First readers in House [Feb. 8, 2017]

FIRST READERS IN HOUSE WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 08, 2017 FOURTEENTH LEGISLATIVE DAY
Legislation not listed consecutively indicates those pre-filed.
HB 20. By Representatives Scott of the 76th, Mitchell of the 88th, Waites of the 60th, BeasleyTeague of the 65th, and Jones of the 53rd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to registration of voters, so as to provide for the automatic registration of voters who obtain, renew, or change their name or address on a driver's license or identification card issued by the Department of Driver Services; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
HB 254. By Representative Parrish of the 158th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act providing for the composition and election of the Board of Education of Emanuel County, approved April 12, 1982 (Ga. L. 1982, p. 4049), as amended, so as to provide for nonpartisan elections for members of the board; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION
HB 255. By Representative Parrish of the 158th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act providing for the composition and election of the Board of Education of Emanuel County, approved April 12, 1982 (Ga. L. 1982, p. 4049), as amended, particularly by an Act approved February 27, 2012 (Ga. L. 2012, p. 3741), so as to change the description of the education districts; to provide for definitions and inclusions; to provide for continuation in office of current members; to provide for election and terms of office of subsequent members; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL
HB 256. By Representatives Fleming of the 121st, Powell of the 171st, Willard of the 51st, Beskin of the 54th, and Strickland of the 111th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 5-6-34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to judgments and rulings deemed directly appealable; procedure for review of judgments, orders, or decisions not subject to direct appeal; scope of review; hearings in criminal cases involving a capital offense for which death penalty is sought; and appeals involving nonmonetary judgments in child custody cases, so as to provide that certain judgments, orders, or rulings denying or refusing to grant certain immunities may be directly appealable to the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals; 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
- 1 -

HB 257. By Representatives Tankersley of the 160th, Smith of the 70th, Powell of the 171st, Epps of the 144th, Hatchett of the 150th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to local government, so as to require local government authorities to register with the Department of Community Affairs in order to be eligible for state funds; to change the deadline for local government authorities to register with said department; to prohibit authorities from incurring debt or credit obligations prior to submitting a report to said department; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
HB 258. By Representatives Powell of the 32nd, Lumsden of the 12th, Jasperse of the 11th, Welch of the 110th, and Hitchens of the 161st: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 16 of the O.C.G.A., relating to crimes and offenses, so as to provide for sentencing to minimum terms of imprisonment for persons who knowingly commit the offense of aggravated assault upon a peace officer through the discharge of a firearm while the peace officer is engaged in, or on account of the performance of, his or her official duties; to prohibit such persons from eligibility for sentence-reducing measures under programs administered by the Department of Corrections; to provide for definitions; to prohibit persons so convicted from eligibility for sentence-reducing measures under programs administered by the Department of Corrections; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL
HB 259. By Representatives Powell of the 32nd, Reeves of the 34th, Lumsden of the 12th, Jasperse of the 11th, Welch of the 110th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 11 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Juvenile Code, so as to add to the superior court's exclusive original jurisdiction the trial of any child 13 to 17 years of age who is alleged to have committed the offense of aggravated assault or aggravated battery of any nature; to provide that the superior court may transfer the trial of any such case to the juvenile court upon certain criteria; to clarify the definitions of a class A or class B designated felony act and waiver of juvenile court jurisdiction in light of the jurisdictional changes; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUVENILE JUSTICE
HB 260. By Representatives Powell of the 32nd, Jasperse of the 11th, Epps of the 144th, Lumsden of the 12th, and Collins of the 68th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 40-2-86 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to special license plates promoting and supporting certain beneficial projects, causes, agencies, or nonprofit corporations, so as to establish a specialty license plate for members of the Georgia Electric Membership Corporation; to provide for related matters; to provide for compliance with constitutional requirements; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on MOTOR VEHICLES
- 2 -

HB 261. By Representatives Werkheiser of the 157th and Holcomb of the 81st: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 42-8-66 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to petitions for exoneration and discharge as a first offender, hearings, and retroactive grant of first offender status, so as to allow certain individuals sentenced to a term of incarceration between March 18, 1968, and October 31, 1982, to petition the court for a retroactive grant of first offender status if he or she would have otherwise qualified for sentencing pursuant to this article; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL
HB 262. By Representatives Lumsden of the 12th, Smith of the 134th, Caldwell of the 131st, Tanner of the 9th, and Maxwell of the 17th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 33-20C-5 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to printed provider directories and accuracy, so as to exempt standalone dental plans from the requirement of printed directories for certain entities; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INSURANCE
HB 263. By Representatives Taylor of the 173rd, Cooper of the 43rd, and Houston of the 170th: 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 administrators 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 administrators; to provide for requirements for the administrators; 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 264. By Representatives Efstration of the 104th, Rogers of the 10th, Rhodes of the 120th, Powell of the 171st, Kelley of the 16th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 3 of Chapter 9 of Title 10 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to revenue bonds issued by the Geo. L. Smith II Georgia World Congress Center Authority, so as to increase the bonding capacity; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
HB 265. By Representatives Efstration of the 104th, Rogers of the 10th, Rhodes of the 120th, Kelley of the 16th, Stephens of the 164th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 7 of Title 48 of the O.C.G.A., relating to imposition, rate, computation, and exemptions from state income tax, so as to revise the provisions relating to the credit for establishing or relocating quality jobs; to amend Code Section 48-8-3 of the O.C.G.A., relating to exemptions from state sales and use taxes, so as to provide a state sales tax exemption for sales of tickets, fees, or charges of admission to certain facilities that provide certain arts and education programming; to
- 3 -

provide a state and local sales tax exemption for sales of tangible personal property used for or in the renovation or expansion of certain theaters; 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 WAYS & MEANS
HB 266. By Representatives Kelley of the 16th, Willard of the 51st, Fleming of the 121st, Evans of the 42nd, Oliver of the 82nd, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 3 of Title 29 of the O.C.G.A., relating to conservators of minors, so as to revise the personal property value that a natural guardian may receive of a minor without having to become a legally qualified conservator of the minor; to revise the amount of the debt owing to a minor which a natural guardian may release without approval by the court; to revise the amount of the proposed gross settlement of a minor's claim by which the natural guardian of the minor may compromise without becoming the conservator of the minor or seeking court approval; to revise the amount by which a conservator of a minor may compromise any contested or doubtful claim or release the debtor and compromise all debts; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY
HB 267. By Representatives Alexander of the 66th, Metze of the 55th, Jackson of the 64th, Abrams of the 89th, Hugley of the 136th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 34 of the O.C.G.A., relating to labor and industrial relations, so as to require all employers to implement paid sick leave for employees; to provide for exceptions; to specify purposes for which paid sick leave may be taken and the rate at which paid sick leave accrues; to require advance notice of intention to use sick leave under certain circumstances; to provide for verification of the need for sick time in certain circumstances; to provide for record keeping; to prohibit discrimination against an employee for inquiring about or using paid sick leave; to make a violation of an unlawful practice subject to the jurisdiction of the Department of Labor; to authorize a civil action for any violation; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INDUSTRY AND LABOR
HB 268. By Representatives Fleming of the 121st, Rynders of the 152nd, Burns of the 159th, Coomer of the 14th, Hatchett of the 150th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the O.C.G.A., relating to elections and primaries generally, so as to provide for the time period for certification of election officials; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
HB 269. By Representatives Evans of the 42nd, Hitchens of the 161st, Williams of the 168th, Clark of the 98th, and Holcomb of the 81st: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 20-3-519 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to definitions relative to HOPE scholarships and grants, so as
- 4 -

to provide that members of the Georgia National Guard and reservists are eligible as Zell Miller Grant Scholars; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on HIGHER EDUCATION
HB 270. By Representatives Taylor of the 79th and Hanson of the 80th: 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 repeal a certain exemption to the ceiling on local sales and use taxes which may be levied by a political subdivision; to repeal the Equalized Homestead Option Sales Tax Act of 2015; 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 271. By Representatives Petrea of the 166th, Stephens of the 164th, Jones of the 167th, Spencer of the 180th, Hogan of the 179th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 2 of Article 4 of Chapter 5 of Title 12 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to shore protection, so as to revise various provisions relative to shore protection; to revise and add definitions; to establish authority and powers of the Department of Natural Resources; to revise provisions relating to permit activities and procedures; to provide for applicability; to strike obsolete language and correct cross-references; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on NATURAL RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENT
HB 272. By Representatives Collins of the 68th, Nix of the 69th, Smith of the 70th, Cooke of the 18th, Gravley of the 67th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to provide for a homestead exemption from City of Villa Rica ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes in the amount of $8,000.00 of the assessed value of the homestead for residents of that city who are 65 years of age or older; to provide for definitions; to specify the terms and conditions of the exemption and the procedures relating thereto; to provide for applicability; to provide for a referendum, effective dates, and automatic repeal; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL
HB 273. By Representatives Douglas of the 78th, Evans of the 42nd, Setzler of the 35th, Strickland of the 111th, Frye of the 118th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 15 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to miscellaneous provisions under the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to provide for a daily recess for students in kindergarten and grades one through five; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on EDUCATION
- 5 -

HB 274. By Representatives Scott of the 76th, Stephenson of the 90th, Jones of the 53rd, Henson of the 86th, Stephens of the 165th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 12 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding offenses against public health and morals, so as to provide for the offense of smoking inside any motor vehicle when a person who is under 13 years of age is present; to provide for a criminal penalty; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL
HB 275. By Representatives Dubnik of the 29th, Hawkins of the 27th, Knight of the 130th, Powell of the 32nd, Smith of the 70th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 27 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to game and fish, so as to change provisions relative to rules and regulations used to establish criminal violations; to amend Article 1 of Chapter 7 of Title 52 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to the registration, operation, and sale of watercraft, so as to regulate activities related to body surfing and wake surfing; 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 GAME, FISH, & PARKS
HB 276. By Representatives Knight of the 130th, Hatchett of the 150th, Meadows of the 5th, Abrams of the 89th, Stephens of the 164th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 64 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to regulation and licensure of pharmacy benefits managers, so as to authorize the Commissioner of Insurance to promulgate certain rules and regulations and to examine and investigate certain matters with regard to pharmacy benefits managers; to prohibit pharmacy benefits managers from requiring the use of mail-order pharmacies under certain conditions; to provide for exceptions; to provide for certain prohibitions; to provide for enforcement; to provide a short title; 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 INSURANCE
HB 277. By Representatives Frye of the 118th, Dollar of the 45th, Quick of the 117th, Hawkins of the 27th, Bentley of the 139th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 48-7-40.1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to tax credits for business enterprises in less developed areas, so as to provide that sound recording is an industry eligible for a tax credit in less developed areas; to revise definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
HB 278. By Representatives Holcomb of the 81st, Willard of the 51st, Oliver of the 82nd, Kelley of the 16th, and Evans of the 42nd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 14 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to business corporations, so as to provide for benefit
- 6 -

corporations; to provide for the application of the Georgia Business Corporation Code; to provide for definitions; to provide for naming; to provide for stock certificates; to provide for amendments and transactions; to provide for duties and limitations of liability of directors of benefit corporations; to provide for annual public benefit reports; to change the definition of a foreign corporation; to change provisions relating to the right to dissent; to change provisions relating to the corporate name of a foreign corporation; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY
HB 279. By Representatives Ballinger of the 23rd, Houston of the 170th, Smith of the 134th, Dempsey of the 13th, and Frye of the 118th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 12 of Title 19 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to change of name, so as to provide for a separate process when a name change is requested by an individual alleging to be the victim of family violence; to provide for definitions; to provide for procedure; to correct a cross-reference; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY
HB 280. By Representatives Ballinger of the 23rd, Powell of the 32nd, Meadows of the 5th, Jasperse of the 11th, Jones of the 91st, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 3 of Article 4 of Chapter 11 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to carrying and possession of firearms, so as to authorize the carrying and possession of handguns in certain manners by weapons carry license holders in certain buildings or on real property owned by or leased to public institutions of postsecondary education; to provide for exceptions; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on PUBLIC SAFETY & HOMELAND SECURITY
HB 281. By Representative Holcomb of the 81st: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 7 of Title 44 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to landlord and tenant, so as to enact the "Tenant Victim Protection Act"; to provide for a short title; to provide for definitions; to provide for victims of family violence, sexual assault, stalking, or unlawful harassment who are tenants to terminate rental agreements; to provide for procedures and a form regarding same; to provide for the discharge of such tenants' obligation to pay rent; to protect against the waiver of certain confidential or privileged communications; to protect tenants from retaliation or discrimination for terminating rental agreements; to provide for applicability; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY
HB 282. By Representative Taylor of the 173rd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act creating a board of commissioners for the County of Grady, approved December 22, 1937 (Ga. L. 1937-38, Ex. Sess. p. 837), as
- 7 -

amended, so as to change the compensation of the board; to remove the board's authority to fix the salary of the chairperson; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL
HB 283. By Representatives Knight of the 130th, Harrell of the 106th, and Williamson of the 115th: 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 the definition of the terms "Internal Revenue Code" and "Internal Revenue Code of 1986" and thereby incorporate certain provisions of federal law into Georgia law; to provide for partnership proposed adjustments and assessments and related appeals; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
- 8 -