Daily report, 2020 March 4

DAILY REPORT Wednesday March 4, 2020

24th Legislative
Day

House Budget & Research Office (404) 656-5050

The House will reconvene for its 25th Legislative Day on Thursday, March 5 at 10:00 a.m. The Rules Committee will meet on Monday, March 9 at 1:00 p.m. 11 bills / resolutions are expected to be debated on the floor.

Today on the Floor

Rules Calendar
HB 882 Sales and use tax; exemption for the sale of food and food ingredients to qualified food banks; eliminate sunset period
Bill Summary: House Bill 882 amends O.C.G.A. 48-8-3, relating to exemptions from sales and use taxes, by removing the sunset on the exemption for sales of food and food ingredients to a qualified food bank.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Penny Houston (170th) Ways & Means
Yeas: 159 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Structured 02-27-2020 Do Pass

HB 897

State Forestry Commission; create a standing timber notification website; require
Bill Summary: HB 897 requires the State Forestry Commission to begin creating a website by July 1, 2020 for persons or firms harvesting standing timber to use as uniform system of notification to local governing authorities. The State Forestry Commission must provide notice of when the website is operational. Within 19 months of becoming operational, the State Forestry Commission shall set a date upon which use by persons or firms harvesting timber for notification purposes is mandatory.

Standing timber harvesting entities shall maintain a bond or letter of credit to protect the county or municipality against any damage that requires the restoration of a ditch structure, the removal of harvesting residue placed in or around rights-of-way, or the repair of county or municipal roads. A county or municipality has 30 days to provide a written claim of damage to the harvesting firm, at which time the harvesting firm has 30 days to do one of the following: request an extension of no more than 90 days to account for inclement weather; repair the damage at their own expense with the approval of the governing body; or appeal the written claim to the magistrate court of the county. If a bond or letter of credit is revoked, the harvesting entity has five business days to obtain a new bond or letter of credit. The governing authority may increase the required bond or letter of credit amount by $2,500 for each instance of revocation, up to $10,000 of the original bond or letter of credit.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. James Burchett (176th) Agriculture & Consumer Affairs
Yeas: 166 Nays: 2

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 02-26-2020 Do Pass

HB 918 Pharmacies; various provisions relating to the practice of pharmacy; revise
Bill Summary: House Bill 918 amends 'The Pharmacy Audit Bill of Rights' to exclude the cost of claims by prescription number as a criterion in determining which claims to audit. Audits will not

House of Representatives

Daily Report for March 4, 2020

Today on the Floor

include more than 100 prescriptions per audit and an entity will not audit more than 200 prescriptions in any 12-month period.

A pharmacy is not responsible for any penalty or fee in connection with an audit. There is no recoupment of funds from a pharmacy in connection with claims for which the pharmacy has already been paid without first complying with these requirements. There is no recoupment from a pharmacy except in cases of fraud, a miss-filled prescription, or an error that resulted in an over-payment, in which case the recoupment is limited to the amount over-paid. Additionally, this bill limits the auditing of a pharmacy to no more than once every six months.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Sharon Cooper (43rd) Special Committee on Access to Quality Health Care Yeas: 169 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 02-28-2020 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 946

Insurance; extensive revisions regarding pharmacy benefits managers; provide
Bill Summary: House Bill 946 prohibits a pharmacy benefits manager (PBM) from employing or contracting with a physician for the purpose of advising on or making formulary development, formulary management, step therapy, or prior authorization, unless the physician: is licensed by the Georgia Medical Board; has actively seen patients within the past five years; and has practiced in the same specialty area for which the physician is providing advisement within the past five years.

This bill grants the Department of Insurance regulatory authority of PBMs in Georgia. Any methodologies utilized by a PBM in connection with reimbursement must be filed with DOI. A PBM must utilize the national average drug acquisition cost as a point of reference for the ingredient drug product component of a pharmacy's reimbursement for drugs appearing on the national average drug acquisition cost list. A report must be filed with DOI every three months detailing all drugs appearing on the national average drug acquisition cost list reimbursed at 10 percent and below the national average drug acquisition cost, as well as all drugs reimbursed at 10 percent and above this national average. For each drug in the report, a PBM must include: the month the drug was dispensed; the quantity of the drug dispensed; the amount the pharmacy was reimbursed per unit or dosage; whether the dispensing pharmacy was an affiliate; whether the drug was dispensed pursuant to a state or local government health plan; and the national average drug acquisition cost on the day the drug was dispensed.

This bill requires that PBMs do not reimburse a pharmacy an amount less than the amount the PBM reimburses an affiliate pharmacy for providing the same pharmacy services. Additionally, PBMs will not engage in any practice that: in any way bases pharmacy reimbursement for a drug on the patient outcomes, scores, or metrics; includes imposing a point-of-sale fee or retroactive fee; or derives any revenue from a pharmacy or insured in connection with performing PBM services.

PBMs are required to pass on to the health plan 100 percent of all rebates it receives from pharmaceutical manufacturers and report annually to each health plan the aggregate amount of all rebates and other payments that the PBM received from pharmaceutical manufactures in connection with claims if administered on behalf of the health plan. PBMs must charge a health plan the same price for a prescription drug as it pays a pharmacy for the prescription drug. Unless otherwise prohibited by law, a PBM applies any third-party payment, financial assistance, discount, product voucher, or other reduction in out-of-pocket expenses made by or on behalf of an insured for a prescription drug toward an insured person's deductible, cost-share or co-payment responsibility, or out-of-pocket maximum associated with the insured person's health plan.

House Bill 946 further prohibits PBMs from: steering as defined in this bill; charging a pharmacy a fee in connection with network enrollment; withholding coverage or requiring prior authorization for a lower cost therapeutically-equivalent drug available to an insured person or failing to reduce that person's cost-share when the person selects a lower cost drug; and removing a drug from a formulary or denying coverage of a drug for the purpose of incentivizing an insured person to seek coverage from a different health plan.

This bill is effective January 1, 2021. Page 2 of 14

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Today on the Floor

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. David Knight (130th) Special Committee on Access to Quality Health Care Yeas: 165 Nays: 1

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 02-28-2020 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 947

Community Health, Department of; engage an actuary to conduct a study of the fiscal impact of carving out pharmacy benefits from the state's current Medicaid care management organizations; require
Bill Summary: House Bill 947 requires the Department of Community Health (DCH) to initiate an actuarial study of the fiscal impact of carving out pharmacy benefits from the current Medicaid care management organizations (CMOs) and providing pharmacy benefits to CMO members exclusively through DCH's Medicaid fee-for-service program.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. David Knight (130th) Special Committee on Access to Quality Health Care Yeas: 168 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 02-28-2020 Do Pass

HB 969

Housing; certain provisions pertaining to unlawful practices in selling or renting dwellings and the procedures, remedies, and judicial review related thereto; change
Bill Summary: HB 969 amends Article 4 of Chapter 3 of Title 8 of the Code, regarding fair housing, to meet the "substantially equivalent" threshold required for state housing laws in order to be certified by the Fair Housing Assistance Program.

The bill clarifies the purpose of preventing the administrator of the Commission on Equal Opportunity from pursuing actions for discrimination in housing if the Department of Housing and Urban Development has already initiated an investigation or action, and provides that it is not intended to prevent the dual filing of complaints on the state and federal level.

The bill removes the attorney general's discretion when determining whether to pursue an action for housing discrimination and requires the attorney general to pursue the action if elected by the involved parties, or if the administrator recommends action.

In the event the parties do not elect for the attorney general to pursue the action, the administrator shall refer the complaint to an administrative law judge instead of the board of directors of the Commission on Equal Opportunity. The administrator may review and reject or modify any finding by the administrative law judge. If no party appeals to the administrator, and the administrator takes no action, the finding becomes final after 30 days. A party may appeal the final order in the Superior Court of Fulton County within 30 days. The standard of review for the appeal is changed to be consistent with the 'Administrative Procedure Act'. Attorney's fees and court costs may not be awarded to respondents unless the respondent prevails on all alleged violations in addition to showing that the action was frivolous.

Respondents to a complaint alleging housing discrimination must serve an answer on the administrator, in addition to the complainant. The requirement that discovery in actions for housing discrimination, and the enforcement thereof, be conducted in the same manner as discovery under the 'Civil Practice Act' is removed. This bill also corrects cross-references within the Code.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Chuck Efstration (104th) Judiciary
Yeas: 168 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 02-25-2020 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 25th Legislative Day, Thursday, March 5, and bills may be called at the pleasure of the Speaker. The Rules Committee will next meet on Monday, March 9, at
12:00 p.m., to set the Rules Calendar for the 26th Legislative Day.

HB 488

Commerce and trade; prevent organized retail crime
Bill Summary: HB 488 requires merchants that buy or resell stored value cards to record certain information regarding the transaction in the same way as a pawnshop, and knowingly failing to do so may be punished as a misdemeanor.

In addition, a plea of nolo contendere for the crime of shoplifting counts as a conviction when counting subsequent convictions for shoplifting. HB 488 allows a judge to depart from the mandatory minimum sentence for fourth or subsequent offenses when the prosecuting attorney and the defendant have agreed to a sentence that is below the mandatory sentence.

Finally, HB 488 creates the new offense of organized retail theft. A person is guilty of organized retail theft when that person appropriates property of a store or retail establishment without paying for the property; the property is taken from one or more stores over a period of 180 days with the intent to sell it for monetary or other gain; and the aggregate value of the property subject to the theft has a value exceeding $20,000. The punishment for organized retail theft is a felony with a term of imprisonment not less than five nor more than 20 years and a fine not to exceed $50,000.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Martin Momtahan (17th) Judiciary Non-Civil

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-28-2020 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 576

Courts; distribution priority of partial payments of fines, bond forfeitures, and costs; provide
Bill Summary: HB 576 reprioritizes the distribution order of payments collected from driving under the influence and reckless driving fines to move the Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund up from 12th to 5th in order to receive payments.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Ricky Williams (145th) Judiciary Non-Civil

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-28-2020 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 641

Georgia Bureau of Investigation; grant powers and duties to identify and investigate violations of the Georgia Computer Systems Protection Act and other computer crimes
Bill Summary: House Bill 641 authorizes the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) to identify and investigate violations of the 'Georgia Computer Systems Protection Act' and other criminal offenses involving the use of a computer or computer network. The legislation also grants the GBI subpoena power for these investigations, with the consent of the attorney general.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Eddie Lumsden (12th)

Rule Applied:

Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 03-02-2020 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 815 Sales and use tax; local authorities providing public water or sewer service; exempt
Bill Summary: House Bill 815 amends O.C.G.A. 48-8-3, relating to exemptions from sales and use taxes, by adding an exemption for sales to an authority which provides public water or sewer service.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Houston Gaines (117th) Ways & Means

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Structured 02-27-2020 Do Pass

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Next on the Floor

HB 847

Hemp farming; definitions, penalties and criminal background checks; provide
Bill Summary: HB 847 defines "key participant" as the sole proprietor, a partner, or person with managerial control in a corporation. It specifies the term "hemp products" shall not include any part of the Cannabis plant, except for completely defoliated mature stalks, fiber produced from the stalks, or sterilized seeds.

Any college or university in Georgia may pilot a hemp research program. Colleges and universities are also authorized to engage third parties to assist in research programs.

The bill allows a licensee to provide or sell hemp to another person who is not a Georgia licensee or permittee so long as that person is located in a state with a hemp regulation plan that is in accordance with the United States Department of Agriculture. A licensee may also sell to any Georgia college or university.

HB 847 revises background check requirements for licensees and permittees by requiring that key participants provide at least one set of electronically recorded fingerprints to the Georgia Department of Agriculture. The Department of Agriculture shall then transmit the fingerprints to the Georgia Crime Information Center, which in turn shall submit the fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a search of bureau records.

The bill requires any hemp or hemp products that are shipped, transported, or otherwise delivered to have proper documentation that indicates that the hemp meets federal hemp guidelines, including that it does not exceed the federally defined THC level for hemp. Any person transporting or shipping hemp or hemp products must also carry a bill of lading that includes the following: name and address of the owner of the hemp; point of origin; name and address of the point of delivery; kind and quantity of packages; and date of shipment.

HB 847 increases the initial permit fee for a hemp processor from $25,000 to $50,000. The Georgia Department of Agriculture has the right to collect samples of hemp for testing, which must be collected before any hemp may be harvested.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. John Corbett (174th) Agriculture & Consumer Affairs

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-18-2020 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 855

State Board of Education; determine eligibility criteria for foster care students to receive special education and related services; provisions
Bill Summary: House Bill 855 creates O.C.G.A. 20-2-152.2 relating to the evaluation of foster care students to determine whether the student has been exposed to trauma which adversely affected the student's educational performance or behavior. No later than January 1, 2021, the Department of Education will provide guidance to local school systems on procedures to immediately and deliberately evaluate foster care students when the student enrolls in the school.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Marcus Wiedower (119th) Education

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-27-2020 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 859 Motor vehicles; tinting of windows or windshields; provide maximum monetary penalty
Bill Summary: House Bill 859 sets a maximum monetary penalty of $25, without the addition of surcharges, to the misdemeanor violation of the window tint law.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Clay Pirkle (155th)

Rule Applied:

Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-24-2020 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

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Next on the Floor

HB 885

Penal institutions; certain information within inmate files of the Department of Corrections shall not be classified as confidential state secrets when requested by the district attorney; provide
Bill Summary: HB 885 grants district attorneys access to all information regarding an offender's record, including confidential state secrets, when the offender is found guilty of serious violent felonies or dangerous sexual offenses and is eligible for parole. Moreover, a person that divulges or is caused to be divulged of confidential state secrets is guilty of a misdemeanor.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Jesse Petrea (166th) Judiciary Non-Civil

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-28-2020 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 1054 Health; newborn screening for various disorders; revise provisions
Bill Summary: House Bill 1054 authorizes the Department of Public Health to promulgate rules and regulations creating a newborn screening system for the prevention of serious illness, severe physical or developmental disability, and death caused by inherited metabolic and genetic disorders.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Sharon Cooper (43rd) Health & Human Services

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-28-2020 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HR 1094 Property; granting of non-exclusive easements; authorize
Bill Summary: HR 1094 authorizes the granting of non-exclusive easements for the construction, operation, and maintenance of facilities, utilities, roads, and ingress and egress in, on, over, under, upon, across, or through property owned by the state of Georgia in the counties of Barrow, Calhoun, Chatham, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Crisp, Dougherty, Douglas, McIntosh, Muscogee, Paulding, Polk, and Richmond, as follows:
Article 1 grants an easement to Georgia Power Company or its successors and assigns over approximately 0.75 of an acre in Barrow County under the custody of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for the construction, installation, operation and maintenance of underground electrical transmission lines and associated equipment that will serve the recreation fields at Fort Yargo State Park-Victor Lord Park for $10.
Article 2 grants an easement to Diverse Power or its successors and assigns over approximately 4.94 acres in Calhoun and Dougherty Counties under the custody of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for the construction, installation, operation and maintenance of underground electrical transmission lines and associated equipment to serve new shooting range at Chickasawhatchee Wildlife Management Area for $10.
Article 3 grants an easement to Atlanta Gas Light or its successors and assigns over approximately 1.128 acres in Chatham County under the custody of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for the construction, installation, operation and maintenance of underground natural gas lines and associated equipment to serve Hutchinson Island across the Savannah River for $66,400.
Article 4 grants an easement to Georgia Power Company or its successors and assigns over approximately 0.21 of an acre in Cherokee County under the custody of the Department of Human Services for the construction, installation, operation and maintenance of overhead and underground electrical transmission lines and associated equipment to serve the new Department of Family and Children Services and Division of Child Support Services Building for $10.
Article 5 grants an easement to Clayton County or its successors and assigns over approximately 0.89 of an acre under the custody of the Georgia Department of Agriculture for the construction, installation, operation and maintenance of waterline, sewer line, and water vaults to serve the Atlanta State Farmers Market for $10.
Article 6 grants an easement to Atlanta Gas Light or its successors and assigns over approximately 0.02 of an acre in Cobb County under the custody of the Technical College System of Georgia for the

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construction, installation, operation and maintenance of underground gas distribution lines to serve the Marietta Campus of Chattahoochee Technical College for $10.

Article 7 grants an easement to Bridgeline Capital, LLC or its successors and assigns over approximately 0.326 of an acre in Cobb County under the custody of the Technical College System of Georgia for the construction, installation, operation and maintenance of underground sanitary sewer lines to serve their new development at the Marietta Campus of Chattahoochee Technical College for $8,900.

Article 8 grants an easement to Crisp County Power Commission or its successors and assigns over approximately 0.75 of an acre in Crisp County under the custody of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for the construction, installation, operation and maintenance of underground fiber optic line to serve a new telecommunication tower at Georgia Veterans State Park for $10.

Article 9 grants an easement to Southern Fiberworks or its successors and assigns over approximately 9.11 acres in Crisp County under the custody of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for the construction, installation, operation and maintenance of underground fiber optic cable to serve park facilities at Georgia Veterans State Park for $10.

Article 10 grants an easement to Greystone Power Corporation or its successors and assigns over approximately 0.16 of an acre in Douglas County under the custody of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for the construction, installation, operation and maintenance of underground electrical transmission line and associated equipment to serve new restroom building at Sweetwater Creek State Park for $10.

Article 11 grants an easement to Georgia Power Company or its successors and assigns over approximately 0.009 of an acre in McIntosh County under the custody of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for the construction, installation, operation and maintenance of underground transmission line and associated equipment to serve new host site at Fort King George State Park for $10.

Article 12 grants an easement to the City of Darien or its successors and assigns over approximately 0.009 of an acre in McIntosh County under the custody of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for the construction, installation, operation and maintenance of underground sanitation line and associated equipment to serve new host site at Fort King George State Park for $10.

Article 13 grants an easement to Columbus Consolidated Government or its successors and assigns over approximately 0.12 of an acre in Muscogee County under the custody of the Georgia Bureau of Investigations for the construction, installation, operation and maintenance of a sanitary sewer line to serve the Columbus Crime Laboratory Campus for $10.

Article 14 grants an easement to Ronald Collum or its successors and assigns over approximately 1.19 acres in Paulding and Polk Counties under the custody of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for ingress egress in exchange for Ronald Collum to convey an old access easement to the State, along with three additional access easement totaling approximately 2.51 acres at Paulding Forest Wildlife Management Area.

Article 15 grants an easement to the Hale Foundation, Inc. or its successors and assigns over approximately 0.25 of an acre in Richmond County under the custody of the Technical College System of Georgia for the construction, operation and maintenance of an access easement for ingress egress over Augusta Technical College for fair market value not less than $650.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Emory Dunahoo (30th) State Properties

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Open 02-26-2020 Do Pass

HR 1167 Property; conveyance of certain state owned real property; authorize Bill Summary: HR 1167 is a conveyance resolution for properties located in six counties, conveying property owned by the state of Georgia or amending those conveyances, as follows:
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Article 1 authorizes a purchase option and conveys 2.203 acres of property in Fulton County, located in Land Lots 77 and 78 of the 14th District of Fulton County, to CNN Center Ventures for the consideration of $18,800,000.

Article 2 surpluses approximately 2.066 acres of improved real property in Glynn County, being a portion, commonly known as the former Georgia Air National Guard Site, under the custody of the Department of Defense, to a local government or State entity for a consideration of $10 so long as the property is used for public purpose in perpetuity.

Article 3 leases approximately 14.6 acres, being a portion of the New Echota Historic Site at 143 Craigtown Rd., City of Calhoun, under the custody of the Department of Natural Resources, to the Calhoun Elks Home, Inc. for a term of 10 years with two five-year renewal options for fair market value.

Article 4 removes a deed restriction over approximately 4.01 acres of improved property, commonly known as Courthouse Square in Muscogee County, for $10.

Article 5 conveys approximately 0.191 of an acre, being a portion of the Paulding Campus of Chattahoochee Technical College, under the custody of the Technical College System of Georgia, to Paulding County for the Dallas Battlefield Trail for $10.

Article 6 leases approximately 59,360 square feet of the Paulding Youth Detention Center, under the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice, at 538 Industrial Blvd. N., City of Dallas to Wellspring Living, Inc. for a term of five years with two five-year renewal options for $10 annually and the requirement that Wellspring Living, Inc. operate the building exclusively on behalf of the Department of Juvenile Justice's mission as a receiving center.

Article 7 conveys approximately 0.076 of an acre, being a portion of the Dillard Apple House, under the custody of the Department of Agriculture, to the Georgia Department of Transportation for a total consideration of $6,200, being comprised of $4,125 in fee and $2,025 for cost to cure.

Article 8 conveys approximately 0.131 of an acre, being a portion of the Dillard Farmers Market, under the custody of the Department of Agriculture, to the Georgia Department of Transportation for a total consideration of $10,300.

Article 9 conveys approximately 25 acres of improved property, known as the Hooks-Hanner Environmental Resource Center, under the custody of the Department of Natural Resources, for $10 so long as the property is used for public purpose in perpetuity and subject to a lease-back of approximately 844 square foot portion of the 5,348 square foot office building along with approximately 4,750 square foot storage warehouse building for a term of 10 years with an option to renew for another 10 years for the consideration of $10 annually.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Gerald Greene (151st) State Properties

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Open 02-26-2020 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

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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.

Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee

HB 690

Buildings and housing; agricultural structures from permitting fees; exempt
Bill Summary: HB 690 states that no county or municipal corporation shall require a permit fee for the construction or renovation of an agricultural structure. "Agricultural structure" is defined as a farm labor camp or any building used for the production or processing of one of the following: crops; livestock; animals; poultry; honeybees; honeybee products; livestock products; poultry products; timber; forest products; or products used in commercial aquaculture.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. James Burchett (176th) Agriculture & Consumer Affairs

Committee Action:

03-04-2020 Tabled

HB 894

Seed Development Commission; stagger terms of members
Bill Summary: HB 894 staggers the terms Seed Development Commission members. To do so, the initial terms for members appointed by May 31, 2020, are changed as follows: the governor's two appointees shall serve a single four-year term; the lieutenant governor's appointee shall serve a single five-year term; and the speaker of the House's appointee shall serve a single five-year term. Initial terms for members appointed by May 31, 2021, are changed as follows: two appointees, one each chosen by the House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee and the Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee, shall serve a single six-year term; the commissioner of Agriculture's appointee shall serve a single five-year term; and the dean of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences of the University of Georgia's appointee shall serve a single five-year term. The successors to each of these initial appointees serves a four-year term.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Steven Meeks (178th) Agriculture & Consumer Affairs

Committee Action:

03-04-2020 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 999 State holidays and observances; Pure Bred Dog Day in Georgia; designate Bill Summary: HB 999 designates May 1 of each year as "Purebred Dog Day" in Georgia.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. David Knight (130th) Agriculture & Consumer Affairs

Committee Action:

03-04-2020 Do Pass

HB 1008 Buildings and housing; residential industrial building; revise the definition
Bill Summary: HB 1008 revises the definition of "residential industrialized building" by removing the restriction that prohibits the structure from having a permanent metal chassis.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Joe Campbell (171st) Agriculture & Consumer Affairs

Committee Action:

03-04-2020 Do Pass

HB 1039 Contracts; additional protections for consumers who enter into service contracts that contain lengthy automatic renewal provisions; provide
Bill Summary: HB 1039 requires that a seller for any contract for service that automatically renews for a period of more than 12 months must obtain the following for the automatic renewal provision to be enforceable: written or electronic acknowledgement from the consumer that a notification has been provided, and a written or electronic response indicating the consumer does not intend to terminate the contract.

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Committee Actions

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Sam Watson (172nd) Agriculture & Consumer Affairs

Committee Action:

03-04-2020 Do Pass

HB 1093 Agriculture; provide for an Agricultural Commodity Commission for Wine and Grapes
Bill Summary: HB 1093 creates the Agricultural Commodity Commission for Wine and Grapes. Two members shall be producers of wine as appointed by ex-officio members and one member from each of the three designated regions in the state.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Steven Meeks (178th) Agriculture & Consumer Affairs

Committee Action:

03-04-2020 Do Pass

HR 1164 Georgia Department of Public Safety; be attentive to the needs of livestock in transport while enforcing transportation laws; encourage
Bill Summary: HR 1164 encourages the Georgia Department of Public Safety to be attentive to the needs of livestock in transport and to the existing exemptions provided to livestock haulers.

Authored By: House Committee:

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

Committee Action:

03-04-2020 Do Pass

Health & Human Services Committee

HB 881

Domestic relations; provisions relating to safe places for newborns; revise
Bill Summary: House Bill 881 establishes a committee to review newborn safety incubators. A report with recommendations will be submitted to the Georgia General Assembly by December 31, 2020. Additionally, the bill expands the existing Safe Haven Law by allowing newborn children to be left with ambulance providers.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Sharon Cooper (43rd) Health & Human Services

Committee Action:

03-04-2020 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 1090 Labor and industrial relations; provisions regarding employer's obligation to provide break time for an employee to express breast milk; revise
Bill Summary: House Bill 1090 requires employers to provide break time to employees who need to express breast milk.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Deborah Silcox (52nd) Health & Human Services

Committee Action:

03-04-2020 Do Pass

HB 1094 Public officers and employees; paid parental leave for state employees; provide Bill Summary: House Bill 1094 provides state employees with 20 hours of paid parental leave.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Houston Gaines (117th) Health & Human Services

Committee Action:

03-04-2020 Do Pass

HR 1280 Joint Study Committee on Childhood Lead Exposure; create
Bill Summary: HR 1280 creates the Joint Study Committee on Childhood Lead Exposure to study early intervention and prevention of childhood lead exposure in order to make recommendations on how Georgia can effectively prevent adverse outcomes. The committee consists of 11 members: three members of the House of Representatives; four citizens, one of whom is a pediatrician and one whom is a representative of an organization that has programs related to childhood lead prevention; three members of the Senate; and the commissioner of the Department of Public Health.
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Committee Actions

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Katie Dempsey (13th) Health & Human Services

Committee Action:

03-04-2020 Do Pass

SB 340 Childhood Cancer Awareness Day; September 1 of each year; provide
Bill Summary: Senate Bill 340 establishes September 1st as the annual Childhood Cancer Awareness Day in Georgia.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Brandon Beach (21st) Health & Human Services

Committee Action:

03-04-2020 Do Pass

Industry and Labor Committee

HB 474

Labor and industrial relations; certain procedures prior to the adoption, amendment, or repeal of any rules of the State Board of Workers' Compensation; require
Bill Summary: House Bill 474 adds a new Code section relating to the rule-making process for the State Board of Workers' Compensation. When adopting, amending, or repealing any rules, the board must do the following: notify the board's advisory council and the General Assembly; hold a hearing if one is called for; and provide a report, if necessary, to the General Assembly. If the House or Senate Industry and Labor Committees object to a rule change, a resolution to override the rule change can be brought before the General Assembly.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Tom Kirby (114th) Industry and Labor

Committee Action:

03-04-2020 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Insurance Committee
HB 1050 Georgia Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association; certain persons receiving insurance coverage from health maintenance organization subscriber contracts or health care corporation plans; extend association protections
Bill Summary: House Bill 1050 adds "health care management organizations" to the life and health association guarantee fund and equally splits future assessments for long-term care insurer insolvencies between the association's member insurers.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Eddie Lumsden (12th) Insurance

Committee Action:

03-04-2020 Do Pass

HB 1070 Condominiums; new insurance policy disclosure requirements for condominium associations and unit owners in the event of potential or actual claims filed against such policies; provide
Bill Summary: House Bill 1070 allows a condominium association and unit owners to request a written copy of the certificate of insurance or contact information of the assigned adjuster from the other party for claims related to water damage.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Houston Gaines (117th) Insurance

Committee Action:

03-04-2020 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Judiciary Non-Civil Committee

HB 954

Crimes and offenses; provide for the crime of theft by possession of stolen mail
Bill Summary: HB 954 creates the crime of "possession of stolen mail", which means to knowingly receive, retain, possess, conceal, or dispose of stolen mail and to withhold such mail from the true owner or person to whom the mail is addressed. A person is guilty of the crime of theft by possession

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for March 4, 2020

Committee Actions

of stolen mail if he or she possesses stolen mail addressed to three or more different mailboxes and possesses a minimum of 10 separate pieces of stolen mail. The crime is punished as a felony with imprisonment of no less than one nor more than five years. Each set of 10 separate pieces of stolen mail addressed to three or more different mailboxes constitutes a separate and distinct crime.

HB 954 also creates the crime of "porch piracy". A person is guilty of the crime of porch piracy if such person takes or removes any sealed article of another without permission from the porch, steps, or immediate vicinity of any entrance or exit of a dwelling. The crime is punished as a felony with imprisonment for not less than one nor more than five years.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Bonnie Rich (97th) Judiciary Non-Civil

Committee Action:

03-04-2020 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 1086 Civil practice; conclusion of criminal proceedings prior to civil forfeiture proceedings; require
Bill Summary: HB 1086 stays civil forfeiture proceedings during the pendency of criminal proceeding unless the owner or interest holder of the property waives such a stay. Failure to respond or appear before the court shall constitute as a waiver.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Ed Setzler (35th) Judiciary Non-Civil

Committee Action:

03-04-2020 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Juvenile Justice Committee

HB 912

Social services; authorize foster parents to arrange for short-term babysitting
Bill Summary: HB 912 allows a foster parent to arrange for an occasional short-term babysitter of a child in foster care for up to 72 consecutive hours when the foster parent uses a reasonable and prudent standard in selecting an appropriate babysitter.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Albert Reeves (34th) Juvenile Justice

Committee Action:

03-04-2020 Do Pass

Regulated Industries Committee
HB 1092 Professions and businesses; authorize delegation by a physician to an advanced practice registered nurse to order radiographic imaging tests in non-life threatening situations
Bill Summary: House Bill 1092 authorizes an advanced practice registered nurse to order radiographic imaging tests in non-life threatening situations if delegated to do so by a physician. The bill increases from four to six the number of advanced practice registered nurses the physician may supervise in a nurse protocol agreement.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Alan Powell (32nd) Regulated Industries

Committee Action:

03-04-2020 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

State Properties Committee
HR 1215 Judge Willie J. Lovett, Jr., Juvenile Justice Center; City of Savannah; dedicate Bill Summary: HR 1215 dedicates the Department of Juvenile Justice's Savannah Regional Youth Detention Center in Savannah, Georgia as the Judge Willie J. Lovett, Jr. Juvenile Justice Center.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Carl Gilliard (162nd) State Properties

Committee Action:

03-04-2020 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

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Committee Actions

HR 1217 Marvin L. Curtis, Jr., State Transition Center; City of Savannah; dedicate
Bill Summary: HR 1217 rededicates the Department of Correction's Coastal Transition Center in Savannah, Georgia, as the Marvin L. Curtis, Jr. State Transition Center.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Carl Gilliard (162nd) State Properties

Committee Action:

03-04-2020 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HR 1300 Glynn County; Murray County; change of use of certain property; authorize
Bill Summary: HR 1300 grants an easement on six acres of land on a heritage preserve in Glynn County, in the custody of the Department of Natural Resources, to the Department of Transportation for the widening of State Route 25/US Route 17 and installing a roundabout at the intersection of State Route 25/US Route 17 and State Route 99.

The bill grants an easement for 0.194 of an acre of a heritage preserve in Murray County, in the custody of the Department of Natural Resources, to the Department of Transportation for the widening of State Route 52 ALT.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Clay Pirkle (155th) State Properties

Committee Action:

03-04-2020 Do Pass

Ways & Means Committee

HB 153

Sales and use tax; change certain definitions
Bill Summary: House Bill 153 amends O.C.G.A. 48-13-9, relating to limitation on authority of local government to impose regulatory fees, by stating that the proceeds of regulatory fees must be used to fund the regulatory activity and not the general operations of the local government. The bill also eliminates two specialized methods by which the local governments may determine the amount of the regulatory fee which apply only to construction projects.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Shaw Blackmon (146th) Ways & Means

Committee Action:

03-04-2020 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 864

Excise tax; sale of vapor devices and consumable vapor products; provide
Bill Summary: House Bill 864 amends Chapter 11 of Title 48 of the O.C.G.A., relating to taxes on tobacco products, by establishing licensing and regulatory requirements on vapor products and an excise tax on vapor products, smokeless tobacco products, and modified risk tobacco products.

The bill establishes excise taxes of five cents per milliliter on consumable vapor products in a closed system and seven percent of the wholesale cost price on vapor devices and vapor devices that contain any consumable vapor product at the time of sale and are not intended to be refilled. The bill also reduces the tax on modified risk tobacco products by 50 percent.

"Consumable vapor product" is defined as any liquid solution that is intended to be heated into an aerosol state and inhaled by an individual. "Closed system" is defined as any disposable container which is pre-filled and sealed by the manufacturer and is intended or used to dispense consumable vapor products using a vapor device that is intended to be reused. "Open system" is defined as any method or manner used to contain a consumable vapor product that is not a closed system. "Vapor device" is defined as any system or device developed or intended to deliver a consumable vapor product to an individual who inhales from the device. "Modified risk tobacco products" is defined as any products that are included in a modified risk tobacco product order issued by the secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services pursuant to 21 U.S.C. Section 387k as it existed on January 21, 2020.

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Committee Actions

No person shall engage in or conduct business relating to alternative nicotine products and vapor products without first obtaining a license from the commissioner of the Department of Revenue. The commissioner may require a separate license for each business activity and product including alternative nicotine products, vapor products, and traditional tobacco products or may allow the license holder to participate in all business activities and products under one license. The license fees for vapor products is an additional $10 initial fee and an annual $10 fee. Vapor products are included in the current regulatory structure for tobacco products and all sales must be made in a face-to-face manner with the purchaser being at least 21 years of age as shown on a valid identification. Home delivery of vapor products is allowed but requires that the recipient be at least 21 years of age as shown on a valid identification and provide a signature that matches that of the identification.

Alternative nicotine products and vapor products are incorporated into the Code section which provides the department with the ability to regulate the tobacco industry.

The bill has an effective date of January 1, 2021.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Bonnie Rich (97th) Ways & Means

Committee Action:

03-04-2020 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

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.

Thursday, March 05, 2020 8:00 AM JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL 132 CAP 8:00 AM PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY 406 CLOB 8:00 AM NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT 606 CLOB 8:00 AM APPROPRIATIONS 341 CAP 8:00 AM Resolutions Subcommittee of Transportation 415 CLOB 8:30 AM GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS 506 CLOB 8:30 AM SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTH CARE 415 CLOB 9:00 AM RULES - CANCELLED 341 CAP 10:00 AM FLOOR SESSION (LD 25) House Chamber 11:30 AM HIGHER EDUCATION 406 CLOB 1:00 PM MOTOR VEHICLES 506 CLOB 1:00 PM JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL 515 CLOB 1:00 PM Sales Tax Subcommittee of Ways and Means 133 CAP 1:00 PM Academic Achievement Subcommittee of Education 606 CLOB 1:00 PM STATE PLANNING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 403 CAP 1:15 PM EDUCATION 606 CLOB 1:30 PM Income Tax Subcommittee of Ways and Means 133 CAP 2:00 PM Powell Subcommittee of Public Safety and Homeland Security 406 CLOB 2:00 PM TRANSPORTATION 506 CLOB 2:00 PM Welch Subcommittee of Judiciary Civil 132 CAP 3:00 PM WAYS AND MEANS 606 CLOB

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