DAILY REPORT Friday February 10, 2017 16th Legislative Day House Budget & Research Office (404) 656-5050 House Media Services (404) 656-0305 The House will reconvene for its 17th Legislative Day on Tuesday, February 14 at 10:00 a.m. The Rules committee will meet at 9:00 a.m. 4 bills are expected to be debated on the Floor. Today on the Floor Rules Calendar 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: Rep. Howard Maxwell (17th) House Committee: Retirement Floor Vote: Yeas: 164 Nays: 0 Rule Applied: Committee Action: Modified-Open 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: Rep. Howard Maxwell (17th) House Committee: Retirement Floor Vote: Yeas: 162 Nays: 0 Rule Applied: Committee Action: Modified-Open 02-01-2017 Do Pass HB 154 Dental hygienists; perform certain functions under general supervision; authorize Bill Summary: HB 154 authorizes licensed dental hygienists to perform application of sealants, oral prophylaxis, fluoride treatment, oral hygiene education, processing of radiographs, and any protocols regarding urgent dental issues that arise under the general supervision of the authorizing licensed dentist. Licensed dental hygienists shall perform their duties only if a licensed dentist is in the dental office or treatment facility, personally diagnoses the condition to be treated, personally authorizes the procedure and remains in the dental office or treatment facility while the procedure is being performed by the dental hygienist, and before dismissal of the patient. No licensed dental hygienist shall diagnose, prescribe, determine the initial dosage, or increase the initial dosage of nitrous oxide, practice dentistry, or do any kind of dental work other than to remove calcareous deposits, secretions, and stains from the surfaces of the teeth and practices that are prescribed by rule or regulation. Page 1 of 6 House of Representatives Daily Report for February 10, 2017 Today on the Floor The requirement of direct supervision shall not apply to the educational training of dental hygiene students at an institution approved by the board and the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association, or its successor agency, when such instruction is carried out under such degree of supervision by a licensed dentist. Direct supervision shall not apply to the performance of dental hygiene duties at approved dental facilities of the Department of Public Health, county boards of health, or the Department of Corrections or the performance of dental hygiene duties by personnel of the Department of Public Health or county boards of health at approved offsite locations. Dental screenings in schools, volunteer community health settings, senior centers, family violence shelters hospitals, clinics, state, county, local and federal public health programs will not require direct supervision. Authored By: Rep. Sharon Cooper (43rd) House Committee: Health & Human Services Floor Vote: Yeas: 163 Nays: 0 Rule Applied: Committee Action: Modified-Structured 01-31-2017 Do Pass by Committee Substitute SB 70 Hospital Medicaid Financing Program; sunset provision; extend Bill Summary: SB 70 amends the Hospital Medicaid Financing Program, also known as the hospital provider fee, by extending the sunset date to June 30, 2020. Authored By: Sen. Butch Miller (49th) House Committee: Appropriations Floor Vote: Yeas: 152 Nays: 14 Rule Applied: Committee Action: Modified-Structured 02-08-2017 Do Pass Local Calendar HB 191 Ben Hill County; abolish office of elected county surveyor; provide appointment Bill Summary: This bill abolishes the office of elected county surveyor of Ben Hill County and provides for the appointment of a county surveyor by the governing authority of the county. The person serving as the elected county surveyor shall serve out the remainder of his or her term. Authored By: Rep. Clay Pirkle (155th) House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination Local Floor Vote: Yeas: 159 Nays: 0 Rule Applied: Committee Action: 02-09-2017 Do Pass HB 219 Coweta County; board of elections and registration; create Bill Summary: This bill creates a board of elections and registration which will have jurisdiction over the conduct of primaries and elections in Coweta County, as well as the registration of electors in the county. The board will be composed of five members, who will be appointed by the County Commission. This bill shall also abolish the Coweta County board of registrars and the Coweta County board of elections on July 1, 2017. Authored By: Rep. Lynn Smith (70th) House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination Local Floor Vote: Yeas: 159 Nays: 0 Rule Applied: Committee Action: 02-09-2017 Do Pass Page 2 of 6 House of Representatives Daily Report for February 10, 2017 Today on the Floor HB 272 Villa Rica, City of; ad valorem tax; provide homestead exemption of $8000 for residents 65 and older Bill Summary: This bill provides a homestead exemption from the City of Villa Rica's ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes in the amount of $8,000 of the assessed value of the homestead for city residents who are 65 years or older. There will also be a referendum asking if the citizens of Villa Rica want the homestead exemption. The referendum will take place in March 2017, and the bill will take effect on January 1, 2018, if the referendum passes. Authored By: Rep. J. Collins (68th) House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination Local Floor Vote: Yeas: 159 Nays: 0 Rule Applied: Committee Action: 02-09-2017 Do Pass HB 282 Grady County; board of commissioners; change compensation Bill Summary: This bill changes the compensation of the Grady County Board of Commissioners and removes the board's authority to fix the salary of the chairperson. The bill also states the Board of Commissioners will have the authority to define and limit the duties of the chairperson of the board. The board chair shall make 17 percent of the base salary of the Grady County Superior Court Clerk. All other commissioners shall make 12 percent of the base salary of the Grady County Superior Court Clerk; however, a certified county commissioner shall receive an additional $100 per month. Authored By: Rep. Darlene Taylor (173rd) House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination Local Floor Vote: Yeas: 159 Nays: 0 Rule Applied: Committee Action: 02-09-2017 Do Pass Page 3 of 6 House of Representatives Daily Report for February 10, 2017 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, Tuesday, February 14, and bills may be called at the pleasure of the Speaker. The Rules Committee will next meet on Tuesday, February 14, at 9:00 a.m., to set the Rules Calendar for the 18th Legislative Day. HB 42 Elections; election superintendents to correct mistakes and omissions on ballots for a primary or election; authorize Bill Summary: House Bill 42 allows election superintendents to make corrections to primary election ballots if they discover a mistake or omission on printed ballots or on the display screens of electronic voting machines. Finally, it allows municipalities, if they deem it practical, to hold a special election or run-off election in conjunction with a federal special or run-off election. Authored By: Rep. Eddie Lumsden (12th) House Committee: Governmental Affairs Rule Applied: Committee Action: Modified-Structured 02-08-2017 Do Pass by Committee Substitute HB 143 Financial institutions; provide for definitions; provisions Bill Summary: This legislation allows the Department of Banking and Finance to investigate a person or corporation performing financial services for a financial institution as if the financial institution performed the services itself. The department may prescribe fees for the examination and may furnish a copy of the report to the financial institution. The Department of Banking and Finance has the authority to issue a subpoena, and if the subpoena is ignored, the department may apply for a court order to hold the person in contempt for refusal to obey the subpoena. The department may no longer issue a written order directing a corporation to restore deficiency when the financial institution's net assets are less than the amount of its capital stock. The department may approve articles for a trust company that is not also a bank or an affiliated trust company. The department may conduct an on-site examination without prior notice, and the registrant will pay the reasonably incurred costs of such examination. A bank shall not at any time have credit exposure as a counterparty in derivative transactions, and the limitations applied now also apply to obligations arising from the purchase or discount of drafts, the bona fide purchase of commercial or business paper, and bona fide loans upon the security of agricultural, manufactured, industrial products or livestock. Financial institutions may now conduct business on Sunday. If a trust company goes into receivership it is to provide an irrevocable letter of credit or pledge securities of no less than $500,000 to the department, and the department may reduce the securities or letter of credit to cash and use the cash to pay costs associated with receivership. Trust companies must maintain a minimum amount of capital of no less than $3 million, as determined by the department by considering factors involving the type of business and management experience. Trust companies shall not create a lien on any of its assets except to secure the repayment of money borrowed or trust accounts administered by the company. Banks may receive deposits or open a safe-deposit box from a minor who is at least 16-years old. A bank or trust company may issue subordinated securities, so long as the company furnishes disclosures to the investor before investment. The disclosure must include the risks associated with the subordinated securities and be accompanied by notice that if the company becomes subject to a regulatory action, then the company may be prohibited from paying or retiring the securities. The board of directors may remove a director from office if the director: fails to attend regular board meetings for six successive monthly meetings or two successive quarterly meetings; has been indicted for any crime involving dishonesty or breach of trust; or fails to make payments on a loan or other credit obligation which causes a loss to a financial institution. The "common bond" relationship for a credit union has been amended to include employment within a welldefined community. A credit union shall have to power to receive savings deposits from non-members as long as the deposits are: insured by a federal public body; made in an expressly authorized manner; not deposited in a share draft account; and not bearing a greater rate of interest than granted to members for the same class of deposit. The bill allows societies, associations, partnerships, and corporations headquartered within the field of membership to be admitted to membership of a credit union. The timing of the audit of a credit union may be modified pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Page 4 of 6 House of Representatives Daily Report for February 10, 2017 Next on the Floor department. Based upon assets, complexity and other factors, the department may authorize certain credit unions to obtain their audit from an entity which is not a licensed, independent, certified public accountant, so long as the entity is otherwise qualified. Mortgage lenders and financial institutions may charge convenience fees for accepting an electronic payment; the department now accepts notice of cancellation of bonds electronically through the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System and Registry. Authored By: Rep. Bruce Williamson (115th) House Committee: Banks & Banking Rule Applied: Committee Action: Modified-Open 02-08-2017 Do Pass HB 169 Charlton County; probate judge; provide nonpartisan elections Bill Summary: This bill states that future elections for the office of probate judge of Charlton County, who also serves as the chief magistrate of the Charlton County Magistrate Court, shall be nonpartisan elections. Authored By: Rep. John Corbett (174th) House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination Rule Applied: Committee Action: Modified-Structured 02-07-2017 Do Pass HB 183 Community Affairs, Department of; Georgia Geospatial Advisory Council; recreate Bill Summary: This bill recreates the Georgia Geospatial Advisory Council under the Department of Community Affairs (DCA). All data, reports, and other documents of the former Georgia Geospatial Advisory Council that existed under the Department of Natural Resources prior to June 30, 2017, shall be transferred to DCA for use by the newly created council. The commissioner, or his or her designee, shall coordinate with state executive branch departments and agencies to appoint members of the council, which may consist of representatives from state departments and agencies, local governments, universities, regional commissions, or any other entity the department determines to be active in the development or consumption of reliable geospatial resources. The council may closely coordinate its efforts with the Georgia Technology Authority to ensure compliance with all state and federal standards, contracts, and procedures. Authored By: Rep. Robert Dickey (140th) Rule Applied: House Committee: State Planning & Community Affairs Committee Action: Modified-Open 02-08-2017 Do Pass Page 5 of 6 House of Representatives Daily Report for February 10, 2017 Committee Actions Committee Actions Bills passing committees are reported to the Clerk's Office and are placed on the General Calendar. No legislative action taken today. 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. Monday, February 13, 2017 10:30 AM Public Safety and Homeland Security Sub-Committee A - 606 CLOB 1:00 PM Public Safety - 606 CLOB 1:30 PM JUDICIARY (NON-CIVIL) - 406 CLOB 2:00 PM INFORMATION AND AUDITS - 506 CLOB Page 6 of 6