First readers in House, 2010 March 16

FIRST READERS IN HOUSE TUESDAY, MARCH 16,2010 TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATIVE DAY
*Rules Suspended
HB 1365. By Representatives Lane of the 167th, Smith of the 70th, and Hill of the 180th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 12-1-2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to references to administrative law judge or hearing officer, references to final decision of Board of Natural Resources, and filing request for administrative review, so as to provide for deference by administrative law judges on technical issues within the specialized knowledge of the agency decision-maker when reviewing permits; to provide an effective date; to provide for applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on NATURAL RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENT
HB 1366. By Representatives Powell of the 29th, Kidd of the 141st, Hudson of the 124th, Sims of the 169th, and Cheokas of the 134th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elections generally, so as to provide that an incumbent may qualify for reelection as an independent candidate or as the candidate of a political body without filing a nomination petition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
HB 1367. By Representatives Kidd of the 141st, and Powell of the 29th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elections generally, so as to provide that independent candidates shall have an additional qualifiing period; to change the time for filing of nomination petitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
HB 1368. By Representatives Smith of the 70th, Barnard of the 166th, and Hill of the 180th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 12 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to conservation and natural resources, so as to specifj the level of professional registration required for reviews and certain kinds of applications relating to permits issued by the Environmental Protection Division; to provide that no water withdrawal, water diversion, or water impoundment permit or other permit issued by the director shall be deemed invalid on grounds that any employee reviewing the application was or was not registered or licensed by a professional licensing board; to provide that certain applications for air emission permits must be certified by a professional engineer registered to practice in Georgia; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on NATURAL RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENT

HB 1370. By Representatives Smith of the 70th, Lane of the 167th, and Hill of the 180th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 12 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to conservation and natural resources, and Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state government, so as to revise provisions relating to the grant or denial of certain permits relating to environmental protection; to provide for deference by administrative law judges on technical issues within the specialized knowledge of the agency decision-maker when reviewing permits; to specify the level of professional registration required for reviews and certain kinds of applications relating to permits issued by the Environmental Protection Division; to provide an effective date; to provide for applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on NATURAL RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENT
HB 1371. By Representatives Kidd of the 141st, Wilkinson of the 52nd, and Parsons of the 42nd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 43-35-3 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to definitions regarding podiatry practice, so as to provide that podiatry medicine includes the diagnosis and treatment of certain cosmetic conditions regarding the human foot and leg; to provide a definition; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
HB 1372. By Representatives Smyre of the 132nd, Hugley of the 133rd, Smith of the 131st, Buckner of the 130th, and Smith of the 129th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 1 of Article 1 of Chapter 8 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to state sales and use tax, so as to provide that all sales tax point of sale data compiled by the Department of Revenue shall be made available to counties and municipalities; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
HB 1373. By Representatives Smyre of the 132nd, Hugley of the 133rd, Smith of the 131st, Buckner of the 130th, and Smith of the 129th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 14 of Chapter 1 of Title 10 and Code Section 16-8-12 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to secondary metals recyclers and penalties for certain theft crimes, respectively, so as to change provisions relating to transaction records; to provide for transmission of transaction records to the applicable sheriffs department; to regulate payments to persons selling copper items to secondary metals recyclers; to increase penalties, require a surety bond, and provide for damages; to change provisions relating to the superseding nature of the article; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL

HB 1374. By Representative Parsons of the 42nd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 40-6-163 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the duty of the driver of a vehicle meeting or overtaking a school bus and reporting of violations, so as to define certain terms; to provide that such Code section may be enforced by means of video images; to provide a civil penalty; to provide for notice and procedures; to provide for a rebuttable presumption; to provide for the payment for equipment; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on MOTOR VEHICLES
HB 1375. By Representatives Smyre of the 132nd, Hugley of the 133rd, Smith of the 13lst, Buckner of the 130th, and Smith of the 129th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 50-14-1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to meetings to be open to the public, limitation on action to contest agency action, recording, notice of time and place, access to minutes, and telecommunications conferences, so as to provide that the posting of a video of a public meeting on an official website shall satis@ the requirement of posting a summary of actions and a copy of minutes; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY
HB 1376. By Representatives Day of the 163rd, Stephens of the 164th, Bryant of the 160th, Stephens of the 161st, Gordon of the 162nd,and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 4 of Title 1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to holidays and observances, so as to establish "Irish Heritage and History Month"; to provide for legislative findings; to encourage observances and celebrations of "Irish Heritage and History Month"; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TOURISM
HB 1377. By Representative Loudermilk of the 14th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 43-41-2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to definitions relative to residential and general contractors, so as to change the definition of the term "residential contractor" by raising the dollar amount cap of the activity or work to be performed; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on REGULATED INDUSTRIES
HB 1378. By Representatives Amerson of the 9th, and Collins of the 27th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to provide that the clerk of the Magistrate Court of Lumpkin County shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the chief magistrate; to provide for related matters; to provide a contingent effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY

HB 1379. By Representatives Everson of the 106th, and Casas of the 103rd: 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 1388. By Representatives Bearden of the 68th, Lunsford of the I loth, Willard of the 49th, Porter of the 143rd, Abrams of the 84th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 36-62-2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to definitions regarding development authorities, so as to change a certain definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND JOB CREATION
HB 1389. By Representatives Harden of the 28th, Pruett of the 144th, Morris of the 155th, Austin of the loth, Williams of the 178th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relating to public assistance, so as to require random drug testing for recipients of certain public assistance; to amend Article 7 of Chapter 8 of Title 34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to unemployment compensation benefits, so as to require random drug testing for recipients of unemployment compensation benefits; 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 INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
HB 1390. By Representatives Floyd of the 99th, Thomas of the 100th, and Marin of the 96th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act creating the Board of Commissioners of Gwinnett County, approved January 31, 1968 (Ga. L. 1968, p. 2003), as amended, so as to reconstitute the board of commissioners; to provide for two additional districts; to provide for definitions and inclusions; to provide for continuation in office of the current chairperson and members; to provide for election and terms of office of subsequent members; to change quorum provisions; to provide for the submission of this Act for preclearance under the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended; to provide for related matters; to provide for effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL

HB 1391. By Rep~esentativesSmyre of the 132nd, Hugley of the 133rd, and Buckner of the 130th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act establishing the Municipal Court of Columbus, Georgia, approved August 12, 1915 (Ga. L. 1915, p. 63), as amended, particularly by an Act approved May 30,2003 (Ga. L. 2003, p. 3686), so as to change the compensation of the clerk and marshal of said court; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL
HB 1392. By Representative Franklin of the 43rd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to repeal provisions of law enacted by the "Georgia Nuclear Energy Financing Act" approved March 21,2009 (Ga. L. 2009, p. 39); to state legislative findings; to amend Code Section 46-2-25 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the procedure for changing any rate, charge, classification, or service, so as to eliminate provisions for a utility to recover from its customers the costs of financing associated with the construction of a nuclear generating plant; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on ENERGY, UTILITIES & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
HB 1393. By Representatives Abdul-Salaam of the 74th, and Jordan of the 77th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 48-8-6 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to limitations upon the authority of local governments to levy sales and use taxes and other similar taxes, so as to provide for an exemption to the total local sales and use tax cap otherwise applicable; to provide such exemption for a certain tax levied for purposes of a metropolitan area system of public transportation which is first levied after January 1, 2010; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purpses.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
*HB 1397. By Representatives Porter of the 143rd, Smyre of the 132nd, Ashe of the 56th, Hugley of the 133rd, Randall of the 138th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 6 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to employment under the "Quality Basic Education Act"; so as to enact the "Salary Protection Act"; to provide for legislative intent; to provide that state funding for salaries for school system personnel shall not be diverted to other uses; to provide that salaries shall not be subject to proration and that school system personnel shall not be subject to furloughs; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS

*HB 1404. By Representatives Battles of the 1Sth, and Rice of the 51st: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to motor vehicles, so as to provide a definition for a taxicab and a limousine; to change certain provisions relating to registration and titling of motor vehicles; to provide for administration of the system of mandatory insurance for motor vehicles; to provide for the registration and licensing of taxicabs and limousines; to provide for effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on MOTOR VEHICLES
*HB 1405. By Representatives O'Neal of the 146th, Ralstonmotfhe 7th, Keen of the 179th, Jones of the 46th, Bryant of the 160th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 28 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the General Assembly, so as to create the 20 10 Special Council on Tax Reform and Fairness for Georgians and the Special Joint Committee on Georgia Revenue Structure; to state legislative findings and intent; to make provisions relative to legislative procedure for consideration of legislation recommended by the council and the special joint committee; to provide for related matters; to provide for automatic repeal; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
*HB 1406. By Representatives Murphy of the 120th, Barnard of the 166th, Thomas of the 100th, Williams of the 165th, and Howard of the 121st: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 14 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to specific educational programs, so as to provide a short title; to provide definitions; to require a recruiter of student-athletes residing in Georgia to provide student-athletes with certain information relating to the institution's athletic program within one week of initiating personal contact with the student-athlete; to require any scholarship offer to be made in writing within one week of a verbal offer and prior to a student-athlete signing an athletic scholarship agreement with an institution of postsecondary education; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on HIGHER EDUCATION
*HB 1407. By Representatives Rogers of the 26th, Channel1of the 116th, and Cooper of the 41st: 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 for a single administrator for dental services for Medicaid recipients and Peachcare for Kids participants; to require the Department of Community Health to competitively bid out and contract with such single administrator; to provide for requirements for the single administrator; to provide for applicability; to provide for an amendment to the state plan if necessary; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

*HB 1408.

By Representative Meadows of the 5th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 8 of Title 48 of the Official Code of

Georgia Annotated, relating to sales and use taxes, so as to provide for collection of

certain data with respect to distribution of sales tax proceeds; to provide an effective date;

to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

1

Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS

*HB 1409. By Representatives Mills of the 25th, Ehrhart of the 36th, Houston of the 170th, and Lunsford of the 110th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 49-4-142 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Department of Community Health and administration of the state plan for medical assistance, so as to provide for a short title; to provide that any formula used to determine the amount of the state portion of Medicaid reimbursement to nonprofit hospitals shall take into account the amount the nonprofit hospital has on deposit in state banks; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS

*HB 1410. By Representatives Weldon of the 3rd, Powell of the 171st, McKillip of the 115th, Lindsey of the 54th, Willard of the 49th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 5 of Chapter 3 of Title 9 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to tolling of limitations of actions, so as to change provisions relating to the tolling of limitations for tort actions while certain criminal prosecutions are pending; to provide a definition; 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 NON-CIVIL

*HB 1411. By Representatives Mangham of the 94th, Neal of the lst, Collins of the 95th, and Loudermilk of the 14th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 21 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to a brief period of quiet reflection, so as to clarify that the daily moment of quiet reflection in public schools shall accommodate students w h o wish to exercise their freedom of religion to engage in silent prayer or silent meditation; to provide for legislative findings; to provide that students may reflect on an inspirational poem or reading, pray silently, or meditate silently during the moment of quiet reflection; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to the Committee on EDUCATION

HR 1648. By Representatives Smyre of the 132nd, Hugley of the 133rd, Buckner of the 130th, Smith of the 13lst, and Smith of the 129th: A RESOLUTION urging the commissioner of public safety and the commissioner of transportation to act jointly to remove the current restriction and increase the maximum speed limit on Interstate 185 in Columbus-Muscogee County from the current 55 miles per hour to 65 miles per hour where standard road designs allow such increased speed; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY
HR 1649. By Representatives Keown of the 173rd, Cox of the 102nd, Graves of the 12th, Reese of the 98th, Parsons of the 42nd, and others: A RESOLUTION urging the Congressional Delegation of the State of Georgia to support federal legislation to prevent the United States Environmental Protection Agency from adopting regulations to regulate carbon emissions; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on NATURAL RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENT
HR 1650. By Representatives Keown of the 173rd, Cox of the 102nd, Graves of the 12th, Reese of the 98th, Parsons of the 42nd, and others: A RESOLUTION urging the Governor and Attorney General of Georgia to initiate action to sue the federal Environmental Protection Agency to prevent the agency from regulating carbon emissions; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on NATURAL RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENT
HR 1681. By Representatives Rogers of the 26th, McCall of the 30th, Harbin of the 118th, Loudermilk of the 14th, Butler of the 18th, and others: A RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to the Constitution so as to provide that funds derived from sales and use and motor fuel taxes with respect to jet fuel and aviation gasoline shall be allocated for activities incident to providing and maintaining an adequate system of public-use airports in this state; to authorize the General Assembly to specify and direct the use of such funds by general law; to provide for submission of this amendment for ratification or rejection; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on APPROPRIATIONS

SENATE FIRST READERS IN HOUSE TUESDAY, MARCH 16,2010
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATIVE DAY
SB 173. By Senators Hamrick of the 30th, and Mullis of the 53rd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 6A of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, so as to change provisions relating to councilmembers' compensation and reimbursement of expenses; to enlarge the council's functions and authority; to 'change provisions relating to receipts of certain funds; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL
SB 346. By Senators Rogers of the 2lst, Williams of the 19th, Thoinpson of the 33rd, Seabaugh of the 28th, Butterworth of the 50th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to revenue and taxation, so as to revise comprehensively provisions regarding ad valorem taxes; to change certain provisions regarding ad valorem tax returns of taxpayers; to require annual notice regardless of changes; to provide for uniform notice forms and uniform appeal forms; to provide for powers, duties, and responsibilities of the state revenue commissioner; to provide for powers, duties,'and responsibilities of the Department of Revenue regarding training of certain local tax officials and stafeto provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
SB 388. By Senators Buttenvorth of the 50th, Rogers of the 21st, Williams of the 19th, Hawkins of the 49th, Moody of the 56th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 31-10-15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to death certificates, filing, medical certification, forwarding death certificate to decedent's county of residence, and purging voter registration list, so as to provide for the execution of death certificates for burn victims; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY
SB 389. By Senators Buttenvorth of the 50th, Rogers of the 21st, Hamrick of the 30th, Hill of the 32nd, Williams of the 19th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 6 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the state auditor, so as to revise and change certain provisions regarding the operation, maintenance, and reporting requirements applicable to a public information website of the Department of Audits and Accounts; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on BUDGET AND FISCAL AFFAIRS OVERSIGHT

SB 391. By Senators Unterman of the 45th, and Hill of the 4th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 17-7-130 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to proceedings upon plea of mental incompetency to stand trial, so as to revise and add definitions;to provide for certain children found incompetent to stand trial; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL
SB 400. By Senator Crosby of the 13th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Sections 15-11-63 and 17-10-11 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to designated felony acts and credit for time served in confinement, respectively, so as to clarifL provisions relating to juveniles receiving credit for time served; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL