Daily report, 2018 January 29

House of Representatives

Daily Report for January 29, 2018

DAILY REPORT Monday
January 29, 2018

11th Legislative
Day

House Budget & Research Office (404) 656-5050

House Media Services (404) 656-0309

The House will reconvene for its 12th Legislative Day on Tuesday, January 30 at 10:00 a.m. The Rules committee will meet at 9:00 a.m. One bill / resolution is expected to be debated on the floor.

Today on the Floor
Conference Committee Reports
HB 205 Mining and drilling; regulate exploration and extraction of gas and oil; provisions
Bill Summary: This bill regulates the exploration and extraction of gas and oil in the state by amending the 'Oil and Gas and Deep Drilling Act of 1975'. Any oil and gas exploration to identify new sources of energy should not occur at the expense of the state's important natural resources, such as residential, municipal, and industrial supplies of fresh water. Additionally, the bill also defines hydraulic fracturing.

It also allows the Board of Natural Resources to delegate to the director of the Environmental Protection Division the authority to create an Oil and Gas Board to review and issue permits and to regulate drilling activity. The Oil and Gas Board, which can only be created after receiving at least 12 applications in a calendar year for any permit to drill any well, will consist of the state geologist and three other members appointed by the governor.

The Board of Natural Resources will also have the power to create rules establishing procedures for the restoration and reclamation of well sites. The board also must adopt regulations governing hydraulic fracturing operations by July 1, 2018. These regulations include, but aren't limited to, creating public notices for any applications for any hydraulic fracturing permits, identification of groundwater sources within one-half mile of any proposed wellhead, and the disclosure of the contents of fluids used in hydraulic fracturing projects to the director and the commissioner of public health. This includes provisions which may allow for the withholding of trade secrets. Anybody wishing to drill a well, other than one that will produce fresh water, has to apply with the director of the EPD and pay $500 for a permit.

The director shall issue a public notice for the permit application within 30 days of receiving the application. Following a 30-day public comment period, the director will also have to notify the public of the final permit decision. The bill also defines permit requirements.

Additionally, the bill has a clause stating that the bill will not limit the authority of local governments to adopt local zoning or land use ordinances limiting the location or timing of the activities defined in the bill for the purposes of protecting natural resources or human health and welfare.

Moreover, a severance tax of three cents per barrel of oil and one cent per thousand cubic feet of gas shall be levied on oil or gas removed from the ground by an extractor. The governing authority of each county or municipality can enact local ordinances or resolutions to levy its own severance tax, which can't exceed nine cents per barrel of oil or two cents per thousand cubic feet of gas.

Authored By: Rep. John Meadows (5th)

Rule Applied: Modified-Structured

Page 1 of 3

House of Representatives

Daily Report for January 29, 2018

Conference Committee Report (Adoption of the conference committee report represents final passage of the bill by the House. The Senate has yet to adopt the CCR.)

Rules Calendar
HB 661 Tax liens; transmittal, filing, recording, access to, and territorial effect issued by Department of Revenue; change provisions
Bill Summary: House Bill 661 removes statewide liens and only allows a lien at the county level. All liens filed between January 1, 2018 and February 15, 2018 revert back to county-wide attachment. The bill also eliminates the certificate of clearance process and reduces the time period for the Department of Revenue to file a lien from seven to five years from final assessment.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Bruce Williamson (115th) Ways & Means
Yeas: 170 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Structured 01-10-2018 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Next on the Floor from the Committee on Rules
The Committee on Rules has fixed the calendar for the 12th Legislative Day, Tuesday, January 30, and bills may be called at the pleasure of the Speaker. The Rules Committee will next meet on Tuesday, January 30,
at 9:00 a.m., to set the Rules Calendar for the 13th Legislative Day.

HB 135

Employees' Retirement System of Georgia; creditable service for certain law enforcement officers; expand
Bill Summary: HB 135 expands the definition of law enforcement officer to include any "investigator" of the Department of Driver Services. An individual who meets this definition will receive creditable service in the Employees' Retirement System (ERS) for prior service as law enforcement, as long as that person will not receive retirement benefits from a local government for that same service. The individual has to pay the full actuarial cost of the service, and service cannot be purchased until the individual has become vested in ERS at 10 years. This bill has been certified by the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts as a fiscal retirement bill. The actuary has determined that a state appropriation is not required to implement the changes.

Authored By:

Rep. Bill Hitchens (161st)

House Committee: Retirement

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Open 01-24-2018 Do Pass

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

Motor Vehicles Committee
HB 666 Motor vehicles; proper display of license plates; provide
Bill Summary: House Bill 666 clarifies the law as it relates to the display of license plates. Unlike current law, this bill will allow the use of decorative plastic frames around a license plate so long as the plate number is clearly readable.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. David Wilkerson (38th) Motor Vehicles

Committee Action:

01-29-2018 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Page 2 of 3

House of Representatives

Daily Report for January 29, 2018

HB 671

Special license plates; Georgia Beekeepers Association; establish
Bill Summary: House Bill 671 creates a special license plate promoting the conservation and protection of the official insect of this state, the honey bee. A portion of the proceeds raised by the sale of this plate shall be disbursed to the Georgia Beekeepers Association.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Emory Dunahoo (30th) Motor Vehicles

Committee Action:

01-29-2018 Do Pass

HB 695

Special license plates; Georgia Forestry Foundation; establish
Bill Summary: House Bill 695 creates a special license plate to honor Georgia's working forests and the benefits they provide. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each plate will go to the Georgia Forestry Foundation.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. James Epps (144th) Motor Vehicles

Committee Action:

01-29-2018 Do Pass

HB 698

Special license plates; Georgia Tennis Foundation; establish
Bill Summary: House Bill 698 creates a special license plate to honor the Georgia Tennis Foundation. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each plate will go to the Georgia Tennis Foundation.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Scott Hilton (95th) Motor Vehicles

Committee Action:

01-29-2018 Do Pass

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, January 30, 2018 9:00 AM RULES 341 CAP 10:00 AM FLOOR SESSION (LD 12) House Chamber 2:00 PM HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES 606 CLOB 2:00 PM GAME, FISH & PARKS 403 CAP 3:00 PM SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 506 CLOB

Page 3 of 3