Daily report [Mar. 20, 2017]

DAILY REPORT Monday
March 20, 2017

36th Legislative
Day

House Budget & Research Office (404) 656-5050

House Media Services (404) 656-0305

The House will reconvene for its 37th Legislative Day on Wednesday, March 22 at 10:00 a.m. The Rules committee will meet at 9:00 a.m. 5 bills / resolutions are expected to be debated on the Floor.

Today on the Floor

Rules Calendar
SB 18 Georgia Public Safety Training Center; any member of security police force; retain his/her weapon and badge under certain conditions
Bill Summary: Senate Bill 18 allows retired law enforcement officers with an aggregate of 10 years of service, separated in good standing, and possessing a law enforcement identification card from the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) to carry anywhere in this state. The bill also allows retirees who left under honorable conditions to retain their badge and weapon upon retirement as part of their compensation. This provision applies to all retired law enforcement who are POST certified and served in Georgia or another state's entity.

Authored By: Sen. Tyler Harper (7th)

Rule Applied:

House Committee: Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee

Action:

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 148 Nays: 15

Modified-Structured 03-13-2017 Do Pass

SB 128

Drivers' Licenses; Department of Natural Resources; limited purposes; allow for the sharing of personal data
Bill Summary: Senate Bill 128 allows for the sharing of driver's license information with the Department of Natural Resources for use in detecting and preventing fraud in applications for licenses, permits, registrations, and to confirm residency. This information is only be used by the department in connection with detection and prevention of fraud and in its fulfillment of obligations under the 'Child Support Recovery Act'.

Authored By: Sen. John Wilkinson (50th)

Rule Applied:

House Committee: Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee

Action:

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 162 Nays: 1

Modified-Structured 03-13-2017 Do Pass

SB 147

Cemetery and Funeral Services; unitrust distribution method provisions; permit a cemetery to request a trustee
Bill Summary: SB 147 expands the type of distribution that a cemetery can make from the required irrevocable trust fund to include the unitrust distribution payment method. The bill also gives authority to the Secretary of State to limit or prohibit any unitrust distributions where the investment practices have not resulted in sufficient protection of the perpetual care trust fund.

Authored By: Sen. Michael Williams (27th) House Committee: Regulated Industries

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 166 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

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Modified-Open 03-14-2017 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

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Today on the Floor

SB 173 Captive Insurance Companies; provisions; extensively revise
Bill Summary: Senate Bill 173 extensively revises provisions relating to captive insurance companies (CICs) and updates several definitions within this Code section.
"Affiliate" means any person in the same corporate system as a parent, an industrial insured, or a member organization by virtue of common ownership, control, operation, or management. "Agency captive insurance company" means any domestic insurance company granted a certificate of authority pursuant to this chapter. "Controlled unaffiliated business" is defined as any person who: is not in the corporate system of a parent and its affiliated companies; has an existing contractual relationship with a parent or one of its affiliated companies; or any person whose risks are managed by a pure captive insurance company in accordance with this chapter. "Formation documents" are articles of incorporation, if the CIC is a stock insurer or a mutual insurer, or articles of organization, if the CIC is a limited-liability company. "Mutual insurer" means an incorporated insurer without capital stock or shares that is governed by its policyholders. The definition for "parent" is redefined as an entity which directory or indirectly owns, controls, or holds with power to vote more than 50 percent of the total outstanding voting securities of a pure CIC organized as a stock corporation or as a limitedliability company. Finally, "stock insurer" means an incorporated insurer with capital divided into shares and owned by its shareholders.
An agency CIC may only reinsure the risk of insurance or annuity contracts placed by or through the agency, brokerage, managing general agent, or reinsurance intermediary by which it is owned or controlled, or the contractual liability arising out of service contracts or warranties sold through a marketer, producer, administrator, issuer, or provider of service contracts or warranties by which it is owned or controlled. They may do this with prior written approval from the commissioner of the Department of Insurance.
A pure CIC may be organized as a manager-managed, limited-liability company (LLC). It may be incorporated as a stock insurer or a mutual insurer. CICs formed as corporations pursuant to this chapter are subject to the provisions of Chapter 2 of Title 13. The commissioner also has the authority to establish regulations regarding the formation, organization, operations, merger, and dissolution of CICs. In the event of any conflict between statutes and regulations, the provisions of this chapter or regulations prevail. CICs are exempt from publishing, and probate court certification requirements set forth in Title 14 or within this title. The provisions of Chapter 14 of this title shall not apply to CICs except as specifically set forth within this title or by the commissioner.
The articles of incorporation of a CIC must be signed by the incorporator and must have the name, the number of shares the CIC is authorized to issue, contact information for the initial registered office and the initial registered agent, as well as contact information for directors; the same requirement applies for the articles of organization of a CIC. In addition to formation documents, the company must submit a $100 fee.
All corporate powers and privileges of CICs shall be issued by the Secretary of State (SOS) and are subject to the laws and Constitution of Georgia. In the event that the SOS is unable to grant powers, the duties shall be performed by the commissioner. When formation documents have been received by the SOS, the CIC shall be issued a certificate of incorporation or organization; however, it shall not transact business as an insurer until the receipt of such certificate.
CICs may amend their formation documents, if they are an LLC, for a fee of $50. The commissioner shall examine the proposed amendments and determine if they are in compliance with applicable insurance laws and will transmit the documents to the SOS. A CIC may merge with one or more business entities if it is a corporation or an LLC, but it shall submit all required merger documents to the commissioner, who shall examine and transmit those documents to the SOS. A CIC may convert to a manager-managed, LLC for a fee of $100. A CIC may dissolve if it is an LLC.
A CIC shall not use a name that is similar, misleading, or confusing with respect to any other name that is in use by another CIC. The commissioner shall not approve formation documents of a CIC
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Daily Report for March 20, 2017

Today on the Floor

with such a name.

Risk retention group CICs shall only be subject to relevant taxes on direct premiums collected for coverage within the State of Georgia.

Authored By: Sen. Burt Jones (25th) House Committee: Insurance

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 164 Nays: 2

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Open 03-08-2017 Do Pass

SB 200 Insurance; synchronizing patients' chronic medications; provide
Bill Summary: Senate Bill 200 allows pharmacists to synchronize prescriptions for patients to minimize consumer trips to the pharmacy.

Authored By: Sen. Chuck Hufstetler (52nd) House Committee: Insurance

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 157 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Open 03-15-2017 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

SB 206 'Hearing Aid Coverage for Children Act'
Bill Summary: Senate Bill 206 mandates health insurance coverage for hearing aids for children. Businesses with 10 or less employees are exempt from this measure.

Authored By: Sen. P. K. Martin (9th) House Committee: Insurance

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 155 Nays: 5

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Open 03-15-2017 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

SB 242

Advanced Practice Registered Nurses; delegating physician can enter into a protocol agreement at any one time for nurses; provide
Bill Summary: SB 242 relates to advanced practice registered nurses. A delegating physician may not enter into a nurse protocol agreement with more than 10 advanced practice registered nurses at any one time, nor supervise more than four advanced practice registered nurses at any one time pursuant to nurse protocol agreements. The physician shall not be required to conduct any meetings, observations, or review of medical records if the advanced practice registered nurse practice at a location that: (1) Maintains evidence-based clinical practice guidelines; (2) Is accredited by an accrediting body, approved by the board, such as the Joint Commission or a nationally recognized accrediting organization with comparable standards; (3) Requires the delegating physician to document and maintain a record of review of at least 10 percent of the advanced practice registered nurses' medical records to monitor quality of care being provided to patients, which may be conducted electronically or onsite; (4) Requires the delegating physician and advanced practice registered nurse to participate in and maintain documentation of quarterly clinical collaboration meetings, either by telephone, in person, or onsite, for purposes of monitoring care being provided to patients; and (5) Requires the delegating physician's name, contact information, and record of the visit to be provided to the patient's primary care provider of choice with the patient's consent within 24 hours of the visit.

Authored By: Sen. Renee Unterman (45th) House Committee: Health & Human Services

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 163 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 03-14-2017 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

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Today on the Floor

Postponed Until Next Legislative Day
SB 88 'Narcotic Treatment Programs Enforcement Act'
Bill Summary: Senate Bill 88 provides for the regulation of narcotic treatment programs. The 'Narcotic Treatment Programs Enforcement Act' applies to any system of treatment provided for chronic heroin or opiate-like drug-dependent individuals that administers narcotic drugs under physicians' orders either for detoxification purposes or for maintenance treatment in a rehabilitative context offered by any county board of health, partnership, corporation, association, or person or groups of persons engaged in such administration.

The Department of Community Health is authorized and directed to create all rules and regulations necessary for narcotic treatment programs. The department shall establish an information forum for potential applicants no less than 14 days prior to the start of an open enrollment period, which shall be held December 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017, to accept applications for narcotic treatment. It is mandatory for a representative of the applicant to attend the information forum. Failure to attend and comply with this record of attendance requirements shall disqualify any applicant from consideration during open enrollment. The Department of Community Health will also establish an application review process committee that consists of staff and the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.

The Department of Community Health shall issue up to four licenses per region to a governing body for any narcotic treatment program which meets all the rules and regulations; however, the department shall establish a review process to determine if a waiver should be granted to allow any additional licensed narcotic treatment programs in a region. The department shall have full authority to determine the requirements for a waiver to be considered for review.

Narcotic treatment programs shall not provide a bounty, free services, free medication, or other rewards for patient referral to such program. Narcotic treatment programs shall not provide temporary discounted financial incentives to a potential patient that do not conform to the schedule of fees established by the department's rules and regulations. To prevent simultaneous enrollment of a patient in more than one program, all programs shall comply with the policies and participate in the central registry operated by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.

Authored By: Sen. Jeff Mullis (53rd)

Rule Applied: Modified-Structured

SB 201

Labor and Industrial Relations; employees to use sick leave for the care of immediate family members; allow
Bill Summary: Senate Bill 201 provides that an employer with at least 25 employees that provides sick leave shall allow an employee to use that leave for the care of an immediate family member.

Authored By: Sen. Butch Miller (49th)

Rule Applied: Modified-Structured

Local Calendar
HB 555 Carrollton, City of; levy an excise tax Bill Summary: This bill authorizes the city of Carrollton to levy an excise tax.

Authored By: Rep. Kevin Cooke (18th)

House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 153 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

03-16-2017 Do Pass

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Today on the Floor

HB 580 Putnam County; abolish office of elected county surveyor; provide for appointment
Bill Summary: This bill abolishes the office of elected county surveyor of Putnam County and provides for the appointment of the county surveyor by the governing authority.

Authored By: Rep. Trey Rhodes (120th)

House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 153 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

03-16-2017 Do Pass

HB 581

Taliaferro County; Board of Education; change compensation of members
Bill Summary: This bill changes the compensation of the members of the Taliaferro County Board of Education. The members will receive $300 per month, and the chair shall receive $325 a month. Additionally, actual expenses will be reimbursed to members while meeting or traveling outside the county as a member of the board.

Authored By: Rep. Trey Rhodes (120th)

House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 153 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

03-16-2017 Do Pass

HB 582

Monroe County; Joint Board of Elections and Registration; create
Bill Summary: This bill creates the Joint Board of Elections and Registration of Monroe County, which shall conduct the primary and general elections for Monroe County, the city of Culloden, and the city of Forsyth.

Authored By: Rep. Robert Dickey (140th)

House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination -

Local

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 153 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

03-16-2017 Do Pass

HB 585

Ocilla-Irwin County Industrial Development Authority; provide for members, terms, vacancies and a quorum
Bill Summary: This bill provides for the members of the Ocilla-Irwin County Industrial Development Authority. It states the authority shall consist of six members, who shall serve one year terms and who shall be eligible for reappointment. The chairperson of the Irwin County Board of Commissioners of Roads and Revenues shall appoint himself or herself, one member of the board, and one at-large, unelected person to the authority. The mayor of the city of Ocilla will do the same. A majority of the directors will constitute a quorum.

Authored By: Rep. Clay Pirkle (155th)

House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 153 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

03-16-2017 Do Pass

HB 586 Reynolds, City of; provide a new charter; provisions Bill Summary: This bill creates a new charter for the City of Reynolds.

Authored By: Rep. Patty Bentley (139th)

House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 153 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

03-16-2017 Do Pass

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Today on the Floor

HB 587

Jonesboro, City of; provide nonbinding advisory referendum to lower homestead exemption
Bill Summary: This bill provides for a nonbinding advisory referendum to ascertain whether the people of Jonesboro want the governing authority of the city to seek to lower the homestead exemption from city ad valorem taxes over a period of five years to $10,000 of the assessed value of the homestead.

Authored By: Rep. Mike Glanton (75th)

House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 153 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

03-16-2017 Do Pass

HB 589 Walton County; change compensation of coroner Bill Summary: This bill changes the compensation of the coroner of Walton County.

Authored By: Rep. Bruce Williamson (115th)

House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Floor Vote:

Yeas: 153 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

03-16-2017 Do Pass

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Next on the Floor

Next on the Floor from the Committee on Rules
The Committee on Rules has fixed the calendar for the 37th Legislative Day, Wednesday, March 22, and bills may be called at the pleasure of the Speaker. The Rules Committee will next meet on Wednesday, March 22, at 9:00 a.m., to set the Rules Calendar for the 38th Legislative Day.

SB 52

Mental Health; authorizing licensed professional counselor; sunset provision; repeal
Bill Summary: This bill repeals the sunset provision on the authorization for a licensed professional counselor to deliver a person who is mentally ill or alcohol or drug dependent to the nearest available emergency receiving facility serving the county in which the patient is found for an examination.

Authored By: Sen. P. K. Martin (9th) House Committee: Health & Human Services

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Open 03-14-2017 Do Pass

SB 108

Veterans Service; maintenance of a women veterans' office by the commissioner of veteran services; require
Bill Summary: This bill instructs the Department of Veterans Service to maintain a Women Veterans' Office. This office will conduct outreach to female veterans for the purpose of improving awareness of eligibility for federal and state veterans' benefits and services and to conduct assessments of the specific needs of women veterans with respect to benefits and services. The Women Veterans' Office will also work to assist with recruiting and training women veterans to serve as mentors for veterans participating in the veterans' court divisions.

Authored By:

Sen. Larry Walker III (20th)

House Committee: Defense & Veterans Affairs

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Open 03-13-2017 Do Pass

SR 95

Sales and Use Tax; net proceeds; educational purposes; county school system; independent school systems; provide for distribution-CA
Bill Summary: Senate Resolution 95 amends the constitution to allow for a special education sales and use tax referendum to be called by a county school district or independent school district or districts having a majority of the students enrolled within the county. The proceeds of the tax are to be split between the districts based either on an agreement made between the districts or on a ratio of enrollment.

Authored By: Sen. Ellis Black (8th) House Committee: Ways & Means

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 03-02-2017 Do Pass

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Committee Actions

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

Defense & Veterans Affairs Committee
HR 561 Georgia higher learning institutions; adopt the American Council on Education criteria; recommend
Bill Summary: House Resolution 561 recommends that the higher education institutions of Georgia adopt the American Council on Education criteria which allows separating service members to count applicable military training and experience for academic credit toward degree requirements.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Darrel Ealum (153rd) Defense & Veterans Affairs

Committee Action:

03-20-2017 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Education Committee

SB 3

"Creating Opportunities Needed Now to Expand Credentialed Training (CONNECT) Act"; enact

Bill Summary: Senate Bill 3 enacts the `Creating Opportunities Needed Now to Expand Credentialed Training (CONNECT) Act'. The act amends and expands Title 20 to provide for industry credentialing for students who complete focused programs of study. This legislation adds "energy" to the current list of focused programs and allows local school systems, charter schools, and college and career academies to develop and submit additional pathways for consideration by the State Board of Education. The State Board of Education shall establish a competitive grant for renovation, modernization, replacement, or purchase of equipment for certified in industry certification programs and those in the process of achieving certification, with grant priority given to chronically low performing high schools.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Lindsey Tippins (37th) Education

Committee Action:

03-20-2017 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

SB 30

Sustainable Community School Operational Grants; definitions; planning and implementation grants; provide
Bill Summary: Senate Bill 30 creates the `Unlocking the Promise Community Schools Act'. This act requires the Department of Education, subject to appropriations, to award Sustainable Community School Operational Grants for the planning and implementation of community school programming. Applicants must demonstrate how the school will transition to positive discipline practices, more engaging and relevant curriculum, and transformative parent engagement in addition to providing at least two community school programs as described in O.C.G.A. 20-2-642. The legislation sunsets on December 31st, 2023.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Vincent Fort (39th) Education

Committee Action:

03-20-2017 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

SB 152

Education; policy of the state; students who are subject to compulsory attendance; not assigned to alternative education program more than two semesters; provide
Bill Summary: Senate Bill 152 provides a preference for school systems to reassign disruptive students who are subject to mandatory attendance to alternative programs rather than suspend or expel students for more than 10 days. This legislation also states it is preferable that the time a student spends in alternative school, except for serious offenses, not exceed the remainder of the semester and the following semester as long as the student exhibits acceptable behavior while in the alternative program.
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Committee Actions

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Emanuel Jones (10th) Education

Committee Action:

03-20-2017 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

SB 211

Student Assessments;consideration of local reading programs; research based formative assessments; summative component; provide
Bill Summary: Senate Bill 211 amends Code Section 20-2-281 relating to research-based formative assessments for the first and second grades in mathematics and English-language arts/reading. This legislation amends the current Code by requiring such research-based assessments provide real-time data; allow flexible grouping of students based on skills level; and measure study progress. This legislation also requires the State Board of Education to conduct a study comparing state content standards in grades nine through 12 to nationally recognized academic assessments such as SAT, ACT, and ACCUPLACER.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Lindsey Tippins (37th) Education

Committee Action:

03-20-2017 Do Pass

Insurance Committee

SB 8

"Surprise Billing and Consumer Protection Act"; health insurance; provide consumer protections; definitions

Bill Summary: Senate Bill 8 requires a health care provider, group practice, diagnostic and treatment center or health center to disclose to patients or prospective patients, either in writing or online, the health care plans in which the provider is affiliated prior to the provision of nonemergency services, as well as verbally at the time an appointment is scheduled.
In the event that a provider does not participate in the network of a patient's or prospective patient's health care plan, the provider is required to inform the patient that the estimated amount the provider will bill for services is available upon request. Upon receipt of the request by a patient, the provider must disclose to the patient in writing the amount or estimate amount (or schedule of fees) that the provider or health center will bill the patient for health care services to be provided or anticipated to be provided, absent any unforeseen medical circumstances. Physicians are required to provide the patient with the name and contact information of any health care provider scheduled to perform inpatient or outpatient services in coordination with or through a referral by the physician. This act further requires each hospital to publicly post and maintain an updated list of the hospital's standard charges for items and services, including diagnosis-related groups (DRG). Hospitals are required to post online a list of the health plans in which the hospital participates. Further, hospitals must include a statement clarifying that physician services provided in the hospital are not included in the hospital facility bill and that patients should check with the physician arranging for the hospital services to determine the health care plans in which the physician participates. To facilitate this process, the hospital must post this information on its website so that it is available to patients.
At admission or during registration for non-emergency hospital services, the hospital is required to advise the patient to check with the physician arranging services to determine the information of any other physician whose services will be arranged for by the physician and communicate whether it is reasonably anticipated that services will be provided by physicians who are employed by the hospital.
In the case of emergency services, it provides that an out-of-network doctor shall not "balance bill" the patient. Their reimbursement shall be the greatest of one of the following three options: the median network rate paid by the health care plan; the rate of the health care plan in its standard formula for out-of-network reimbursement; or the Medicare fee for service reimbursement rate.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Renee Unterman (45th) Insurance

Committee Action:

03-20-2017 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

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Committee Actions

SB 50

"Direct Primary Care Act"; definitions; provide direct primary care agreements are not insurance
Bill Summary: Senate Bill 50 defines "direct primary care agreement" and "direct primary care practice". It establishes the conditions under which a direct primary care arrangement exists. Finally, it clarifies that these arrangements are not health insurance and therefore are not regulated by the commissioner of Insurance as such.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Hunter Hill (6th) Insurance

Committee Action:

03-20-2017 Do Pass

Judiciary Non-Civil Committee
SB 15 Crimes and Offenses; weapons carry license; add to the category of former law enforcement officers
Bill Summary: SB 15 grants former law enforcement officers with ten years of service who left that position as the result of a disability arising in the line of duty to a weapons carry license free of charge.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Michael Rhett (33rd) Judiciary Non-Civil

Committee Action:

03-20-2017 Do Pass

SB 45

Invasions of Privacy; to film under or through a person's clothing; prohibit the use of a device
Bill Summary: SB 45 criminalizes the conduct commonly known as "up skirting" or "down blousing" when knowingly and without consent of the person observed, any device or apparatus is used to observe, photograph, videotape, film or record underneath that person's clothing for the purpose of viewing intimate body parts or undergarments. Moreover, it is unlawful to disseminate any such image or recording. Conduct in violation of SB 45 is punished as a felony.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Larry Walker III (20th) Judiciary Non-Civil

Committee Action:

03-20-2017 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

SB 99

Georgia Crime Information Center; purging a person's hospitalization information for purpose of National Instant Criminal Background Check; provide for a judicial procedure
Bill Summary: SB 99 provides an appeal and hearing process for those who have been at some point involuntarily hospitalized to apply or reapply for a license to carry a firearm. The statute provides for a hearing of: the evidence concerning the circumstances of hospitalization; the person's mental health and criminal history, if any; the person's reputation as described by character witnesses; and changes in the person's condition or circumstances since hospitalization. Should the court find that the person is not likely to act in a manner dangerous to himself or the public, a license may be granted.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Elena Parent (42nd) Judiciary Non-Civil

Committee Action:

03-20-2017 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

SB 125

Physician Assistants; authority to prescribe hydrocodone compound products; authorize a physician to delegate to a physician assistant
Bill Summary: SB 125 allows a physician to delegate to an advanced practice nurse and physician assistants, the ability to issue a single non-refillable prescription for hydrocodone for a maximum 5day supply consisting of not more than 30 tablets for adults (300 milligrams) and not more than 30 tablets (100 milligrams)for individuals under the age of 18. The board overseeing advanced practice nurses is required to track the prescribing history of advanced practice nurses. In addition, a

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Committee Actions

physician assistant who has been delegated the authority to prescribe hydrocodone is required to complete three hours of continuing education biennially in the appropriate ordering and use of Schedule 2 controlled substances.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Rick Jeffares (17th) Judiciary Non-Civil

Committee Action:

03-20-2017 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

SB 160

"Back the Badge Act of 2017"
Bill Summary: SB 160 is the 'Back the Badge Act of 2017'. The bill defines "public safety officer" to include peace officers, correctional officers, emergency health workers, firefighters, highway emergency response operators, and certain officers of the court.

The legislation broadens the offenses of aggravated assault on a public safety officer and aggravated battery on a peace officer. The punishment for assault on a public safety officer where there is a discharge of a firearm is a felony punishable with incarceration from 10 to 20 years with a mandatory minimum of 10 years that cannot be suspended, probated, differed or otherwise reduced. When such assault does not involve the discharge of a firearm, the punishment is a felony with a term of incarceration from five to 20 years with a mandatory minimum of five years that cannot be suspended, probated, differed or otherwise reduced. When a person commits the offense of aggravated battery on a public safety officer while that officer is engaged in his or her official duties, the punishment is a felony with a term of imprisonment from 10 to 20 years with a mandatory minimum of 3 years to be imposed that cannot be suspended, probated, differed or otherwise reduced; however, the court may depart from such mandatory minimum sentence when the prosecuting attorney and defendant have agreed to a sentence that is below the mandatory minimum in each case. The bill creates a felony obstruction crime where a person knowingly and willfully obstructs by throwing, tossing, projecting, or expelling human or animal urine, feces, vomitus, or seminal fluid on a law enforcement officer, prison guard, jailer, and others when an officer is in the discharge of his or her official duties. The punishment is a felony with a term of imprisonment of not less than one nor more than five years. The bill also places juveniles between the ages of 13 to 17 who commit one of the aforementioned crimes into the Superior Court to be tried as adults.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Tyler Harper (7th) Judiciary Non-Civil

Committee Action:

03-20-2017 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee
SB 149 School Resource Officers; training requirements; provide
Bill Summary: Senate Bill 149 requires that the Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) maintain a 40-hour training course for school resource officers. Minimum training will include: assignment to an elementary or secondary school; search and seizure procedures in those schools; criminal offenses; gang and drug awareness; interviews and interrogations; emergency preparedness; and interpersonal interactions with adolescents, including encountering mental health issues.

This legislation also requires that municipal probation officers who wish to have arrest powers over those they are supervising be POST certified.

The bill includes language prohibiting persons from providing tobacco products to an inmate without the knowledge and consent of the jailer inside or outside of the jail. It also prohibits the procurement and possession of stored value cards for and by inmates.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Emanuel Jones (10th) Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee
Action:

03-20-2017 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

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Committee Actions

Regulated Industries Committee
SB 153 Hearing Aid Dealers and Dispensers; exempt certain activities
Bill Summary: SB 153 increases the scope of practice for optometrists by allowing for pharmaceutical agents to be administered through injections.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Matt Brass (28th) Regulated Industries

Committee Action:

03-20-2017 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

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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, March 21, 2017 8:00 AM NATURAL RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENT - 606 CLOB 9:30 AM JUDICIARY NON- CIVIL - 406 CLOB 10:00 AM SMALL BUSINESS-CANCELLED - 403 CAP 1:00 PM WAYS AND MEANS - 406 CLOB 1:00 PM JUDICIARY CIVIL - 132 CAP 1:00 PM MARTOC - 515 CLOB 1:00 PM Telecommunications Subcommittee of Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications - 403 CAP 2:00 PM HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES - 606 CLOB 2:00 PM Energy Subcommittee of Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications - 403 CAP

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