FIRST READERS IN HOUSE THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2017 FORTIETH LEGISLATIVE DAY *Rules Suspended HB 627. By Representatives Golick of the 40th, Willard of the 51st, Drenner of the 85th, and Hanson of the 80th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to public officers and employees, so as to change certain provisions relating to the "Fair Employment Practices Act of 1978" and the merit system in order to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation; to add definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY HB 628. By Representatives Golick of the 40th, Greene of the 151st, and Benton of the 31st: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 11 of Article 17 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to complaints policy for teachers and other school personnel, so as to provide that performance ratings contained in personnel evaluations are subject to complaint; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on EDUCATION HB 629. By Representatives Golick of the 40th, Willard of the 51st, Smyre of the 135th, Jones of the 47th, Drenner of the 85th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 10 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to commerce and trade, so as to protect the right to equal enjoyment of and privileges to public accommodations; to provide for purposes; to provide for definitions; to provide for enforcement; to provide for penalties; to amend Article 2 of Chapter 19 of Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to fair employment practices, so as to expand the functions of the administrator of the Commission on Equal Opportunity; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY HB 630. By Representatives Oliver of the 82nd, Willard of the 51st, Fleming of the 121st, Welch of the 110th, and Caldwell of the 131st: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 9 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to probate courts, so as to change certain general provisions for probate courts; to change provisions relating to training, the appointment of associate probate judges, bond, and the filling of a vacancy of the probate court judge and procedures connected thereto; to repeal provisions relating to the sheriff acting as administrator under certain circumstances; to change provisions relating to The Council of Probate Judges of Georgia; to change provisions relating to the authority of retired probate judges to perform marriage ceremonies; to conform cross-references; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY - 1 - HB 632. By Representatives Belton of the 112th, Taylor of the 79th, Welch of the 110th, Willard of the 51st, Coomer of the 14th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elections and primaries generally, so as to provide a method for certain small municipalities to shorten the advance voting period for municipal elections; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS HB 633. By Representatives Belton of the 112th, Battles of the 15th, Kirby of the 114th, Stovall of the 74th, Coleman of the 97th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 47 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to retirement allowances, disability benefits, and spouses' benefits, so as to repeal existing provisions related to the employment of beneficiaries of the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia; to provide that any such beneficiary shall be eligible to receive his or her retirement allowance while employed and not be required to contribute to the retirement system; to provide for related matters; to provide conditions for an effective date and automatic repeal; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on RETIREMENT HB 634. By Representatives Jasperse of the 11th and Williams of the 119th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 12 of Title 50 of the O.C.G.A., relating to commissions and other agencies, so as to provide for the creation of the Georgia Endowment for Teaching Professionals to foster a public-private partnership for support of postsecondary teaching professionals in high demand courses, subjects, and disciplines; to provide for a board of trustees; to provide for the membership, appointment, terms, and filling of vacancies of the board of trustees; to provide for the creation, appointment, terms, filling of vacancies, duties, and responsibilities of an advisory committee to the board of trustees; to provide for the purposes of the endowment; to provide for discontinuation of the endowment under certain circumstances; to provide for certain reports and audits; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on HIGHER EDUCATION HB 635. By Representatives Cooper of the 43rd, Benton of the 31st, Jones of the 53rd, Broadrick of the 4th, and Reeves of the 34th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 5 of Title 30 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the "Disabled Adults and Elder Persons Protection Act," so as to provide for the establishment of at-risk adult protective investigative/coordinating teams to coordinate the investigation of and responses to suspected instances of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of disabled adults or elder persons; to provide for a definition; to provide for immunity; to provide for coordination with the director of the Division of Aging Services; to provide for the composition, duties, and responsibilities of the at-risk adult protective investigative/coordinating teams; to provide for memoranda of understanding; to provide for confidentiality of records; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on HUMAN RELATIONS & AGING - 2 - HB 636. By Representatives Cooper of the 43rd, Silcox of the 52nd, Drenner of the 85th, Newton of the 123rd, and Hatchett of the 150th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 34 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to physicians, assistants, and others, so as to provide for the licensure of genetic counselors; to provide for continuing education requirements; to provide a short title; to provide for definitions; to provide for licensure requirements; to provide for renewal requirements; to provide for the duties and powers of the Georgia Composite Medical Board with respect to genetic counselors; 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 637. By Representatives Silcox of the 52nd, Cooper of the 43rd, Newton of the 123rd, Frye of the 118th, and Turner of the 21st: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 34 of Title 43 of the O.C.G.A., relating to physicians, assistants, and others, so as to enter into an interstate compact known as the "Interstate Medical Licensure Compact"; to authorize the Georgia Composite Medical Board to administer the compact in this state; to provide for the purpose of the compact; to provide definitions; to provide for eligibility; to provide for application of an expedited license; to provide for a coordinated information system; to provide for joint investigations and discipline; to provide for a commission to administer the compact among the member states; to provide for dispute resolution; to provide for withdrawal from the compact; to provide for construction; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES HB 638. By Representatives Rutledge of the 109th, Welch of the 110th, and Strickland of the 111th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act to provide a new charter for the City of Stockbridge, approved April 4, 1991 (Ga. L. 1991, p. 4359), as amended, so as to revise the corporate boundaries of the city; to provide for related matters; to provide for a referendum; to provide for contingent effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL HB 639. By Representatives Rutledge of the 109th, Welch of the 110th, and Strickland of the 111th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to incorporate the City of Eagle's Landing; to provide a charter for the City of Eagle's Landing; to provide for incorporation, boundaries, and powers of the city; to provide for other matters relative to the foregoing; to provide for a referendum; to provide effective dates; to provide for transition of powers and duties; to provide for community improvement districts; to provide for directory nature of dates; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS - 3 - HB 640. By Representatives Holcomb of the 81st, Abrams of the 89th, Pezold of the 133rd, Trammell of the 132nd, Evans of the 42nd, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elections and primaries generally, so as to provide that, in order for their names to be listed on the ballot, candidates for the offices of President and Vice President of the United States shall file copies of their federal income tax returns with the Secretary of State; to provide for procedures; to provide for the posting of such returns on the website of the Secretary of State; to authorize the redaction of certain information; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS HB 641. By Representatives Turner of the 21st, Teasley of the 37th, Brockway of the 102nd, and Caldwell of the 20th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to primaries and elections generally, so as to provide that direct recording electronic voting systems purchased on and after July 1, 2017, shall be equipped with paper audit records; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS HB 642. By Representatives Nimmer of the 178th, Stephens of the 164th, Gardner of the 57th, Kelley of the 16th, and Fleming of the 121st: 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 provide definitions; to provide for the creation and termination of special improvement districts; to provide for the levying of a special improvement tax in such districts; to provide for the disposition and use of the funds from such districts; to provide for special services to the districts; to provide for an effective date; to provide for termination; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS *HB 644. By Representative Mitchell of the 88th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to provide for the incorporation of the City of Greenhaven in DeKalb County, Georgia; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS *HB 645. By Representatives Peake of the 141st, McCall of the 33rd, Gravley of the 67th, Powell of the 32nd, England of the 116th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 8 of Chapter 12 of Title 16 of the O.C.G.A., relating to regulation of low THC oil, so as to provide for certain circumstances for the lawful possession or control of certain amounts of low THC oil; to amend Chapter 2A of Title 31 of the O.C.G.A., relating to the Department of Public Health, so as to provide for licensing for cultivation of cannabis for the purpose of producing low THC oil, processing low THC oil, and dispensing low THC oil in this state; to provide for criteria for certain cultivation and production licenses; to provide for - 4 - state postsecondary educational institutions to have the option to bid on production facility licenses; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL *HB 646. By Representatives Dempsey of the 13th, Hatchett of the 150th, Newton of the 123rd, Cooper of the 43rd, and Jones of the 53rd: 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 reinstate a pilot program to provide coverage for bariatric surgical procedures for the treatment and management of obesity and related conditions; to provide for automatic repeal; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES *HB 647. By Representatives Dempsey of the 13th, Hatchett of the 150th, Newton of the 123rd, and Cooper of the 43rd: 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 for a pilot program to provide coverage for the treatment and management of obesity and related conditions, including medications and counseling; to provide a definition; to provide for eligibility; to provide for requirements; to provide for a review of results and outcomes; to provide for an evaluation report on such program; to provide for automatic repeal; to provide for related matters; to provide for contingent effectiveness; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES *HB 648. By Representative Jasperse of the 11th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 3 of Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Georgia Student Finance Authority, so as to provide a short title; to provide for the establishment and administration of the Pay As You Earn student loan program; to provide for the calculation and repayment of such loans; to provide for eligibility and disqualifications; to amend Code Section 48-727 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to computation of taxable net income, so as to provide for a deduction; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on HIGHER EDUCATION *HB 649. By Representative Teasley of the 37th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 3 of Title 44 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to regulation of specialized land transactions, so as to provide that certain information be disclosed on the websites of condominiums and property owners' associations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY - 5 - HR 758. By Representatives Clark of the 98th, Pruett of the 149th, Powell of the 32nd, Jackson of the 128th, and Barr of the 103rd: A RESOLUTION creating the House Study Committee on Local Building Permits; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT - 6 -