First readers in House, 2007 February 27

FIRST READERS IN HOUSE TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27,2007 TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATIVE DAY

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HB 545.

d m 7 1 ~ r d 7By Representatives Yates of the 73rd, Lunsford of the 1loth, and Knight of the 126th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 47 of the official Code of Georgia

Annotated, relating to retirement and pensions, so as to provide that a superior court

judge or district attorney who is an active member of the Georgia Judicial Retirement

System may obtain creditable service for certain prior service as a circuit-paid assistant

district attorney; to provide for application and payment of the fill actuarial value of such

service; to provide conditions and limitations; to provide for an effective date and

automatic repeal; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to the Committee on RETIREMENT

HB 546. By Representatives Buckner of the 130th and Thomas of the 100th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 9 of Title 12 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to air quality, so as to change certain provisions relating to permit requirements, applications, issuance, revocation, suspension, or amendment; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to the Committee on NATURAL RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENT

HB 547. By Representative Coleman of the 97th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to authorize the City of Duluth to exercise all redevelopment and other powers under Article IX, Section 11, Paragraph VII(b) of the constitution and Chapter 44 of Title 36 of the O.C.G.A., the "Redevelopment Powers Law," as amended; to provide for a referendum; to provide effective dates; to provide for automatic repeal under certain circumstances; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTALCOORDINATION LOCAL

HB 548. By Representatives Buckner of the 130th, Thomas of the 100th, Porter of the 143rd, Reece of the 11th, Benfield of the 85th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 1 of Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 12 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Jekyll Island-State Park Authority, so as to provide legislative findings and declarations; to define certain terms; to restrict development of certain portions of Jekyll Island; to require the authority to adopt and enforce certain restrictions and requirements on construction of major facilities; to require the authority to impose restrictions and requirements on amounts of impervious surfaces on the island; to require the authority to impose certain restrictions and requirements on golf courses; to require the authority to impose certain restrictions and requirements on irrigation; to require the authority to impose certain height restrictions on buildings; to require the authority to impose certain restrictions on the number of housing units; to provide an effective date; to provide that certain contracts shall not be impaired; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to the Committee on STATE INSTITUTIONS & PROPERTY

HB 549. By Representative Burkhalter of the 50th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to public assistance, so as to establish requirements for basic therapy services for children with disabilities; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for definitions; to provide certain requirements relating to administrative prior approval for services and appeals; to provide for a modification to the state plan for medical assistance regarding the rate of payment to providers of medical assistance services; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
HB 550. By Representative Lindsey of the 54th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to medical assistance generally, so as to change certain provisions relating to recovery of assistance from third parties liable for sickness, injury, disease, or disability; to expand certain obligations of insurers, managed health care entities, and pharmacy benefit managers; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INSURANCE
HB 551. By Representative Lindsey of the 54th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to public assistance, so as to provide for the "State False Medicaid Claims Act"; to provide for a short title; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for definitions; to provide for liability to this state for certain false claims; to provide for civil actions for false Medicaid claims; to provide for exclusions for certain civil actions; to provide for procedure; to provide for burden of proof; to provide for whistleblower protection; to provide for statute of limitations; to provide for venue; 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
HB 552. By Representative Everson of the 106th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to authorize the City of Snellville to exercise all redevelopment and other powers under Article IX, Section 11, Paragraph VII(b) of the Constitution and Chapter 44 of Title 36 of the O.C.G.A., the "Redevelopment Powers Law," as amended; to provide for a referendum; to provide effective dates; to provide for automatic repeal under certain circumstances; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL
HB 553. By Representatives Murphy of the 120th, Frazier of the 123rd, and Howard of the 121st: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act providing for the consolidation of Richmond County and the City of Augusta, approved March 27, 1995 (Ga. L. 1995, p. 3648), as amended, particularly by an Act approved April 8,2002 (Ga. L. 2002, p. 3769), so as to provide for the election and terms of the members of the Augusta-Richmond County Commission; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL

HB 554. By Representatives Murphy of the 120th, Frazier of the 123rd,and Howard of the 121st: A BILL To be entitled an Act to amend an Act creating the Civil Court of Richmond County, approved August 28, 1931 (Ga. L. 1931, p. 270), as amended, particularly by an Act approved February 10, 1999 (Ga. L. 1999, p. 3508), so as to provide for the election and terms of the marshal of the Civil Court of Richmond County; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL
HB 555. By Representative Shaw of the 176th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to create a board of elections and registration for Clinch County and provide for its powers and duties; to provide for definitions; to provide for the composition of the board and the selection and appointment of its members; to provide for the qualification, terms, and removal of members and for filling vacancies; to provide for oaths and privileges; to provide for meetings, procedures, and vacancies; to relieve certain officers of certain powers and duties and provide for the transfer of functions to the newly created board; to provide for certain expenditures of public funds; to provide for compensation of members of the board and personnel; to provide for officers and equipment; to provide for the board's performance of certain functions and duties for certain municipalities; to provide for related matters; to provide for submission for preclearance under Section 5 of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended; to provide for effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL
HB 556. By Representatives Benton of the 3lst, Stephens of the 164th, Parrish of the 156th, and Carter of the 159th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 13 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to controlled substances, so as to require prescriptions for controlled substances and dangerous drugs to have the practitioner's name printed below the practitioner's signature on such prescriptions; to amend Code Section 26-4-80 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to dispensing prescription drugs, electronically transmitting drug orders, refills, and Schedule I1 controlled substance prescriptions, so as to require a practitioner to have the practitioner's name printed below his or her signature; to change certain provisions relating to requirements for transmitting prescriptions electronically or via facsimile; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL
HB 557. By Representatives Heckstall of the 62nd, Brooks of the 63rd, and Morgan of the 39th': A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to medical assistance generally, so as to provide that an applicant for medical assistance born prior to December 31, 1919, shall not be required to have a birth certificate as proof of identification for purposes of eligibility for medical assistance; to provide for applicability; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

HB 558. By Representatives Dickson of the 6th, Forster of the 3rd, Williams of the 4th, Jamieson of the 28th, and Ralston of the 7th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 36-36-2 of the Oficial Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the effective date of annexations, so as to provide for a phased-in allocation of ad valorem taxes levied for educational purposes between counties and municipalities containing an independent school system for annexation of certain property; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
HB 559. By Representatives Kaiser of the 59th, Sheldon of the 105th, Ashe of the 56th, Jones of the 46th, Thomas of the 55th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 6 of Article 17 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to health insurance plans for teachers and other school personnel in elementary and secondary education, so as to provide for teachers and employees of charter schools to be considered employees for purposes of participating in the health insurance plans for teachers and other school personnel; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on EDUCATION
HB 560. By Representative Day of the 163rd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 14 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to use of speed detection and traffic-control signal monitoring devices, so as to change certain provisions relating to speed detection devices; to define a term; to provide certain restrictions for photographic speed detection devices; 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 561. By Representatives Thomas of the 100th, Bryant of the 160th, Williams of the 165th, Murphy of the 120th, Talton of the 145th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 1 of Article 2 of Chapter 5 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to exemptions from ad valorem taxation, so as to change provisions relating to homestead exemptions for disabled veterans; to grant a new exemption for any veteran with a total or partial service connected permanent disability; to provide that the percentage of the homestead exempted shall be the same as the percentage of disability; to provide for continuation of the exemption for an unremarried surviving spouse or minor children; to provide for the preservation of previously granted exemptions; to provide for related matters; to provide for a referendum election to determine the effectiveness of the foregoing; to provide for effective dates and automatic repeal; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
HB 562. By Representatives Dollar of the 45th, Cheokas of the 134th, and Roberts of the 154th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 7-6A-2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, containing definitions relative to fair lending, so as to add a definition for temporary loan; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on BANKS & BANKING

HB 563. By Ikpresentatives Dollar of the 45th, Ehrhart of the 36th, and Harbin of the 118th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 5 of Title 3 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state license requirements and regulations for the manufacture, distribution, and sale of malt beverages, so as to provide for the sale of malt beverages manufactured by the brewer for consumption on the premises and in closed packages in limited quantities for consumption off the premises; to provide for definitions of certain terms; to provide for tasting rooms; to provide for license requirements; to provide for bonds; to provide for the payment of taxes; to authorize certain sales under limited circumstances; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on REGULATED INDUSTRIES
HB 564. By Representatives Dollar of the 45th, Cheokas of the 134th, and Roberts of the 154th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 16-9-20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to deposit account fraud, so as to include the act when the accused had insufficient funds in the account at the time the instrument was made and immediately stopped payment on the instrument; to provide for starter checks; to make an exception for rental payments; to correct cross-references; 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 565. By Representatives Dollar of the 45th, Lane of the 167th, and Roberts of the 154th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 12-7-17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to exemptions from the control of soil erosion and sedimentation, so as to add an exemption for removal of beaver dams; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on NATURAL RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENT
HB 566. By Representative Lindsey of the 54th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 36-82-61 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to definitions of terms used in Article 3 of Chapter 82 of Title 36, known as the "Revenue Bond Law," so as to enlarge the definition of "undertaking" to include the establishment of a trust fund to liquidate the unfunded accrued actuarial liability for pension or other postemployment benefits; to amend Article 1 of Chapter 82 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to bonds in general, so as to repeal provisions relating to pension obligation bonds";to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
HB 567. By Representative Dollar of the 45th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 10-1-393 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to unfair or deceptive practices in consumer transactions, so as to provide for rebates to be mailed to consumers within a certain time frame; to provide that terms of rebate offers shall be disclosed; to provide for a definition; 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 AGRICULTURE & CONSUMER AFFAIRS