FIRST READERS IN HOUSE WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2022 TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATIVE DAY
HB 1564. By Representative Pruitt of the 149th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to provide for reapportionment of the election districts for the Wheeler County Board of Commissioners, so as to change the description of the election districts; to provide for definitions and inclusions; to provide for the continuation in office of current members; 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 1565. By Representatives Mallow of the 163rd, Stephens of the 164th, Gilliard of the 162nd, Jackson of the 165th, and Hitchens of the 161st: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act to create the Savannah Development and Renewal Authority, approved May 4, 1992 (Ga. L. 1992, p. 6764), so as to revise provisions related to the appointment of authority members; to revise notice requirements regarding appointment of members; to revise quorum provisions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL
HB 1566. By Representative Houston of the 170th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to authorize the assessment and collection of a technology fee by the Probate Court of Berrien County; to identify the authorized uses of such technology fee; to provide for the termination of such 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 1567. By Representatives Cameron of the 1st and Hill of the 3rd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act to provide for the election of members to the Dade County board of education, approved February 6, 1984 (Ga. L. 1984, p. 3575), as amended, particularly by an Act approved April 7, 2004 (Ga. L. 2004, p. 3530), so as
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to change the description of the education districts; to provide for definitions and inclusions; to provide for compensation of the board; to provide for the continuation in office of current members; 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 1568. By Representatives Williamson of the 115th and Kirby of the 114th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to create the Walton County Public Facilities Authority; to provide for a short title; to provide for refunding bonds; to provide for bond validation; to provide for venue and jurisdiction; to provide for trust funds; to provide for the authority's purpose; to provide for charges; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for tort immunity; to provide statement of tax exemptions and exemptions from levy and sale; to provide for supplemental powers; to provide for effect on other governments; to provide for liberal construction; to provide for severability; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL
HB 1569. By Representatives Scott of the 76th, Jackson of the 64th, Beverly of the 143rd, Davis of the 87th, and Schofield of the 60th: 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 the removal from public view from the capitol and any and all state buildings, all art and artifacts that depict slavery, the Holocaust, or any other systemic racial injustice; to provide for a definition; to provide for the creation of a committee to select the art and artifacts to be removed; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on STATE PROPERTIES
HB 1570. By Representatives Efstration of the 104th, Rich of the 97th, Kennard of the 102nd, Kendrick of the 93rd, Holcomb of the 81st, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act to continue and re-create the State Court of Gwinnett County, approved March 23, 1977 (Ga. L. 1977, p. 3331), as amended, particularly by an Act approved April 19, 2006 (Ga. L. 2006, p. 3718), so as to provide
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for an additional judge for the State Court of Gwinnett County; 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
HR 1001. By Representatives Smith of the 133rd and Buckner of the 137th: A RESOLUTION honoring the life of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and dedicating a road in his memory; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on TRANSPORTATION HR 1002. By Representative Parrish of the 158th: A RESOLUTION honoring the life of Sheriff Tyson Stephens and dedicating a road in his memory; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on TRANSPORTATION HR 1023. By Representative Clark of the 108th: A RESOLUTION urging the Federal Railroad Administration to take action to regulate the blocking of railroad crossings; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on TRANSPORTATION HR 1024. By Representatives Kirby of the 114th, Werkheiser of the 157th, Kennard of the 102nd, Carpenter of the 4th, and Park of the 101st: A RESOLUTION creating the House Study Committee on Indexing Maximum Weekly Workers' Compensation Indemnity Benefits; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INDUSTRY AND LABOR
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HR 1025. By Representatives Williamson of the 115th, Hatchett of the 150th, Jones of the 47th, Blackmon of the 146th, and Fleming of the 121st: A RESOLUTION recognizing copper as critical to the State of Georgia and urging for its inclusion on the official United States Geological Survey Critical Minerals List; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on NATURAL RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENT HR 1026. By Representatives Neal of the 74th, Gambill of the 15th, Carpenter of the 4th, Washburn of the 141st, and Smyre of the 135th: A RESOLUTION creating the House Study Committee on Economic Development Opportunities and Alternative Sources of Investment Funding; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TOURISM HR 1027. By Representatives Clark of the 108th and Smith of the 133rd: A RESOLUTION creating the House Study Committee on Railroad Crossing Blockages; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on TRANSPORTATION
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SENATE FIRST READERS IN HOUSE WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2022
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATIVE DAY
SB 76. By Senators Albers of the 56th, Robertson of the 29th, Dugan of the 30th, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Kennedy of the 18th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 12 of Chapter 3 of Title 38 and Part 4 of Article 2 of Chapter 5 of Title 46 of the O.C.G.A., relating to emergency communications authority and emergency telephone number 9-1-1 system, respectively, so as to provide for Next Generation 911 systems and services; to amend Chapter 8 of Title 35 and Chapter 60 of Title 36 of the O.C.G.A., relating to employment and training of peace officers and general provisions applicable to counties and municipal corporations, respectively, so as to revise training requirements for communication officers; to provide for related matters; to condition effectiveness upon approval by two-thirds' majority vote in both the Senate and the House of Representatives; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on PUBLIC SAFETY & HOMELAND SECURITY
SB 96. By Senators Jackson of the 2nd, Harbison of the 15th, Jones of the 10th, and Rahman of the 5th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 17 of Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to notaries public, so as to provide that the identification of persons for whom notaries perform notarial acts shall be evidenced satisfactorily by a valid Veterans Health Identification Card issued by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on DEFENSE & VETERANS AFFAIRS
SB 108. By Senators Davenport of the 44th, Butler of the 55th, Anderson of the 43rd, Sims of the 12th, Jones of the 10th, 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 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
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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 STATE PLANNING & COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
SB 167. By Senators Orrock of the 36th, Butler of the 55th, Jackson of the 41st, Lucas of the 26th, Jones II of the 22nd, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 47 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Employees' Retirement System of Georgia, so as to provide for semiannual postretirement benefit adjustments for all beneficiaries of the Employees' Retirement System of Georgia; to provide for conditions, limitations, and suspensions; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date, applicability, and automatic repeal; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on RETIREMENT
SB 171. By Senators Robertson of the 29th, Albers of the 56th, Dugan of the 30th, Harper of the 7th, Mullis of the 53rd, 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 provide for enhanced penalties for certain offenses committed during an unlawful assembly; to revise the offense of unlawful assembly; to amend Chapter 60 of Title 36 of the O.C.G.A., relating to general provisions regarding provisions applicable to counties and municipal corporations; to amend Chapter 1 of Title 45 of the O.C.G.A., relating to general provisions regarding public officers and employees; to amend Title 50 of the O.C.G.A., relating to state government, so as to prohibit employment and benefits from governments under certain circumstances; to provide for related matters; to provide for a short title; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL
SB 227. By Senators Jones II of the 22nd, Jackson of the 2nd, and Anderson of the 43rd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 22 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding eminent domain, so as to provide for an alternative process for a county, municipality, or consolidated government
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to condemn certain blighted properties; to provide for definitions; to provide for procedures; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
SB 267. By Senators Rahman of the 5th, Mullis of the 53rd, Hufstetler of the 52nd, Butler of the 55th, Jones II of the 22nd, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 3 of Title 47 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia, so as to provide that a retired member who elected an optional retirement allowance that included one or more named beneficiaries shall be eligible to change any of such named beneficiaries under certain conditions and limitations; 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
SB 279. By Senators Anderson of the 43rd, Jones II of the 22nd, Lucas of the 26th, Harbison of the 15th, Jones of the 10th, 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 to honor the Original 33; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on STATE PROPERTIES
SB 353. By Senators Thompson of the 14th, Dugan of the 30th, Beach of the 21st, Albers of the 56th, McNeill of the 3rd, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 17 and Chapter 5 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to criminal procedure and drivers' licenses, respectively, so as to provide for judicial discretion in suspension of a driver's license upon failure to appear for certain traffic violations; to provide for notice of license suspension for failure to appear for certain traffic violations; to provide for standards for issuance of bench warrants; 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 JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL
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SB 468. By Senators Jackson of the 41st, Albers of the 56th, Robertson of the 29th, Payne of the 54th, Jones II of the 22nd, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 1 of Article 5 of Chapter 9 of Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to Georgia State Indemnification Fund, so as to provide that death by suicide of a public safety officer in certain instances be considered a death in the line of duty for purposes of indemnification; to provide clarification for instances of indemnification for heart attack, stroke, or vascular rupture; to revise and 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 470. By Senators Robertson of the 29th, Albers of the 56th, Strickland of the 17th, and Kirkpatrick of the 32nd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 13 of Chapter 1 of Title 7 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to licensing of mortgage lenders and mortgage brokers, so as to provide for different categories of felony convictions for purposes of investigations of mortgage loan originator applicants; to repeal certain provisions for denial or revocation of a license or registration due to certain felony convictions; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on BANKS & BANKING
SB 474. By Senators Summers of the 13th, Walker III of the 20th, Harper of the 7th, Goodman of the 8th, Anderson of the 24th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 1 of Article 2 of Chapter 5 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to property tax exemptions, so as to provide for a state-wide exemption from all ad valorem taxes for aircraft used for the aerial application of fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, seeds, or other agricultural products; to provide for a referendum; to provide for effective dates, applicability, and automatic repeal; to provide for compliance with constitutional requirements; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
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SB 487. By Senators McNeill of the 3rd, Rhett of the 33rd, Gooch of the 51st, James of the 35th, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to insurance generally, so as to provide that diagnostic breast examinations shall not be treated less favorably than screening mammography for breast cancer with respect to cost-sharing requirements; to provide for definitions; 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 INSURANCE
SB 491. By Senators Davenport of the 44th, Jones II of the 22nd, Anderson of the 43rd, Butler of the 55th, Tate of the 38th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to revenue and taxation, so as to create a qualified down payment savings program to be implemented by the Department of Revenue; to provide for definitions, conditions, and limitations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
SB 498. By Senators Tippins of the 37th, Miller of the 49th, Dugan of the 30th, Mullis of the 53rd, Albers of the 56th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 14 of Title 20 of the O.C.G.A., relating to general provisions relative to education accountability, so as to provide for the recognition of certain accrediting agencies as reliable authorities as to the quality of education offered in secondary schools in this state; to prohibit the recognition of certain accrediting agencies by the state and others; to require the State Board of Education to establish assessment criteria, procedures, and other requirements for recognized accrediting agencies; to provide for accreditation of elementary and middle schools exclusively by the Department of Education, subject to certain conditions and limitations; to provide for an effective date; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on EDUCATION
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SB 504. By Senators Robertson of the 29th, Albers of the 56th, Anavitarte of the 31st, and Mullis of the 53rd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 6 of Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding bonds and recognizances, so as to redefine the term "bail restricted offense"; 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 PUBLIC SAFETY & HOMELAND SECURITY
SB 510. By Senators Ginn of the 47th, Cowsert of the 46th, Albers of the 56th, Anderson of the 24th, Dugan of the 30th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 40-5-24 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to instruction permits, graduated licensing and related restrictions, and temporary licenses relative to the operation of a motor vehicle, so as to remove a restriction upon the operation of motor vehicles by Class D license holders with certain passengers in the vehicle; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on MOTOR VEHICLES
SB 512. By Senators Payne of the 54th, Albers of the 56th, Burns of the 23rd, Hufstetler of the 52nd, and Anderson of the 24th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 1 of Article 2 of Chapter 12 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to gambling, so as to revise provisions relative to dogfighting; to prohibit animal fighting; to prohibit possession or sale of animal-fighting related objects; to provide for punishment; to provide definitions; to amend Code Section 4-8-27 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to certificates of registration, requirements for issuance of certificate, individuals excluded from receiving registration, limitation of ownership, and annual renewal, so as to make conforming changes; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL
SB 516. By Senators Robertson of the 29th, Mullis of the 53rd, Anderson of the 24th, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Jackson of the 2nd, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 1 of Article 2 of Chapter 8 of Title 12 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions of solid waste
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management, so as to require the Environmental Protection Division to contract with the Department of Revenue to collect certain fees; to specify the manner in which funds appropriated to the Solid Waste Trust Fund shall be used; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
SB 537. By Senators Jones II of the 22nd, Goodman of the 8th, Jackson of the 2nd, Sims of the 12th, Rhett of the 33rd, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to agriculture, so as enact the "Food Insecurity Eradication Act"; to provide a short title; to provide for definitions; to create the Georgia Food Security Advisory Council; to provide for duties; to provide for appointments and terms; to provide for reporting requirements; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on AGRICULTURE & CONSUMER AFFAIRS
SB 539. By Senators Hatchett of the 50th, Mullis of the 53rd, Kennedy of the 18th, Albers of the 56th, Watson of the 1st, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 1 of Article 3 of Chapter 11 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to wiretapping, eavesdropping, surveillance, and related offenses, so as to provide that the use of any device to photograph or record patients in a health care facility shall be unlawful; to provide for exceptions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL
SB 543. By Senators Halpern of the 39th, Parent of the 42nd, Jones of the 10th, Jordan of the 6th, and Strickland of the 17th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 4 of Title 51 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to wrongful death, so as to provide that a parent who is determined to be responsible for the homicide of his or her child shall have no right of recovery against the value of the child's life; to amend Article 1 of Chapter 1 of Title 53 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to wills, trusts, and administration of
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estates generally, so as to provide for forfeiture of an intestate share of an estate under certain circumstances; 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
SB 545. By Senators Halpern of the 39th, Albers of the 56th, Robertson of the 29th, Anavitarte of the 31st, Jones of the 10th, 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, so as to require schools to provide training in first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and the use of an automated external defibrillator for students in grades nine or ten; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on EDUCATION
SB 553. By Senators Robertson of the 29th, Brass of the 28th, Jones of the 25th, Au of the 48th, Albers of the 56th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 7 of Title 52 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions of registration, operation, and sale of watercraft, so as to authorize any person 15 years of age or older to operate a Class 1, Class 2, or Class 3 vessel on any of the waters of this state if such person meets certain conditions pertaining to licensure, education, and accompaniment by an adult; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on GAME, FISH, & PARKS
SB 556. By Senators Thompson of the 14th, Albers of the 56th, Dugan of the 30th, Gooch of the 51st, Robertson of the 29th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 5 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to issuance, expiration, and renewal of drivers' licenses, so as to provide for the issuance of a driver's license to current and retired peace officers at no charge; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on MOTOR VEHICLES
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SB 558. By Senators Gooch of the 51st, Ginn of the 47th, Dugan of the 30th, Dixon of the 45th, Watson of the 1st, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 32 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Department of Transportation, so as to amend notice provisions relative to meetings for the election of board members; to provide for negotiations in request for proposals relative to public-private partnerships (P3s); to provide for procurement procedures relative to alternative contracting; to amend Code Section 50-18-72 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to when public disclosure not required by a state agency, so as to exempt certain records from public disclosure 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 TRANSPORTATION
SB 565. By Senators Strickland of the 17th, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Jones II of the 22nd, Albers of the 56th, and Rhett of the 33rd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 10 of Title 17 of the O.C.G.A., relating to procedure for sentencing and imposition of punishment, so as to provide that at any time after conviction for a misdemeanor or felony offense a defendant convicted of an offense and sentenced as a direct result of being a victim of trafficking for labor or sexual servitude may petition the sentencing court to grant the relief of vacatur; 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 NON-CIVIL
SB 566. By Senators Burke of the 11th, Hufstetler of the 52nd, Watson of the 1st, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Dugan of the 30th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 33 of the O.C.G.A., relating to insurance, so as to clarify that, under the Surprise Billing Consumer Protection Act, a medical or traumatic condition, sickness, or injury includes a mental health condition or substance use disorder and that emergency medical services include post-stabilization services; 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 INSURANCE
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SB 572. By Senators Mullis of the 53rd, Kennedy of the 18th, Harbison of the 15th, and Brass of the 28th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 11 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to taxes on tobacco and vaping products, so as to provide for the Attorney General to establish a vapor product directory; to require vapor product manufacturers to provide an attestation to the Attorney General; to provide for definitions; to prohibit illicit vapor products; to provide penalties for violations; 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
SB 573. By Senators Brass of the 28th, Walker III of the 20th, and Robertson of the 29th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 7 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to regulation and construction of hospitals and other health care facilities, so as to require hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to utilize surgical smoke evacuation systems during surgical procedures to protect patients and health care workers from the hazards of surgical smoke; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
SB 575. By Senator Tippins of the 37th: 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 that local boards of education shall review the financial status of the local school system at least quarterly rather than monthly, subject to an exception; to make conforming changes; 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
SB 576. By Senator Strickland of the 17th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 19-7-3 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to actions by grandparents or other family members for visitation rights or intervention, revocation or amendment of visitation rights, appointment of guardian ad litem, mediation, hearing, and notification to family members of child's participation in events, so as to revise provisions regarding visitation actions
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brought by certain grandparents of minor children; to provide for a rebuttable presumption; to provide for a response to Patten v. Ardis, 304 Ga. 140 (2018); to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY
SB 581. By Senators Walker III of the 20th, Ginn of the 47th, Gooch of the 51st, Dugan of the 30th, and Miller of the 49th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 4 of Title 44 of the O.C.G.A., relating to determination of boundaries, so as to designate the most recent systems of plane coordinates for defining and stating geographic positions within this state as the Georgia State Plane Coordinate System; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
SB 588. By Senators Miller of the 49th, Albers of the 56th, Anavitarte of the 31st, Dixon of the 45th, and Harbin of the 16th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 3 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to local boards of education, so as to provide that all meetings of local boards of education shall be open to the public except as otherwise provided by law; to provide that members of the public shall not be removed from such public meetings except for actual disruption and in accordance with rules adopted and published by the local board of education; to provide that visual and sound recording shall be permitted at such public meetings; to provide for the authority of superior courts to enforce compliance and award relief; to provide for attorneys' fees; to provide for construction; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on EDUCATION
SB 591. By Senators Hatchett of the 50th and Ginn of the 47th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 14 of Chapter 1 of Title 10 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to secondary metals recyclers, so as to provide that it shall be illegal for certain persons to purchase, possess, obtain, or sell or attempt to purchase, possess, obtain, or sell used, detached catalytic converters, used utility wire, or used communications copper; to provide for definitions; to regulate and limit the payment allowed by secondary metals recyclers; to provide that certain catalytic converters, used
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utility wire, and used communications copper and the vehicles transporting them are contraband; to provide for penalties; to provide for related matters; to provide for effective dates and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL
SB 603. By Senators Rahman of the 5th and Hatchett of the 50th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 11 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to public school property and facilities, so as to provide for an outdoor learning spaces pilot program; to provide for a pilot program evaluation and report; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on EDUCATION
SB 605. By Senator Burke of the 11th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 5 of Chapter 8 of Title 34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to contributions and payments in lieu of contributions relative to employment security, so as to provide for certain nonprofit organizations to have the option of making installment payments to finance unemployment benefits paid to its employees for certain time periods during the COVID19 public health emergency; to provide for automatic repeal; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INDUSTRY AND LABOR
SB 609. By Senators Mullis of the 53rd, Anderson of the 24th, Sims of the 12th, Ginn of the 47th, Jones II of the 22nd, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 9 of Chapter 12 of Title 16 of the O.C.G.A., relating to access to medical cannabis, so as to provide that the Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission is subject to state procurement laws; to revise the Medical Cannabis Commission Oversight Committee; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on REGULATED INDUSTRIES
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SB 610. By Senators Harrell of the 40th, Burke of the 11th, Dugan of the 30th, Butler of the 55th, Watson of the 1st, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to medical assistance generally, so as to require the Department of Community Health to conduct a comprehensive review of provider reimbursement rates for home and community based services covered by the waiver programs; to provide for input from the public, service providers, and other stakeholders; to provide for proposed rate models and estimated fiscal impact; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on HUMAN RELATIONS & AGING
SR 463. By Senators Gooch of the 51st, Cowsert of the 46th, Kennedy of the 18th, Ginn of the 47th, Miller of the 49th, and others: A RESOLUTION creating the Joint Study Committee on the Electrification of Transportation; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on TRANSPORTATION
SR 596. By Senators Ginn of the 47th, Dugan of the 30th, Cowsert of the 46th, Miller of the 49th, Gooch of the 51st, and others: A RESOLUTION honoring the life and memory of Mr. Isaiah Berry and dedicating an intersection in his memory; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on TRANSPORTATION
SR 623. By Senator Tippins of the 37th: A RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Georgia so as to provide for staggered, four-year terms of office for members of the Senate; to provide for the implementation of staggered terms of office for members of the Senate; 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 SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ELECTION INTEGRITY
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