FIRST READERS IN HOUSE WEDNESDAY, MARCH 03, 2021 TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATIVE DAY *Rules Suspended HB 680. By Representative Greene of the 151st: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act creating the Board of Commissioners of Stewart County, approved April 4, 1996 (Ga. L. 1996, p. 4028), as amended, particularly by an Act approved April 4, 1997 (Ga. L. 1997, p. 3845), so as to revise provisions relating to purchases and bids; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL HB 681. By Representatives Yearta of the 152nd, Cheokas of the 138th, Jasperse of the 11th, Dickey of the 140th, Barton of the 5th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 2 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to competencies and core curriculum relative to quality basic education, so as to provide for a course of study in financial literacy for students in tenth or eleventh grade; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on EDUCATION HB 682. By Representative Jasperse of the 11th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to reconstitute and reestablish the board of elections and registration for Pickens County, Georgia; to provide for effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL - 1 - HB 683. By Representative Jasperse of the 11th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act to create a board of elections and registration for Pickens County and provide for its powers and duties approved April 13, 2001 (Ga. L. 2001, p. 3598), as amended, so as to provide for abolition of the board on a date certain; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL HB 684. By Representatives Nix of the 69th and Smith of the 133rd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act to create a board of elections and registration for Troup County and to provide for its powers and duties, approved April 12, 2012 (Ga. L. 2012, p. 5409), so as to provide for a new five member board; to terminate the office of the current board members; to provide for appointment, qualifications, term, quorum, and meeting of board members; to revise provisions regarding the election supervisor; to provide for filling of vacancies; to provide for related matters; to provide effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL HB 685. By Representative Jasperse of the 11th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to reincorporate and provide a new charter for the City of Jasper, Georgia; to provide for the corporate limits of the city, the powers of the city, and the form and method of government of the city; to provide for the administration of city affairs; to provide for the municipal court of the city; to provide for elections for city offices; to provide for taxation by the city; to provide for the financial management of the city; to provide for financial and fiscal affairs of the city; to provide for municipal services and regulatory functions; to provide general provisions; to provide for other matters relative thereto; to provide for specific repeal; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL - 2 - HB 686. By Representative Davis of the 87th: 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 provide for the termination of suspensions of collection of sales and use taxes on jet fuel; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS HB 687. 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 688. By Representatives Lim of the 99th, Marin of the 96th, McLeod of the 105th, Mitchell of the 106th, Clark of the 108th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to provide a homestead exemption from Gwinnett County ad valorem taxes for county purposes, other than to retire bonded indebtedness, in an amount equal to $20,000.00 of the assessed value of the homestead for residents of Gwinnett County whose federal adjusted gross income, as well as the federal adjusted gross income of the spouse of such resident and all other members of the family who also reside at such homestead, is less than $10,000.00; to provide for definitions; to specify the terms and conditions of the exemption and the procedures relating thereto; to require annual income reporting; to provide for applicability; to provide for compliance with constitutional requirements; 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 689. By Representatives Gaines of the 117th, Werkheiser of the 157th, and Wiedower of the 119th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 3 of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Georgia Crime Information Center, so as to provide that persons who are victims of an offense of trafficking may petition the clerk of - 3 - court to have sealed certain criminal history record information maintained by the clerk; to provide that restricted criminal history record information shall be available to criminal justice agencies; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL HB 690. By Representatives Cooper of the 43rd, Jasperse of the 11th, Dempsey of the 13th, and Lumsden of the 12th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 26-5-48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to prerequisites to licensing narcotic treatment programs, waivers, and creation of regions, so as to revise the composition of the regions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES HB 691. By Representatives Cheokas of the 138th, Barr of the 103rd, Stephens of the 164th, Yearta of the 152nd, LaRiccia of the 169th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 7 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Department of Economic Development, so as to define innovation, innovative product or service, and startup; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT HB 692. By Representatives Douglas of the 78th, Clark of the 108th, Lewis-Ward of the 109th, Nelson of the 125th, and Prince of the 127th: 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 amend Chapter 9 of Title 49 of the O.C.G.A., relating to the transfer of the Division of Rehabilitation Services to the Department of Labor, so as to establish the role of the commission in facilitating the operation by blind persons and other persons with disabilities of vending facilities on state property; 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 - 4 - HB 698. By Representatives Frye of the 118th, Beverly of the 143rd, Kendrick of the 93rd, Neal of the 74th, and Wilson of the 80th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to labor and industrial relations, so as to provide for paid parental leave for employees; to provide for definitions; to provide for eligibility; to provide for terms and conditions; to provide for certain prohibitions; to provide for rules; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on INDUSTRY AND LABOR HB 699. By Representatives Frye of the 118th, Beverly of the 143rd, Neal of the 74th, Kendrick of the 93rd, Wilson of the 80th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to labor and industrial relations, so as to provide protections for workers against COVID-19; to prohibit adverse employment actions against workers who report the lack of worksite health and safety practices or who wear their own personal protective equipment; to provide for definitions; to provide for a civil cause of action and for damages and other relief; to provide for certain presumptions and limitations of actions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on INDUSTRY AND LABOR HB 700. By Representatives Frye of the 118th, Beverly of the 143rd, Smyre of the 135th, Kendrick of the 93rd, Wilson of the 80th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 8 of Chapter 9 of Title 34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to compensation for occupational disease, so as to include COVID-19 within the meaning of occupational disease for essential workers; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on INDUSTRY AND LABOR HB 701. By Representative Fleming of the 121st: 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 revise a definition; to provide additional powers of the State Election Board regarding suspending superintendents; to provide for the appointment of temporary and permanent replacement - 5 - superintendents; to provide for procedures; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ELECTION INTEGRITY HB 702. By Representative Gullett of the 19th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 43-1-2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to appointment and general powers of division director, members and meetings of professional licensing boards, examination standards, roster of licensees, and funding, so as to provide that home addresses of licensees are treated as confidential; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS *HB 712. By Representative Evans of the 83rd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 1 of Article 3 of Chapter 5 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general authority, duties, and procedure relative to state purchasing, so as to repeal a prohibition of the state from entering into certain contracts without a certification that the individual or company does not presently conduct a boycott of Israel and will not conduct such a boycott for the duration of such contract; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS *HB 713. By Representatives Dempsey of the 13th, Houston of the 170th, Collins of the 68th, Smyre of the 135th, Hitchens of the 161st, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 37, Article 1 of Chapter 8 of Title 50, and Chapter 16 of Title 50 of the O.C.G.A., relating to mental health, general provisions relative to the Department of Community Affairs, and public property, respectively, so as to provide for multifaceted reform initiatives and supports relating to mental health and homelessness; to provide for related matters; to provide for a short title; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on PUBLIC SAFETY & HOMELAND SECURITY - 6 - *HB 714. By Representative Kelley of the 16th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 8 of Chapter 11 of Title 9 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to provisional and final remedies and special proceedings, so as to revise and provide for new requirements under the Georgia Civil Practice Act for settlement offers and arrangements for tort claims for personal injury, bodily injury, and death; to amend Chapter 7 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to kinds of insurance, limits of risks, and reinsurance, so as to revise the liability of an insurer upon refusal to pay an insured for any loss pursuant to uninsured motorist coverage under motor vehicle liability policies; to revise a penalty; to provide for related matters; to provide for applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ACCESS TO THE CIVIL JUSTICE SYSTEM HR 269. By Representatives Dempsey of the 13th, Scoggins of the 14th, and Lumsden of the 12th: A RESOLUTION honoring the life of Mr. Carl Evans; dedicating an intersection in his memory; repealing a certain resolution; repealing conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on TRANSPORTATION HR 270. By Representatives Tarvin of the 2nd, Cameron of the 1st, Hill of the 3rd, Lumsden of the 12th, Smith of the 18th, and others: A RESOLUTION dedicating the Georgia Grown Trail 27; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on AGRICULTURE & CONSUMER AFFAIRS Withdrawn from Agriculture and Consumer Affairs and recommitted to Transportation HR 280. By Representatives Dukes of the 154th, Stephens of the 164th, Greene of the 151st, Beverly of the 143rd, Martin of the 49th, and others: A RESOLUTION creating the House Study Committee on HOPE for the Future; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on HIGHER EDUCATION - 7 - HR 281. By Representative Clark of the 98th: A RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Georgia so as to authorize the General Assembly to provide by law for the legalization and regulation of marijuana; to permit persons 21 years of age or older to purchase marijuana for personal use; to provide for the dedication of fees and taxes from the production, sale, or personal use of such marijuana; to provide a procedure to vacate previous convictions; to provide for submission of this amendment for ratification or rejection; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on RULES - 8 - SENATE FIRST READERS IN HOUSE WEDNESDAY, MARCH 03, 2021 TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATIVE DAY SB 80. By Senators Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Burke of the 11th, Watson of the 1st, Walker III of the 20th, Harbison of the 15th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to insurance, so as to provide for standards for utilization review; to provide for statutory construction; to provide for applicability; to provide for definitions; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on INSURANCE SB 82. By Senators Au of the 48th, Watson of the 1st, Burke of the 11th, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Hufstetler of the 52nd, 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 clarify that the prudent layperson standard is not affected by the final diagnosis given; to amend Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to insurance, so as to also clarify that the prudent layperson standard is not affected by the final diagnosis given; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on INSURANCE SB 112. By Senators Harbin of the 16th, Burke of the 11th, Thompson of the 14th, Walker III of the 20th, Summers of the 13th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 25 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to life insurance, so as to require annual notification to policy owners and requested beneficiaries of the existence of such policies; to require insurers to review the National Association of Insurance Commissioners life insurance policy locator on a quarterly basis; to provide for reporting; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for a sunset provision for reporting requirements; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on INSURANCE - 1 - SB 114. By Senators Robertson of the 29th, Dugan of the 30th, Gooch of the 51st, Kennedy of the 18th, Burke of the 11th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to professions and businesses, so as to revise the grounds for refusing to grant or revoking a license; 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 SB 140. By Senators Mullis of the 53rd, Hatchett of the 50th, Miller of the 49th, Harbison of the 15th, Walker III of the 20th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 3 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state flag, seal, and other symbols, so as to provide for placement of a monument in honor of the Honorable Zell Bryan Miller upon the capitol grounds of the state capitol building; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on STATE PROPERTIES SB 169. By Senators Walker III of the 20th, Strickland of the 17th, Butler of the 55th, Miller of the 49th, Parent of the 42nd, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 10 of Title 13 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding contracts for public works, Code Section 32-2-70 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to bonds of successful bidder, and Part 1 of Article 3 of Chapter 91 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to bonds generally, so as to provide for acceptance of electronic signatures and electronic corporate seals on bonds; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY SB 185. By Senators Hatchett of the 50th, Kennedy of the 18th, Cowsert of the 46th, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Hufstetler of the 52nd, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 48 of the O.C.G.A., relating to state administrative organization, administration, and enforcement of revenue and taxation, so as to require that all questions of law decided by a court or the Georgia Tax Tribunal on matters arising from the state board of equalization and matters arising from - 2 - refunds and appeals of state administration of Title 48 be decided without deference to determinations or interpretations of the Department of Revenue except without any effect on the judicial standard of deference given to rules promulgated pursuant to Chapter 13 of Title 50, the "Georgia Administrative Procedure Act"; to amend Chapter 13A of Title 50 of the O.C.G.A., relating to tax tribunals; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY SB 209. By Senators Jones of the 10th, Jackson of the 41st, Davenport of the 44th, Harrell of the 40th, Anderson of the 43rd, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act to create and establish in DeKalb County, Georgia, districts from which the members of the County Board of Education of DeKalb County shall be elected, approved April 12, 1963 (Ga. L. 1963, p. 3424), as amended, so as to provide that the boundaries of the City of Atlanta independent school systems are not extended by annexation unless expressly approved in a separate local law or intergovernmental agreement; to provide for transfer of students; to provide for ownership of property and buildings; to provide for binding arbitration; to provide for no change in school system boundaries under certain circumstances; to provide for intergovernmental agreements; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL SB 235. By Senators Watson of the 1st, Cowsert of the 46th, Harbison of the 15th, Kennedy of the 18th, and Goodman of the 8th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 11 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to offenses against public order, so as to revise the offense of wearing a mask, hood, or device which conceals the identity of the wearer; to clarify application; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL - 3 -