First readers in House, 2023 February 15

FIRST READERS IN HOUSE WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2023 NINETEENTH LEGISLATIVE DAY
*Rules Suspended
HB 383. By Representatives Reeves of the 99th, Silcox of the 53rd, Gunter of the 8th, Holcomb of the 81st, Evans of the 57th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 5 of Title 16 of the O.C.G., relating to assault and battery and related offenses against persons, so as to provide for enhanced penalties for aggravated assault and aggravated battery committed upon emergency health workers and healthcare workers located on a hospital campus; to provide for a definition; to amend Title 31 of the O.C.G.A., relating to health; to provide for a short title; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL
HB 384. By Representative Henderson of the 113th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 33-29-3.2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to individual accident and sickness insurance coverage for mammograms, Pap smears, and prostate-specific antigen tests, so as to provide for annual notification by insurers to male insureds of coverage for prostate-specific antigen tests; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INSURANCE
HB 385. By Representatives Thomas of the 21st, Bonner of the 73rd, Jenkins of the 136th, Clark of the 100th, Prince of the 132nd, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 47 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to retirement and pensions, so as to add appropriate references to the United States Space Force; to make conforming changes; to provide conditions for an effective date and automatic repeal; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on RETIREMENT
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HB 386. By Representatives Bazemore of the 69th, Beverly of the 143rd, Jackson of the 128th, Frazier of the 126th, Bennett of the 94th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 14 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to use of speed detection devices and red light cameras, so as to provide for the enforcement of operating a commercial motor vehicle upon a highway in violation of a local ordinance through the use of recorded images by an automated truck route monitoring device; to provide for procedures, conditions, and limitations upon operation of an automated truck route monitoring device; to provide for issuance of civil monetary penalties; to provide notice of penalty; to prohibit the renewal of registration of a motor vehicle upon failure to pay a civil monetary penalty; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on MOTOR VEHICLES
HB 387. By Representatives Alexander of the 66th, Mitchell of the 88th, Frye of the 122nd, Roberts of the 52nd, McClain of the 109th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 16-13-30 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to purchase, possession, manufacture, distribution, or sale of controlled substances or marijuana and penalties, so as to codify the proclamation by the Office of the President of the United States that would grant a pardon and restore full political, civil, and other rights regarding the offense of simple possession of marijuana; to provide for limitations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL
HB 388. By Representatives Alexander of the 66th, Mitchell of the 88th, Frye of the 122nd, Roberts of the 52nd, McClain of the 109th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 13 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to controlled substances, so as to provide that possession of certain quantities of marijuana constitute a misdemeanor; to change provisions relating to punishment; to amend Title 15, Title 16, Chapter 7 of Title 17, and Article 1 of Chapter 32 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to courts, crimes and offenses, pretrial proceedings, and general provisions regarding municipal courts, respectively, 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 JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL
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HB 389. By Representatives Momtahan of the 17th, Tarvin of the 2nd, Gullett of the 19th, Thomas of the 21st, and Ridley of the 6th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 3 of Chapter 3 of Title 44 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to condominiums, so as to revise the maximum amount of insurance deductibles payable by unit owners; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INSURANCE
HB 390. By Representatives Schofield of the 63rd, Willis of the 55th, Scott of the 76th, Carter of the 93rd, Davis of the 87th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 3 of Title 26 of the O.C.G.A., relating to standards, labeling, and adulteration of drugs and cosmetics, so as to require a manufacturer to disclose ingredients, chemicals of concern, and restricted substances found in a cosmetic distributed, sold, or offered for sale in this state; to provide for a short title; 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
HB 391. By Representative Greene of the 154th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act providing a homestead exemption from Early County school district ad valorem taxes for educational purposes in the amount of $150,000.00 of the assessed value of the homestead for five years for residents of that school district who are 70 years of age or older, approved May 10, 2021 (Ga. L. 2021, p. 4267), as amended, so as to remove the expiration date of the exemption; to provide for a referendum, effective dates, and automatic repeal, mandatory execution of election, and judicial remedies regarding failure to comply; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL
HB 392. By Representatives Jasperse of the 11th, Bentley of the 150th, Erwin of the 32nd, Gaines of the 120th, and Martin of the 49th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 12 of Title 50 of the O.C.G.A., relating to commissions and other agencies, so as to provide for the creation of the Georgia Endowment for Teaching Professionals to foster a public-private partnership for support of postsecondary teaching professionals in high demand courses, subjects, and
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disciplines; to provide for certain reports and audits; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on HIGHER EDUCATION
HB 393. By Representatives Carpenter of the 4th, Sharper of the 177th, Seabaugh of the 34th, Bonner of the 73rd, Gilliard of the 162nd, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 7 of Title 48 of the O.C.G.A., relating to income taxes, so as to provide for tax credits for certain contributions made by taxpayers to certain organizations investing in musical or theatrical performances or productions; to provide for definitions; to provide for limitations on the amount of tax credits allowed; to provide for terms and conditions; to provide for applications and certifications; to provide for the revocation of qualified status; to provide for audits; to provide for certain penalties; to require annual reporting; to provide for the discretion to refer certain acts to the Attorney General for investigation and prosecution; to provide for the promulgation of rules and regulations; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
HB 394. By Representatives Carter of the 93rd, Mitchell of the 88th, Kendrick of the 95th, Oliver of the 82nd, Drenner of the 85th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elections and primaries generally, so as to provide that counties and municipalities, at their option, may conduct advance voting on the Saturday and Sunday immediately prior to the day of a primary, election, or runoff; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
HB 395. By Representative Huddleston of the 72nd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act to provide for homestead exemptions from Heard County ad valorem taxes for county purposes and from Heard County School District ad valorem taxes for educational purposes for certain residents of that county and school district, approved April 13, 1992 (Ga. L. 1992, p. 6107), so as to provide an additional homestead exemption from school district taxes for educational purposes in the amount of $20,000.00 for residents of the school district who are 70 years of age or older;
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to provide for compliance with constitutional requirements; to provide for a referendum, effective dates, and automatic repeal, mandatory execution of election, and judicial remedies regarding failure to comply; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL
HB 396. By Representatives Vance of the 133rd and Jackson of the 128th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 12-3-402 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to creation, membership, compensation, qualifications, accountabilities, and assignment, so as to add the president of Georgia College and State University to the Oconee River Greenway Authority; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on NATURAL RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENT
HB 397. By Representatives Carpenter of the 4th, Evans of the 57th, Daniel of the 117th, Jones of the 25th, and Crowe of the 118th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Titles 3 and 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to alcoholic beverages and motor vehicles and traffic, respectively, so as to change certain provisions relating to delivery of alcoholic beverages for personal use; to change and provide for definitions; to expand the area in which packaged good retailers can deliver certain alcoholic beverages; to prohibit the use of personal delivery devices to make such deliveries; 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
HB 398. By Representatives Hilton of the 48th, McCollum of the 30th, Gullett of the 19th, Carpenter of the 4th, Momtahan of the 17th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 3 of Chapter 4B of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to ticket brokers, so as to remove an exception permitting certain resale restrictions; to provide that resale restrictions are void and against public policy; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on REGULATED INDUSTRIES
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HB 399. By Representatives Schofield of the 63rd, Beverly of the 143rd, Davis of the 87th, Mitchell of the 88th, and Scott of the 76th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 30 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to handicapped persons, so as to create the Commission for the Blind and the Visually Impaired; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on HUMAN RELATIONS & AGING
HB 400. By Representatives Smith of the 18th, Efstration of the 104th, Gunter of the 8th, Holcomb of the 81st, Leverett of the 123rd, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 6 of Article 8 of Chapter 2 of Title 47 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to judges of the Supreme Court, judges of the Court of Appeals, and their employees, so as to decrease the age of eligibility for retirement benefits for appellate court judges; to provide for related matters; to provide conditions for an effective date and automatic repeal; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on RETIREMENT
HB 401. By Representatives McClain of the 109th, Gladney of the 130th, Okoye of the 102nd, Smith of the 41st, and Taylor of the 92nd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 4 of Article 13 of Chapter 6 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to mopeds, so as to require mopeds to be covered by a form of minimum financial responsibility for accident damages; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on MOTOR VEHICLES
HB 402. By Representatives Hilton of the 48th, Dubnik of the 29th, Erwin of the 32nd, Jones of the 25th, Douglas of the 78th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 3 of Article 16 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to health of elementary and secondary school students, so as to require public schools and local school systems to provide water safety education information upon initial enrollment to parents and guardians of students
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under 18 years of age and directly to student 18 years of age and older; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on EDUCATION
HB 403. By Representatives Jasperse of the 11th, Crowe of the 118th, Newton of the 127th, Powell of the 33rd, Wiedower of the 121st, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 7 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to income taxes, so as to provide for a tax credit for certain expenses incurred by taxpayers for certain geothermal machinery installations at residential dwellings; to provide for definitions; to provide for terms and conditions; to provide for a sunset date; 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 WAYS & MEANS
HB 404. By Representatives Carpenter of the 4th, Williamson of the 112th, Cooper of the 45th, Crawford of the 84th, Oliver of the 82nd, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 7 of Title 44 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to landlord and tenant, so as to provide for a duty of habitability for certain rental agreements; to provide for an exception to such duty; to provide for an exception to landlord tort liability; to provide for definitions; to provide for notice; to provide for a maximum security deposit amount; to provide for expedited evictions for certain criminal activity; to provide for a short title; to provide for applicability; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY
HB 405. By Representatives Crawford of the 84th, Mitchell of the 88th, Au of the 50th, Scott of the 76th, Douglas of the 78th, 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 an annual review of medications and
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treatment for sickle cell disease for Medicaid recipients; to provide for public input; to provide for an annual report; 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 HEALTH
HB 406. By Representatives Jasperse of the 11th, Powell of the 33rd, Corbett of the 174th, Thomas of the 21st, Parsons of the 44th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 2 of Title 46 and Chapter 1 of Title 10 of the O.C.G.A., relating to jurisdiction of and powers and duties of the Georgia Public Service Commission generally and selling and other trade practices, respectively, so as to provide for the regulation of the provision of certain electricity used as a motor fuel in electric vehicles; to provide for related matters; to provide for effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on TECHNOLOGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE INNOVATION
HB 407. By Representatives Smith of the 18th, Wiedower of the 121st, Franklin of the 160th, Anulewicz of the 42nd, and Hilton of the 48th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 3 of the O.C.G.A., relating to alcoholic beverages, so as to provide for regulation of the manufacture, distribution, and sale of malt beverages; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on REGULATED INDUSTRIES
HB 408. By Representatives Williamson of the 112th and Blackmon of the 146th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 48-8-3 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to exemptions from sales and use tax, so as to change the sunset provision for the exemption for competitive projects of regional significance; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
HB 409. By Representatives Daniel of the 117th, Burchett of the 176th, Kelley of the 16th, Reeves of the 99th, Leverett of the 123rd, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 80 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions applicable to counties, municipal
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corporations, and other governmental entities, so as to authorize local authorities to dispose of real property in the same manner as county governing authorities; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
HB 410. By Representatives Daniel of the 117th, Smith of the 138th, Corbett of the 174th, New of the 64th, and Dickey of the 145th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 51 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to water and wastewater treatment plant operators and laboratory analysts, so as to provide certain certification requirements for operators of wastewater treatment plants; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on NATURAL RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENT
HB 411. By Representatives Bazemore of the 69th, Beverly of the 143rd, Park of the 107th, McClain of the 109th, and Carter of the 93rd: 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 of labor and industrial relations, so as to prohibit an employer from seeking salary history information about an applicant during the hiring process; to provide for definitions; to provide for applicability and exceptions; to require employers to make certain disclosures in job postings; 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
HB 412. By Representatives Williamson of the 112th and Blackmon of the 146th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 7 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to income taxes, so as to repeal a limitation on the types of partnerships that may elect to pay income taxes at the entity level; 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 WAYS & MEANS
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HB 413. By Representatives Williams of the 148th, Meeks of the 178th, Rhodes of the 124th, Dickey of the 145th, Blackmon of the 146th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 33-1-25 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the "Georgia Agribusiness and Rural Jobs Act," so as to provide for a second round of funding and period for applications; to increase an application fee and provide for an annual maintenance fee; to change certain reporting requirements; to revise and provide for definitions; 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 414. By Representatives Blackmon of the 146th, Hatchett of the 155th, Williams of the 168th, Oliver of the 82nd, and Mughal of the 105th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 37 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to governing and regulation of mental health, so as to provide for a grant program within the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities to provide behavioral health services to military service members, veterans, and their families; to provide for definitions; to provide for program qualification requirements; to provide for the adoption of rules and regulations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on HEALTH
HB 415. By Representatives Silcox of the 53rd and Martin of the 49th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 8 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to joint county and municipal sales and use tax (LOST), so as to revise a provision related to the call of elections; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
*HB 436. By Representatives Corbett of the 174th, Smith of the 70th, Smith of the 138th, Burchett of the 176th, Taylor of the 173rd, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 3 of Article 2 of Chapter 4 of Title 12 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to surface mining, so as to revise maximum
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criminal penalties for violations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on NATURAL RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENT HR 184. By Representatives Schofield of the 63rd, Howard of the 129th, Beverly of the 143rd, Frazier of the 126th, Corbett of the 174th, and others: A RESOLUTION urging all owners and operators of Georgia's self-service gasoline stations to implement policies and practices to better assist disabled or mobility-impaired individuals who cannot dispense their own gasoline; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on MOTOR VEHICLES HR 185. By Representatives Bennett of the 94th, Jenkins of the 136th, Dempsey of the 13th, Lewis-Ward of the 115th, Newton of the 127th, and others: A RESOLUTION creating the House Healthy Food Retail Study Committee to investigate the lack of access to fresh, healthy food in certain rural and urban areas in Georgia; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on AGRICULTURE & CONSUMER AFFAIRS
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SENATE FIRST READERS IN HOUSE WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2023 NINETEENTH LEGISLATIVE DAY
SB 27. By Senators Brass of the 28th, Robertson of the 29th, Beach of the 21st, Rahman of the 5th, Moore of the 53rd, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 33-6-4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the enumeration of unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices and penalty, so as to prohibit a health care insurer from requiring an ophthalmologist or optometrist to extend any discounts on services that are not covered eye care services in order to receive increased payments, better reimbursements, preferential treatment, or any other benefit; 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 42. By Senators Hodges of the 3rd, Albers of the 56th, Hatchett of the 50th, Williams of the 25th, Hickman of the 4th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 16-5-47 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to posting model notice with human trafficking hotline information in businesses and on internet, so as to increase the fine for failure to comply with model notice requirements; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL
SB 65. By Senators Watson of the 1st, Walker III of the 20th, Hodges of the 3rd, Kennedy of the 18th, Gooch of the 51st, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions, so as to authorize the Commissioner of Insurance to take certain actions, including but not limited to promulgating rules, applying for federal moneys, and establishing an advisory committee, to create, implement, or operate a state, federal, or partnership exchange or marketplace; to repeal former exemptions and prohibitions; 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
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SB 69. By Senators Watson of the 1st, Anavitarte of the 31st, Kennedy of the 18th, Gooch of the 51st, Brass of the 28th, 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 Clarence Thomas within the capitol building or grounds; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on SPECIAL RULES SB 104. By Senator Rhett of the 33rd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act changing the compensation of the clerk of the superior court, the sheriff, and the judge of the Probate Court of Cobb County from the fee system to the salary system, approved February 9, 1949 (Ga. L. 1949, p. 427), as amended, particularly by an Act approved May 13, 2022 (Ga. L. 2022, p. 6110), so as to change the compensation of the sheriff; to revise provisions relating to the compensation of deputies, the chief deputy, the assistant chief deputy, and the executive assistant to the sheriff; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL
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