Weekly wrap-up [House] [No. 2 (Feb. 1, 2002)]

GEORGIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE
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Weekly Wrap-up #2
Back to PIO Following a week recess observing the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday and allowing state department heads to present their spending priorities in the $16.2 billion FY 2003 Budget before a Joint Appropriations Committee, the Georgia General Assembly reconvened at 10 a.m. Monday, January 28th. Also, the Governor's annual State of the State Address before a joint session of the General Assembly has been rescheduled for February 6th at 11:00 a.m. It was originally scheduled for January 31st at 11:00 a.m. but was moved to accommodate the President's visit.
Classroom Construction - On Monday the House passed HB 1000 by a vote of 171 - 4. The measure is part of the Governor's Legislative Package and issues $620 million in state bonds to build 5,000 new classrooms for local schools throughout Georgia. Around $420 million was in last year's budget but was not spent. Taking advantage of low interest rates, Governor Barnes wants the money to be provided through 20 year bonds so they can be used for budget purposes this year. To view HB 1000 click here To view spending proposals click here
Billboards - SB 59 passed on Monday by a vote of 98 - 66. The bill allows flashing billboards to change their message every 6 seconds instead of every 10 seconds. Originally, the measure would have reduced the minimum distance between billboards down from 5,000 feet to 3,000 feet. However, it was amended to keep the minimum distance at 5,000 feet, which is currently the law. Veterans License Plates - HR 646 passed unanimously on Thursday by a vote of 161 - 0. The measure would allow Georgia veterans and their spouses to purchase special license plates commemorating military service. Sales from the license plates would go into a veterans nursing home care trust fund and be disbursed for enhancement of the states veterans nursing home as well as the care of it's residents. Voters must approve the proposal as a referendum on November's ballot. If passed, it would become an amendment to the state constitution.
Public Service Commission Districts - HB 1074 was passed by the House on Friday by a vote of 158 - 0. The billreapportions the five election districts of the Public Service Commission to reflect Georgia's population growth during the last ten years. PSC members are elected statewide but must establish legal residence in one of five geographical districts.
Septic Tank Waste - HB 1030 passed on Friday by a vote of 145 - 20. The measure requires companies to get a county-issued permit if they dispose up to 40,000 gallons or less of septic

tank waste per acre, per day. Companies that dispose of more than 40,000 gallons would still be subject to the regulatory control of the state's Environmental Protection Division. To view legislation click here
Other Legislation Passed this Week Monday, January 28, 2002 - 6th Day of the Session HB 639, A bill to amend Article 1 of Chapter 2 of Title 53 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, the Revised Probate Code of 1998, relating to general provisions relative to descent and distribution; to amend Chapter 3 of Title 53 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, the Revised Probate Code of 1998, relating to year's support; to amend Article 5 of Chapter 4 of Title 53 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, the Revised Probate Code of 1998, relating to revocation and repudiation of wills; to amend Code Section 53-5-22 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to notice of petition for probate in solemn form; to amend Chapter 7 of Title 53 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, the Revised Probate Code of 1998, relating to administration of estates generally; to amend Chapter 11 of Title 53 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, the Revised Probate Code of 1998; passed 146 - 24. HB 996, A bill to amend the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, so as to correct typographical, stylistic, capitalization, punctuation, and other errors and omissions in the Official Code of Georgia Annotated and in Acts of the General Assembly amending the Official Code of Georgia Annotated; passed 166 - 0. HB 997, A bill to amend Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elections, so as to correct typographical, stylistic, and other errors and omissions in Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated and in Acts of the General Assembly amending Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated; passed 168 - 0.
Tuesday, January 29, 2002 - 7th Day of the Session HB 945, A bill to amend Title 4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to animals, so as to provide for the establishment of a dog and cat sterilization support program and educational activities; to provide for funds; to provide for rules; to provide for reports; to amend Article 2 of Chapter 2 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles generally, so as to authorize the issuance of license plates promoting the dog and cat sterilization support program and related educational activities of the Department of Agriculture; passed 155 - 1. HB 975, A bill to amend Code Section 47-14-22 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the powers and duties of the board of trustees of the Superior Court Clerks' Retirement Fund, so as to increase the allowable discretionary cost of living benefit increase; passed 150 - 0. HB 1086, A bill to amend Article 2 of Chapter 2 of Title 26 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, known as the ""Georgia Food Act,"" so as to provide that certain food sales establishments shall post licenses on the premises in an open and conspicuous manner so as to be visible to the public; passed 155 - 7. HB 1087, A bill 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 for additional definitions; passed 157 - 0.
Wednesday, January 30, 2002 - 8th Day of the Session

SB 177, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 33-5-26 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, related to the endorsement of insurance contract by broker, so as to require that certain surplus lines policies must provide brochures explaining coverages at the time of application for the policies; to authorize the promulgation of rules and regulations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 166 - 2.
Thursday, January 31, 2002 - 9th Day of the Session HR 787, A resolution designating US Highway 301 as the Public Safety and Veterans Highway; passed 163 - 0.
Friday, February 1, 2002 - 10th Day of the Session HB 1042, A bill to amend Code Section 52-7-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to classification of vessels and required equipment, so as to provide for required lifesaving equipment on certain vessels; passed 165 - 0. HB 1057, A bill to amend Part 2 of Article 4 of Chapter 4 of Title 27 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to crabs, so as to provide for the permissible possession of crabs lawfully taken from the waters of another state; to require certain proof of the point of origin; to provide that it shall be unlawful to take or possess a female blue crab bearing visible eggs; passed 162 - 1. HB 1058, A bill to amend Title 27 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to game and fish, so as to provide for the release of quail for purposes of dog training; to provide for marking and recovering such quail; to provide for the use of a shotgun with ammunition for dog training; passed 163 - 1. HB 1059, A bill to amend Code Section 27-4-130.1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to open seasons, creel and possession limits, and minimum size limits for certain finfish species, so as to provide for a maximum legal size of red drum; passed 168 - 1. HB 1088, A bill to amend Article 10 of Chapter 2 of Title 26 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to fish and other seafoods, so as to change the provisions relating to fees for a nonresident or alien wholesale fish dealer; to provide for reciprocal agreements; passed 163 - 0. HB 1101, A bill to amend Title 47 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to retirement and pensions, so as to correct typographical, stylistic, and other errors and omissions in Title 47 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, and in Acts of the General Assembly amending Title 47 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated; passed 160 -0. HR 264, A resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution so as to provide for a dog and cat sterilization support program and provide funds for the program from the sale of special license plates; passe 160 -1. HR 800, A resolution designating the WWII Veterans Memorial Intersection, the Korean War Veterans Memorial Intersection, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Intersection; passed 154 0. To view legislation click here The Rules committee, which determines the bills that get voted on in the House, began meeting on Friday, February 1st to set the Rules calendar for Monday, February 4th. They will be meeting in room 404 of the State Capitol every morning for the remainder of the session to set the Calendar for the next legislative day.
Georgia House of Representatives Public Information Office