Daily report, 2021 February 4

DAILY REPORT Thursday
February 4, 2021

12th Legislative
Day

House Budget & Research Office (404) 656-5050

The House will reconvene for its 13th Legislative Day on Monday, February 8 at 1:00 p.m. No bills / resolutions are expected to be debated on the floor.

Today on the Floor
The House of Representatives convened today for the 12th legislative day of the 2021 Session. No legislative action was taken.

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

Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

HB 162

Morgan County; board of elections; revise provisions
Bill Summary: House Bill 162 revises provisions for the appointment, terms, and filling of vacancies for the Morgan County Board of Elections and Registration. The bill also vacates the current board membership, provides for the appointment of interim board members, provides for term limits and removal of board members, and revises duties of the board and elections supervisor regarding clerical assistance and poll works.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. D. C. Belton (112th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Committee Action:

02-04-2021 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 211 Arabi, Town of; provide new charter Bill Summary: House Bill 211 provides a new charter for the town of Arabi.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Noel Williams (148th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Committee Action:

02-04-2021 Do Pass

HB 225 Wrens, City of; provide new charter Bill Summary: House Bill 225 provides a new charter for the city of Wrens.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Brian Prince (127th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Committee Action:

02-04-2021 Do Pass

HB 242 Americus, City of; requirement for city manager; remove

House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 4, 2021

Committee Actions

Bill Summary: House Bill 242 removes a requirement for the Americus city manager and lengthens the contract term allowed for the city manager.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Mike Cheokas (138th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Committee Action:

02-04-2021 Do Pass

HB 251 Clayton County; Board of Education; change compensation of members
Bill Summary: House Bill 251 provides for the manner of changing the compensation of the Clayton County Board of Education members.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Mike Glanton (75th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Committee Action:

02-04-2021 Do Pass

Juvenile Justice Committee

HB 154

Domestic relations; protection of children; strengthen, clarify, and update provisions
Bill Summary: House Bill 154 clarifies and refines the Code regarding statutory adoption provisions. The bill clarifies the venue alternatives when a child is placed for adoption with an out-ofstate resident. The exception to the general venue rule applies when a child is placed in accordance with the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) or when the petitioner is a resident of another country. HB 154 reduces the statutory age at which a person is allowed to petition for adoption from 25 to 21 years old. The bill clarifies that adoption petitioners are not subject to the requirements of the ICPC when the ICPC's relative exception applies or when the petitioners are residents of another country. Further, the bill clarifies the deadline for submitting a revocation and the method for doing so.

HB 154 amends several sections regarding service of process to authorize the use of certified mail, including when service is upon a parent and when state law does not require a surrender or termination of parental rights, or when state law authorizes the termination of a parent's rights based on certain circumstances. The bill allows the required search of the putative father registry to be performed after the adoption petition is filed and the results to be attached as an amendment to the petition. The bill requires the petitioner to request the appointment of an investigator to verify the allegations in the adoption petition if the court fails to appoint one. HB 154 creates a presumption that a non-resident petitioner can appear for the final hearing via electronic means if the petition for adoption is uncontested. For adoption petitions, the bill also clarifies the naming conventions to be used and to appropriately preserve anonymity in the event that there are appeals. When examining the evidence for a child born in a foreign country, the court shall determine whether a sufficient amount of evidence has been provided to show that a child has a viable path to lawful permanent resident status, if not already attained, rather than if the child will be able to obtain lawful permanent resident status.

HB 154 creates a civil cause of action as a tort claim under Georgia law to address adoption scams where individuals intentionally misrepresent a pregnancy, or their intention to place a child for adoption, when the individual is not pregnant. This includes when the individual has no intention of placing a child for adoption and no money has been obtained by the individual, but the potential adoptive parents have expended money based on the misrepresentation. This bill also updates the required forms to reflect additional language.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Albert Reeves (34th) Juvenile Justice

Committee Action:

02-04-2021 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 4, 2021

Committee Actions

Special Committee on Election Integrity Committee
HB 270 Elections; mailing and issuance of absentee ballots; provide time periods Bill Summary: House Bill 270 prohibits the mailing or issuance of an absentee by mail ballot within the last 10 days before an election.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Barry Fleming (121st) Special Committee on Election Integrity

Committee Action:

02-04-2021 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Ways & Means Committee
HB 265 Revenue and taxation; Internal Revenue Code and Internal Revenue Code of 1986; define terms and incorporate certain provisions of federal law into Georgia law
Bill Summary: House Bill 265 provides the annual Internal Revenue Code update to O.C.G.A. 48-82, which includes an increase in the deductibility of medical expenses, charitable contributions, and business meals as well as clarification of the tax treatment of loan forgiveness from the 'Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.'

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. David Knight (130th) Ways & Means

Committee Action:

02-04-2021 Do Pass

Committee Meeting Schedule
This meeting schedule is up to date at the time of this report, but meeting dates and times are subject to change. To keep up with the latest schedule, please visit www.house.ga.gov and click on Meetings Calendar.

Date

Time

Name

Location

02/08/2021 9:30 AM Judiciary Gunter Subcommittee I (House)

132 CAP HYBRID

02/08/2021 10:00 AM STATE PLANNING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 406 CLOB

(House)

HYBRID

02/08/2021 1:30 PM ENERGY, UTILITIES AND

506 CLOB

TELECOMMUNICATIONS (House)

HYBRID

02/08/2021 2:00 PM Governmental Affairs General Government Subcommittee (House)

515 CLOB

02/08/2021 2:30 PM PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY 606 CLOB

(House)

HYBRID

02/08/2021 3:30 PM Governmental Affairs State and Local Governments 515 CLOB Subcommittee (House)

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