Daily report, 2022 March 31

Thursday March 31,
2022

COMMITTEE DAY REPORT

House Budget & Research Office (404) 656-5050
The House will reconvene for its 39th Legislative Day on Friday, April 1 at 10:00 a.m. The Rules Committee will meet at 9:00 a.m.

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

Education Committee
HR 1048 House Study Committee on Education Accreditation; create
Bill Summary: House Resolution 1048 creates the House Study Committee on Education Accreditation. The committee is composed of six members of the House as appointed by the speaker, with at least two members representing the minority caucus. The committee will study educational accreditation and its relation to Pre-K, elementary, and secondary education in Georgia, including conditions, needs, issues, opportunities, and challenges. The committee will be abolished on December 1, 2022.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Ginny Ehrhart (36th) Education

Committee Action:

03-31-2022 Do Pass

SB 51

"Dexter Mosely Act"; enact
Bill Summary: Senate Bill 51 adds a new subsection of O.C.G.A. 20-2-316, which states no high school that receives 'Quality Basic Education Act' (QBE) funds shall participate in, sponsor, or provide coaching staff for interscholastic sports events which are conducted under the authority of any athletic association unless that association provides for an executive oversight committee and for reimbursement for such oversight committee.
A compliant athletic association has a charter, by-laws, and a 10-member executive oversight committee. The athletic association must also provide for reimbursement for travel expenses incurred by the executive oversight committee for the performance of their duties. Any school that does not comply with this Code section forfeits its allotted funding provided for under Article 6.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Bruce Thompson (14th) Education

Committee Action:

03-31-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

House of Representatives

Daily Report for March 31, 2022

Committee Actions

SB 498

Education Accountability; recognition of certain accrediting agencies as reliable authorities as to the quality of education offered in secondary schools; provide
Bill Summary: Senate Bill 498 adds Code Section 20-14-15 to recognize certain accrediting agencies as reliable authorities as to the quality of education offered in secondary schools in Georgia. The General Assembly does not require any school system or school in the state to be accredited, but the General Assembly finds that the lack of accreditation by high schools has significant influence on students, such as impacting HOPE Scholarship eligibility or acceptance to postsecondary institutions. SB 498 sets guidelines to what merits an accrediting agency and what assessment criteria the agency must use to evaluate schools. The effective date is July 1, 2022.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Lindsey Tippins (37th) Education

Committee Action:

03-31-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

SB 603

Public School Property and Facilities; an outdoor learning spaces pilot program; provide
Bill Summary: Senate Bill 603 adds O.C.G.A. 20-2-590, which gives authorization to the Department of Education (DOE) to establish a pilot program for the development and study of outdoor learning spaces on elementary and secondary school property. The DOE selects schools with existing or potential outdoor learning spaces to participate in the program. Private, non-profit, and local school system funding may be utilized, and the school agrees to continue to provide the program for a period of no shorter than three years.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Sheikh Rahman (5th) Education

Committee Action:

03-31-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Judiciary Non-Civil Committee

SB 381

Pimping and Pandering; penalty provisions; increase
Bill Summary: Senate Bill 381 increases the penalties for the crimes of pimping and pandering for a first offense to a felony of one to 10 years of imprisonment. Second or subsequent offenses require a mandatory minimum of one year of imprisonment. The bill revises the offenses for when a person commits the crimes of pimping or pandering and a minor is involved, in which case, the penalty for a second or subsequent offense is 10 to 30 years of imprisonment and a maximum fine of $100,000, with the sentence including a mandatory minimum of one year of imprisonment. The court can depart from the mandatory minimums imposed by this bill if the prosecutor and defendant agree to a sentence below that mandatory minimum.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Randy Robertson (29th) Judiciary Non-Civil

Committee Action:

03-31-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

SB 382 Child Molestation; misdemeanor convictions for the offense of aggravated child molestation by raising the minimum age of victims from 13 to 14; revise provisions
Bill Summary: Senate Bill 382 is the 'Georgia Dangerous Sexual Predator Prevention Act.'
Section II changes the name of the Sexual Offender Registration Review Board to the Sexual Offender Risk Review Board.
Section III provides courts with the discretion to sentence someone with imprisonment for life, or a split sentence that is term of imprisonment followed by probation for life, if he or she was previously convicted of a sexual felony and subsequently convicted of: 1) aggravated assault with the intent to rape; 2) kidnapping which involves a victim who is less than 14 years of age; 3) trafficking an individual for labor servitude or sexual servitude; 4) rape; 5) aggravated sodomy; 6) statutory rape when the individual convicted was 21 years of age or older; 7) child molestation or aggravated child molestation; 8) enticing a child for indecent purposes; 9) improper sexual contact by employee,
Page 2 of 9

House of Representatives

Daily Report for March 31, 2022

Committee Actions

agent, or foster parent in the first degree; 10) incest; 11) aggravated sexual battery; or 12) sexual exploitation of children. Further, the bill clarifies that each individual violation of the crime of sexual exploitation of children can be charged as its own count in a charging document.

"Sexual felony" is defined as a felony conviction of one of the following crimes: 1) aggravated assault with the intent to rape; 2) kidnapping which involves a victim who is less than 14 years of age; 3) trafficking an individual for labor servitude or sexual servitude; 4) rape; 5) aggravated sodomy; 6) statutory rape when the individual convicted was 21 years of age or older; 7) child molestation or aggravated child molestation; 8) enticing a child for indecent purposes; 9) improper sexual contact by employee, agent, or foster parent in the first degree; 10) incest; 11) aggravated sexual battery; or 12) sexual exploitation of children.

Section III revises the minimum age of the "Romeo and Juliet" clause for the crime of child molestation to 13 years old.

Section IV changes the time that a defendant receiving a probated sentence has to report to the Risk Review Board to within 60 days of being sentenced.

Section V changes the definition of the "Board" in O.C.G.A. 35-3-4 to reflect the Sexual Offender Risk Review Board.

Section VI clarifies the procedure for when the court seeks additional information involving a sentence that could be life imprisonment and provides timelines when risk assessment evaluations need to be made by the Sexual Offender Risk Review Board. Further, a procedure that is also retroactive is created in which the Department of Community Supervision files a petition to terminate the probation of someone who has served 10 years if the probationer has: paid all restitution owed; not had the probation revoked; not been arrested for anything other than a non-serious traffic offense; and not been classified as a sexually dangerous predator. If the petition is not granted, a petition shall be filed every five years afterward until the probationer meets the requirements.

Section VII makes the punishment provisions applicable to all offenses committed on or after July 1, 2022.

Section 5-4 allows a person on probation for life for a sexual felony to file a petition to terminate the probation after serving 10 years and if all restitution has been paid; probation has not been revoked; the probationer has not been arrested for anything other than a non-serious traffic offense; and the probationer has not been classified as a sexually dangerous predator by the board. Upon issuing an order terminating an offender's probation, the court shall provide written notice to the local district attorney and the State Board of Pardons and Paroles regarding the court's intention, and the prosecuting attorney will be given an opportunity to be heard during the 30 days prior to the issuance of the termination order by the court. The provisions changed by this portion of the bill are retroactive to any probationer under the supervision of the Department of Community Supervision.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Randy Robertson (29th) Judiciary Non-Civil

Committee Action:

03-31-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee
HR 1126 House Study Committee on Motor Vehicle Equipment and Public Safety; create Bill Summary: House Resolution 1126 creates the House Study Committee on Motor Vehicle Equipment and Public Safety.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Stacey Evans (57th) Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee
Action:

03-31-2022 Do Pass

Page 3 of 9

House of Representatives

Daily Report for March 31, 2022

Committee Actions

SB 257

Georgia Crime Information Center; criminal history record restrictions for certain persons cited with or convicted of certain criminal offenses; provide
Bill Summary: Senate Bill 257 amends Georgia Code relating to the restriction of criminal records history provided for by SB 288 during the 2020 Session. SB 257 restricts records for non-violent theft offenses; enables courts to seal minor offenses without Georgia Crime Information Center restriction; removes the two-year waiting period for human trafficking survivors to have records sealed; allows for the filing of retroactive first offenders petitions for sealing without first obtaining a prosecutor's permission to do so; explicitly states that while records are available to law enforcement agencies, first offense records are not eligible for subsequent prosecution for certain crimes. The housekeeping measure also allows for the misdemeanor expungement for shoplifting and refund fraud.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Tonya Anderson (43rd) Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee
Action:

03-31-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

SB 259

Dangerous Instrumentalities and Practices; firearms and the carrying and possession of firearms and weapons; revise various laws
Bill Summary: Senate Bill 259 revises the prohibition on the creation of a multi-jurisdictional database of those who have been issued a weapons carry license to include a prohibition on creating a database of those who have applied for a permit. SB 259 allows the judge of a probate court to implement online application processes for weapons carry licenses and renewal licenses. The probate court is also authorized to accept a weapons carry license application by first-class mail.

The legislation prohibits local governments from prohibiting the discharge of firearms on a parcel of land that is 10 acres or more when the owners or lawful occupants consent to the discharging of firearms. Local governments are required to dispose of all seized firearms at least once every 12 months during any time in which there is an inventory of five or more firearms. If they do not comply, a person interested in purchasing a firearm may bring an action to compel the disposition of the property.

SB 259 removes places of worship from unauthorized locations a weapon or long gun may be carried and allows places of worship to operate according to law governing private property.

The bill provides a prescriptive process by which an individual may petition the court for relief and apply for a permit after a mental health diagnosis.

The legislation amends Code to provide for prohibited actions by a government official or employee during a declared state of emergency; to provide limits upon the emergency powers of the governor; and to provide for civil remedy.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Jeff Mullis (53rd) Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee
Action:

03-31-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

SB 277

Firearms; extend the exemptions from carry laws for court officials to include carrying inside of a courthouse
Bill Summary: Senate Bill 277 reduces the maximum allowable cash in a bonding company's escrow account from 10 percent to five percent of the current outstanding bail bond liability. The bill removes the requirement that the company have on deposit an amount in excess of one million dollars in a cash escrow account.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Jeff Mullis (53rd) Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee
Action:

03-31-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Page 4 of 9

House of Representatives

Daily Report for March 31, 2022

Committee Actions

SB 504

Bonds and Recognizances; the term "bail restricted offense"; redefine
Bill Summary: Senate Bill 504 requires that any felony be bail restricted. The legislation allows a judge to issue an unsecured judicial release for a bail-restricted offense that is not a serious violent felony if the defendant has been judicially placed into an accountability court.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Randy Robertson (29th) Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee
Action:

03-31-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

SB 505

Communications Officers; 9-1-1 communications officers receive training in the delivery of high-quality telephone cardiopulmonary resuscitation; require
Bill Summary: Senate Bill 505 requires 9-1-1 communications officers to receive training in the delivery of high-quality telephone cardiopulmonary resuscitation in addition to basic training. On and after July 1, 2024, no person will be certified by the council without satisfying this requirement. By January 1, 2024 and in coordination with the Georgia Emergency Communications Authority, the council must establish an amount of continuing education units to be completed annually by communications officers.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Randy Robertson (29th) Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee
Action:

03-31-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Small Business Development Committee
HR 1149 House Study Committee on Regulation, Affordability, and Access to Housing; create
Bill Summary: House Resolution 1149 creates the House Study Committee on Regulation, Affordability, and Access to Housing. The committee will be composed of seven members appointed by the speaker of the House, including four members of the House, a real estate industry professional, a serving mayor or county commissioner, and another individual who may be a serving mayor or county commissioner. The committee is abolished on December 1, 2022.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Dale Washburn (141st) Small Business Development

Committee Action:

03-31-2022 Do Pass

Special Committee on Access to Quality Health Care Committee
SB 82 Emergency Medical Services; prudent layperson standard is not affected by the final diagnosis given; clarify
Bill Summary: Senate Bill 82 adds a definition relative to accurate insurance provider directories to specify that a "public health emergency" includes, but is not limited to, a federal public health emergency that includes the state of Georgia.
SB 82 prohibits an insurer from implementing any unilateral change to its policies or health benefit plan or any amendment to the network participation contract that: substantially alters or limits coverage, authorization, or site of service delivery; limits access to support services from a participating facility or provider; results in an adverse change in reimbursement or administrative costs; or results in a higher cost-sharing requirement for a covered individual. The bill provides for exemptions.
SB 82 requires all State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP) health care contracts to include a requirement that every plan member have access to laboratory services at in-network rates at a qualified clinical

Page 5 of 9

House of Representatives

Daily Report for March 31, 2022

Committee Actions

laboratory within 50 miles or one hour of a member's business or residence.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Michelle Au (48th) Special Committee on Access to Quality Health Care

Committee Action:

03-31-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

State Planning & Community Affairs Committee

SR 504

Native American Tribes; recognize
Bill Summary: Senate Resolution 504 recognizes the significant role that Native American tribes have played in Georgia and dedicates a Georgia red cedar tree on the State Capitol grounds in their honor. A Native American Day ceremony will be held at the State Capitol on November 17, 2022.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Jeff Mullis (53rd) State Planning & Community Affairs Committee
Action:

03-31-2022 Do Pass

Transportation Committee

SR 565

Northwest Georgia Logistics Corridor; official logistics growth corridor in Georgia; designate
Bill Summary: Senate Resolution 565 designates the Northwest Georgia Logistics Corridor, which is composed of communities in all of Carroll, Chattooga, Douglas, Floyd, Haralson, Heard, Paulding, Polk, and Walker counties.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Jason Anavitarte (31st) Transportation

Committee Action:

03-31-2022 Do Pass

SR 596 Isaiah "Coach" Berry Memorial Intersection; Barrow County; dedicate Bill Summary: Senate Resolution 596 is the annual Senate road dedication package. The House substitute includes the following Senate and House Resolutions:
SR 596, dedicating the intersection of State Route 81 and Tom Miller Road in Barrow County as the Isaiah "Coach" Berry Memorial Intersection;
SR 308, dedicating the intersection at SR 6/US 278 and SR 101/6BU in Polk County as the Sergeant Barry Henderson Memorial Intersection;
SR 391, dedicating the portion of State Route 36 from the Butts/Lamar County line to Jones Road in Lamar County as the Dr. Benny Tate Parkway;
SR 411, dedicating the portion of State Route 94 from State Route 121 to the Georgia/Florida state line in Charlton County, Georgia, as the Sheriff Ernest "Dobie" Conner Highway;
SR 412, dedicating the intersection of U.S. 27 and Alabama Street in Carroll County as the Dr. Samuel D. Thomas I Memorial Intersection;
SR 503, dedicating the bridge on State Route 166 over Dog River Reservoir in Douglas County as the Bill Hembree Bridge;
SR 519, dedicating the intersection at State Route 75 Connector/Appalachian Parkway and NOK Drive in White County as the Officer Carol Leigh Ledford Memorial Intersection;
SR 520, dedicating the intersection of U.S. 19 and Cleveland Street/Glenn Gooch Parkway in Union County as the Carlton Colwell Intersection;

Page 6 of 9

House of Representatives

Daily Report for March 31, 2022

Committee Actions

SR 521, dedicating the intersection of State Route 400 and Dawson Forest Road in Dawson County as the Mike Berg Intersection;
SR 428, dedicating the intersection of State Route 400 and Harmony Church Road/Lumpkin Campground Road in Dawson County as the Edna Jo Mize Intersection;
SR 499, dedicating the portion of State Route 400 from Mansell Road in Fulton County to State Route 20 in Forsyth County as The Technology Corridor;
SR 476, dedicating the intersection of U.S. 27 and Pearl Drive in Walker County as the Doris Greene Mullis Memorial Intersection;
SR 487, dedicating the intersection of State Route 341 and Gordon Street/10th Street in Walker County as the Congressman Gordon Lee Memorial Intersection;
SR 557, dedicating the intersection of State Route 157 and State Route 136 in Walker County as the McLemore Resort Community Intersection;
SR 555, dedicating the intersection of State Route 136 and State Route 189 in Dade County as the Commissioner Allan Bradford Memorial Intersection;
SR 589, dedicating the interchange of Interstate 59 at Deer Head Cove Road in Dade County as the Ralph and Beatrice Rumley Memorial Interchange;
SR 637, dedicating the intersection of State Route 341 and Euclid Avenue in Walker County as The Honorable Mayor Ray Crowder Intersection;
HR 684, dedicating the intersection at State Route 6 and State Route 100 in Polk County as the Judge Dan Winn Intersection;
HR 841, dedicating the portion of State Route 82 within the city limits of Enigma in Berrien County as the Bobby Rowan - Enigma Parkway;
HR 867, dedicating the intersection at U.S. 76 and State Route 288 south of the Hiwassee River in Towns County as the Sheriff Jay Vernon Chastain, Sr., Memorial Intersection;
HR 878, dedicating the bridge on State Route 268 over Broxton Creek in Coffee County as the PFC Charles E. Day and SFC Jerome Day Bridge;
HR 918, dedicating the bridge on State Route 20 over the CSX Rail Line south of Reid Street in Gwinnett County as the Judge Ramn Alvarado Bridge;
HR 931, dedicating the intersection of State Route 92 and Sandy Plains Road in Cobb County as the Kip Klein Memorial Intersection;
HR 937, dedicating the portion of State Route 57 within the boundaries of Long County as the Deputy Sheldon Whiteman Memorial Highway;
HR 940, dedicating the intersection of State Route 20 and East Crogan Street in Gwinnett County as the Judge Emily Pate Powell Intersection;
HR 938, dedicating the bridge on State Route 284 over Lake Lanier in Hall County as the Carl Rogers Bridge;
HR 939, dedicating the bridge on State Route 66 over Brasstown Creek in Towns County as the Reverend James "Jimmy" Richard Rogers, Sr., Bridge;
Page 7 of 9

House of Representatives

Daily Report for March 31, 2022

Committee Actions

HR 1001, dedicating the portion of U.S. 27 within the city limits of Hamilton in Harris County as the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Highway;

HR 1002, dedicating the portion of U.S. 80 from the city limits of Swainsboro to the city limits of Twin City in Emanuel County, Georgia, as the Sheriff Tyson Stephens Memorial Highway;

HR 1028, dedicating the bridge on State Route 166/Langford Parkway over the I-75/I-85/Downtown Connector in Fulton County as the Gregory Stalls, Sr., Memorial Bridge;

HR 1047, dedicating the bridge on State Route 136 over Talking Rock Creek in Pickens County as the N.C. Low, Jr., Memorial Bridge;

HR 1084, dedicating the portion of State Route 13 from Interstate 75/Interstate 85 to Peachtree Road in Fulton County, Georgia as the Jovita Moore Memorial Highway;

HR 1102, dedicating the portion of State Route 17 from the southern Elberton city limits (mile marker 9) to the Broad River (mile marker 0) in Elbert County as the Representative Thomas Allen McCall Highway;

HR 1104, dedicating the portion of State Route 3 from Ivan Allen, Jr., Boulevard to Martin Luther King, Jr., Drive in Fulton County, Georgia, as the Black Music and Entertainment Walk of Fame Highway;

HR 1105, dedicating the portion of State Route 85 Connector from State Route 16 to State Route 85 as the Huie Bray Memorial Highway;

HR 1124, dedicating the intersection of U.S. 1/U.S. 23/State Route 4 and South Augusta Avenue in Ware County as the Ken Bennett Memorial Intersection;

HR 1125, dedicating the intersection of U.S. 1/Scapa Dryer Road and Fulford Road in Ware County as the Colonel Frank Norton Crossing;

HR 1167, dedicating the bridge on State Route 92 over Lake Allatoona in Cobb County as the Mayor's Bridge; and

Repealing the "HBCU Presidents' HERO Bridge" (2021 Session) and dedicating the portion of Interstate 20 from Northside Drive to Joseph E. Lowery Boulevard as the HBCU Presidents' HERO Highway.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Frank Ginn (47th) Transportation

Committee Action:

03-31-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Ways & Means Committee
SB 511 County Boards of Equalization; handling of appeals of property tax assessments; revise certain deadlines
Bill Summary: Senate Bill 511 amends 48-5-311, relating to property tax appeals to county boards of equalization, by reducing the time the county boards of tax assessors have to respond to a taxpayer's property tax appeal from 180 days to 90 days and increasing the time county boards of equalization have to set a date for a hearing from 15 days to 90 days. If no hearing is scheduled within the 180 days from the time the taxpayer submits their appeal, the taxpayer's asserted value shall become the assessed fair market value of the property; however, if the fair market value of a property is set due to the lack of a hearing, the value of that property shall not be used as a comparison to other properties in other tax appeals.
For appeals to hearing officers, the time the county board of tax assessors has to review a taxpayer's
Page 8 of 9

House of Representatives

Daily Report for March 31, 2022

Committee Actions

appeal is reduced from 90 to 60 days and the time the taxpayer has to respond back to the board is reduced from 30 days to 15 days. Notices may be sent to the taxpayer via email if the taxpayer provides an email address.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Lee Anderson (24th) Ways & Means

Committee Action:

03-31-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

SB 516

Solid Waste Management; Environmental Protection Division to contract with the Department of Revenue to collect certain fees; require
Bill Summary: Senate Bill 516 requires that fees collected for the disposal of solid wastes and hazardous wastes be annually appropriated to the Hazardous Waste Trust Fund and establishes a new method of collecting the one-dollar tire fee assessed on the purchase of new tires. The fee will shift from being collected by the Environmental Protection Division to being collected by the Department of Revenue as a part of the sales and use tax collection and remittance process. The bill also adds a representative of the tire industry to the Recycling Market Development Council.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Randy Robertson (29th) Ways & Means

Committee Action:

03-31-2022 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.

Friday - April 1, 2022 8:30 AM BUDGET & FISCAL AFFAIRS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE 9:00 AM RULES COMMITTEE 10:00 AM FLOOR SESSION (LD 39)

341 CAP HYBRID VIDEO Agenda

341 CAP

VIDEO Agenda

House Chamber

VIDEO

Page 9 of 9