DAILY REPORT Tuesday February 23, 2021 House Budget & Research Office (404) 656-5050 21st Legislative Day The House will reconvene for its 22nd Legislative Day on Wednesday, February 24 at 10:00 a.m. The Rules Committee will meet at 9:00 a.m. Seven bills / resolutions are expected to be debated on the floor. Today on the Floor Rules Calendar 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: Floor Vote: Rep. Heath Clark (147th) Regulated Industries Yeas: 163 Nays: 0 Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments: 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: Floor Vote: Rep. Lee Hawkins (27th) Regulated Industries Yeas: 163 Nays: 0 Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments: 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: Floor Vote: Rep. Bruce Williamson (115th) Ways & Means Yeas: 167 Nays: 0 Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments: Structured 02-18-2021 Do Pass by Committee Substitute House of Representatives Daily Report for February 23, 2021 Today on the Floor 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: Floor Vote: Rep. Jan Tankersley (160th) Governmental Affairs Yeas: 165 Nays: 0 Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments: Modified-Structured 02-17-2021 Do Pass 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: House Committee: Floor Vote: Rep. John Corbett (174th) Motor Vehicles Yeas: 163 Nays: 0 Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments: Modified-Structured 02-09-2021 Do Pass by Committee Substitute 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: Floor Vote: Rep. Matthew Gambill (15th) Insurance Yeas: 166 Nays: 0 Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments: Modified-Structured 02-10-2021 Do Pass by Committee Substitute 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: House Committee: Floor Vote: Rep. John LaHood (175th) Health & Human Services Yeas: 155 Nays: 0 Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments: Modified-Structured 02-16-2021 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: Floor Vote: Rep. Lee Hawkins (27th) Regulated Industries Yeas: 161 Nays: 2 Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments: Modified-Structured 02-16-2021 Do Pass 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 Page 2 of 16 House of Representatives Daily Report for February 23, 2021 Today on the Floor Journeyman Plumbers. Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote: Rep. Dale Washburn (141st) Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Yeas: 167 Nays: 0 Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments: Modified-Open 02-17-2021 Do Pass 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 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: House Committee: Floor Vote: Rep. Ricky Williams (145th) Regulated Industries Yeas: 167 Nays: 0 Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments: Modified-Structured 02-16-2021 Do Pass by Committee Substitute HB 367 Controlled substances; Schedules I, II, III, IV, and V; change certain provisions Bill Summary: House Bill 367 is the annual narcotics and drug update regarding Schedules I, II, III, IV, and V controlled substances to capture new synthetic opiates and synthetic marijuana. Various substances are added to or removed from the various schedules, including the new addition of Nsubstituted benzimidazole structural class substances to Schedule I. Further, the definition of dangerous drug in O.C.G.A. 16-13-71 is revised to add and remove various drugs, while also adding new exemptions to the term. Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote: Rep. Butch Parrish (158th) Judiciary Non-Civil Yeas: 164 Nays: 0 Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments: Modified-Structured 02-17-2021 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: Floor Vote: Rep. Houston Gaines (117th) Ways & Means Yeas: 164 Nays: 0 Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments: Structured 02-18-2021 Do Pass by Committee Substitute Postponed Until Next Legislative Day 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: Rep. Houston Gaines (117th) Rule Applied: Modified-Structured Page 3 of 16 House of Representatives Daily Report for February 23, 2021 Today on the Floor Local Calendar 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: Floor Vote: Rep. Tommy Benton (31st) Intragovernmental Coordination Local Yeas: 134 Nays: 10 Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments: 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: Floor Vote: Rep. Gerald Greene (151st) Intragovernmental Coordination Local Yeas: 134 Nays: 10 Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments: 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: Floor Vote: Rep. Tyler Smith (18th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local Yeas: 134 Nays: 10 Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments: 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: Floor Vote: Rep. Dewayne Hill (3rd) Intragovernmental Coordination Local Yeas: 134 Nays: 10 Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments: 02-22-2021 Do Pass Page 4 of 16 House of Representatives Daily Report for February 23, 2021 Next on the Floor Next on the Floor from the Committee on Rules The Committee on Rules has fixed the calendar for the 22nd Legislative Day, Wednesday, February 24, and bills may be called at the pleasure of the Speaker. The Rules Committee will next meet on Wednesday, February 24, at 9:00 a.m., to set the Rules Calendar for the 23rd Legislative Day. HB 179 Special license plates; support breast cancer related programs; amend logo design Bill Summary: House Bill 179 creates a special and distinct license plate for elected tax commissioners. The bill removes the provision that a college or university must be located within Georgia in order to have a revenue-sharing license plate. If an out-of-state college or university has a revenue-sharing license plate, the funds must go to support students from Georgia who are enrolled in the college or university. The bill creates a specialty license plate supporting members of the United States Armed Forces. The bill updates the design for an existing license plate that supports breast cancer related programs. The bill creates a specialty license plate supporting the fight against cancer. Authored By: House Committee: Rep. Beth Camp (131st) Motor Vehicles Rule Applied: Committee Action: Modified-Structured 02-16-2021 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 306 Corporations, partnership, and associations; corporations may hold shareholders' meetings by means of remote communication; provide Bill Summary: House Bill 306 allows the board of directors of a corporation to hold annual and special shareholder meetings by means of remote communication unless otherwise provided by the corporation's by-laws or articles of incorporation. When authorized by the board, shareholders and holders of proxies may participate in, be deemed present for, and vote at a shareholder meeting remotely if the corporation implements reasonable procedures to verify that those present and voting at a shareholder meeting are, in fact, shareholders or holders of proxies and provide shareholders and holders of proxies a reasonable opportunity to participate in such meeting and to vote on matters. When a shareholder or holder of a proxy votes or takes other actions remotely, the corporation must maintain a record of such votes or actions. Authored By: House Committee: Rep. Stan Gunter (8th) Banks & Banking Rule Applied: Committee Action: Modified-Structured 02-17-2021 Do Pass HB 455 Education; student transportation; revise a provision Bill Summary: House Bill 455 amends O.C.G.A. 20-2-188 to allow local boards of education to use small motor vehicles, eight-passenger or less, to transport students. The State Board of Education will set minimum standards and requirements related to the transport of students in small motor vehicles. Page 5 of 16 House of Representatives Daily Report for February 23, 2021 Next on the Floor Local boards of education can create additional requirements as needed. Authored By: House Committee: Rep. Timothy Barr (103rd) Education Rule Applied: Committee Action: Modified-Structured 02-18-2021 Do Pass by Committee Substitute HR 142 Property; conveyance of certain state owned property; authorize Bill Summary: HR 142 is a conveyance resolution for properties located in three counties, conveying property owned by the state of Georgia or amending those conveyances, as follows: Article 1 amends the lease of approximately 754.105 acres, known as the Walter Williams Park, between the State of Georgia and Baldwin County, for a consideration of $250 and the Georgia Forestry Commission reserving timber rights over the entire leased area. Article 2 conveys approximately 0.023 of an acre for right-of-way, 0.010 of an acre easement, and 0.029 of acre as a temporary easement, being a portion of the Augusta Technical College in Columbia County, under the custody of the Technical College System of Georgia, to the Department of Transportation for the reconstruction of a portion of SR 388/Horizon South Parkway for $12,850. Article 3 surpluses approximately 2.144 acres of improved property in Hall County, commonly known as the Henderson Well, under the custody of the Department of Community Affairs and the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority, to a local government, state entity, or competitive bid for fair market value. Authored By: House Committee: Rep. Gerald Greene (151st) State Properties Rule Applied: Committee Action: Modified-Open 02-17-2021 Do Pass HR 143 Property; granting of non-exclusive easements; authorize Bill Summary: HR 143 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, Bartow, Bibb, Camden, Chatham, Glynn, Harris, Macon, Montgomery, Murray, Paulding, Polk, Rabun, Talbot, Troup, Walton, Ware, and Washington, as follows: Article 1 grants an easement to the Granite-Active Networks or its successors and assigns over approximately .25 of an acre in Barrow County under the custody of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of high-speed internet cable to serve the Park Kiosk and Visitors Center at Fort Yargo State Park for $10.00. Article 2 grants an easement to Southern Company Gas or its successors and assigns over approximately 0.2 of an acre in Bartow County under the custody of the Technical College System of Georgia for the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of underground gas distribution lines to serve the Center for Advance Manufacturing Emerging Technologies Building (TCSG-350) at the North Metro Campus of Chattahoochee Technical College for $10.00. Article 3 grants an easement to Southern Company Gas or its successors and assigns over approximately 0.2 of an acre in Bartow County under the custody of the Technical College System of Georgia for the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of underground gas distribution lines to serve the Center for Advance Manufacturing Emerging Technologies Building (TCSG-350) at the North Metro Campus of Chattahoochee Technical College for $10.00. Article 4 grants an easement to Georgia Power Company or its successors and assigns over approximately 0.14 of an acre in Bibb County under the custody of the Department of Defense for the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of overhead and underground electrical transmission lines and associated equipment to serve Building #4, Dining Facility at the Macon Readiness Center for $10.00. Page 6 of 16 House of Representatives Daily Report for February 23, 2021 Next on the Floor Article 5 grants an easement to Okefenokee Rural Electric Membership Corporation or its successors and assigns over approximately 16.08 acres in Camden County under the custody of the Coastal Resources Division for the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of electrical transmission lines and associated equipment to serve Cumberland Island for $12,100. Article 6 grants an easement to Southern Company Gas or its successors and assigns over approximately 0.28 of an acre under the custody of the Technical College System of Georgia for the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of underground gas distribution lines to serve the Classroom and Library Building (TCSG-265) at the Camden County Campus of Coastal Pines Technical College for $10.00. Article 7 grants an easement to Atlanta Gas Light or its successors and assigns over approximately 0.28 of an acre in Chatham County under the custody of the Department of Economic Development for the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of underground gas lines to serve the Savannah Trade Center for $10.00. Article 8 grants an easement to the City of Savannah or its successors and assigns over approximately 0.38 of an acre in Chatham County under the custody of the Department of Economic Development for the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of underground water and sanitary sewer lines to serve the Savannah Trade Center for $10.00. Article 9 grants an easement to Georgia Power Company or its successors and assigns over approximately 0.27 of an acre in Chatham County under the custody of the Department of Economic Development for the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of electrical transmission lines and associated equipment to serve the Savannah Trade Center for $10.00 and the abandonment and conveyance of the relocated easement area to the state. Article 10 grants an easement to AT&T or its successors and assigns over approximately 3.24 acres in Chatham County under the custody of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of aerial and underground communications cables to serve the Wormsloe Visitor Center and the UGA buildings on the south end of the Wormsloe Historic Site for $10.00. Article 11 grants an easement to Georgia Power Company or its successors and assigns over approximately 0.09 of an acre in Chatham County under the custody of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation for the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of the underground distribution lines and transformer to serve the new Special Operations Building for $10.00. Article 12 grants an easement to Comcast or its successors and assigns over approximately 0.70 of an acre in Chatham County under the custody of the Department of Natural Resources for the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of high-speed internet and phone cables to serve the new Park Visitors Center at Skidaway Island State Park for $10.00. Article 13 grants an easement to Glynn County or its successors and assigns over approximately 13.99 acres in Glynn County under the custody of the Department of Natural Resources for the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of a paved road for access and to install culverts for drainage improvement at Sansavilla Wildlife Management Area and Clayhole Swamp Wildlife Management Area for $10.00. Article 12 grants an easement to Diverse Power Company or its successors and assigns over approximately 0.69 of an acre in Harris County under the custody of the Department of Natural Resources for the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of power lines and associated equipment to serve Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park for $10.00 and the abandonment and conveyance of approximately 0.83 of an acre easement area to the state. Article 13 grants an easement to Flint Electric Membership Corporation or its successors and assigns over approximately 0.211 of an acre in Macon County under the custody of the Department of Education for the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of electrical transmission lines and associated equipment to serve the new caretaker's residence at Camp John Hope for $10.00. Page 7 of 16 House of Representatives Daily Report for February 23, 2021 Next on the Floor Article 14 grants an easement to Altamaha Electric Membership Corporation or its successors and assigns over approximately 0.12 of an acre in Montgomery County under the custody of the Department of Corrections for the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of overhead electrical transmission lines and associated equipment to serve a new egg-laying facility at Montgomery State Prison for $10.00. Article 15 grants an easement to Georgia Power Company or its successors and assigns over approximately 0.35 of an acre in Murray County under the custody of the Department of Natural Resources for the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of power lines and associated equipment to improve power reliability between Georgia Power Company's Chatsworth and Gravitt substations for fair market value not less than $650. Article 16 grants an easement to Ronald Collum or its successors and assigns over approximately 2.48 acres in Paulding and Polk counties under the custody of the Department of Natural Resources for the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of a road for ingress and egress at Paulding Forest Wildlife Management Area in exchange for Ronald Collum conveying access easements of over 2.51 acres to the state. Article 17 grants an easement to Amanda Anne Hall, Margie J. Deer, Sally J. Grose, and Nollie Leigh Motes, or their successors and assigns over approximately 2.02 acres in Rabun County under the custody of the Department of Natural Resources for the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of utilities and a road for ingress and egress for fair market value not less than $650. Article 18 grants an easement to Upson Electric Membership Corporation or its successors and assigns over approximately one acre in Talbot County under the custody of the Department of Natural Resources for the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of underground and overhead electrical distribution lines and associated equipment to serve Big Lazer Wildlife Management Area for $10.00. Article 19 grants an easement to the City of LaGrange or its successors and assigns over approximately two acres in Troup County under the custody of Technical College System of Georgia for the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of telecommunication lines to serve the East Campus of West Georgia Technical College for $10.00. Article 20 grants an easement to Walton Electric Membership Corporation or its successors and assigns over approximately 0.5 of an acre in Walton County under the custody of the Department of Natural Resources for the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of aboveground electrical distribution lines and associated equipment to serve the Wildlife Resources Division headquarters at the Walton Fish Hatchery for $10.00 and the conveyance of approximately 0.41 of an acre of an existing easement to be relocated. Article 21 grants an easement to Ware County or its successors and assigns over approximately 0.08 of an acre under the custody of the Department of Community Supervision for the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of road improvements along RC Davis Road at the Waycross Day Reporting Center for fair market value not less than $650. Article 22 grants an easement to Southern Company Gas or its successors and assigns over approximately 1.06 acres in Washington County under the custody of the Technical College System of Georgia for the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of underground gas distribution lines to serve the Transportation Center (TCSG-342a) at Oconee Fall Line Technical College for $10.00. Authored By: House Committee: Rep. Gerald Greene (151st) State Properties Rule Applied: Committee Action: Modified-Open 02-17-2021 Do Pass by Committee Substitute Page 8 of 16 House of Representatives Daily Report for February 23, 2021 Committee Actions Committee Actions Bills passing committees are reported to the Clerk's Office and are placed on the General Calendar. Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications Committee HB 449 Georgia Utility Facility Protection Act; revise Bill Summary: House Bill 449 revises the 'Georgia Utility Facility Protection Act' in order to enhance the processes for locate requests and require that 9-1-1 be contacted if an excavator damages a gas or hazardous liquid pipeline. The bill also sets a limitation on the recovery of costs of damages and establishes a statute of limitations on enforcement. An investigation of any damages will be initiated by the completion of the next business day following the repair of the reported damage, and all repair invoices must be sent to the excavator within 90 days. The person held liable will be responsible for all costs incurred by the facility owner or operator in repairing or replacing the damaged facilities, excluding betterments, which means an upgrade of the facility made for the benefit of the facility and not attributable to the damage. A facility owner or operator who received proper notice of blasting or excavating will be prohibited from seeking claims for damages if no designation of utility facilities or sewer laterals was made prior to the damage being incurred and if the person blasting or excavating complied with O.C.G.A. 25-9-8. Enforcement action must commence within three years of the date that the probable violation was reported to the Public Service Commission. Authored By: House Committee: Rep. Vance Smith (133rd) Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications Committee Action: 02-23-2021 Do Pass Health & Human Services Committee HB 271 Community Health, Department of; assess one or more provider matching payments on ambulance services; authorize Bill Summary: House Bill 271 authorizes the Department of Community Health (DCH) to assess one or more provider matching payments on a sub-class of ambulance services, as defined by the Board of Community Health. The board is authorized to discontinue any provider matching payment assessed and will cease to impose any such matching payments if: the provider matching payments are not eligible for federal matching funds under Title XIX of the 'Social Security Act'; the department reduces or supplants Medicaid payment rates to ambulance providers as such rates are in effect on June 30, 2021; or reduces or supplants the provider matching payment rate adjustment factors utilized in developing the State Fiscal Year 2021 capitated rates for Medicaid managed care organizations. Any provider matching payments assessed will be deposited into a segregated account within the Indigent Care Trust Fund, used solely for the purpose of obtaining federal financial participation for medical assistance payments to providers on behalf of Medicaid recipients, and be subject to appropriation by the General Assembly. Additionally, DCH is authorized to impose a penalty of up to six percent on the amount of any owed provider matching payments for any ambulance service that fails to pay a provider matching payment within the time required by DCH for each month, or fraction thereof, that such provider matching payment is overdue. Furthermore, DCH is authorized to inspect and copy the records of an ambulance service for purposes of auditing the calculation of the provider matching payment. Authored By: House Committee: Rep. Albert Reeves (34th) Health & Human Services Committee Action: 02-23-2021 Do Pass by Committee Substitute Page 9 of 16 House of Representatives Daily Report for February 23, 2021 Committee Actions HB 370 Health; term limits for members of joint hospital authorities; provide Bill Summary: House Bill 370 provides term limits for members of joint hospital authorities of no more than three consecutive terms, including any partial term, or 12 years, whichever is longer. This provision only applies to joint hospital authorities that operate or lease a hospital containing more than 900 licensed beds. Additionally, this bill restricts hospital authorities from utilizing revenues to perform any power or duty delegated in a lease. Authored By: House Committee: Rep. Jan Jones (47th) Health & Human Services Committee Action: 02-23-2021 Do Pass HB 437 Local government; attendants at self-service motor fuel establishments to dispense motor fuel to individuals with special disabilities; require Bill Summary: House Bill 437 requires attendants employed by a gasoline station to dispense motor fuel to any motor vehicle properly displaying a special disability permit when the individual to whom a permit is issued is the operator of the vehicle and is not accompanied by another person 16 years of age or older who is not mobility-impaired or blind. The gasoline station is required to have a telephone number that is operational and answered by an attendant during the hours of operation in order to request assistance. If a request is made when a second attendant is not present, the gasoline station is not required to provide assistance, but is encouraged to do so, where feasible. Additionally, this bill requires the Department of Agriculture to affix a decal or sticker to each pump that clearly displays the international symbol of accessibility, a blank for the gasoline station to fill in the telephone number to reach an attendant, and the wording such as 'For Help Call', 'Call for Assistance', or 'Assistance Available Upon Request.' Authored By: House Committee: Rep. Henry "Wayne" Howard (124th) Health & Human Services Committee Action: 02-23-2021 Do Pass by Committee Substitute HB 458 Georgia Composite Medical Board; require certain training relating to sexual misconduct for members Bill Summary: House Bill 458 requires all newly appointed board members of the Georgia Composite Medical Board to participate in training and education to support greater understanding of sexual misconduct, sexual boundaries, and impacts of trauma and implicit bias within three months of such appointment. All board members in office as of January 1, 2022, will be required to participate in this training by March 30, 2022. On or after January 1, 2022, continuing education requirements for dentists will include legal ethics and professionalism in the practice of dentistry. These new requirements will include: education and training regarding professional boundaries; and unprofessional conduct relating to the commission of acts of sexual intimacy, abuse, misconduct, or exploitation. Additionally, this bill authorizes the board to refuse a license, certificate, or permit and issue discipline for members who have pleaded guilty or were found guilty by a court of law of committing a sexual assault on a patient. If the board finds that the public health, safety, or welfare imperatively requires emergency action pursuant to an alleged sexual assault on a patient by a licensee, the board may suspend a license, pending proceedings for revocation or other action. On or after January 1, 2022, all physicians will be required to receive one-time education and training, for a minimum of three hours, regarding professional boundaries and physician sexual misconduct. This education and training will include subject matter on how to proceed with basic as well as sensitive or intimate examinations and the effective communication techniques with patients. Page 10 of 16 House of Representatives Daily Report for February 23, 2021 Committee Actions No later than January 1, 2022, the board will develop and identify education resources and materials for physicians, board members, and board staff to support greater understanding of sexual misconduct, sexual boundaries, and impacts of trauma and implicit bias. On or after June 30, 2022, this same type of education and training applies to each medical or osteopathic school in good standing with the board. Furthermore, House Bill 458 requires physicians, registered professional nurses, licensed practical nurses, and physician assistants to report the name of a physician to the board if such provider has reasonable cause to believe that a sexual assault was committed by such physician. No provider required to report a physician to the board, who in good faith either reports or fails to report, will be subject to civil or criminal liability or discipline for unprofessional conduct. Any provider required to report a physician to the board who knowingly and willfully fails to do so will be subject to a fine of no less than $1,000, or greater than $5,000, as determined by such provider's licensing board. Law enforcement officers investigating cases of alleged sexual assaults on a patient by a physician are authorized to send pertinent and confidential records on such cases to the board. The board will compile a report to the governor and General Assembly on January 1 of each year on the number of physicians the board has conducted sexual assault investigations on and the outcome of such investigations. In no event will any identifying information be included in this report for investigations that exonerated the physician, or did not result in the refusal, revocation, or suspension of a license, or a private or public disciplinary order. Authored By: House Committee: Rep. Sharon Cooper (43rd) Health & Human Services Committee Action: 02-23-2021 Do Pass by Committee Substitute HB 539 Medical Practice Act of the State of Georgia; institutional licenses; revise provisions Bill Summary: House Bill 539 revises provisions related to institutional licenses in the 'Medical Practice Act of the State of Georgia' by adding hospitals licensed by the Department of Community Health, medical schools approved by the Georgia Composite Medical Board, teaching hospitals, and clinics that service predominantly Medicaid, indigent, and underserved populations. Authored By: House Committee: Rep. Sharon Cooper (43rd) Health & Human Services Committee Action: 02-23-2021 Do Pass Judiciary Committee HB 109 Child Victim Protection Act of 2021; enact Bill Summary: House Bill 109, the 'Child Victim Protection Act of 2021,' amends Section 9-3-33.1 of the Code, relating to civil actions for childhood sexual abuse. For such abuse committed on or after July 1, 2015, a plaintiff may commence an action on or before the plaintiff attains the age of 52 or within four years from the date that the plaintiff knew or had reason to know of the abuse and such abuse resulted in injury to the plaintiff as established by competent medical or physiological evidence. A look-back period of one year is established as of July 1, 2021, during which a plaintiff of any age, who was previously barred by a statute of limitation, may file an action for recovery of damages suffered as a result of childhood sexual abuse against a perpetrator or an entity. For actions against an entity, a plaintiff must prove, by clear and convincing evidence, that the entity owed a duty of care to the plaintiff and the entity knew of the abuse by an employee or volunteer and intentionally allowed the abuse to continue or knew the employee or volunteer committed previous abuse against another individual and intentionally or fraudulently harbored, concealed, or withheld information about the prior action and such conduct contributed to the plaintiff's injury. Actions against an entity shall not include actions or inactions occurring before July 1, 1973. Page 11 of 16 House of Representatives Daily Report for February 23, 2021 Committee Actions Individual members or owners of unincorporated associations are not personally liable for actions of such associations. Authored By: House Committee: Rep. Heath Clark (147th) Judiciary Committee Action: 02-23-2021 Do Pass by Committee Substitute HB 333 Ethics in Government Act of 2021; enact Bill Summary: House Bill 333, the 'Ethics in Government Act of 2021,' revises Chapter 5 of Title 21 of the Code. Definitions are provided to clarify terms already in the chapter. Restrictions on the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission's authority to require additional reporting information are limited to campaign disclosure reports and personal financial statements. The ability for commission staff attorneys to initiate complaints and the commission's ability to initiate investigations based on such complaints are clarified. Deadlines for the commencement of actions by the commission for alleged violations are specified to coincide with the occurrence of the violation, as opposed to the filing of a report containing such violation. Retention periods for accounts maintained by a candidate or treasurer of a campaign committee are clarified. The bill makes clear that a candidate may not utilize campaign funds for the purpose of making loans or investments directly to the candidate, the candidate's business, trust, any non-profit organization of which the candidate is on the payroll or has a controlling interest, or a member of the family of the candidate. Updates of contribution limits by the commission will now be made after each gubernatorial election cycle, instead of each and every election cycle. The bill specifies when a candidate shall be deemed to have advanced to a subsequent election to clarify when the candidate may access contributions made for the subsequent election. Public officers who have filed a financial disclosure statement within the previous year are exempted from having to submit an affidavit confirming that they took no official action in the previous calendar year that had a material effect on their private financial or business interests. Candidates seeking election as a public officer are now subject to the same requirement to file financial disclosure statements as the incumbent officers. Financial disclosure statements for candidates of state-wide elected office shall be accompanied by a financial statement of the candidate's financial affairs for the five calendar years prior to the year which the election is held. Finally, the bill clarifies that lobbyists must file supplemental registration prior to any substantial or material change or addition in their registration. Authored By: House Committee: Rep. Chuck Efstration (104th) Judiciary Committee Action: 02-23-2021 Do Pass by Committee Substitute HB 409 Judicial Legal Defense Fund Commission; establish Bill Summary: House Bill 409 establishes the Judicial Legal Defense Fund Commission to facilitate the provision of state-funded legal representation to justices of the Supreme Court and judges of the Court of Appeals, the Georgia State-wide Business Court, and superior courts when such judges are sued for actions taken pursuant to their official duties. The commission shall be governed by five members who are active judges and appointed by the chief justice of the Supreme Court, the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the House, and the Council of Superior Court Judges of Georgia. The bill provides for the terms, occurrence of vacancies, officers, and voting of the membership. In the event that a suit is filed against a judge, and the attorney general does not provide representation and the costs of litigation are not covered by an insurance policy maintained by the Page 12 of 16 House of Representatives Daily Report for February 23, 2021 Committee Actions Department of Administrative Services, it shall be the purpose of the commission to evaluate requests for representation made by such judge and determine if the suit seeks relief from actions taken pursuant to the judge's official duties. With the assistance of the State Bar of Georgia, the commission shall maintain a list of attorneys to provide representation to the judges; subject to the governor's approval. If the commission endorses a judge's request to receive representation funded by the Judicial Legal Defense Fund, which is also established in the bill and funded by the Governor's Emergency Fund, the judge shall select an attorney from the list maintained by the commission and such attorney shall prepare an estimated budget for the representation. The judge's request, the commission's endorsement, the selected attorney, and the attorney's budget shall then be sent to the governor for approval. In the event that the attorney exceeds his or her budget, the attorney must submit an amended budget for approval. Authored By: House Committee: Rep. Stan Gunter (8th) Judiciary Committee Action: 02-23-2021 Do Pass by Committee Substitute HB 443 Torts; transfer of structured settlement payment rights; provide new requirements Bill Summary: House Bill 443 creates the 'Georgia Structured Settlement Protection Act' to provide new requirements regarding the transfer of structured settlement payment rights. The bill defines certain terms and establishes registration and application requirements for persons or entities acquiring, or proposing to acquire, structured settlement payment rights (defined in the bill as "transferees"). A person or entity shall not act as a transferee, attempt to acquire structured settlement payment rights from a Georgia resident, or file a structured settlement transfer proceeding unless the person or entity has registered with the Secretary of State to do business in Georgia. Applications must be renewed annually and include a sworn certification providing that the applicant has secured a surety bond, has been issued a letter of credit, or has posted a cash bond in the amount of $50,000. Transferees or structured settlement purchase companies are prohibited from engaging in certain actions, and a cause of action is created for the violation of such prohibitions. At least 10 days before the holder of a structured settlement signs a transfer agreement that transfers his or her interest in such settlement to a transferee, the transferee must provide such holder with certain disclosures. No transfer of structured settlement payment rights shall be effective unless the transfer has been approved in advance in a final court order based on certain express findings by the court. Notice of a transferee's application for the approval of such transfer must be provided at least 20 days prior to any scheduled hearing on the application. Requirements for such notice and application are also provided. Authored By: House Committee: Rep. Rob Leverett (33rd) Judiciary Committee Action: 02-23-2021 Do Pass HB 488 Courts; increase minimum compensation for chief magistrates and others; provide Bill Summary: House Bill 488 raises the minimum salary and compensation of chief magistrates and clerks of magistrate court. For chief magistrates, the new minimum salary is equal to the previous minimum salary, plus previously enacted cost-of-living adjustments, plus an additional five percent raise. Monthly minimums for magistrate court clerks are increased by the same percentage. Authored By: House Committee: Rep. Mitchell Scoggins (14th) Judiciary Committee Action: 02-23-2021 Do Pass Page 13 of 16 House of Representatives Daily Report for February 23, 2021 Committee Actions Motor Vehicles Committee HB 289 Motor vehicles; issuance of Class C drivers' licenses; provide for requirements Bill Summary: House Bill 289 allows for specified exemptions, such as military service, to the requisite qualifications for receiving a Class D or Class C driver's license. Authored By: House Committee: Rep. D. C. Belton (112th) Motor Vehicles Committee Action: 02-23-2021 Do Pass by Committee Substitute HB 338 Motor vehicles; issuance of veterans' driver's licenses; revise qualifications Bill Summary: House Bill 338 clarifies the qualifications for receiving a veteran's driver's license. Authored By: House Committee: Rep. Buddy DeLoach (167th) Motor Vehicles Committee Action: 02-23-2021 Do Pass by Committee Substitute HB 384 Motor vehicles; issuance of traffic citation to vehicle owner in lieu of individual operating motor vehicle in certain instances; provide Bill Summary: House Bill 384 authorizes law enforcement to issue a citation to the vehicle owner, rather than the vehicle operator, in specified instances and when the vehicle owner is present at the time of the citation issuance. Authored By: House Committee: Rep. Matt Dollar (45th) Motor Vehicles Committee Action: 02-23-2021 Do Pass HB 453 Special license plates; certified, volunteer, and retired firefighters; provide standards for proof of eligibility Bill Summary: House Bill 453 allows firefighters to utilize a firefighter special license plate on a vehicle used for transportation purposes unrelated to their role as a firefighter. The bill includes retired firefighters on the eligible firefighter list that is provided to county tag agents in order to establish who qualifies for a firefighter special license plate. Authored By: House Committee: Rep. Lauren McDonald (26th) Motor Vehicles Committee Action: 02-23-2021 Do Pass HB 466 Motor vehicles; number of required hours in the intervention component of DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Programs; reduce Bill Summary: House Bill 466 lowers the required course hours from 20 to 16 for intervention programs related to the use of alcohol or drugs while driving. The bill allows for driver education training courses and driver training courses to be conducted in-person, online, or via remote participation platforms. The bill allows, in specified instances, driver training schools and public or private high schools to administer the skills test required for a commercial driver's license. The Department of Driver Services commissioner is authorized to issue a special license to qualified driver training school instructors allowing them to serve as driver's license examiners and conduct tests required for the issuance of a driver's license. The bill requires the department to be notified when there is a change in ownership of a driver training school. Authored By: House Committee: Rep. Alan Powell (32nd) Motor Vehicles Committee Action: 02-23-2021 Do Pass by Committee Substitute Page 14 of 16 House of Representatives Daily Report for February 23, 2021 Committee Actions Regulated Industries Committee HB 117 Low THC Oil Patient Registry; ulcerative colitis as a condition for which low THC oil may be used for treatment; add Bill Summary: House Bill 117 adds ulcerative colitis to the conditions covered by the Low THC Oil Patient Registry, which allows for THC oil to be used for treatment. Authored By: House Committee: Rep. Michael Wilensky (79th) Regulated Industries Committee Action: 02-23-2021 Do Pass HB 364 Professions and businesses; exempt persons having completed Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training from required fingerprint submission for application to be licensed as a private guard, watchman, or patrolman Bill Summary: This bill allows law enforcement officers who have been certified by the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council to become private security without having to be fingerprinted. Authored By: House Committee: Rep. J. Collins (68th) Regulated Industries Committee Action: 02-23-2021 Do Pass by Committee Substitute HB 392 Alcoholic beverages; licenses for retail sale packages of alcoholic beverages for consumption off premises shall be subject to regulation as to distance from schools as determined by the local governing authority; provide Bill Summary: House Bill 392 makes new alcoholic beverage licensees for off-premises consumption subject to the local jurisdiction's distance requirements from school and educational buildings. These distance requirements can be less restrictive than those in Code, but cannot be more restrictive. If the local jurisdiction does not have specific distance requirements enacted for school and educational buildings, then the state's distance requirements shall control. Authored By: House Committee: Rep. Jason Ridley (6th) Regulated Industries Committee Action: 02-23-2021 Do Pass HB 476 Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors Act of 2021; enact Bill Summary: House Bill 476 is known as the 'Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors Act of 2021.' The bill renames the State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors to the Georgia Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors Board and requires that the governor's appointees to the board now be confirmed by the Senate. Effective July 1, 2021, the board is an attached agency of the Georgia Secretary of State for administrative purposes only, although it will not be under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of State nor its licensing division. This bill also creates a new position of executive director that heads the agency with accompanying powers. Continuing education requirements for professional engineers and professional structural engineers are changed from 30 hours biennially to 30 hours annually, and requirements are changed for professional land surveyors from 15 hours biennially to 7.5 hours annually. Licenses shall be renewed annually rather than biennially. Authored By: House Committee: Rep. Dale Washburn (141st) Regulated Industries Committee Action: 02-23-2021 Do Pass by Committee Substitute Page 15 of 16 House of Representatives Daily Report for February 23, 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. Wednesday, February 24, 2021 Time 8:00 AM 8:00 AM 8:00 AM 8:00 AM 9:00 AM 12:30 PM 1:00 PM 1:00 PM 1:00 PM 1:15 PM 1:30 PM 1:40 PM 2:00 PM 2:00 PM 2:00 PM 2:00 PM 3:00 PM 3:00 PM Name Location DEFENSE AND VETERANS AFFAIRS (House) 506 CLOB HYBRID SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ELECTION INTEGRITY 132 CAP (House) HYBRID AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS (House) 406 CLOB HYBRID INSURANCE (House) 606 CLOB HYBRID RULES (House) 341 CAP HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (House) 406 CLOB HYBRID Ways and Means Tax Revision Subcommittee (House) 403 CAP HYBRID Public Safety and Homeland Security Subcommittee A 506 CLOB (House) HYBRID HIGHER EDUCATION (House) 606 CLOB HYBRID Ways and Means Ad Valorem Subcommittee (House) 403 CAP HYBRID Ways and Means Income Tax Subcommittee (House) 403 CAP HYBRID Judiciary Scoggins Subcommittee (House) 132 CAP HYBRID SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ACCESS TO QUALITY 515 CLOB HEALTH CARE (House) HUMAN RELATIONS AND AGING (House) 341 CAP HYBRID BUDGET AND FISCAL AFFAIRS OVERSIGHT (House) 506 CLOB HYBRID GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS (House) 406 CLOB HYBRID Judiciary Gunter Subcommittee (House) 132 CAP HYBRID INDUSTRY AND LABOR (House) 506 CLOB HYBRID Video Agenda VIDEO Agenda VIDEO Agenda VIDEO Agenda VIDEO Agenda VIDEO Agenda VIDEO Agenda VIDEO Agenda VIDEO Agenda VIDEO Agenda VIDEO Agenda VIDEO Agenda VIDEO Agenda VIDEO Agenda VIDEO Agenda VIDEO Agenda VIDEO Agenda VIDEO Agenda Page 16 of 16