First readers in House, 2007 February 8

FIRST READERS IN HOUSE THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 08,2007 FIFTEENTH LEGISLATIVE DAY
HB 283. By Representatives Hatfield of the 177th, Tumlin of the 38th, and Lane of the 167th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 4 of Chapter 18 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to inspection of public records, so as to provide that certain requests may be required to be in writing; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY
HB 284. By Representatives Hatfield of the 177th and Lindsey of the 54th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 31-10-25 of the Official Code of .Georgia Annotated, relating to disclosure of information contained in vital records, so as to provide that social security numbers shall be redacted from vital records and withheld from public inspection; to provide for exceptions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY
HB 285. By Representatives Stephens of the 164th, Parrish of the 156th, and Carter of the 159th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 16-13-41 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to prescriptions for controlled substances, so as to require positive proof of identity prior to dispensing a prescription; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL
HB 286. By Representatives 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 change certain provisions relating to Schedule I1 controlled substances; to change certain provisions relating to Schedule V controlled substances; to change certain provisions relating to the definition of "dangerous drug"; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL
HB 287. By Representatives Carter of the 159th, Cooper of the 41st, and Channel1 of the 116th: 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 provide for legislative findings; to provide for definitions; to provide for immunity for pain management treatment; to provide for statutory construction; to provide for notification of health care providers; to amend Article 1 of Chapter 1 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to health, so as to establish the Pain Management Ad Hoc Advisory Committee; to provide for such committee's membership, duties, and duration; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL

HB 288. By Representatives Graves of the 12th, Lewis of the 15th, Smith of the 113th, Lunsford of the 11Oth, Lakly of the 72nd, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 46 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relating to public utilities and public transportation, so as to provide that certain utilities shall return consumer deposits under certain conditions; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on ENERGY, UTILITIES & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
HB 289. By Representatives Roberts of the 154th, Freeman of the 140th, Williams of the 178th, Sims of the 119th, Hatfield of the 177th,and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 11 of Chapter 5 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to ad valorem taxation of public utilities, so as to provide an exemption for eligible expenses for maintenance, repairs, and improvements of a railroad equipment company's railroad cars; to provide for related matters; to provide for a referendum; to provide for effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
HB 290. By Representatives Heckstall of the 62nd, Holmes of the 61st, Morgan of the 39th, Sims of the 151st, Brooks of the 63rd, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 3 of Article 1 of Chapter 2 of Title 8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to fire escapes, so as to provide for certain safety requirements for buildings over 15 feet in height; to provide for inspections; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
HB 291. By Representatives Wilkinson of the 52nd, Butler of the 18th, Rice of the 5lst, Ashe of the 56th, Stephens of the 164th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 12 of Title 50 of the O.C.G.A., relating to the Georgia Council for the Arts, so as to create the Georgia Arts Alliance; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for certain reports and audits; to provide for development of a cultural policy for the State of Georgia; to amend Part 14 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the O.C.G.A., relating to other educational programs for elementary and secondary education, so as to provide for the development of a Future Art and Music Teachers Pilot Program; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TOURISM
HB 292. By Representatives Willard of the 49th, Hatfield of the 177th, Lindsey of the 54th, Crawford of the 127th, Lane of the 167th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 9-11-4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to process in civil practice, so as to provide for service upon persons residing in gated and secured communities; to provide for filing the return of service; to provide for state-wide registration of permanent process servers; to change certain provisions relating to process in civil practice; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY

HB 293. By Representative Davis of the 109th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 48 of the O.C.G.A., relating to revenue and taxation, so as to provide for the comprehensive revision of the "Motor Fuel Tax Law" into the "Gas Unification and Tax Simplification Act of 2007"; to eliminate the second motor fuel tax; to change certain provisions relating to definitions regarding sales and use taxes; to change certain provisions relating to sales and use tax exemptions regarding motor hel; to change certain provisions relating to dealers' sales and use tax returns; to change certain provisions relating to compensation of dealers; to provide for the collection of motor fie1 excise taxes at the point of removal of motor fuel from a registered refinery or terminal; to provide for a short title; to provide for definitions; to provide for civil and criminal penalties; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
HB 294. By Representatives Graves of the 12th, Scott of the 2nd, Sims of the 119th, Smith of the 131st, Talton of the 145th, 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 sales and use tax, so as to provide for an exemption regarding sales to nonprofit volunteer health clinics for a limited period of time; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
HB 295. By Representatives Floyd of the 147th, Roberts of the 154th, James of the 135th, and Pruett of the 144th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 15-6-2 of the O.C.G.A., relating to the number of superior court judges for each judicial circuit, so as to create a new superior court judgeship for the Cordele Judicial Circuit; to provide for the initial appointment, election, and term of office of such judge; to provide for the qualifications and for the compensation, salary, and expense allowance of such judge to be paid by the State of Georgia and the counties comprising the judicial circuit; to provide for jurors; to authorize the judges of said circuit to divide and allocate the work and duties thereto and provide for the duties of the chief judge and presiding judges; to provide for powers, duties, and responsibilities of judges of said circuit; to provide for additional court reporters and personnel and the compensation of such reporters and personnel; to declare inherent authority; to provide effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY
HB 296. By Representatives May of the 111th, Williams of the 178th, Roberts of the 154th, Lane of the 167th, Hembree of the 67th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 21-2-540 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to conduct of special elections generally, so as to provide that special elections to submit questions to the voters shall be held on certain dates; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS

HB 297. By Representatives Freeman of the 140th, Stephens of the 164th, Casas of the 103rd, England of the 108th, Roberts of the 154th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 22B of Chapter 1of Title 10 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to recreational vehicle dealers, so as to provide for certain exemptions for rallies or conventions involving more than 2500 recreational vehicles; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on AGRICULTURE & CONSUMER AFFAIRS
HB 298. By Representatives Day of the 163rd and Stephens of the 164th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 48-5-48.4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to tax exemptions for unremarried surviving spouses of peace officers and firefighters, so as to provide a definition for the term "in the line of duty" as the term is used to provide a homestead exemption for the full value of the homestead with respect to all ad valorem taxes for designated unremarried surviving spouses of peace officers or firefighters who are killed in the line of duty; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
HB 299. By Representatives Mitchell of the 88th, Heard of the 114th, Lakly of the 72nd, Williams of the 89th, Oliver of the 83rd, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 2 of Article 1 of Chapter 18 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the State Board of Funeral Service, so as to prohibit the board from requiring funeral service and embalming businesses from having mandatory hours of operation; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on REGULATED INDUSTRIES
HE3 300. By Representatives Gardner of the 57th, Wilkinson of the 52nd, Lindsey of the 54th, Teilhet of the 40th, and Ashe of the 56th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 31-12A-6 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to exemptions to the "Georgia Smokefree Air Act of 2005," so as to provide an exemption for performers in live theater under certain circumstances; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
HB 301. By Representatives Reese of the 98th, Knight of the 126th, Roberts of the 154th, Williams of the 165th, Jacobs of the 80th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 1 of Article 2 of Chapter 12 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to gambling offenses, so as to change certain provisions relating to dogfighting; to prohibit dogfighting and related conduct; to provide for punishments; to define a term; to provide for applicability; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL

HB 302. By Representatives Mumford of the 95th, Mangham of the 94th, and Stephenson of the 92nd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 48-13-5 1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the excise tax on the furnishing for value to the public of any rooms, lodgings, or accommodations, so as to change certain provisions regarding the levy and collection of such tax; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
HB 303. By Representative Mumford of the 95th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 15-11-58 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to reasonable efforts regarding reunification of family, reports and plans, custody orders when reunification found not to be in child's best interest, duration of orders, review of determinations, hearings, and supplemental orders, so as to provide that the duration of certain orders in deprivation proceedings may be extended for longer periods; to provide for other party's ability to file certain motions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY
HB 304. By Representative Sims of the 169th: 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 with respect to sales of any durable medical equipment prescribed by a physician; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
HB 305. By Representatives Fludd of the 66th and Beasley-Teague of the 65th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 37 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to acquisition and disposition of property by municipalities, so as to provide for limitations with respect to the amount of real property one municipality may acquire within another municipality; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
HB 306. By Representatives Fludd of the 66th, Beasley-Teague of the 65th, and Bruce of the 64th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 31 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to incorporation of municipal corporations, so as to provide that at a point in time in the process of legislative consideration of a new incorporation, other municipal corporations shall be prohibited from annexing territory proposed for inclusion in a new municipal corporation; to provide for the defeasance of annexations of territory proposed for inclusion in a new municipal corporation when such annexations took place after a point in time; 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 JUDICIARY

HB 307. By Representatives Martin of the 47th and Drenner of the 86th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 7 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the imposition, rate, and computation of income tax, so as to provide for income tax credits with respect to qualified personal mass transportation expenses; to provide for conditions, limitations, and exclusions; to provide for authority of the state revenue commissioner with respect to the foregoing; to provide an effective date; to provide for applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
HB 308. By Representatives Benfield of the 85th, Stephenson of the 92nd, Mangham of the 94th, Abdul-Salaam of the 74th, and Thomas of the 55th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to criminal procedure, so as to require a procedure for enhancing eyewitness identification accuracy; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for a short title; to provide for definitions; to provide for general guidelines relating to the development of eyewitness identification protocol and exceptions thereto; to provide for procedures to compose and present photo lineups and live lineups to witnesses; to provide for instructions to be given to witnesses who view lineups; to provide for documentation of identification procedures; to amend Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to law enforcement officers and agencies, so as to provide for training in enhancing eyewitness identification accuracy; to provide for related matters; to provide for effective dates and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL
HB 309. By Representative Fleming of the 117th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 47-2-244 of the OMicial Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to optional benefits under the Employees' Retirement System of Georgia available to appellate court judges, notice of election of benefits, eligibility for benefits, disability benefits, and survivors benefits, so as to provide that an appellate court judge may begin receiving retirement benefits at age 60 under certain conditions; to provide conditions for an effective date and automatic repeal, to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on RETIREMENT
HR 170. By Representatives McCall of the 30th and England of the 108th: A RESOLUTION urging the United States Congress to reform U.S. sugar policy; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on AGRICULTURE & CONSUMER AFFAIRS
HR 171. By Representative Smith of the 129th: A RESOLUTION honoring the lives of Cason and Virginia Callaway and dedicating the Cason and Virginia Callaway Conservation Highway in their memory; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on TRANSPORTATION