended to be covered by this bill. Funds received as premiums for this coverage shall not be subject to premium taxes. The computation of premium amounts by an insurer for this coverage shall be subject to generally accepted adjustments from insurance underwriting.

The Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council shall be authorized to adopt rules and regulations that are reasonable and necessary to implement the provisions of this Code section.

A fund authorized by this chapter may be established by an agency only if the agency has enrolled members which, for each fund which includes accident or disability coverage, shall generate an annual gross premium of not less than $500,000.

Language is also added in Code Section 48-7-27 to provide that payments received by firefighters pursuant to this bill are included in the taxpayer's federal adjusted gross income and are not otherwise exempt under any other provision of this Code section.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Micah Gravley (67th) Insurance

Committee Action:

02-01-2017 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 1, 2017

Committee Actions

Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
HB 130 Emanuel County Development Authority; members; change
Bill Summary: This bill amends the Constitutional amendment creating the Emanuel County Development Authority. The bill changes the number of members serving on the Authority from five to seven and changes the qualifications necessary to serve on the Authority. Additionally, the bill increases the number of years the Authority may issue bonds or obligate itself contractually to not exceed 40 years.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Butch Parrish (158th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Committee Action:

02-01-2017 Do Pass

HB 131 South Fulton, City of; change corporate boundaries Bill Summary: This bill changes the corporate boundaries of the City of South Fulton.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Roger Bruce (61st) Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Committee Action:

02-01-2017 Do Pass

HB 132

Fulton County Industrial District; repeal amendment
Bill Summary: The bill repeals an amendment to the Constitution of Georgia creating within Fulton County the Fulton County Industrial District and prohibiting the governing authority of Fulton County from levying any tax for education purposes within the boundaries of an independent school system. The bill also creates a referendum asking if the state should repeal the previously mentioned amendment.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Roger Bruce (61st) Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Committee Action:

02-01-2017 Do Pass

HB 171

Meriwether County Water and Sewerage Authority; members and chairperson; change designation
Bill Summary: This bill changes the designation of members of the Meriwether County Water and Sewerage Authority from serving on posts to serving for districts. It also changes the method of designation of the chairperson of the Authority.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Robert Trammell (132nd) Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Committee Action:

02-01-2017 Do Pass

HB 172 Dahlonega, City of; levy an excise tax
Bill Summary: This bill authorizes the governing authority of the City of Dahlonega to levy an excise tax.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Kevin Tanner (9th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Committee Action:

02-01-2017 Do Pass

HB 187

Monroe County; Board of Commissioners; provide nonbinding advisory referendum
Bill Summary: This bill creates a nonbinding advisory referendum to learn if the electors of Monroe County want the Monroe County Board of Commissioners to levy an annual ad valorem tax and issue further appropriate debt instruments to support the continued availability of health care services for the citizens of the county at Monroe County Hospital.

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 1, 2017

Committee Actions

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Robert Dickey (140th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Committee Action:

02-01-2017 Do Pass

Retirement Committee
HB 83 Firefighters' Pension Fund; invest up to 10 percent in real estate; provide
Bill Summary: HB 83 allows the Georgia Firefighters' Pension Fund to invest up to 10 percent of the fund's assets in real estate. If the fund's assets decrease in value, the fund may retain the real estate investments as long as they were owned prior to the decrease in the fund's assets. The only other system that can invest in real estate is the Georgia Municipal Employees Benefit System. This bill has been certified as a nonfiscal retirement bill by the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Howard Maxwell (17th) Retirement

Committee Action:

02-01-2017 Do Pass

HB 84

Firefighters' Pension Fund; invest up to 10 percent in alternative investments; provide
Bill Summary: HB 84 allows the Georgia Firefighters' Pension Fund to invest up to 10 percent of their assets in alternative investments. This bill has been certified as a nonfiscal retirement bill by the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Howard Maxwell (17th) Retirement

Committee Action:

02-01-2017 Do Pass

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 1, 2017

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 Notices.

Thursday, February 2, 2017 8:00 AM APPROPRIATIONS EDUCATION-CANCELLED - 341 CAP 8:00 AM NATURAL RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENT - 606 CLOB 9:00 AM RULES - 341 CAP 12:00PM INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION - 403 CAP 1:00 PM JUVENILE JUSTICE - 406 CLOB 2:00 PM EDUCATION - 606 CLOB 2:00 PM APPROPRIATIONS HEALTH - 341 CAP 2:00 PM JUDICIARY (CIVIL) - 132 CAP 3:00 PM TRANSPORATION - 506 CLOB

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