Daily report, 2021 February 22

DAILY REPORT Monday
February 22, 2021
House Budget & Research Office (404) 656-5050

20th Legislative
Day

The House will reconvene for its 21st Legislative Day on Tuesday, February 23 at 10:00 a.m. The Rules Committee will meet at 9:00 a.m. 13 bills / resolutions are expected to be debated on the floor.

Today on the Floor

Rules Calendar
HB 98 State government; conditions for meetings and public hearings to be held by teleconference in emergency conditions; provide
Bill Summary: House Bill 98 establishes that when agencies hold meetings, under emergency conditions, persons or agencies who participate by teleconference must be treated as fully participating, as if they were physically attending the meeting.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Eddie Lumsden (12th) Governmental Affairs
Yeas: 162 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 02-10-2021 Do Pass

HB 150

Public utilities and public transportation; prohibit governmental entities from adopting any policy that prohibits the connection or reconnection of any utility service based upon the type or source of energy or fuel
Bill Summary: House Bill 150 prohibits governmental entities from adopting any policy that prohibits the connection or reconnection of any utility service based on the type of energy or fuel.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Bruce Williamson (115th) Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications Yeas: 103 Nays: 62

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 02-16-2021 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 156 Military; sharing of information and reporting of cyber attacks; facilitate
Bill Summary: House Bill 156 requires utilities and state and local governmental agencies to report cyber-attacks to the director of the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency. The reports shall not be subject to public inspection or disclosure.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Don Parsons (44th) Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications Yeas: 163 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 02-09-2021 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 234

Self-funded Healthcare Plan Opt-in to the Surprise Billing Consumer Protection Act; enact
Bill Summary: House Bill 234, known as the 'Self-funded Healthcare Plan Opt-in to the Surprise Billing Consumer Protection Act,' allows self-funded healthcare plans to annually elect to participate in the 'Surprise Billing Consumer Protection Act'. Any participating healthcare plan must elect to

House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 22, 2021

Today on the Floor

participate starting on January 1 or the first day of its plan year and must provide notice to the commissioner of the Department of Insurance at least 30 days before the effective date.

The Department of Insurance must maintain a list on its website of all self-funded healthcare plans that have chosen to participate. The commissioner can remove any participant that fails to comply with the 'Surprise Billing Consumer Protection Act'.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Lee Hawkins (27th) Special Committee on Access to Quality Health Care Yeas: 165 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 02-10-2021 Do Pass

HB 268

The Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact Act; enact
Bill Summary: House Bill 268 enters Georgia into the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact, pending passage of required legislation in 10 total U.S. states. Provisions of the compact will be administered by the State Board of Occupational Therapy. The compact allows for practitioners, including active-duty military personnel and their spouses, who are licensed in a member state to more easily practice in the other member states, so long as the licensee remains active and in good standing, among other requirements. Further, the bill requires the board to conduct national background checks of applicants through the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. William Werkheiser (157th) Regulated Industries
Yeas: 163 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 02-16-2021 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 273

Distilled spirits; initiate a referendum election for the authorization of the issuance of licenses; provide additional method
Bill Summary: House Bill 273 allows local jurisdictions to enact an ordinance that triggers a special election on the question of whether the local jurisdiction should allow for applications for package stores selling distilled spirits.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Mandi Ballinger (23rd) Regulated Industries
Yeas: 142 Nays: 24

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 02-16-2021 Do Pass

HB 307

Georgia Telehealth Act; revise
Bill Summary: House Bill 307 authorizes health care providers to provide telehealth services from home and patients to receive telehealth services from their home, workplace, or school. Additionally, HB 307 prohibits insurers from requiring separate deductibles or an in-person consultation before paying for telehealth services. This bill allows for audio-only care under certain circumstances, such as a lack of broadband connection.

HB 307 restricts insurers from requiring providers to use a specific telehealth platform or vendor. Insurers are not allowed to restrict the prescribing of medications through telehealth that are more restrictive than what is required under applicable state and federal laws for in-person prescribing of medications. Additionally, this bill requires that each provider maintain documentation of each health care service provided through telehealth in a manner that is at least as extensive and thorough as documentation maintained for in-person services.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Sharon Cooper (43rd) Health & Human Services
Yeas: 158 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 02-16-2021 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 22, 2021

Today on the Floor

HB 362

Environmental Protection Division; effective date for standards, rules, and regulations; revise
Bill Summary: House Bill 362 changes the definition of "bass" by removing the following: smallmouth bass, spotted bass, redeye bass, shoal bass, and Suwannee bass. Largemouth bass is replaced with "members of the genus micropterus, or the black bass, and their hybrids" in the definition of bass, as well as adds hybrids to the definitions of trout and mountain trout.

Regarding firearms used during primitive weapons seasons and while hunting deer and bear, the allowable caliber of muzzleloading firearms is changed from .44 caliber or larger to .30 caliber or larger.

The bill provides the Department of Natural Resources with the authority to establish a deer management assistance program. The program allows the department to implement fees and property-specific bag limits that do not comply with other statewide bag limits.

HB 362 allows for the use of minnow seines or minnow traps to collect game fish, according to O.C.G.A. 27-4-6, or non-game fish with a valid resident or non-resident fishing license. The bill further grants the Department of Natural Resources the authority to set parameters for the use of minnow seines and minnow traps, including open seasons, possession limits, and waters open to the use of the traps.

The effective date of the following Code sections related to rules and regulations promulgated by the Environmental Advisory Council and the Board of Natural Resources is changed to January 1, 2021.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Trey Rhodes (120th) Game, Fish, & Parks
Yeas: 158 Nays: 2

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 02-16-2021 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Postponed Until Next Legislative Day
HB 210 Motor vehicles; recording of odometer readings upon certificates of title; exempt certain vehicles
Bill Summary: House Bill 210 clarifies the types of vehicles that are exempt from the requirement of disclosing odometer mileage on certificates of title.

Authored By: Rep. John Corbett (174th)

Rule Applied: Modified-Structured

HB 245

Professions and businesses; podiatry; amend a provision relating to fingerprint and criminal background checks
Bill Summary: House Bill 245 amends a provision relating to fingerprint and criminal background checks used for the practice of podiatry by requiring the need for satisfactory results from a fingerprint records check for only new license applicants and reinstatements, not license renewals.

Authored By: Rep. John LaHood (175th)

Rule Applied: Modified-Structured

HB 342

Professions and businesses; certain advertisements related to plumbing; prohibit
Bill Summary: House Bill 342 prohibits any person from advertising as a master plumber or journeyman plumber without first obtaining a license from the Division of Master Plumbers and Journeyman Plumbers.

Authored By: Rep. Dale Washburn (141st)

Rule Applied: Modified-Open

HB 354

State Board of Cemeterians and Funeral Service; report suspected unlawful activity to the sheriff's office and the Attorney General; require
Bill Summary: House Bill 354 requires that any complaints received by the State Board of Cemeterians be investigated within 30 days of receipt, and if that investigation finds any potential

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 22, 2021

Today on the Floor

violations of state or federal criminal law, then the board must provide notice of those potential illegalities to the attorney general's office and the local sheriff's office within seven days. The attorney general then has seven days to report this information to the local prosecuting attorney with relevant information uncovered during the investigation.

Authored By: Rep. Ricky Williams (145th)

Rule Applied: Modified-Structured

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 22, 2021

Next on the Floor

Next on the Floor from the Committee on Rules
The Committee on Rules has fixed the calendar for the 21st Legislative Day, Tuesday, February 23, and bills may be called at the pleasure of the Speaker. The Rules Committee will next meet on Tuesday, February
23, at 9:00 a.m., to set the Rules Calendar for the 22nd Legislative Day.

HB 68

Professions and businesses; certain military certifications; extend time to qualify
Bill Summary: House Bill 68 extends the deadline for current or former members of the military to apply for immediate issuance of a state license or certification from the applicable regulatory board from 180 days after his or her discharge to two years. This bill also provides the applicable licensing board with discretion by allowing the board to extend the two-year period via a rule or regulation or on an individual-case basis if the applicant meets certain circumstances, such as health, hospitalization, or other related emergencies.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Heath Clark (147th) Regulated Industries

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-16-2021 Do Pass

HB 119

Professions and businesses; chiropractors may own professional corporations with physicians; provide
Bill Summary: House Bill 119 allows chiropractors to jointly own professional corporations with physicians.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Lee Hawkins (27th) Regulated Industries

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-16-2021 Do Pass

HB 149

Income tax; certain elections to be made by Subchapter "S" corporations and partnerships for the filing of tax returns and imposition of taxes; allow
Bill Summary: House Bill 149 amends Chapter 7 of Title 48, relating to income taxation of corporations and partnerships, by allowing Subchapter "S" corporations and partnerships to make an irrevocable decision on an annual basis as to whether they elect to pay income taxes at the entity level as opposed to the individual shareholder or partner level.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Bruce Williamson (115th) Ways & Means

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Structured 02-18-2021 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 161 Local government; downtown development authorities; remove provision providing perpetual existence to such authorities
Bill Summary: House Bill 161 removes a provision that required downtown development authorities to exist in perpetuity.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Jan Tankersley (160th) Governmental Affairs

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-17-2021 Do Pass

HB 241

Insurance; revise meaning of property insurance; change parameters under which certain contracts or agreements may be canceled
Bill Summary: House Bill 241 allows the deduction of benefits paid from any cancellation refund of a service contract to the customer. Additionally, this bill permits contracts for the replacement of lost, stolen, or inoperable key fobs to cover excess wear and use charges at the end of a lease.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Matthew Gambill (15th) Insurance

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-10-2021 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 22, 2021

Next on the Floor

HB 286

Local government; restrict ability of county governing authorities to reduce funding for county police departments
Bill Summary: House Bill 286 prohibits counties and municipalities from reducing their police force budgetary appropriations by more than five percent unless specified conditions exist.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Houston Gaines (117th) Governmental Affairs

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-17-2021 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 292

Ad valorem tax; property; remove certain training requirements for members of county boards of equalization following their initial training for their first term
Bill Summary: House Bill 292 amends O.C.G.A. 48-5-311, relating to county boards of equalization, by removing the requirement for a board member to complete 20 hours of instruction in appraisal and equalization processes and procedures during the first year following the completion of each term of office.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Noel Williams (148th) Ways & Means

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Structured 02-18-2021 Do Pass

HB 305

Professions and businesses; massage therapy; revise a definition
Bill Summary: House Bill 305 changes the definition of a Board recognized massage therapy educational program to require that the program be approved by a national massage therapy certifying organization or a similar entity approved by the Georgia Board of Massage Therapy. Continuing education for massage therapy is revised to require that the instructors be approved by, and in good standing with, a national massage therapy certifying organization.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Lee Hawkins (27th) Regulated Industries

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-16-2021 Do Pass

HB 374 Sales and use tax; local authorities providing public water or sewer service; exempt
Bill Summary: House Bill 374 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 that provides public water or sewer service.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Houston Gaines (117th) Ways & Means

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Structured 02-18-2021 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 22, 2021

Committee Actions

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

Economic Development & Tourism Committee

HB 86

Georgia Lottery Mobile Sports Wagering Integrity Act; enact
Bill Summary: House Bill 86 allows the Georgia Lottery Corporation to offer and regulate the lottery game of sports wagering. The bill also establishes the 'Georgia Lottery Mobile Sports Wagering Integrity Act.' The Act allows individuals 21 years of age and older, who are physically present Georgia, to place bets on certain sporting events through an interactive sports wagering platform that is licensed by the Georgia Lottery Corporation to accept sports bets in this state. Bets may be placed on professional sporting events, Olympic sporting events, or any other event authorized by the Georgia Lottery Corporation, but may not include collegiate sporting events, horse racing, or fantasy or simulated contests.

The bill provides the Georgia Lottery Corporation with all powers and duties necessary to regulate and supervise the lottery game of sports betting. Those powers include the authority to issue no fewer than six licenses to qualified applicants. The bill also provides requirements for the application for a license, which includes a nonrefundable application fee of $50,000 and an annual licensing fee of $900,000. Certain individuals who are involved in the sports wagering industry and sport team, league, or associations are not eligible to apply for or obtain a license.

The Georgia Lottery Corporation shall establish rules and regulations related to the business requirements of the licensees. Those rules and regulations must include, but are not limited to, designating an amount of a bond in escrow and an amount of cash to be kept on hand to ensure adequate reserves, insurance requirements, controls over internal fiscal affairs, requirements for internal and independent audits of licensees, the financial information to be provided to the Georgia Lottery Corporation, and policies designed to mitigate the risk of cheating and money laundering.

Licensees must utilize geolocation or geofencing technology to ensure that wagering is only available to bettors who are physically in this state and must allow bettors to restrict themselves from placing wagers.

All bettors must register with the licensee remotely prior to placing any bets. The registration process must verify the name, age, and email address of the bettor; verify that the bettor is allowed to bet in this state; and obtain a physical address, date of birth, and a unique username. Bettors are only allowed to register one account with a licensee and may fund the account using an electronic bank transfer of funds, a debit card, or other online payment systems that support money transfers.

The bill provides a list of individuals not allowed to wager on sporting events. The Georgia Lottery Corporation must maintain a confidential registry of all persons and categories of persons who are not eligible to place a wager on a sporting event and must provide that list to each licensee.

Licensees are not allowed to offer, accept, or extend credit to a bettor; target minors in advertising or promotions; offer or accept a wager on any event, outcome, or occurrence other than a sporting event; accept a wager from an individual not eligible to wager; or allow a minor to place a wager. Licensees are also not allowed to offer bets on injuries, penalties, or other forms of wagering that are contrary to public policy or unfair to bettors.

A sport's governing body headquartered in the United States may notify the Georgia Lottery Corporation that it desires licensees to use official league data for determining the results of live betting. Sixty days following notification from the Georgia Lottery Corporation, the licensees must utilize the official league data for determining the outcome of bets. If a licensee is able to demonstrate that the sport's governing body will not provide official league data on commercially reasonable terms, then the licensees would not be required to utilize the official league data.

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 22, 2021

Committee Actions

A tax of 20 percent shall be imposed on the adjusted gross income of each licensee. Adjusted gross income is the total of all money paid to the licensee as a bet minus the total amount paid out as winnings. The tax revenue and the revenue generated from application and annual fees shall be deposited into the Lottery for Education Account. The bill also exempts wagers authorized by the Georgia Lottery Corporation from sales and use tax.

Annual reports from each licensee are due to the Georgia Lottery Corporation by January 15 of each year. The annual reports must include the total amount of wagers from the prior year, the adjusted gross income for the prior year, and any additional information required by the Georgia Lottery Corporation.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Ron Stephens (164th) Economic Development & Tourism Committee
Action:

02-22-2021 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

HB 223

Jackson County; authority of the board of elections and registration to act in certain situations; provide
Bill Summary: House Bill 223 provides for the authority of the Jackson County Board of Elections and Registration to act in certain situations and provide for the terms of the members of the board. The member from each political party whose terms began on January 1, 2021, will serve until January 31, 2025. The member from each political party whose term is due to expire on December 31, 2022, will serve until January 31, 2023. The member appointed by the chief judge of the Jackson County Superior Court whose term is due to expire on December 31, 2022, will serve until January 31, 2023. The board will take no official action unless a quorum exists under the bylaws of the board.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Tommy Benton (31st) Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Committee Action:

02-22-2021 Do Pass

HB 396 South Georgia Regional Information Technology Authority; repeal Act
Bill Summary: House Bill 396 repeals the South Georgia Regional Information Technology Authority.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Gerald Greene (151st) Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Committee Action:

02-22-2021 Do Pass

HB 456

Carroll County; Board of Elections; expand board from three to five members
Bill Summary: House Bill 456 expands the Carroll County Board of Elections from three members to five members. The Carroll County Board of Commissioners will appoint each member of the board.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Tyler Smith (18th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Committee Action:

02-22-2021 Do Pass

HB 490 Catoosa County; certain purchases made; remove certain bidding requirements
Bill Summary: House Bill 490 removes certain bidding requirements on certain purchases made by Catoosa County.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Dewayne Hill (3rd) Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Committee Action:

02-22-2021 Do Pass

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 22, 2021

Committee Actions

Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee

HB 275

Fire protection and safety; random drug tests for certain firefighters, emergency medical services personnel, paramedics, and cardiac technicians; require
Bill Summary: House Bill 275 requires firefighters to submit to random drug testing at least biannually for the first two years of being licensed or certified. The Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council is responsible for establishing rules and regulations for the collection and testing of firefighters. Should a test reveal the presence of drugs, the sample must be tested by a different method to confirm that positive test.

The legislation also amends Code relating to the certification of emergency medical services personnel, paramedics, and cardiac technicians by not disqualifying applicants who have been convicted of a felony more than five years prior but less than 10 years prior as long as they have completed required training approved by the Department of Public Health and sponsored by the Department of Corrections as well as met all other requirements set forth in statute. Applicants certified must submit to the random drug testing established for firefighters.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Lauren McDonald (26th) Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee
Action:

02-22-2021 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 347

State sexual offender registry; assessment classifications; revise certain risk
Bill Summary: House Bill 347 amends the sexual offender registry Code relating to petitions for being released from registration requirements by requiring two conditions be met rather than one or the other. Those conditions are that 10 years have passed since the person completed all prison, parole, supervised release, and probation; and the person has been classified as a Level I risk assessment classification.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Joseph Gullett (19th) Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee
Action:

02-22-2021 Do Pass

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 22, 2021

Committee Meetings

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.

Date

Time Name

02/23/2021 8:00 AM SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT (House)

02/23/2021 8:00 AM Special Committee on Election Integrity Blackmon Subcommittee (House)
02/23/2021 8:00 AM MOTOR VEHICLES (House)

02/23/2021 9:00 AM RULES (House) 02/23/2021 1:00 PM Insurance Life and Health Subcommittee (House)

02/23/2021 1:30 PM JUDICIARY (House)

02/23/2021 2:00 PM RETIREMENT (House)

02/23/2021 3:00 PM ENERGY, UTILITIES AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS (House)

Location Video Agenda 506 CLOB VIDEO Agenda HYBRID
132 CAP VIDEO Agenda HYBRID
606 CLOB VIDEO Agenda HYBRID 341 CAP VIDEO Agenda
406 CLOB VIDEO Agenda HYBRID
132 CAP VIDEO Agenda HYBRID
406 CLOB VIDEO Agenda HYBRID 403 CAP VIDEO Agenda HYBRID

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