Daily report, 2023 February 14

DAILY REPORT Tuesday
February 14, 2023
House Budget & Research Office (404) 656-5050

18th Legislative
Day

The House will reconvene for its 19th Legislative Day on Wednesday, February 15 at 10:00 a.m. The Rules Committee will meet at 9:00 a.m. Five bills / resolutions are expected to be debated on the floor.

Today on the Floor

Rules Calendar
HB 76 Professions and businesses; education, experience, and training requirements for licensure in marriage and family therapy; revise provisions
Bill Summary: HB 76 revises the requirements for an associate marriage and family therapist license to allow the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education to determine the coursework requirements and the type, and minimum amount of hours, of clinical experience applicants must have. The bill also revises the clinical experience requirements for those currently licensed as an associate marriage and family therapist, those with a qualifying master's degree, and those with a qualifying doctorate degree.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Alan Powell (33rd) Regulated Industries
Yeas: 173 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 02-07-2023 Do Pass

HB 176 Courts; increase amount of court reporters' monthly contingent expense and travel allowance
Bill Summary: HB 176 amends O.C.G.A. 15-14-6 to increase the amounts paid per month to superior court reporters as a contingent expense and travel allowance.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Stan Gunter (8th) Judiciary
Yeas: 172 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 02-09-2023 Do Pass

House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 14, 2023

Next on the Floor from the Committee on Rules
The Committee on Rules has fixed the calendar for the 19th Legislative Day, Wednesday, February 15, and bills may be called at the pleasure of the Speaker. The Rules Committee will next meet on Wednesday, February 15, at 9:00 a.m., to set the Rules Calendar for the 20th Legislative Day.

HB 85

Insurance; require health benefit policy coverage for biomarker testing if supported by medical and scientific evidence
Bill Summary: HB 85 requires health benefit policies to include coverage for biomarker testing for diagnosis, treatment, management, or ongoing monitoring of a disease or condition.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Sharon Cooper (45th) Insurance

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-09-2023 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 87

Nontraditional Special Schools Act; enact
Bill Summary: HB 87 amends O.C.G.A. 20-2-154.1 relating to alternative education programs and charters to provide for the transition of system-collaborative charter schools to completion special schools by July 1, 2023. Any system-collaborative charter school that did not transition to become an alternative charter school by July 1, 2021, will operate as a state chartered special school. If the state chartered special school does not transition to a completion special school by July 1, 2023, the school will cease operating upon expiration of its current charter with the State Board of Education. The board may not expand the current attendance zone of the school.

HB 87 establishes Article 31C of Title 20 which creates the 'Completion Special Schools Act'. The board will adopt policies for the establishment, funding, and operation of completion special schools, which focus on dropout recovery/prevention or high school credit recovery for grades nine through 12. The board is authorized to provide up to $5 million in grant funding to encourage and authorize the creation of new completion special schools, subject to appropriation. The board will adopt policies for the dissolution or temporary dissolution of a completion special school upon the recommendation of the state school superintendent for failure to comply with the requirements of Article 31C.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Chris Erwin (32nd) Education

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-09-2023 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 91

Wills, trusts and administration of estates; notices to beneficiaries regarding issuance of letters testamentary; require
Bill Summary: HB 91 concerns notice requirements for beneficiaries of wills, requiring a personal representative of an estate to send notice to all beneficiaries within 30 days of issuance of letters and requiring filing notices with the probate court within 60 days of issuance. An estate personal representative who fails to comply with these requirements absent sufficient cause may be cited to appear and show cause.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Will Wade (9th) Judiciary

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-09-2023 Do Pass

House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 14, 2023

HB 132

Buildings and housing; amend Georgia state minimum standard codes to authorize certain uses of ungraded lumber; require
Bill Summary: HB 132 amends O.C.G.A. 8-2-23 to allow the use of ungraded lumber in construction of accessory structures not containing habitable space on property zoned or primarily used for residential or agricultural purposes.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. David Jenkins (136th) Agriculture & Consumer Affairs

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-08-2023 Do Pass

HB 182 Property; curing defective deeds and other instruments; revise provisions
Bill Summary: HB 182 aligns the Georgia recording statute regarding deeds and other instruments with the savings statute in O.C.G.A. 44-2-18, allowing an improperly executed instrument to be corrected by having the savings statute apply to both attestations and acknowledgments.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Matt Reeves (99th) Judiciary

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-09-2023 Do Pass

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

Game, Fish, & Parks Committee

HB 121

Waters, ports and watercraft; wakesurfing and wakeboarding; provide restrictions and requirements
Bill Summary: HB 121 amends O.C.G.A. 52-7-1 by adding definitions for the terms "wakeboarding" and "wake surfing", and placing restrictions on these activities. Except in certain circumstances, no person is to engage in either of these two defined activities between sunset and sunrise, on a body of water less than 50 acres in size, on a portion of a body of water with a width of less than 400 feet, within 200 feet of a shoreline or structure located on the water, or without wearing a personal flotation device approved by the U.S. Coast Guard. These restrictions do not apply to activities in which the commissioner has granted a marine event permit. Conflicting laws are also repealed.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Victor Anderson (10th) Game, Fish, & Parks

Committee Action:

02-14-2023 Do Pass

HB 207

Waters, ports, and watercraft; carrying of night visual distress signals upon coastal waters during certain hours; provide
Bill Summary: HB 207 outlines the requirement for all vessels to carry U.S. Coast Guard approved nighttime and daytime visual distress signals when operating in state coastal waters. The bill specifies the type of signals that should be carried during different hours of the day, the minimum number of signals required, and the size of vessels exempt from carrying such signals.

In the event of an accident or collision, the operator of each vessel involved is required to stop, remain at the scene, and provide their name, address, and registration to the operator of the vessel struck. Upon request, the operator must exhibit their government-issued identification. At the scene of an accident, vessel operators involved are responsible for rendering assistance to any injured person as well as notifying emergency medical services and law enforcement if necessary. Vessel operators are required to stay at the scene of the accident until these requirements are fulfilled unless the operator is unable to notify the appropriate services, in which case they may leave the scene to make such notification. If an incident results in death, disappearance, or injury that requires medical treatment and the operator knowingly fails to stop and comply with these requirements, they will be

House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 14, 2023

guilty of a felony and upon conviction, may be sentenced to no less than one year nor more than five years.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Trey Rhodes (124th) Game, Fish, & Parks

Committee Action:

02-14-2023 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Insurance Committee

HB 221

Insurance; filing review process for private passenger motor vehicle liability coverage providing the minimum limits offered by the carrier; revise
Bill Summary: HB 221 relates to personal private passenger motor vehicle insurance policies with limits above the mandatory minimum. The bill requires that rates, rating plans, rating systems, or underwriting rules be effective 60 days after filing unless the commissioner of insurance authorizes an earlier effective date or the insurer specifies a later effective date.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Eddie Lumsden (12th) Insurance

Committee Action:

02-14-2023 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 222

Insurance, Department of; clarify, streamline, and make transparent the practices of the department
Bill Summary: HB 222 clarifies that service contracts will only be sold or offered to consumers. The bill extends the probationary insurance license period from 12 to 24 months, and allows applicants to reapply between one and five years after a denial.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Eddie Lumsden (12th) Insurance

Committee Action:

02-14-2023 Do Pass

HB 279 Insurance; discount for property owners who build a new property that better resists tornado, hurricane, or other catastrophic windstorm events; provide
Bill Summary: HB 279 provides an insurance premium discount or reduction for a home or commercial property built to fortified standards to better resist catastrophic wind events.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Matthew Gambill (15th) Insurance

Committee Action:

02-14-2023 Do Pass

HB 280

Insurance; additional value-added products or services that are excluded from being unfair trade practices and unlawful inducements; provide
Bill Summary: HB 280 provides exclusions to unfair trade practices and unlawful inducements by allowing insurance companies to provide products to policyholders that incentivize behavior changes to improve health.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Matthew Gambill (15th) Insurance

Committee Action:

02-14-2023 Do Pass

HB 294

Insurance; administration of certain rehabilitation policies by a ceding insurer placed into liquidation; provisions
Bill Summary: HB 294 clarifies the rights and responsibilities of entities involved in the liquidation of reinsurance companies. The bill allows the succeeding entity receiving the liquidating company or the Georgia Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association to continue the reinsurance contract. The bill outlines processes for arbitration, handling unpaid premiums, and notification of affected policyholders.

House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 14, 2023

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Buddy DeLoach (167th) Insurance

Committee Action:

02-14-2023 Do Pass

HB 315

Commissioner of Insurance; promulgate rules and regulations regarding cost-sharing requirements for diagnostic and supplemental breast screening examinations; provide
Bill Summary: HB 315 involves cost-sharing requirements for diagnostic and supplemental breast screenings. The bill allows the commissioner of insurance to apply rules and regulations regarding cost-sharing provisions based on guidelines established by professional medical associations.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Darlene Taylor (173rd) Insurance

Committee Action:

02-14-2023 Do Pass

HB 317 State Employees' Assurance Department; assignment of certain group term life insurance benefits; provisions
Bill Summary: HB 317 allows Employees' Retirement System of Georgia members to designate licensed funeral service providers as beneficiaries to pay funeral costs.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Darlene Taylor (173rd) Insurance

Committee Action:

02-14-2023 Do Pass

Judiciary Committee

HB 80

Uniform Unsworn Declarations Act; enact
Bill Summary: HB 80, the 'Uniform Unsworn Declarations Act,' permits unsworn declarations to have the same effect as sworn declarations in circumstances in which a declarant is making an unsworn declaration while being physically located outside U.S. boundaries. Making an unsworn declaration is not permitted in cases of depositions; oaths of office; oaths required by statute to be given before a specified official other than a notary public; proceedings when verification is sufficient pursuant to O.C.G.A. 9-10-113; or instruments expressly required to comply with O.C.G.A. 44-2-15 concerning registrable instruments. An unsworn declaration must be presented in the same medium as a sworn declaration if the law requires it. Knowingly and willfully making a material false statement when executing an unsworn declaration constitutes perjury.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Rob Leverett (123rd) Judiciary

Committee Action:

02-14-2023 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 186

Appeal and error; filing of petitions for review in reviewing courts from lower judicatories; revise an exception
Bill Summary: HB 186 amends sections of the Code from utilizing the "certiorari" process to instead using the "petition for review" appellate procedure when appealing from a lower judicatory (any government body exercising judicial or quasi-judicial authority) to a superior or state court.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Rob Leverett (123rd) Judiciary

Committee Action:

02-14-2023 Do Pass

HB 220

Property; means of enforcement of condominium and property owners' association instruments, rules, and regulations; provide
Bill Summary: HB 220 permits condominium associations to pursue injunctive relief without first pursuing other remedies after providing notice in accordance with terms of the instrument or 10 days' written notice if the instrument is silent. Notice will not be required in the event of a violation of the instrument or reasonable rules adopted by the association that presents a clear and imminent danger, or when injunctive relief would become moot if not granted before expiration of a notice period. Property owners in a planned subdivision containing no fewer than 15 individual plots will comply

House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 14, 2023

with all lawful provisions of covenants. Lack of compliance will be grounds for recovery of sums due, damages, injunctive relief, or any other remedy available at law or in equity.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Rob Leverett (123rd) Judiciary

Committee Action:

02-14-2023 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 243

Coweta Judicial Circuit; superior court; provide eighth judge
Bill Summary: HB 243 increases the number of superior court judges in the Coweta Judicial Circuit from seven to eight. The eighth judge will be appointed for a term beginning July 1, 2023 continuing through December 31, 2024. Their successor will be elected at the nonpartisan judicial election in 2024.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Lynn Smith (70th) Judiciary

Committee Action:

02-14-2023 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Motor Vehicles Committee

HB 167

Motor vehicles and traffic; standards for issuance of limited driving permits for certain offenders; provide
Bill Summary: HB 167 amends the list of individuals with a suspended, revoked, or cancelled license eligible to apply for a limited driving permit by adding persons not in compliance with a child support order. The bill provides conditions for revocation of a limited driving permit.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Martin Momtahan (17th) Motor Vehicles

Committee Action:

02-14-2023 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 242 Georgia Driver's Education Commission; violation of traffic laws or ordinances under Joshua's Law; provide additional penalty
Bill Summary: HB 242 reinstates the additional penalty for a traffic violation under 'Joshua's Law', setting it at three percent of the original fine.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Bill Hitchens (161st) Motor Vehicles

Committee Action:

02-14-2023 Do Pass

Public Health Committee
HB 213 Education; required information to parents of students regarding meningococcal meningitis and influenza and their vaccines; revise provisions
Bill Summary: HB 213 updates provisions regarding vaccine information to local boards of education provided to parents/guardians of students attending K-12 schools.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Katie Dempsey (13th) Public Health

Committee Action:

02-14-2023 Do Pass

HB 226

Social services; treatment services under Medicaid to persons with HIV; provisions
Bill Summary: HB 226 allows the Department of Community Health to submit a waiver request to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services of the U.S. Health Department of Health and Human Services for the purpose of providing Medicaid coverage for HIV treatment services. Eligible individuals must have an HIV diagnosis, an income less than 138 percent of the federal poverty level, and no health insurance.

Authored By: Rep. Sharon Cooper (45th)

House of Representatives
House Committee:

Daily Report for February 14, 2023

Public Health

Committee Action:

02-14-2023 Do Pass

Special Rules Committee

HB 237

State government; Southeast Georgia Soap Box Derby as official soap box derby of the State of Georgia; designate
Bill Summary: HB 237 designates the Southeast Georgia Soap Box Derby in Lyons, Georgia as the official soap box derby of the State of Georgia. The Department of Economic Development and other agencies are encouraged to coordinate advertising programs to promote tourism related to the derby.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Leesa Hagan (156th) Special Rules

Committee Action:

02-14-2023 Do Pass

State Planning & Community Affairs Committee
HB 43 Council on American Indian Concerns; revise membership
Bill Summary: HB 43 adds a requirement to the membership of the Council on American Indian Concerns to include at least one member representing each of the American Indian tribes of Georgia identified in Code. It updates the address list of legitimate American Indian tribes of Georgia.

Authored By: Rep. Marvin Lim (98th) House Committee: State Planning & Community Affairs Committee
Action:

02-14-2023 Tabled

HB 128

Revenue and taxation; representation of minority business enterprises, women and veteran owned businesses in procurement of state contracts; provide
Bill Summary: HB 128 revises definitions and language regarding minority owned businesses. The term 'member of a minority' is removed and replaced with 'classified subcontractor'. This definition is for a small business certified as a minority owned business. The commissioner of the Department of Administrative Services is required to maintain a list of classified subcontractors and make the list available to the general public by December 31 of each year. 'Minority' is defined as a member of a race which makes up less than fifty percent of the total state population and belongs to one or more of the following groups: Black, Hispanic, Asian pacific, Native American, or Asian-Indian American. A 'veteran owned business' is defined as a business owned by an individual who has served as a reservist or on active duty with a branch of the United States military and did not receive a dishonorable discharge. A 'woman owned business' is required to be operated by one or more women. The requirement for an application containing business history and documentation for classification as one of these terms is removed.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Soo Hong (103rd) State Planning & Community Affairs

Committee Action:

02-14-2023 Do Pass

House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 14, 2023

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.legis.ga.gov to view all upcoming events.

Wednesday - February 15, 2023 8:00 AM AGRICULTURE & CONSUMER AFFAIRS COMMITTEE (House) 8:00 AM SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE (House) 8:00 AM Ways & Means Sales Tax Subcommittee (House) 8:15 AM Ways & Means Public Finance & Policy Subcommittee (House) 9:00 AM RULES COMMITTEE (House) 10:00 AM FLOOR SESSION (LD 19) (House)

1:00 PM 1:00 PM 1:00 PM 1:30 PM 2:00 PM 2:00 PM 2:00 PM 3:00 PM
3:00 PM 3:00 PM

HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE (House) PUBLIC SAFETY & HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE (House) Appropriations Health Subcommittee (House) Judiciary Non-Civil Hong Subcommittee (House) RETIREMENT COMMITTEE (House) DEFENSE & VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE (House) STATE PROPERTIES COMMITTEE (House) CANCELED TECHNOLOGY & INFRASTRUCTURE INNOVATION COMMITTEE (House) GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE (House) INDUSTRY AND LABOR COMMITTEE (House)

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