First readers in House, 2007 February 14

* Rules Suspended

FIRST READERS IN HOUSE WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14,2007 TWENTIETH LEGISLATIVE DAY

HB 406. By Representative Floyd of the 147th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act providing for a merger of the independent school system of the City of Cordele and the school districts in the County of Crisp lying outside the corporate limits of said City, approved February 11, 1957 (Ga. L. 1957, p. 2066), as amended, so as to change the compensation of members of the Crisp County Board of Education; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTALCOORDINATION LOCAL

HB 407. By Representatives McCall of the 30th, Channel1 of the 116th, England of the 108th, James of the 135th, Roberts of the 154th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 48-8-3 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to exemptions from state sales and use tax, so as to provide for an exemption for a limited period of time from state sales and use tax only regarding the sale or use of liquefied petroleum gas or other fuel used in dairy production by family owned qualified farm products producers; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS

HB 408. By Representative Knox of the 24th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 33-41-20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to exclusion from insolvency funds, so as to provide for an exception for companies that have reorganized under Chapter 13A of Title 33; to provide for certain contingency and effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to the Committee on INSURANCE

HB 409. By Representative Lane of the 167th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act creating a new charter for the City of Darien, approved May 5,2006 (Ga. L. 2006, p. 4328), so as to provide for annexation of certain property; to provide effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL

HB 410. By Representatives Hanner of the 148th,Royal of the 17lst, and Greene of the 149th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 8 of Title 48 of the O.C.G.A., relating to sales and use taxes, so as to provide for funding of projects and services through the levy and collection of a municipal option sales and use tax; to provide for a short title; to provide for definitions; to provide for the rate and manner of imposition of such tax; to provide for applicability to certain sales; to provide for powers, duties, and authority of municipal governing authorities with respect to such tax; to provide for powers, duties,

and authorities of the state revenue commissioner with respect to such tax; to provide for collection and administration of such tax; to provide for returns; to provide for distribution and expenditure of proceeds; to provide for a method for discontinuation of such tax; to change certain provisions regarding limitations on imposition of certain local taxes; to provide for other matters relative to the foregoing; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
HB 411. By Representatives Keen of the 179th, Lane of the 167th, and Hill of the 180th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act providing a new charter for the City of Brunswick, approved April 4, 1991 (Ga. L. 1991, p. 391l), as amended, so as to change certain provisions relating to nomination of candidates; to provide for submission for preclearance under the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended; to provide an effective date; to repeal a specific Act; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTALCOORDINATION LOCAL
HB 412. By Representative Ehrhart of the 36th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding elections, so as to provide for the composition and number of congressional districts; to provide for election of members of Congress; to provide when such members shall take office; to provide for continuation of present congressional districts until a certain time; to provide for other matters relative to the foregoing; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on LEGISLATIVE & CONGRESSIONAL REAPPORTIONMENT
HB 413. By Representative Martin of the 47th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 8 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the joint county and municipal sales and use tax, so as to change certain provisions regarding procedures for certifying additional qualified municipalities; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
HB 414. By Representatives Floyd of the 147th, Rice of the 5lst, Parrish of the 156th, Powell of the 29th, and Bearden of the 68th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 40-6-391 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or other intoxicating substances, so as to direct an offender to complete the DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Program within 120 days of conviction or release from incarceration; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL

HB 415. By Representatives Floyd of the 147th,Rice of the 5lst, Powell of the 29th, and Bearden of the 68th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 5 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to drivers' licenses, so as to provide for the expiration of temporary licenses or special identification cards; to provide that pleas of nolo contendere shall be treated as a conviction in certain instances; to provide for suspensions based on driving under the influence convictions; to provide for administrative license suspensions to count against the total suspension provided; to amend Code Section 40-16-4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to duties of the commissioner of driver services, so as to provide for powers and duties of investigators; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; to provide an effective date; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL
HB 416. By Representatives Floyd of the 147th, Rice of the 5lst, Parrish of the 156th, Powell of the 29th, and Bearden of the 68th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 4 of Chapter 5 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to restoration of licenses to persons completing defensive driving course or alcohol or drug program, so as to provide for approval of classroom and online driver improvement clinics' curriculum; to increase the fee for DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Programs; to provide for certificates of completion; to delete references to advanced defensive driving courses; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL
HB 417. By Representative O'Neal of the 146th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 40-5-57 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to suspension or revocation of license of habitually negligent or dangerous driver, so as to add a fine for each moving violation which shall be used to h n d a trauma care system in Georgia; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL
HB 418. By Representatives Maxwell of the 17th, Maddox of the 172nd, Benton of the 31st, England of the 108th, and McCall of the 30th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 27-5-5 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to wild animals for which licenses or permits are required, so as to add an exemption for water buffalo; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on GAME, FISH, & PARKS
HB 419. By Representatives Floyd of the 147th, Rice of the 51st, Powell of the 29th, and Bearden of the 68th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 7 of Chapter 5 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to commercial drivers' licenses, so as to provide for definitions of certain terms; to change provisions relating to issuance of commercial drivers' licenses and permits; to provide for expiration of commercial drivers' licenses; to provide for disqualifications, revocations, and suspensions of commercial drivers' licenses; to provide penalties for violations; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL

HB 420. By Representatives Ehrhart of the 36th, Turnlin of the 38th, and Williams of the 165th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to repeal and reenact Chapter 3 of Title 7 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to industrial loans, so as to add protections for consumers who are customers for these loans; to provide for purposes and definitions; to provide for exemptions; to provide for powers and duties of the Industrial Loan Commissioner; to provide for licensure and fees; to provide for maintenance of books and records by licensees; to prohibit false advertising; to provide for maximum charges; to provide for penalties; to provide for suspension or revocation of license; to provide for judicial review; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to provide for applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on BANKS & BANKING
HB 421. By Representatives Buckner of the 130th, Crawford of the 127th, Benfield of the 85th, Epps of the 128th, and Jamieson of the 28th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 48-5-7.4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to ad valorem tax treatment of bona fide conservation use property, so as to change certain provisions relating to acreage limits; to change certain provisions relating to eligible property owners; to provide for certain conditions that shall not constitute a breach of covenant; to provide for a contingent effective date; to provide for contingent automatic repeal; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
HB 422. By Representative Willard of the 49th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 3 of Title 44 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to regulation of specialized land transactions, so as to provide a minimum amount for liens; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY
HB 423. By Representatives Gardner of the 57th, Buckner of the 130th, Oliver of the 83rd, Wilkinson of the 52nd, Lindsey of the 54th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 3 1-5A-4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the powers, duties, functions, and responsibilities of the Department of Community Health, so as to require mental health care coverage in any health benefits for members, employees, and retirees of the Board of Regents through the Department of Community Health; to amend Code Section 45-18-2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the authority of the Board of Community Health to establish a state employees' health insurance plan, so as to require mental health care coverage; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INSURANCE

HB 424. By Representatives Coan of the lOlst, Reese of the 98th, Hamilton of the 23rd, Cox of the 102nd,Carter of the 159th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 9 of Title 34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to workers' compensation, to provide for the dismissal of certain claims in which no hearing has been held after a certain time period; to increase the weekly wage amounts for compensation for total disability; to increase the maximum weekly benefit for compensation for temporary partial disability; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
HB 425. By Representatives Chambers of the 81st and Rice of the 51st: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 7 of Title 3 1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to regulation of hospitals and related institutions, so as to enact the "Hospital Litigation Protection Act"; to provide certain cost information to an uninsured patient prior to receiving nonemergency elective medical treatment; to provide for the annual submission of certain information to the Department of Human Resources; to provide for immunity from certain legal actions under specified conditions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY
HB 426. By Representatives Jones of the 44th, Fludd of the 66th, Sims of the 15lst, Rynders of the 152nd, and Smith of the 129th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 32-6-200 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the installation of protective devices at railroad grade crossings, so as to provide for legislative findings; to define a certain term; to provide that local school districts shall provide the Department of Transportation with information regarding rail crossings without active warning devices that are used by school buses; to provide that local school districts shall use best efforts to reroute buses to minimize use of such crossings; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on TRANSPORTATION
HB 427. By Representatives Chambers of the 81st, Knox of the 24th, Jamieson of the 28th, Ehrhart of the 36th, and Rice of the 51st: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 7 of Title 3 1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to regulation of hospitals and related institutions, so as to provide that certain records of nonprofit hospitals shall be open to inspection; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY
HB 428. By Representatives Lewis of the 15th, Meadows of the Sth, Harbin of the 118th, Rogers of the 26th, Smith of the 131st, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 36-34-2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general powers regarding administration of municipal government, so as to provide for additional requirements with respect to certain franchise fees; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS

HB 429. By Representatives Cooper of the 41st, Hudson of the 124th, Smith of the 70th, and Manning of the 32nd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to health, so as to require physicians and health care providers to test pregnant women for HIV unless she specifically declines; to provide a short title; to inform the pregnant woman of the test to be conducted; to provide for documentation; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for an exemption from counseling requirements; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
HB 430. By Representatives Ralston of the 7th, Roberts of the 154th, Hatfield of the 177th, and Crawford of the 127th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 44 of the O.C.G.A., relating to property, so as to clarify the scope of the provisions applicable to the acquisition of title to land by adverse possession, the acquisition of easements and private ways through prescription, and the acquisition of land by railroad corporations or railroad companies; to amend Article 2 of Chapter 4 of Title 24 of the O.C.G.A., relating to presumptions and estoppel, so as to provide that occupancy of a railroad right of way is by permission; to amend Code Section 46-8-100 of the O.C.G.A., relating to the general powers of railroad companies, so as to provide that issues arising as to the dimensions of property acquired by a railroad corporation or railroad company prior to 1913 shall be determined by reference to the official map filed with the Interstate Commerce Commission pursuant to the Railroad Valuation Act of March 1, 1913; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY
HB 431. By Representatives Morgan of the 39th, Ashe of the 56th, Sims of the 151st, Floyd of the 99th, Everson of the 106th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elementary and secondary education, so as to provide for mandatory kindergarten for all children prior to entering into first grade; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on EDUCATION
HB 432. By Representatives Morgan of the 39th, Ashe of the 56th, Sims of the 151st, and Floyd of the 99th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 20-2-281 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the assessment of effectiveness of educational programs under the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to provide that required state-wide assessments are offered in languages other than English; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on EDUCATION