Daily report, 2018 February 12

DAILY REPORT Monday
February 12, 2018

19th Legislative
Day

House Budget & Research Office (404) 656-5050

House Media Services (404) 656-0309

The House will reconvene for its 20th Legislative Day on Tuesday, February 13 at 10:00 a.m. The Rules committee will meet at 9:00 a.m. 7 bills / resolutions are expected to be debated on the floor.

Today on the Floor

Rules Calendar
HB 487 Disaster Volunteer Relief Act; granted leave from work with pay in order to participate in specialized disaster relief services; authorize certain employees of state agencies
Bill Summary: House Bill 487 allows state employees, under the 'Disaster Relief Volunteer Act', who are certified volunteers of the Civil Air Patrol United States Air Force Auxiliary to be granted paid leave for no more than 15 work days in a 12-month period. This leave is to be specifically used for participation in specialized emergency services operations for the Civil Air Patrol upon the request of the Patrol after activation by a county emergency management agency, the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, or a comparable federal agency for that employee's services and upon the employee's agency approval.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Josh Bonner (72nd)

Rule Applied:

Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee Action:

Yeas: 161 Nays: 1

Modified-Structured 02-05-2018 Do Pass

HB 592

Insurance; compliance self-evaluative privilege; repeal applicability and sunset provisions
Bill Summary: House Bill 592 repeals the applicability and sunset provisions of the insurance compliance self-evaluative privilege (O.C.G.A. 33-2-34). This privilege allows insurance companies to fix issues arising from an internal audit without suffering reprisal by regulators for the original mistake.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Eddie Lumsden (12th) Insurance
Yeas: 156 Nays: 1

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Open 02-07-2018 Do Pass

HB 678

Insurance; consumer protections regarding health insurance; provisions
Bill Summary: House Bill 678 is designed to bring transparency to the process of medical billing. It prevents the "surprise" bill patients receive when an out-of-network doctor participates in the treatment team for an elective procedure. The bill requires hospitals, healthcare providers and insurers to disclose to patients which doctors in their treatment team are or are not part of their insurance network. Further, it requires the disclosure of the cost for the out-of-network care.

The elements of this bill do not apply to emergency care or any care that arises due to a complication during an elective procedure.

In the event a surprise bill does arise as a result of complications during a procedure, the legislation Page 1 of 9

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Daily Report for February 12, 2018

Today on the Floor

provides for a dispute resolution process.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Richard Smith (134th) Insurance
Yeas: 164 Nays: 1

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-07-2018 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 723

Sales and use tax; certain veterinary diagnostic and disease monitoring services; create exemption
Bill Summary: House Bill 723 amends 48-8-3, relating to exemptions from state sales and use tax, by adding an exemption on sales tax for 501(c)(5) non-profit organizations which, as their primary purpose, provide poultry related diagnostic and disease monitoring services.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Sam Watson (172nd) Ways & Means
Yeas: 161 Nays: 2

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Structured 02-01-2018 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 734

Insurance; modernization and updates; provisions
Bill Summary: House Bill 734 is a housekeeping bill to modernize and update the first 10 chapters of Title 33, the Insurance Code. It corrects spelling and punctuation, deletes obsolete Code references, and modernizes definitions. The bill makes no substantive change to the law itself.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Richard Smith (134th) Insurance
Yeas: 162 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Open 02-07-2018 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 739 Tracy Rainey Act; enact
Bill Summary: House Bill 739 amends O.C.G.A. 20-2-200.2 relating to professional certification of military spouses by specifying the Code section shall be known as the 'Tracy Rainey Act.'

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Al Williams (168th) Education
Yeas: 162 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Open 02-05-2018 Do Pass

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Committee Actions

Next on the Floor from the Committee on Rules
The Committee on Rules has fixed the calendar for the 20th Legislative Day, Tuesday, February 13 and bills may be called at the pleasure of the Speaker. The Rules Committee will next meet on Tuesday, February 13, at 9:00 a.m., to set the Rules Calendar for the 21st Legislative Day.

HB 79

Law enforcement; retaining license plate data obtained from automated license plate recognition systems beyond certain periods; prohibit
Bill Summary: House Bill 79 defines "automated license plate recognition system" and "captured license plate data" in the Code. Automated license plate recognition system means one or more highspeed cameras combined with computer algorithms to convert images of license plates into computer readable data. Captured license plate data means the GPS coordinates, date/time, photograph, license plate number, and any other data collected by the automated license plate recognition system. The data collected shall be destroyed by the law enforcement agency that collects the data after 30 months unless the data is the subject matter of a toll violation or law enforcement purpose. The bill allows law enforcement agencies to exchange data with other law enforcement agencies for official purposes but imposes penalties for improper use. Finally, the bill states that data collected is not subject to open records requests.

Authored By: Rep. John Pezold (133rd)

Rule Applied:

House Committee: Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-05-2018 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 654 Child support; reforms recommended by the Ga. Child Support Commission; enact
Bill Summary: This bill amends the definition of "child support order" and "final child support amount" to clarify that the amount and the order can be two separate items and are not necessarily synonymous. Also, when there is more than one child for whom support is being determined, the court shall still establish the amount and duration of support, but if an amount in a final order is likely to change within two years, the court may allow for the use of separate worksheets to determine payments. This order shall not preclude a petition for modification.

Authored By: Rep. Beth Beskin (54th) House Committee: Judiciary

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-06-2018 Do Pass

HB 665 Abandoned vessels; revise notice requirements; provisions
Bill Summary: HB 665 eliminates duplicative notification requirements for when an abandoned vessel is removed from a public or private waterway. The bill removes the Georgia Bureau of Investigation from the list of entities requiring notification, resulting in all notifications being made to the Department of Natural Resources.

Authored By: Rep. Eddie Lumsden (12th) House Committee: Natural Resources & Environment

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Open 02-08-2018 Do Pass

HB 668 Guardian and ward; petitions for appointment of a guardian under certain circumstances; provisions
Bill Summary: This legislation amends Code sections relating to a petition for appointment of a guardian. It allows a petition to be filed regarding a proposed ward who is at least 17-years old and deemed to lack sufficient capacity to make or communicate significant responsible decisions concerning his or her health or safety at age 18 or in adulthood. When a petition is filed prior to the ward turning 18, any order appointing a guardian shall take affect when the ward turns 18.

Authored By: Rep. Betty Price (48th) House Committee: Judiciary

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Open 02-06-2018 Do Pass

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Committee Actions

HB 751 Georgia Emergency Communications Authority Act; enact
Bill Summary: House Bill 751 establishes the Georgia Emergency Communications Authority with the primary purpose to administer, collect, audit, and remit 9-1-1 revenues for the benefit of local governments.

Authored By: Rep. Alan Powell (32nd)

Rule Applied:

House Committee: Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-05-2018 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 757 Local government; regulatory powers of cities and counties with certificate of public necessity and convenience; provisions
Bill Summary: HB 757 clarifies certain provisions regarding taxicabs. The bill reinforces existing local law governing taxicab medallions, and such local laws will remain in effect so long as they are consistent with existing state law. HB 757 applies state law to reinforce local ordinances that still require a medallion for the pickup of passengers. Moreover, the bill requires the drivers of taxis to prominently display a photo identification card. In addition, the bill defines a "soft taximeter" which is a smartphone, tablet, or similar device that is used as a taximeter and prohibits local governments from rejecting the use of such a device. HB 757 sets the maximum age limit of vehicles used to pick up passengers at airports to be no less than eight-years old for taxis, limos, or rideshares.

Authored By: Rep. Alan Powell (32nd) House Committee: Regulated Industries

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-06-2018 Do Pass

HR 943 Joint Georgia-North Carolina and Georgia-Tennessee Boundary Line Commission; create
Bill Summary: This resolution creates the Joint Georgia-North Carolina and Georgia-Tennessee Boundary Line Commission to establish, survey, and proclaim the true boundary lines between Georgia and the two other states. There shall be six commission members, three appointed by the president of the Senate and three appointed by the speaker of the House. The commission shall issue a report of its findings with the secretary of the Senate and the clerk of the House. If no report is approved by the commission, the co-chairs may file the meeting minutes. The commission will be abolished on December 1, 2018.

It also directs the governor of Georgia to communicate with the governors of North Carolina and Tennessee for the purpose of having joint surveys and settlements of the disputed boundary questions.

Authored By: Rep. Marc Morris (26th) House Committee: Interstate Cooperation

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Open 02-05-2018 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.

Code Revision Committee
HB 783 Administrative procedure; provisions creating inactive boards, panels, authorities and other such bodies; repeal
Bill Summary: This clean-up bill repeals the following authorities, boards, councils, and commissions, that are inactive or no longer meet: Pacific White Shrimp Aquaculture Development Advisory Council, Georgia Tobacco Community Development Board, Southern Dairy Compact Commission, Heritage Trust Commission, Child Care Council, Georgia Southern University Herty Advanced Material Development Center Advisory Board, Private Colleges and Universities Authority, Education Information Steering Committee, Federal and State Funded Health Care Financing Programs Overview Committee, Commission on Men's Health, Renal Dialysis Advisory Council, Renal Dialysis Advisory Council, Arthritis Prevention and Control Program Advisory Panel, Special Advisory Commission on Mandated Health Insurance Benefits, Commission on the Georgia Health Insurance Risk Pool, Airport Anti-Terrorism Training Committee, and the Georgia Silver-Haired Legislature.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Michael Caldwell (20th) Code Revision

Committee Action:

02-12-2018 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Defense & Veterans Affairs Committee
HB 719 Buildings and housing; housing authorities to develop and implement policies granting housing preferences to veterans who are homeless; require
Bill Summary: HB 719 allows housing authorities to develop and implement policies which grant preference to homeless veterans of the United States Armed Forces or a state's National Guard, in addition to preferences already granted to homeless individuals.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Sandra Scott (76th) Defense & Veterans Affairs

Committee Action:

02-12-2018 Do Pass

HB 750

Motor vehicles; veteran serve during wartime to be eligible for free driver's license; remove requirement
Bill Summary: HB 750 removes the requirement that an individual had to serve in the United States Armed Forces, reserves or a state's National Guard during wartime or a conflict (or for a period of 20 years for the latter two) in order to receive a veteran's license.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. David Clark (98th) Defense & Veterans Affairs

Committee Action:

02-12-2018 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HR 655 Gold Star Father Day; November 9 annually in Georgia; recognize
Bill Summary: HR 655 provides that the Georgia House of Representatives will recognize November 9th as Gold Star Father Day annually in Georgia.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Rhonda Burnough (77th) Defense & Veterans Affairs

Committee Action:

02-12-2018 Do Pass

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Committee Actions

HR 888

Joint Study Committee on Converting Closed Hospitals to Veterans Homes; create
Bill Summary: HR 888 creates the Joint Study Committee on Converting Closed Hospitals to Veterans Homes. The committee will consist of six members: three will be appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be designated as co-chairperson, and three will be appointed by the president of the Senate, one of whom shall be designated as co-chairperson. If the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations, it shall file a report prior to its abolishment. The committee shall be abolished on December 1, 2018.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Jason Spencer (180th) Defense & Veterans Affairs

Committee Action:

02-12-2018 Do Pass

Economic Development & Tourism Committee
HR 940 Georgia; host the world's largest startup pitch competition; encourage
Bill Summary: HR 940 encourages the State of Georgia to partner with private entities to host the world's largest start-up pitch competition.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Dar'shun Kendrick (93rd) Economic Development & Tourism Committee
Action:

02-12-2018 Do Pass

HR 1076 Federal government; provide port funding; urge
Bill Summary: H.R. 1076 urges the federal government to provide their portion of funding for the Port of Savannah harbor deepening project to ensure the timely completion of improvements needed at the country's fastest-growing terminal.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Bill Hitchens (161st) Economic Development & Tourism Committee
Action:

02-12-2018 Do Pass

Motor Vehicles Committee
HB 721 Motor vehicles; criteria by which the Department of Driver Services shall authorize licensed driver training schools to administer on-the-road driving skills testing; revise
Bill Summary: House Bill 721 clarifies that only third party drivers' testing centers which are certified by the Department of Driver Services (DDS) may test for a driver's license. Further, only those driving centers licensed by DDS for at least 10 years may perform road and written testing on its behalf.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Alan Powell (32nd) Motor Vehicles

Committee Action:

02-12-2018 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 766

Special license plates; Alabama A&M University; establish
Bill Summary: House Bill 766 creates a specialty license plate to benefit Alabama A&M University. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this plate goes to Alabama A&M University Alumni Association, Inc., and is used to provide scholarships and financial assistance to Georgia residents attending the university.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Dewey McClain (100th) Motor Vehicles

Committee Action:

02-12-2018 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

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Committee Actions

HB 784

Specialty license plates; promote conservation of waterfowl populations and their habitats; establish
Bill Summary: House Bill 784 creates a specialty license plate to promote the conservation and enhancement of waterfowl populations and their habitats. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this plate goes to the Wildlife Resources Division of the Department of Natural Resources.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Matt Dubnik (29th) Motor Vehicles

Committee Action:

02-12-2018 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 797 Special license plates; amount of proceeds disbursed to the Georgia Aquarium; change
Bill Summary: House Bill 797 increases the disbursal amount to the Georgia Aquarium Inc. from the the sale of their special license plates from $10.00 to $22.00.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Dominic LaRiccia (169th) Motor Vehicles

Committee Action:

02-12-2018 Do Pass

HB 798

Special license plates; provisions relating to a special license plate for the personal vehicles of firefighters; amend
Bill Summary: House Bill 798 clarifies the law as it relates to whom is eligible for the special license plates for firefighters. Current law only allows a plate for certified firefighters. This bill will allow a plate for all firefighters.

Further, it provides that in the event a firefighter is terminated for cause, they have 14 days to return the plate to the county tag office from which it was obtained.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Mandi Ballinger (23rd) Motor Vehicles

Committee Action:

02-12-2018 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 815

Special license plates; Georgia Masonic Charities; establish
Bill Summary: House Bill 815 amends the provisions relating to the special license plates honoring Georgia Masonic Charities. Currently all proceeds from the sale of this plate are deposited into the general fund. This bill allows a portion of the proceeds to be disbursed to the Georgia Masonic Charities Foundation, Inc.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Chuck Martin (49th) Motor Vehicles

Committee Action:

02-12-2018 Do Pass

Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee
HB 855 Georgia Driver's Education Commission; additional penalty to be assessed for violation of traffic laws and ordinances; increase
Bill Summary: House Bill 855 raises from 1.5 percent to 3 percent the additional penalty imposed on an original fine assessed for violations of traffic laws of the state or for violations of ordinances of political subdivisions which have adopted the traffic laws of this state. The bill also includes a sunset of June 30, 2022.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. John Deffenbaugh (1st) Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee
Action:

02-12-2018 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

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Committee Actions

HB 856 Board of Public Safety; add commissioner of community supervision
Bill Summary: House Bill 856 amends the composition of the Board of Public Safety to include the commissioner of the Department of Community Supervision as an ex-officio member.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. John Deffenbaugh (1st) Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee
Action:

02-12-2018 Do Pass

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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, February 13, 2018 8:00 AM Environmental Quality Sub-Comm:Natural Resources & Environment 403 CAP 8:00 AM MILITARY AFFAIRS WORKING GROUP 415 CLOB 9:00 AM RULES 341 CAP 10:00 AMFLOOR SESSION (LD 20) House Chamber 1:00 PM Setzler Subcommittee of Judiciary (Non-Civil) 506 CLOB 1:00 PM APPROPRIATIONS PUBLIC SAFETY 415 CLOB 1:00 PM APPROPRIATIONS TRANSPORTATION 406 CLOB 2:00 PM APPROPRIATIONS HIGHER EDUCATION 341 CAP 2:00 PM JUDICARY (CIVIL) 132 CAP 2:00 PM HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES 606 CLOB 2:00 PM BANKS AND BANKING 515 CLOB 2:00 PM REGULATED INDUSTRIES 415 CLOB 3:00 PM MEDICAL CANNABIS WORKING GROUP 406 CLOB 3:00 PM SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 506 CLOB 4:00 PM Governmental Affairs Special Subcommittee on Voting Technology 506 CLOB

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