Weekly wrap-up [House] [No. 10 (Apr. 3, 2002)]

GEORGIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE ROOM 131, STATE CAPITOL 30334 404-656-5082 1-800-282-5800
Weekly Wrap-up #10
Back to PIO The House reconvened on Monday, April 1, 2002 at 10:00 am. and will be in recess Thursday, April 4, 2002 and Friday, April 5, 2002. This is to allow budget conferees to work on the FY 2003 spending plan. The House will reconvene Tuesday, April 9, 2002 at 10:00 am. A court ruling on Georgia's proposed district maps drawn last August is also expected by the end of the week. There are three working days remaining in the legislative session.
Combating Bioterrorism - SB 385 passed on Wednesday by a vote of 112 - 52. This is part of the Governor's legislative package and is a very broad proposal updating a law passed in 1951. Under the bill, the Governor could call a public health emergency in the case of an outbreak of infectious disease which would put in action planned quarantine and vaccination measures by the Department of Human Resources. The bill also states the General Assembly must be called into session the morning after the declaration to approve or vote down the emergency declaration. The measure grants the Governor several other powers after an emergency declaration as well. Some of these include the power to restrict sales and transportation of guns, explosives and alcohol and the ability to make hospitals to provide medical services or the use of their facilities if necessary for the response to a public health emergency. To view SB 385 click here
Provisional Voting - SB 414, which passed on Wednesday 155 - 8, allows for provisional voting and clarifies procedures for the state to use electronic voting machines instead of punch card ballots in elections. The General Assembly has earmarked $54 million in the recently passed supplemental budget for the electronic upgrades. For provisional voting, the bill allows people who are not on a voter list at a precinct but claim to be registered, to cast a provisional ballot. To qualify, they would have to swear under oath they are eligible to vote and they had not voted that day. Their ballot would only be counted if the oath is determined to be valid. Georgia is one of only thirteen states that do not allow provisional ballots.
Local Road Funding - On Monday the House passed HB 1523 by a vote of 163 - 0. The bill allocates one cent from the state's motor fuel tax to LARP, which is the Local Assistance Road Program. Currently, of the motor fuel tax, a majority is dedicated to roads and one cent goes into the general fund. It is estimated that transferring the general fund component of the motor fuel tax to LARP could produce an additional $50 to 60 million for improving local roads. This money would be on top of the current $29 million in LARP funding. However, the Senate has failed to waive its rules to allow for a vote on the measure, making it unable to continue in the legislative process. This is required because the bill was passed in the House after the 33rdday.
Transportation Security Act - On Wednesday SB 330 passed by a vote of 107 - 51. The measure makes anyone who intentionally avoids, interferes, or attempts to disable a security measure in a public transportation facility guilty of a misdemeanor of a high an aggravated

nature with penalties of 20 years in prison and $15,000 in fines. It also says anyone who makes a false alarm could face fines of $1,000 or 1 to 5 years in jail. They would have to pay restitution for the costs of the false alarm as well. Counties, cities or municipalities would also be allowed to share jurisdiction over airports whose runways cross their borders under the bill.
Legal Loan Forgiveness Program - SB 465 passed on Wednesday by a vote of 118 - 30. The measure, which is part of the Governor's legislative package, authorizes the Georgia Student Finance Authority to establish and administer education loan forgiveness programs for attorneys working in the area of public interest.
Fishing - On Tuesday the House passed SB 347 by a vote of 161 - 0. Under the bill, commercial fishermen in Georgia would be allowed to catch an unlimited amount of whiting, spot and Atlantic Croker. The measure also eliminates the limit on the amount of whiting sport fishermen can keep.
Nationally Certified Teachers - SB 368 was adopted on Wednesday 158 - 3 and is a part of the Governor's legislative package. It gives a 10 percent state salary supplement to teachers who become nationally certified every year. The measure also removes the requirement that teachers must have been teaching for three years in Georgia before they can receive the bonus.
Bail Bondsmen - SB 530, which passed Tuesday 132 - 25, requires bail bondsmen to get eight hours of continuing education a year to keep their licenses. To view legislation click here
Other Legislation Passed this Week
Monday, April 1, 2002 - 35th Day of the Session SB 61, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Article 5 of Chapter 9 of Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to indemnification of law enforcement officers, firemen, prison guards, and publicly employed emergency medical technicians, so as to provide for the indemnification of state highway employees with respect to death or permanent disability; to change certain provisions relating to definitions of terms; to provide for the inclusion of certain persons in the Georgia State Indemnification Commission; to authorize appropriation of funds to the Georgia State Indemnification Fund; to provide for the payment of indemnification to state highway employees; to provide for requirements for applications for indemnification; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 163 - 0. SB 220, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 15-7-21, of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to qualifications of state court judges, restrictions on the practice of law, removal, discipline, and involuntary retirement, so as to change the provisions relating to qualifications for election and reelection of judges; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 158 - 0. SB 361, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 21 of Title 2 of the O.C.G.A., known as the ""Georgia Organic Certification and Labeling Act,"" so as to provide that no person who produces, processes, distributes, or handles an advertised, promoted, identified, tagged, stamped, packaged, or labeled organic food or feed ingredient, article, commodity, or product may substitute or commingle any ingredient, article, commodity, or product which does not comply with Code Section 2-21-3; to repeal the requirement that certain organic food or feed ingredients

bear the official seal of the certifying entity; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 142 - 14. SB 388, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 42-2-3 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to meetings of the Board of Corrections, so as to adjust the quorum requirement for the Board of Corrections consistent with the increase in the boards size due to the 2000 census; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 139 - 1. SB 389, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Title 42 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to penal institutions, so as to enable the State of Georgia to transfer and exchange inmates with foreign countries that have entered into treaties with the United States for that purpose; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 161 - 1.
Tuesday, April 2, 2002 - 36th Day of the Session SB 253, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 11 of Title 14 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, known as the ""Georgia Limited Liability Company Act,"" so as to change certain definitions and cross-references; to change the provisions relating to approval rights of members and managers; to change the provisions relating to distributions upon the event of dissociation; to change the provisions relating to assignment of limited liability company interest; to change the provisions relating to taxation; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 161 - 0. SB 358, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 12 of Title 25 of the O.C.G.A., relating to regulation of fire extinguishers and suppression systems, so as to change the powers and authority of the Commissioner with regard to licensees or permittees who violate the provisions of such chapter, rules and regulations of the Commissioner, and order and notices of the Commissioner; to change the grounds for suspension, revocation, and refusal to issue, renew, or continue licenses and permits; to authorize the Commissioner to impose fines for violations of such chapter; to authorize the Commissioner to place licensees or permittees on probation under such reasonable terms and conditions as the Commissioner may determine; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 155 - 1. SB 391, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Part 7 of Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 12 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, the ""Sapelo Island Heritage Authority Act,"" so as to change the membership of such authority; to provide for the appointment of certain members; to provide for reimbursement of expenses; to provide for a quorum; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 149 - 10. SB 405, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 48-5-24 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to payment of county taxes, so as to revise and change the population and census application and certain provisions regarding payment of ad valorem taxes in installments; to provide effective dates; to provide for automatic repeal of certain provisions; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 162 - 0. SB 409, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 9 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Georgia Building Authority, so as to authorize the Georgia Building Authority to operate child care and child development centers; to authorize the Georgia Building Authority to enter into contracts for the operation of such centers; to purchase, rent, lease, sell, and otherwise acquire and dispose of personal and real property for the operation of such centers; to authorize the Georgia Building Authority to apply for and obtain all such licenses, permissions, regulatory approvals, and similar matters for the operation of such centers; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 144 - 6. SB 439, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend an Act known as the ""Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid

Transit Authority Act of 1965,"" approved March 10, 1965 (Ga. L. 1965, p. 2243), as amended, so as to provide that the police chief or chief executive officer of the security force created by said Act shall have the authority to administer the oath of office to any eligible peace officer employed as a member of such force; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 139 - 2.
Wednesday, April 3, 2002 - 37th Day of the Session SB 119, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 10A of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, the ""Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists Licensing Law,"" so as to provide for the licensing of mental health therapists and associate mental health therapists; to change the provisions relating to the short title, legislative purpose, and definitions; to change the provisions relating to the Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists, and standards committees thereof; to change the provisions prohibiting the unlicensed practice of specialties and the use of certain titles and change the exceptions to such prohibitions; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 152 - 5. SB 276, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 18 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to prosecuting attorneys, so as to change the procedures relating to the appointment of a substitute for a district attorney or solicitor-general who is disqualified from engaging in a prosecution; to provide for other matters relative to the foregoing; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 151 - 0. SB 353, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 7 of the O.C.G.A., known as the ""Financial Institutions Code of Georgia,"" so as to include objectives of the chapter for entities under the supervision of the Department of Banking and Finance that are not financial institutions; to change the restrictions on investments by certain employees of the department; to specify the restrictions on the receipt of gifts and business activities by certain employees of the department; to authorize the department to collect certain fees by electronic deductions; to authorize the department to share certain information with federal or state regulatory agencies; to specify the types of hearings available to a party; to provide for certain types of stock and securities transactions by banks; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 163 - 0. SB 370, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 5 of Title 4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, known as the ""Dead Animal Disposal Act,"" so as to change the definition of dead animals that are subject to such chapter; to prohibit certain conduct; to change the provisions relating to the disposal of dead animals and the requirement related thereto; to regulate the hauling or transportation of dead animals; to provide for permits; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 155 - 0. SB 399, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 11 of Title 4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to animal protection, so as to provide that animal shelters shall be subject to regulation by certain applicable local zoning and animal control ordinances; to amend Code Section 41-1-7 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to treatment of agricultural facilities and operations as nuisances, so as to provide that agricultural operations that breed or keep dogs shall be subject to regulation by applicable local zoning and animal control regulations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 116 - 16. SB 425, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Part 1A of Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, the ""Nonpublic Postsecondary Educational Institutions Act

of 1990,"" so as to revise definitions; to change a provision relating to educational institutions exempt from the Act, to increase the number of members of the Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission, and to change the number of members required to call a meeting or to take official action; to provide that the Tuition Guaranty Trust Fund shall be named as a beneficiary of surety bonds filed by nonpublic postsecondary educational institutions; to increase the amount of the surety bond required for certain institutions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 161 - 4. SB 438, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 36-22-4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the creation of the Georgia Greenspace Trust Fund, so as to provide for an allocation of certain funds; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 139 - 12. HR 1118, A resolution strongly urging the United States Congress to adopt legislation requiring the Medicare program to cover the cost of all oral anticancer drugs; passed 142 - 4. HR 1324, A resolution urging the United States Congress to restore funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) at the $110 million level in the fiscal year 2003 federal budget; passed 117 - 43. HR 1487, A resolution urging the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to recognize Walter Boone McNeely for his contributions to the Richard B. Russell State Park; passed 161 - 0.
To view legislation click here
Georgia House of Representatives Public Information Office