First readers in House, 2015 February 9

FIRST READERS IN HOUSE MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2015 TWELFTH LEGISLATIVE DAY
HB 218. By Representatives Teasley of the 37th, Ramsey of the 72nd, Fleming of the 121st, Welch of the 110th, Williamson of the 115th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state government, so as to provide for the preservation of religious freedom; to provide for the granting of relief; to provide for definitions; to provide for a short title; to provide for findings; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY
HB 219. By Representatives Jones of the 167th, Atwood of the 179th, and Werkheiser of the 157th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 45 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to health and public swimming pools, so as to exempt certain privately owned swimming pools from inspection and licensing requirements; to authorize inspection requests to board of health by residents or owners; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on STATE PLANNING & COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
HB 220. By Representatives Harbin of the 122nd, Parsons of the 44th, Rogers of the 29th, Abrams of the 89th, and Kaiser of the 59th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 48-7-40.16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to income tax credits of low-emission vehicles, so as to provide for definitions; to provide for tax credits for plug-in electric vehicles; to repeal provisions regarding low-speed vehicles; to provide for certain limitations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
HB 221. By Representatives Powell of the 171st, Knight of the 130th, Harbin of the 122nd, Harrell of the 106th, and Stephens of the 164th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 5 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to ad valorem taxation of property, so as to change certain definitions regarding such taxation; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
HB 222. By Representatives Powell of the 171st, Knight of the 130th, Harbin of the 122nd, Harrell of the 106th, and Stephens of the 164th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 7 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to income taxes, so as to change certain definitions regarding such taxes; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
- 1 -

HB 223. By Representatives Powell of the 171st, Knight of the 130th, Harbin of the 122nd, Harrell of the 106th, Stephens of the 164th, and others: 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 change certain definitions regarding such taxes; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
HB 224. By Representatives Powell of the 32nd, Dunahoo of the 30th, Carson of the 46th, Rutledge of the 109th, Hitchens of the 161st, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 60 of Title 36 of the O.C.G.A., relating to general provisions regarding provisions applicable to counties and municipal corporations, so as to preserve existing certificates of public necessity and convenience and medallion systems for taxicabs and to restrict the future use thereof; to amend Title 40 of the O.C.G.A., relating to motor vehicles, so as to provide for the comprehensive regulation of transportation referral services, transportation referral service providers, ride share network services, and ride share drivers; to amend Code Section 48-8-3 of the O.C.G.A., relating to exemptions from sales and use taxes; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on REGULATED INDUSTRIES
HB 225. By Representatives Powell of the 32nd, Dunahoo of the 30th, Carson of the 46th, Rutledge of the 109th, Hitchens of the 161st, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Titles 36 and 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to local government and motor vehicles and traffic, respectively, so as to provide for definitions; to require all for-hire drivers to obtain a for-hire license endorsement before driving for hire; to require that all for-hire drivers have certain insurance; to provide for penalties; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on REGULATED INDUSTRIES
HB 226. By Representatives Powell of the 32nd, Dunahoo of the 30th, Carson of the 46th, Rutledge of the 109th, Hitchens of the 161st, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Titles 36 and 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to local government and motor vehicles and traffic, respectively, so as to change certain terminology regarding chauffeur license endorsements; to provide that drivers must have an endorsement in order to carry passengers for hire; to provide for penalties; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on REGULATED INDUSTRIES
- 2 -

HB 227. By Representatives Duncan of the 26th, Martin of the 49th, Rutledge of the 109th, Pak of the 108th, Kelley of the 16th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 8 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state sales and use taxation, so as to remove programmable thermostats from the definition of Energy Star Qualified Product for purposes of the state sales tax holiday; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
HB 228. By Representatives Jones of the 167th, Atwood of the 179th, Werkheiser of the 157th, Allison of the 8th, Kelley of the 16th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 15-16-21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to fees for sheriff's services, so as to provide for the sheriff to collect and deposit certain fees; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY
HB 229. By Representatives Strickland of the 111th, Welch of the 110th, Meadows of the 5th, Fleming of the 121st, Hightower of the 68th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 19 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to domestic relations, so as to expand grandparent rights to visitation and intervention to great-grandparents and siblings of parents; to conform crossreferences relating to adoption; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUVENILE JUSTICE
HB 230. By Representatives Hugley of the 136th, Abrams of the 89th, Allison of the 8th, Harbin of the 122nd, Mayo of the 84th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 4 of Chapter 5 of Title 28 and Code Section 35-3-37 of the O.C.G.A., relating to the Claims Advisory Board and review of individual's criminal history record information, definitions, privacy considerations, and inspections, respectively, so as to provide for compensation of persons wrongfully convicted and imprisoned; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL
HB 231. By Representatives Kelley of the 16th, Powell of the 171st, and Duncan of the 26th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 12 of Title 44 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to rights in personalty, so as to authorize the state revenue commissioner to deduct certain funds from deposits to the state treasury; to authorize the state revenue commissioner to publish notices of unclaimed property electronically; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
- 3 -

HB 232. By Representatives Carter of the 175th, Maxwell of the 17th, Shaw of the 176th, and Corbett of the 174th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 20 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to hearing aid dealers and dispensers, so as to change certain provisions relative to the creation of the State Board of Hearing Aid Dealers and Dispensers, composition, qualifications of members, terms of office, vacancies, and selection of officers; to change certain provisions relating to the issuance of licenses and fees; to change the number of hours of continuing education required for the renewal of a hearing aid specialist license; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on REGULATED INDUSTRIES
HB 233. By Representatives Atwood of the 179th, Dudgeon of the 25th, Geisinger of the 48th, Dunahoo of the 30th, and Jasperse of the 11th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 9 of the O.C.G.A., relating to civil practice; to amend Title 16 of the O.C.G.A., relating to crimes and offenses; to amend Titles 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, 15, 17, 27, 36, 38, 40, 45, 46, 48, 49, and 52 of the O.C.G.A., relating to alcoholic beverages, appeal and error, banking and finance, commerce and trade, conservation and natural resources, courts, criminal procedure, game and fish, local government, military, emergency management, veterans affairs, motor vehicles and traffic, public officers and employees, public utilities and public transportation, revenue and taxation, social services, waters of the state, ports, and watercraft; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY
HB 234. By Representatives Rutledge of the 109th, Powell of the 171st, Duncan of the 26th, Pak of the 108th, Strickland of the 111th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 2 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to administration and enforcement of tax collection, so as to include days on which the Federal Reserve Bank is closed in the list of days that excuse late filing or payment; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
HB 235. By Representatives Deffenbaugh of the 1st, Tarvin of the 2nd, Lumsden of the 12th, and Kelley of the 16th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 11 of Title 40 of the O.C.G.A., relating to abandoned motor vehicles, so as to repeal Article 1, relating to general provisions relating to abandoned motor vehicles, and to enact a new Article 1; to amend Article 3 of Chapter 5 of Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to disposition of property seized by law enforcement, so as to correct a cross-reference; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on MOTOR VEHICLES
- 4 -

HB 236. By Representatives Atwood of the 179th, Fleming of the 121st, Abrams of the 89th, and Willard of the 51st: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 19 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to attorneys, so as to authorize grants to attorneys for rural areas in this state that are underserved by attorneys; to provide for a short title; to provide for legislative intent and purpose; to provide for a definition; to provide for administration; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for grant requirements; to provide for conditions of grants; to provide for contracts; to provide for penalties; to provide for cancellation of contracts; to provide for funding; to provide for reporting; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on APPROPRIATIONS
HB 237. By Representatives Williamson of the 115th, Dudgeon of the 25th, Hamilton of the 24th, Martin of the 49th, Ramsey of the 72nd, and others: 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 and exemptions from state income tax, so as to extend the angel investor tax credit; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
HB 238. By Representatives Harbin of the 122nd, Wilkinson of the 52nd, Geisinger of the 48th, Sims of the 123rd, Parrish of the 158th, 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 state sales and use tax exemptions, so as to provide a sales tax exemption for tangible personal property used for or in the renovation or expansion of an aquarium owned or operated by an organization which is exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
HB 239. By Representatives Quick of the 117th, McCall of the 33rd, Willard of the 51st, England of the 116th, Rutledge of the 109th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to animals, so as to provide for liability protection for certain activities related to livestock; to provide for limitations; 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
- 5 -

HB 240. By Representatives Brockway of the 102nd, Buckner of the 137th, Trammell of the 132nd, Casas of the 107th, Smith of the 70th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Department of Community Health, so as to provide that at least two members of the board shall also be members of the state health benefit plan; to provide that two members shall be members of certain retirement systems; to provide for duties of the Board of Community Health; to create the State Health Benefit Plan Customer Advisory Council; to provide for membership; to provide for duties of the commissioner of community health; to provide for duties of the council; to provide for an effective date; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
HB 241. By Representatives Efstration of the 104th, Hightower of the 68th, Clark of the 98th, Martin of the 49th, Dudgeon of the 25th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 46-4-164 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to construction of article, electric membership corporations and EMC gas affiliates, and liquified petroleum gas, so as to provide that municipal owned gas distribution companies which provide services outside the municipal corporate limits shall be subject to the "Natural Gas Competition and Deregulation Act"; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on ENERGY, UTILITIES & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
HB 242. By Representatives Gravley of the 67th, Hitchens of the 161st, Powell of the 32nd, Atwood of the 179th, Tanner of the 9th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 3 of Chapter 2 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to prestige license plates and special plates for certain persons and vehicles, so as to provide for a special and distinctive motor vehicle license plate for public safety first responders who have received a major injury in the line of duty; to provide for standards for the issuance of such license plates; to provide for applicable fees; to provide for authority to establish rules and regulations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on MOTOR VEHICLES
HB 243. By Representatives Hamilton of the 24th, Dudgeon of the 25th, Powell of the 171st, Glanton of the 75th, Setzler of the 35th, 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 establish an education savings account program; to provide for a short title; to provide for definitions; to provide for qualifications and requirements; to provide for management of accounts; to provide for participating schools; to provide for responsibilities of parents; to provide for duties of the Office of Student Achievement in administering the program; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on EDUCATION
- 6 -

HB 244. By Representatives Efstration of the 104th, Welch of the 110th, Brockway of the 102nd, Oliver of the 82nd, Cooper of the 43rd, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 3 of Title 9, Chapter 21 of Title 15, Chapter 6 of Title 16, Code Section 42-1-12, and Article 1 of Chapter 5 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to limitations of actions, payment and disposition of fines and forfeitures, sexual offenses, the State Sexual Offender Registry, and children and youth services; to provide for a short title; to provide for legislative findings and a purpose statement; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and contingent effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL
HR 4. By Representatives Taylor of the 79th, Dudgeon of the 25th, Jacobs of the 80th, Wilkinson of the 52nd, Brockway of the 102nd, and others: A RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to the Constitution so as to authorize any municipality in the State of Georgia to establish by local law an independent school system; to provide definitions; to provide for related matters; to provide for the submission of this amendment for ratification or rejection; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on EDUCATION
HR 215. By Representative Ralston of the 7th: A RESOLUTION honoring the life and memory of the Honorable Ronald Lee Newton and dedicating a road in his honor; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on TRANSPORTATION
HR 223. By Representatives Efstration of the 104th, Welch of the 110th, Taylor of the 173rd, Oliver of the 82nd, Brockway of the 102nd, and others: A RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to the Constitution so as to provide that the General Assembly by general law may impose additional penalties or fees for the offenses of keeping a place of prostitution, pimping, pandering, pandering by compulsion, solicitation of sodomy, masturbation for hire, trafficking of persons for sexual servitude, or sexual exploitation of children; may impose assessments on adult entertainment establishments; to provide for related matters; to provide for the submission of this amendment for ratification or rejection; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL
- 7 -