First readers in House, 2019 February 12

FIRST READERS IN HOUSE TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2019 THIRTEENTH LEGISLATIVE DAY
HB 235. By Representatives Williams of the 148th, Benton of the 31st, Gilliard of the 162nd, Hogan of the 179th, Blackmon of the 146th, and others: A BILL To be entitled an Act to amend Article 3 of Chapter 7 of Title 47 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to membership in the Georgia Firefighters' Pension Fund, so as to provide that any person certified by the Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council and employed by the Safety Fire Division of the office of the Commissioner of Insurance in a position that requires such certification shall be eligible to apply for membership in the fund, 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 236. By Representatives Bruce of the 61st, Bazemore of the 63rd, McLeod of the 105th, Jackson of the 64th, Trammell of the 132nd, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 11 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to emergency medical services, so as to provide that first responders of municipal fire departments may engage in the emergency medical transportation of patients; to revise findings and a declaration of policy concerning first responders in this state; to revise and provide for definitions; to provide that first responders of a fire department of a municipality shall be granted licenses for emergency medical transportation under certain circumstances; to revise the Emergency Medical Systems Communications Program (EMSC Program); to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for licensing; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on PUBLIC SAFETY & HOMELAND SECURITY
HB 237. By Representatives Hugley of the 136th, Bennett of the 94th, and Kendrick of the 93rd: 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 or supporting certain worthy agencies, funds, or nonprofit corporations with proceeds disbursed to the general fund and the agency, fund, or nonprofit corporation, so as to establish a specialty license plate honoring Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; 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
HB 238. By Representatives Wilson of the 80th, Beverly of the 143rd, Frye of the 118th, McLaurin of the 51st, Hutchinson of the 107th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 5 of Article 4 of Chapter 11 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to Brady Law Regulations, so as to provide for a background check for guns purchased at gun shows; to provide for definitions; to
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provide that only dealers may legally sell, transfer, or exchange a firearm at a gun show; to provide a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on PUBLIC SAFETY & HOMELAND SECURITY
HB 239. By Representatives Efstration of the 104th and Fleming of the 121st: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 15 of the O.C.G.A., relating to courts, so as to establish the Georgia Business Court pursuant to the Constitution of this state; to provide for law assistants and other employees; to amend Code Section 45-7-4 of the O.C.G.A., relating to general provisions regarding salaries and fees, so as to designate a salary for the judge of the Georgia Business Court; to amend Title 5 of the O.C.G.A., relating to appeal and error, so as to make conforming changes regarding appeals; to amend Chapter 4 of Title 9, Title 23, and Code Section 33-39-21 of the O.C.G.A., relating to declaratory judgments, equity, and equitable relief relative to insurance, respectively, so as to make conforming changes regarding equity; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY
HB 240. By Representatives Hatchett of the 150th, Pruett of the 149th, and Mathis of the 144th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act to provide a new charter for the Town of East Dublin, approved April 9, 1981 (Ga. L. 1981, p. 4645), as amended, so as to provide a new term for the mayor pro tempore; to provide for the filling of vacancies; to provide for removal of the municipal court judge; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL
HB 241. By Representatives Schofield of the 60th, Bazemore of the 63rd, Smyre of the 135th, Gardner of the 57th, Buckner of the 137th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to buildings and housing, so as to require indoor air quality assessments of all public buildings; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on NATURAL RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENT
HB 242. By Representatives Hawkins of the 27th, Mathiak of the 73rd, Bennett of the 94th, Powell of the 32nd, and Gardner of the 57th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to professions and businesses, so as to provide for the regulation of massage therapy educational programs; to provide for legislative intent; to provide for definitions; to clarify requirements for massage therapy licenses; to provide for violations; to provide for conditions relating to regulation by counties, municipalities, or other local jurisdictions relating to massage therapy; to require reporting of violations of Chapter 24A; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on REGULATED INDUSTRIES
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HB 243. By Representatives Hawkins of the 27th, Parsons of the 44th, Stephens of the 164th, Dunahoo of the 30th, and Pruett of the 149th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 46 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to public utilities and public transportation, so as to provide limitations on fees that may be charged for installation of telephone facilities; to provide for the due compensation to be paid to municipal authorities by telephone companies that do not have certain end user customers; to revise terminology for purposes of conformity; 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 244. By Representatives Stephens of the 164th, Harrell of the 106th, Smyre of the 135th, Parsons of the 44th, Hatchett of the 150th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 2 of Article 4 of Chapter 3 of Title 46 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to corporate purposes and powers of electric membership corporations, so as to require electric membership corporations to comply with certain requirements in determining the rates for attachments to utility poles by communications service providers; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TOURISM
HB 245. By Representatives Buckner of the 137th, Rich of the 97th, and Greene of the 151st: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 47-17-80 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to retirement benefit options, payment to surviving spouse, requirements, effect of reemployment, effect of changes in retirement benefits, and payment on death of member relative to the Peace Officers' Annuity and Benefit Fund, so as to remove a provision that requires certain benefits payable to a surviving spouse to terminate if such surviving spouse remarries; 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 246. By Representatives Silcox of the 52nd, Cooper of the 43rd, Kelley of the 16th, Efstration of the 104th, Rich of the 97th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 6 of Chapter 13 of Title 24 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to depositions to preserve testimony in criminal proceedings, so as to revise the manner by which depositions taken at the instance of the state are paid; to clarify how depositions shall be taken and filed; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL
HB 247. By Representatives Silcox of the 52nd, Cooper of the 43rd, Kelley of the 16th, and Fleming of the 121st: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 5 of Title 16 of the O.C.G.A., relating to crimes against the person, so as to repeal an enhanced penalty relating to battery against a person 65 years of age or older; to amend Code Section 30-5-4 of the O.C.G.A., relating to reporting of need for protective services, manner and contents of report, immunity from civil or criminal liability, and privileged communications; to amend Code Section
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31-7-12.1 of the O.C.G.A., relating to unlicensed personal care homes; to amend Code Section 45-17-8 of the O.C.G.A., relating to powers and duties of notaries public generally, so as to require notaries to report abuse of disabled adults or elder persons; 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
HB 248. By Representatives Alexander of the 66th, Trammell of the 132nd, Oliver of the 82nd, Shannon of the 84th, Nguyen of the 89th, 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 for delivery of absentee ballots to disabled electors; to provide for assistance for disabled absentee electors; to provide for notice of advance voting times, dates, and locations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
HB 249. By Representatives Alexander of the 66th, Trammell of the 132nd, Oliver of the 82nd, Shannon of the 84th, Nguyen of the 89th, 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 primaries and elections generally, so as to provide that prompt notice shall be provided to electors of the rejection of their absentee ballots; to provide for the standard for reviewing such ballots; to provide that electors shall have time to correct problems with absentee ballots; to provide for the use of communications for notifying electors of rejected ballots; to provide that the use of outdated forms is not a basis for rejection of absentee ballots; to provide for the processing and counting of certain ballots for a period of seven days following an election; to revise the dates for certifying election results; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
HB 250. By Representatives Alexander of the 66th, Trammell of the 132nd, Oliver of the 82nd, Shannon of the 84th, Nguyen of the 89th, 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 primaries and elections generally, so as to provide for procedures for processing voter registration applications; to provide for additional voter registration agencies; to provide for electronic submission of forms from certain agencies; to provide for the date of registration when application is made to agencies; to provide for certain notices to applicants; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
HB 251. By Representatives Alexander of the 66th, Trammell of the 132nd, Oliver of the 82nd, Shannon of the 84th, Nguyen of the 89th, 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 primaries and elections generally, so as to revise the
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persons who may assist electors in voting; to provide for exceptions; to provide certain notices; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
HB 252. By Representatives Alexander of the 66th, Trammell of the 132nd, Oliver of the 82nd, Shannon of the 84th, Nguyen of the 89th, 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 primaries and elections generally, so as to provide for same day registration and voting; to provide for procedures and notices; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
HB 253. By Representatives Hawkins of the 27th, Bennett of the 94th, Mathiak of the 73rd, Werkheiser of the 157th, and LaHood of the 175th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 43 of the O.C.G.A., relating to professions and businesses, so as to update and revise various provisions relating to occupational therapists; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on REGULATED INDUSTRIES
HB 254. By Representatives Rhodes of the 120th, Burns of the 159th, Stephens of the 164th, Frye of the 118th, Corbett of the 174th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 48-7-40.26 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to tax credit for film, gaming, video, or digital production in state, so as to increase the amount of tax credits allowed per year; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
HB 255. By Representatives Williams of the 145th, Bruce of the 61st, Gullett of the 19th, Bentley of the 139th, Nelson of the 125th, 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 for the delivery of absentee ballots to certain persons in custody; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
HB 256. By Representatives Scoggins of the 14th, Powell of the 171st, Silcox of the 52nd, and Efstration of the 104th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 13 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the regulation of controlled substances, so as to provide that certain persons shall be allowed to possess such substances only while in the usual course of business or employment; to provide for conformity with the Equal Protection Clauses of the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of this state; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL
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HB 257. By Representatives Scoggins of the 14th, Gambill of the 15th, Silcox of the 52nd, Kelley of the 16th, Fleming of the 121st, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 10 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to magistrate courts, so as to increase the authority by which the Council of Magistrate Court Judges can organize itself and provide for officers; to remove outdated provisions; to revise the bond amount required for each magistrate; to revise qualifications of magistrates; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY HR 182. By Representatives Greene of the 151st, Lumsden of the 12th, Dunahoo of the 30th, Werkheiser of the 157th, Clark of the 98th, and others: A RESOLUTION authorizing the granting of non-exclusive easements for the construction, operation, and maintenance of facilities, utilities, roads, and ingress and egress in, on, over, under, upon, across, or through property owned by the State of Georgia in Barrow, Camden, Cobb, Floyd, Houston, and White Counties; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on STATE PROPERTIES
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