FIRST READERS IN HOUSE FRIDAY, MARCH 05, 2021 TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATIVE DAY HB 703. By Representative Mathis of the 144th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to provide that future elections for the office of probate judge of Bleckley 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 HB 704. By Representative Mathis of the 144th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to provide that future elections for the office of chief judge of the Magistrate Court of Bleckley County shall be nonpartisan elections; to provide for the sitting chief judge of the magistrate court to serve out his or her term of office; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION HB 705. By Representative Mathis of the 144th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to authorize the Probate Court of Bleckley County to charge a technology fee; to specify the uses to which said technology fee may be assigned; to provide for the termination of said technology fee and dedication of residual funds to technology uses; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL HB 706. By Representatives Camp of the 131st, Rich of the 97th, and Mathiak of the 73rd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 29-4-10 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to petition for appointment of guardian and requirements for petition, so as to provide for the appointment of a guardian for a minor who is in the custody of the Division of Family and Children Services when the minor becomes an adult; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on JUVENILE JUSTICE - 1 - HB 707. By Representatives Watson of the 172nd, Taylor of the 173rd, LaHood of the 175th, and Campbell of the 171st: A BILL to be entitled an Act to provide a new charter for the City of Coolidge; to provide for pending matters; to provide for definitions and construction; to provide for severability; to provide for related matters; to repeal a specific Act; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL HB 708. By Representatives Dreyer of the 59th and Schofield of the 60th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to create the City of Hapeville Public Facilities Authority; to provide for a short title; to provide for the appointment of members of the authority; to provide for the purpose and scope of operation; to provide for definitions; to confer powers upon the authority; to authorize the issuance of revenue bonds of the authority; to provide for interests and remedies to bondholders; to fix and provide the venue and jurisdiction of actions relating to any provisions of this Act; to provide for moneys received to be deemed trust funds; to provide for tort immunity; to provide for tax exemption; to provide for rates, charges, and revenues; to provide for effect on other governments; to provide for construction of the act and severability; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL HB 709. By Representatives LaRiccia of the 169th, Burchett of the 176th, Corbett of the 174th, Pirkle of the 155th, and Meeks of the 178th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act providing that the governing authority of each county comprising the Waycross Judicial Circuit may supplement the compensation, salary, expenses, and allowances of each of the judges of the superior courts of the Waycross Judicial Circuit, approved March 20, 1985 (Ga. L. 1985, p. 3879), as amended, particularly by an Act approved May 8, 2018 (Ga. L. 2018, p. 3975), so as to increase the amounts of such supplements; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL - 2 - HB 710. By Representatives Kennard of the 102nd, Clark of the 108th, Park of the 101st, Mitchell of the 106th, Moore of the 95th, and others: 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 provide for Halal dietary selections as part of school breakfast and lunch programs; to provide for excused absences for certain Islamic holidays based upon sincerely held religious beliefs; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on EDUCATION HB 711. By Representative Yearta of the 152nd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act to provide a new charter for the City of Sylvester, approved May 13, 2008 (Ga. L. 2008, p. 4219), so as to provide ward residence requirements for city councilmembers; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL HB 715. By Representatives Hogan of the 179th, DeLoach of the 167th, Dollar of the 45th, Mathis of the 144th, Williams of the 148th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 8 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to equipment and inspection of motor vehicles, so as to provide for issuance of a permit relating to operation of an amber strobe light upon lowspeed vehicles; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on MOTOR VEHICLES HB 716. By Representatives Jackson of the 64th, Beverly of the 143rd, Boddie of the 62nd, Dreyer of the 59th, and Mitchell of the 88th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 6 of Chapter 11 of Title 16 of the O.C.G.A., relating to domestic terrorism, so as to provide for a misdemeanor offense for certain acts of domestic terrorism; to amend Chapter 1 of Title 28 of the O.C.G.A., relating to general provisions of the General Assembly, so as to establish a joint committee on domestic terrorism for assessing and sharing information regarding domestic terrorism threats; to enact the "Protect Georgia Domestic Terrorism Act"; to provide a short title; to amend Article 1 of Chapter 3 of Title 35 of the O.C.G.A., relating - 3 - to general provisions of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, so as to provide for monitoring, investigating, and reporting requirements regarding domestic terrorism; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on PUBLIC SAFETY & HOMELAND SECURITY HB 717. By Representatives Cooper of the 43rd, Hitchens of the 161st, Lumsden of the 12th, and Dempsey of the 13th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 3 of Title 37 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to examination and treatment for mental illness, so as to provide for authorization of peace officers to take a person to a physician or emergency receiving facility for emergency examination under certain circumstances; to provide for immunity; to provide for reports; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES HB 718. By Representatives Smyre of the 135th, Smith of the 133rd, Hugley of the 136th, and Buckner of the 137th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 7 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to imposition, rate, computation, and exemptions from state income tax, so as to provide that all expenditures of a production company's state certified productions may be combined to meet spending thresholds; to lower spending thresholds; to increase the value of the tax credit; to provide for transferability of the tax credit; to provide for conditions and limitations; to revise a definition; 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 CREATIVE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT HB 719. By Representative Stephens of the 164th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 17-15-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to required findings, amount of award, rejection of claim, reductions, exemptions, effective date for awards, psychological counseling for relatives of deceased, and memorials for victims of DUI homicide, so as to authorize the placement of memorials for victims of DUI homicide on city and county rights of way by the Department of Transportation; to provide for coordination between the Department of - 4 - Transportation and local government; to authorize local government to relocate such memorial signs due to maintenance or expansion; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on TRANSPORTATION HB 720. By Representatives Davis of the 87th, Scott of the 76th, Schofield of the 60th, McLeod of the 105th, Burnough of the 77th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 6 of Chapter 3 of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Division of Forensic Sciences, so as to provide for the establishment of a section of handwriting analysis in the Division of Forensic Sciences; to provide for its staffing and duties; to provide for 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 721. By Representatives Davis of the 87th, Schofield of the 60th, Scott of the 76th, McLeod of the 105th, Burnough of the 77th, 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 revise certain tax credits; to amend Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to revenue and taxation, so as to eliminate a certain income tax deduction; to revise certain income tax credits; 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 722. By Representatives Cannon of the 58th, Beverly of the 143rd, Scott of the 76th, Schofield of the 60th, and Thomas of the 39th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2A of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Department of Public Health, so as to enact the "Georgia Dignity in Pregnancy and Childbirth Act"; to provide for legislative findings and intent; to provide for definitions; to require perinatal facilities in this state to implement evidence based implicit bias programs for its health care professionals; to require certain components in such programs; to provide for initial and refresher training; - 5 - to provide for the compilation and tracking of data on severe maternal morbidity and pregnancy related deaths; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES HR 283. By Representative Powell of the 32nd: A RESOLUTION recognizing American Legion Post 109 and dedicating an intersection in their honor; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on TRANSPORTATION HR 284. By Representative Powell of the 32nd: A RESOLUTION recognizing Judge Donald "Hoppy" Royston and dedicating a road in his honor; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on TRANSPORTATION HR 285. By Representative Powell of the 32nd: A RESOLUTION recognizing United States military veterans and dedicating a highway in their honor; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on TRANSPORTATION HR 286. By Representative Jasperse of the 11th: A RESOLUTION honoring the lives of Dr. Tom and Jean Boswell and dedicating a road in their memory; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on TRANSPORTATION - 6 - HR 316. By Representative Davis of the 87th: A RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to the Constitution so as to waive the state's defense of sovereign immunity regarding actions of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia; to provide that such board shall be subject to an oversight panel; to provide for related matters; to provide for the submission of this amendment for ratification or rejection; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on HIGHER EDUCATION - 7 - SENATE FIRST READERS IN HOUSE FRIDAY, MARCH 05, 2021 TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATIVE DAY SB 42. By Senators Mullis of the 53rd, Gooch of the 51st, Harbison of the 15th, Payne of the 54th, Miller of the 49th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 20-14-33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to indicators of quality of learning in individual schools and school systems, comparison to state standards, rating schools and school systems, providing information, and uniform definition of "dropout" and "below grade level," so as to provide that the school climate rating does not include discipline data; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on EDUCATION SB 47. By Senators Gooch of the 51st, Miller of the 49th, Dugan of the 30th, Kennedy of the 18th, Walker III of the 20th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 33 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Act, so as to revise the prior school year requirement; to expand eligibility for students; to revise the basis for calculating scholarship amounts; to require annual parent surveys; to provide for a review procedure for scholarship calculations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on EDUCATION SB 59. By Senators Albers of the 56th, Payne of the 54th, Miller of the 49th, Gooch of the 51st, Hufstetler of the 52nd, and others: 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 provide for additional QBE funding for each full-time equivalent student within a local charter school; to provide for a maximum amount of such funding available to each local charter school; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; to revise a definition; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on EDUCATION - 1 - SB 66. By Senators Anavitarte of the 31st, Payne of the 54th, Mullis of the 53rd, Cowsert of the 46th, Strickland of the 17th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 20 and Title 48 of the O.C.G.A., relating to education and revenue and taxation, respectively, so as to authorize a nonprofit corporation incorporated by the Georgia Foundation for Public Education to receive private donations to be used for grants to public schools; to provide for the expiration of the Public Education Innovation Fund Foundation's authority to promote public-private partnerships and to receive private donations to be used for grants to public schools; to provide for grant criteria; to provide for the dissolution of the Public Education Innovation Fund Foundation; to revise definitions; to provide for an income tax credit for qualified education donations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on EDUCATION SB 95. By Senators Ginn of the 47th, Beach of the 21st, Albers of the 56th, Anavitarte of the 31st, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state government, so as to provide conditions for meetings and public hearings to be held by teleconference in emergency conditions; to provide conditions for certain agency members to participate in nonemergency meetings by teleconference; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS SB 107. By Senators Strickland of the 17th, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Dugan of the 30th, Miller of the 49th, and Anderson of the 43rd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 12 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to postsecondary education grants for foster children and adopted children, so as to provide for the waiver of tuition and all fees, including mandatory rooming and board fees, for qualifying foster and adopted students by units of the University System of Georgia and the Technical College System of Georgia, subject to certain exceptions; to provide for such exceptions; to provide for student qualifications; to provide for the involvement and duties of the Division of Family and - 2 - Children Services; to provide for definitions; to provide for construction; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on HIGHER EDUCATION SB 113. 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 provide for life insurers' requirement to review the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' life insurance policy locator service; to provide for reporting; to provide for the Commissioner to prescribe reporting; to provide for a sunset provision for reporting requirements; to provide for enforcement; 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 SB 117. By Senators Miller of the 49th, Cowsert of the 46th, Anavitarte of the 31st, Payne of the 54th, Kennedy of the 18th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 6 of Title 16, Article 1 of Chapter 10 of Title 17, Article 2 of Chapter 3 of Title 35, Title 42, and Article 1 of Chapter 2 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to sexual offenses, procedure for sentencing and imposition of punishment, the Georgia Crime Information Center, penal institutions, and general provisions regarding the Department of Human Services, respectively, so as to revise the offenses of improper sexual contact by employee or agent in the first and second degrees; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL SB 168. 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 Part 1 of Article 7 of Chapter 2 of Title 14 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to meetings, so as to provide that a corporation may hold annual shareholders' meetings and special shareholders' meetings - 3 - by means of remote communication; to provide for requirements for such meetings by remote communication; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on BANKS & BANKING SB 182. By Senators Robertson of the 29th, Albers of the 56th, Payne of the 54th, Harper of the 7th, and Anderson of the 24th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 60 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions applicable to counties and municipal corporations, so as to define the term "fence detection system"; to limit the ability of counties, consolidated governments, and municipalities to regulate or prohibit such systems; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS SB 183. By Senators Robertson of the 29th, Anavitarte of the 31st, Payne of the 54th, Brass of the 28th, and Anderson of the 24th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 16 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding sheriffs, so as to revise qualification requirements for the office of sheriff; to require certification as a peace officer at the time of qualifying as a candidate for sheriff; to require such candidate to be in good standing with the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council; to provide for a confirming affidavit; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on PUBLIC SAFETY & HOMELAND SECURITY SB 187. By Senators Tippins of the 37th, Miller of the 49th, Jackson of the 2nd, Walker III of the 20th, and Butler of the 55th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 20-3-519.2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to eligibility requirements for a HOPE scholarship, so as to establish a procedure for students with a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act to apply for a waiver from certain HOPE scholarship and grant eligibility requirements; to provide for responsibilities of the Georgia Student Finance Commission; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on HIGHER EDUCATION - 4 - SB 195. By Senator Mullis of the 53rd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 2-23-3 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to definitions regarding hemp farming, so as to revise a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on AGRICULTURE & CONSUMER AFFAIRS SB 204. By Senators Tippins of the 37th, Sims of the 12th, Miller of the 49th, Butler of the 55th, Dugan of the 30th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 4 of Title 20 of the O.C.G.A., relating to vocational, technical, and adult education, so as to provide for the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia to award high school diplomas; to provide for a pilot program by the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia to allow students who are 16 years of age or older, who have completed certain secondary school coursework requirements, and who have withdrawn from secondary school, to enroll in the Dual Achieve Program at a technical college of this state and achieve a high school diploma in conjunction with successful completion of the program; to amend Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the O.C.G.A., relating to elementary and secondary education; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on HIGHER EDUCATION SB 222. By Senators Summers of the 13th, Walker III of the 20th, Sims of the 12th, Harper of the 7th, Goodman of the 8th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 3 of Chapter 3 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state symbols, so as to designate the pecan as the official state nut; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on STATE PLANNING & COMMUNITY AFFAIRS - 5 -