FIRST READERS IN HOUSE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2021 TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATIVE DAY *Rules Suspended HB 638. By Representatives Scoggins of the 14th, Kelley of the 16th, and Gambill of the 15th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 14 of Title 51 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to asbestos and silica claims, so as to revise filing requirements for asbestos claims and silica claims; to provide for nonliability of product liability defendants in certain circumstances; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and for applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ACCESS TO THE CIVIL JUSTICE SYSTEM HB 639. By Representatives Scoggins of the 14th, Kelley of the 16th, and Gambill of the 15th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 51 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to torts, so as to provide transparency with respect to asbestos trust claims and claims made in civil asbestos actions; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for definitions; to revise information required for the sworn information form; to provide for requirements; to provide for penalties; to provide for applicability; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY HB 640. By Representatives Smith of the 18th, Powell of the 32nd, Ballinger of the 23rd, Jasperse of the 11th, Collins of the 68th, and others: 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 revise various laws pertaining to firearms and the carrying and possession of firearms and other weapons; to amend Article 3 of Chapter 5 of Title 17 of the O.C.G.A., relating to disposition of property seized, to revise requirements for the disposition of firearms in custody of law enforcement agencies; to provide for causes of action; to amend Article 4 of Chapter 2 of Title 38 of the O.C.G.A., relating to active duty powers, to revoke active duty powers relating to close places where firearms and ammunition are sold; to revise Article 2 of Chapter 21 of Title 50 of the O.C.G.A., relating to state tort claims, so as to waive sovereign immunity for certain claims; to - 1 - amend Chapter 1 of Title 51 of the O.C.G.A., relating to general provisions regarding torts, to provide immunity to private property owners under certain circumstances; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on PUBLIC SAFETY & HOMELAND SECURITY HB 641. By Representatives Williams of the 145th, Cheokas of the 138th, and Ehrhart of the 36th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 8 of Article 8 of Chapter 14 of Title 44 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to liens of hospitals and nursing homes, so as to allow a chiropractic practice to have a lien on a cause of action accruing to an injured person for the costs of care and treatment of injuries arising out of the cause of action; to revise definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY HB 642. By Representatives Burnough of the 77th, Scott of the 76th, and Bazemore of the 63rd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 3 of Title 6 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to powers of local governments as to air facilities, so as to provide that the underlying fee interest in local government airport property which remains vested in the local government shall not be deemed to be used for public, governmental, and municipal purposes; to provide that the public is not entitled to rightful, equal, and uniform use of airports and landing fields leased to private parties; to provide for a contingent effective date; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY HB 643. By Representatives Burnough of the 77th, Scott of the 76th, and Bazemore of the 63rd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 48-5-41 of the O.C.G.A., relating to property tax exemptions, so as to terminate an exemption from ad valorem taxation for public property owned by a political subdivision outside of its territorial limits that is developed by grading or other improvements to the extent of at least 25 percent of the total land area and has facilities actively used for a public or governmental purpose; to amend Article 2 of Chapter 3 of Title 6 of the O.C.G.A., relating to powers of local governments as to air facilities, so as to provide that the underlying fee interest in local government airport property which remains vested in the local government shall not be - 2 - deemed to be used for public, governmental, and municipal purposes; to provide that the public is not entitled to rightful, equal, and uniform use of airports and landing fields leased to private parties; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS HB 644. By Representatives Dreyer of the 59th, Nguyen of the 89th, Jackson of the 64th, Schofield of the 60th, and Robichaux of the 48th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to postsecondary education, so as to provide for a special institutional fee waiver for students who work 20 or more hours per week as graduate assistants at units of the University System of Georgia; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on HIGHER EDUCATION HB 646. By Representatives Glanton of the 75th, Jones of the 25th, Belton of the 112th, Hugley of the 136th, Kausche of the 50th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 4 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to financing under the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to enact the "P-TECH Dual Enrollment Act"; to provide for a pathway for students through high school, technical college, and workforce entry by establishing unified partnerships; to provide for definitions; to provide for certain dual credit courses; to provide for participating students, high schools, and units of the Technical College System of Georgia; to provide for responsibilities of industry partners; to provide for responsibilities of the Georgia Student Finance Commission, the Department of Education, the State Board of Education, and the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia; to provide for planning grants; to provide for implementation; to provide for 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 HIGHER EDUCATION HB 647. By Representatives Smith of the 133rd, Smith of the 70th, Washburn of the 141st, Williams of the 145th, and Dickey of the 140th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 1 of Article 2 of Chapter 8 of Title 12 of the O.C.G.A., relating to general provisions relative to solid waste management, so as to provide for post-closure ground-water monitoring at closed coal combustion residual impoundments; to provide for definitions; to provide for ground-water monitoring - 3 - reports; to amend Part 3 of Article 2 of Chapter 7 of Title 16 of the O.C.G.A., relating to criminal trespass and damage to property relative to waste control, so as to provide for a conforming cross-reference; to amend Part 1 of Article 3 of Chapter 8 of Title 48 of the O.C.G.A., relating to county special purpose local option sales tax, so as to provide for conforming cross-references; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on NATURAL RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENT HB 648. By Representatives Schofield of the 60th, Beverly of the 143rd, Robichaux of the 48th, Hutchinson of the 107th, Scott of the 76th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 30 of the O.C.G.A., relating to handicapped persons, so as to create the Commission for the Blind and the Visually Impaired; to transfer the direction and supervision of Georgia Industries for the Blind from the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency to the commission; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES HB 649. By Representatives Allen of the 40th, Wilkerson of the 38th, Cannon of the 58th, and McLeod of the 105th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 7 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to regulation of hospitals and related institutions, so as to provide for visitation by essential visitors to patients in hospitals and residents in long-term care facilities; to provide for definitions; to provide for rules and regulations by the Department of Community Health; to provide for conforming policies by hospitals and long-term care facilities; to provide for sanctions for noncompliance; to provide that the Governor is not authorized to waive the provisions in a declared public health emergency; to provide for statutory construction; to provide for an effective date; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on HUMAN RELATIONS & AGING HB 650. By Representatives Cannon of the 58th, Lim of the 99th, McClain of the 100th, Schofield of the 60th, Thomas of the 39th, 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 enact the "Working for Two Act"; to require certain accommodations in the workplace for pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions; to provide for the specific powers and duties of the Commissioner of Labor related to such - 4 - act; to provide for a short title; to provide for definitions; to provide for notice of rights; to provide for reasonable accommodations to job applicants and employees for circumstances related to pregnancy; to provide for a civil cause of action; to require the Department of Labor to provide certain instruction and public education; to provide for the Commissioner of Labor to promulgate certain rules and regulations; to provide for construction; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on INDUSTRY AND LABOR HB 651. By Representatives Gilliard of the 162nd and Stephens of the 164th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act authorizing the Board of Commissioners of Chatham County to provide transit services throughout the county, approved March 28, 1986 (Ga. L. 1986, p. 5315), so as to provide for authority to provide such services; to repeal and reserve a provision allowing a city to exclude itself from provisions of the Act; to provide for authority to create a special district for transit services; to provide for intergovernmental agreements related to new transit services in incorporated areas; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL HB 652. By Representative Ballinger of the 23rd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 11 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to juvenile court administration, so as to provide that juvenile court judges shall be elected by electors of the judicial circuit in which the judge is to serve; to provide for full-time and part-time juvenile court judges; to repeal provisions relating to the appointment of juvenile court judges; to provide for judicial circuits for juvenile courts; to provide for the number of judges for each of the juvenile courts; to provide for elections of juvenile court judges; to provide for appointment upon vacancy; to preserve current terms of office for currently serving juvenile court judges; to revise the compensation of juvenile court judges; to repeal provisions related to the appointment of associate juvenile courts judges, associate juvenile court traffic judges, and pro tempore juvenile court judges; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on JUVENILE JUSTICE - 5 - *HB 675. By Representatives Cantrell of the 22nd, Williams of the 168th, Nix of the 69th, Drenner of the 85th, Holmes of the 129th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 28-1-8 and Article 1 of Chapter 7 of Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to salary and allowances of members and officers of the General Assembly and general provisions regarding salaries and fees for public officers, respectively, so as to revise the compensation, expenses, and allowances of certain public officials; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the WORKING GROUP ON PUBLIC SERVICE COMPENSATION who reports to the Committee on RULES *HB 676. By Representatives Houston of the 170th, Dickey of the 140th, England of the 116th, Gilliard of the 162nd, and Williams of the 148th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 2 of the O.C.G.A., relating to agriculture, so as to create the Georgia Farmers' Market and Produce Terminal Development Authority; to amend Chapter 15 of Title 45 of the O.C.G.A., relating to the Attorney General, so as to provide for the inclusion of the Georgia Farmers' Market and Produce Terminal Development Authority as a state authority; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on AGRICULTURE & CONSUMER AFFAIRS HR 236. By Representatives Lott of the 122nd, Greene of the 151st, Pirkle of the 155th, LaHood of the 175th, Gilliard of the 162nd, and others: A RESOLUTION creating the House Study Committee on the Safe Staffing of Nurses in Georgia; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on HUMAN RELATIONS & AGING - 6 - SENATE FIRST READERS IN HOUSE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2021 TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATIVE DAY SB 22. By Senator Jones of the 10th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act to provide for a new Board of Commissioners of Henry County, approved March 28, 1974 (Ga. L. 1974, p. 3680), as amended, so as to provide a code of ethics; to establish a board of ethics; to revise the authority, roles, and responsibilities of the chairperson, the board of commissioners, and the county manager; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL SB 105. By Senators Strickland of the 17th, Kennedy of the 18th, Thompson of the 14th, Anderson of the 43rd, and Watson of the 1st: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 10 of Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to procedure for sentencing and imposition of punishment, and Article 2 of Chapter 8 of Title 42 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state-wide probation system, so as to revise the conditions and procedures under which probation may be terminated early; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL SB 143. By Senators Tippins of the 37th, Dugan of the 30th, Gooch of the 51st, Miller of the 49th, and Kennedy of the 18th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 3 of Article 8 of Chapter 14 of Title 44 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to mechanics and materialmen, so as to conform a reference within a statutory form regarding waiver of lien and labor or material bond rights; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY - 1 - SB 159. By Senators Gooch of the 51st, Miller of the 49th, Burke of the 11th, Ginn of the 47th, and Payne of the 54th: 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 revise a provision relating to student transportation; to authorize local boards of education to use vehicles other than school buses for the transport of students to and from school related activities; to provide for minimum requirements; to provide for insurance; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on EDUCATION SB 193. By Senators Mullis of the 53rd, Harper of the 7th, Harbison of the 15th, Jackson of the 2nd, Hatchett of the 50th, and others: 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 grant counties the option of requiring that mobile homes procure and display decals; to revise the time for payment of related ad valorem taxes; 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 SB 211. By Senator Summers of the 13th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to provide that future elections for the office of judge of the probate court of Crisp County shall be nonpartisan elections; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION - 2 -