GEORGIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE ROOM 131, STATE CAPITOL 30334 404-656-5082 1-800-282-5800
Weekly Wrap-up #11
Back to PIO The House of Representatives reconvened Tuesday, April 22, at 10:00 am for the 39th day and, after voting to change the schedule, adjourned Sine Die on Friday, April 25th for the 40th day, ending the first regular session of the 147th General Assembly of Georgia. This is the longest session since 1889. Session Ends -At midnight of Friday, April 25th the first regular session of the 147th General Assembly of Georgia adjourned Sine Die after House Speaker Terry Coleman (D-Eastman) slammed the gavel down ending the longest session in more than a century. Sine Die is a Latin term meaning "without day".
New State Flag - Late Friday night a final agreement was reached on HB 380 which will give Georgians an opportunity to vote on a new state banner. The change was adopted 91 - 86 and was passed in the Senate as well. Featured on the flag is the state's coat of arms and the words "In God We Trust" on a blue corner in the top left, with three red-and-white stripes to the right. It resembles a Confederate national flag and the pre-1956 Georgia state flag. Upon the Governor's signature, the current flag passed in 2001 would come down and this new banner would fly above the state capitol. Then in March, a referendum would be held giving Georgians a choice between the new flag and the one adopted in 2001 under the Barnes' Administration. To read HB 380 click here
Compromise Tax Bill - On Friday the house agreed to a conference committee report on HB 43 by a vote of 111 - 59. The omnibus bill helps balance the state's budget which is required by Georgia's Constitution and provides several tax credits. Under the measure, the tax on cigarettes would be increased by 25 cents to 37 cents per pack, a 10 percent tax on loose tobacco would be imposed and the tax on cigars would be raised from 10 percent to 23 percent. This is expected to raise $180 million to help offset a $400 million shortfall. The measure also allows seniors to shield more of their retirement income from being taxed by the state. Beginning in 2006 seniors 62 years and older could shield the first $25,000 of retirement income from taxes and would reach $30,000 in 2008. A four day holiday from the state sales tax is also established under the bill from July 31st to August 3rd at midnight of this year. School supplies, clothing under $100, eye wear and certain technology items, including computers under $1,500 would be exempted. And lastly, tax credits are provided for Daimler-Chrysler, the Rubbermaid Corp. and the proposed Atlanta Aquarium in the bill. To go to HB 43 click here
State Budget for FY 2004 - The house agreed to the conference committee report on HB 122 by

a vote of 130 - 45. This is the state's $16 billion budget for 04 fiscal year which begins June 30th. The measure balances by relying in part on $180 million from tobacco tax increases with the passage of the conference committee report on HB 43 and $165.8 million in money saved by delaying state employees' final paychecks of the year by one day so the expense falls into another year. Highlights include: $10 million for Greenspace, $30 million for the school nurse program, $186 million in bonds to build new public school classrooms, and another $61 million was slated for major improvements on university system campuses,$80 million to help lure major new industries to the state, $2 million for the state's newly created indigent defense system, $400,000 for the Georgia Rail Passenger Authority that had been cut in the Senate, $250,000 for the operations of the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District and $276,817 to the Department of Banking to help implement the predatory lending law. To go to the House Appropriation Committee click here To go to the Legislative Budget Office click here
Uniform Indigent Defense System - Friday saw the passage of the conference committee report on HB 770, by 160 - 14.Under the bill intended to fix how Georgia provides legal representation for the poor, an 11-member state board will oversee public defender offices in the state's 49 judicial circuits. The governor, lieutenant governor, House speaker, Court of Appeals and Georgia Supreme Court would have two appointments for the 11-member oversight board, with the other position being filled by a public defender. The board also, which will be formed in next year begin operating in 2005, is expected to set standards of performance to ensure quality representation and can remove defenders whose quality of representation fails to meet the standards. Certain counties would be allowed to opt out of the program after meeting standards and public defender offices would provide legal representation to indigents charged only in Superior or Juvenile courts, but would be allowed to contract with county courts to handle misdemeanor cases. The new system is estimated to cost $45 million. In 2001, the state funded 11 percent of the $55 million system and an estimated 170,000 defendants qualified for a publicly funded defender in Georgia. The federal courts have threatened to step in and mandate a system unless lawmakers make changes that provide adequate representation for all. To read HB 770 click here
Class Size - A revised version of SB 249 was agreed to on Friday by a vote of 164 - 5. This a part of the Governor's legislative agenda and allows school systems to delay reducing class sizes in grades 4-12 for one year. The measure also gives local districts more control over how they spend state funding. The state began phasing in smaller class sizes in 2000. The 2003-04 school year was supposed to be the fourth year of the phase-in. School systems wanted a break because of the cost, which has been more difficult to bear in the slow economy. Speeding up Bidding Process for Road Projects - Tuesday saw the passage of SB 257 by a vote of 161 - 2. Road contractors would be allowed to come to the state Department of Transportation with projects before they have been planned or funded. Potential competitors would be given 90 days to study bids and submit their own proposal. Also, oversight of unsolicited contracts are required from the Governor and legislature under the bill and unsolicited proposals would be limited to those that do not have funding or are not on the Department of Transportation's project list. Intentions are to speed up projects that a re low on the DOT's priority list. Toll Revenues - SB 221, which passed on Tuesday 156 - 0, limits the use of toll revenues to the

construction, maintenance, or improvement of the project from which the tolls are collected. GA 400 which is north of Atlanta is the state's only toll road. Expanding No-Call List - On Tuesday the House passed SB 272, 160 - 0. The measure allows citizens to add their cell phone numbers to the no-call list for telemarketers. Renaming Roads - SB 73 passed on Tuesday 154 - 0 and prohibits the naming or renaming of state property for any elected public official unless he or she has been out of office for at least five years.
Terrorism - SB 183 passed on Tuesday 167-0 and would make it a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature for any person to knowingly infect Georgia livestock with any foreign biological or chemical agent which could pose a substantial threat to the state's animal industries. Greenspace - SB 247 passed on Tuesday 156 - 3 and allows Georgia citizens to contribute a portion of their state income tax returns to the state's Greenspace trust fund.To view legislation click here Other Legislation Passed This Week Tuesday, April 22nd - 39th Day of the Session SB 33, 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 other state symbols, so as to designate The Mighty Eighth Air Force Heritage Museum as an official State of Georgia center for character education; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 162 - 0. SB 46, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Article 4 of Chapter 21 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Peace Officer and Prosecutor Training Fund, so as to provide that such fund shall be used solely for peace officer and prosecutor training; to provide for an accounting of receipts and appropriations; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 158 - 0. SB 80, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Part 3 of Article 1 of Chapter 11 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to jurisdiction and venue of juvenile court proceedings, so as to provide juvenile court jurisdiction to order temporary child support for a deprived child; to provide for matters related to payment of child support and custody; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 154 - 0. SB 81, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 11 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to emergency medical services, so as to create the Georgia Emergency Medical Services Medical Directors Advisory Council; to provide for duties of such council; to provide for appointment of members of such council; to provide for rules and regulations or policies governing such council; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 160 - 0. SB 86, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 66A of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to transfer of development rights, so as to define certain terms; to revise procedures relative to the creation of the transfer of development rights within or between political subdivisions; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 155 - 0. SB 87, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 36-82-61 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to definitions regarding Article 3 of Chapter 82 of Title 36, the "Revenue Bond Law," so as to change the definition of "undertaking"; to remove the referendum requirement with respect to revenue certificates issued for gas generation and distribution systems; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 141 - 0. SB 88, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 12 of the O.C.G.A., relating to public authorities, so as to change a provision relating to the Georgia Music Hall of

Fame Advisory Committee; to change the composition of the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame Authority; to change provisions relating to the purpose of said authority; to provide for a Georgia Sports Hall of Fame Advisory Committee; to provide for its responsibilities; to provide for the transfer of personnel to the Department of Community Affairs; to amend Article 1 of Chapter 8 of Title 50 of the O.C.G.A., relating to general provisions relative to the Department of Community Affairs, so as to authorize the department to assist the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame Authority; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 145 - 4. SB 96, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to insurance, so as to require health benefit policy coverage for off-label prescription drug use for insureds with lifethreatening or chronic and disabling conditions or diseases; to provide definitions; to provide for conditions of coverage; to provide for exclusions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 154 - 2. SB 113, 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 change certain provisions relating to government meetings that are not required to be open to the public; to provide that certain requests for records be required to be in writing; to change certain provisions relating to exceptions from the requirements of disclosure of public records; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 164 - 0 . SB 117, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 16 of Title 15, relating to sheriffs in general, so as to provide that it shall be unlawful for any sheriff in this state to engage either directly or indirectly in any private security business, any private investigation business, or any bail bond business; to prescribe punishment; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 159 - 0. SB 121, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 11 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions of abandoned motor vehicles, so as to provide that the department shall have the authority to regulate the business of nonconsensual towing; to provide that the department shall have the authority to set rates for businesses engaged in nonconsensual towing; to provide for a penalty for violation; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 163 - 6. SB 166, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 33-28-3 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to standard nonforfeiture provisions for individual deferred annuities, so as to provide for a minimum nonforfeiture rate of 1 1/2 percent on individual deferred annuities; to provide for a sunset to such provision; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 165 - 0. SB 167, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 34-8-155 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to benefit experience and variations from standard rate of employer contributions during certain periods, so as to provide for an extension of the reduction in contribution rates through December 31, 2004; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 166 - 0. SB 169, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Title 25 of the O.C.G.A., relating to fire protection and safety, so as to change certain provisions relating to general requirements, equipment and clothing, personnel, and insurance relative to fire departments; to change certain provisions relating to suspension or revocation of certificate of compliance; to change certain provisions relating to definitions relative to firefighter standards and training; to change certain provisions relating to the Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council; to provide for an executive

director of the Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 157 - 0. SB 178, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Subpart 2 of Part 6 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to conditions of employment of certain persons under the Quality Basic Education Act, so as to provide for salary increases for certain persons credentialed as National Certified School Counselors; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 136 - 32. SB 182, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 41 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the abatement of nuisances, so as to change definitions; to clarify the procedures for imposition and collection of nuisance abatement liens; to clarify procedures relating to the collection of tax liens; to amend Chapter 4 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to tax sales, so as to change provisions relating to judicial in rem tax foreclosures; to incorporate changes made to Chapter 2 of Title 41; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 151 - 14. SB 192, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 8 of Title 19 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to adoption, so as to change the provisions relating to access to records; to correct the name of the Office of Adoptions; to amend Chapter 10 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to vital records, so as to change the provisions relating to the contents of certificates and to reports and records; to change provisions relating to practices and procedures; to provide for receipt of a copy of his or her original birth certificate by an adopted person in certain circumstances; to provide for applicability; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 167 - 2. SB 200, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the commissioner, Department, and Board of Human Resources, so as to permit the department to obtain conviction data that is relevant to any adult who has contact with a child who is the subject of a protective services referral, complaint, or investigation; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 166 - 0. SB 201, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 5 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to child abuse and deprivation records, so as to permit the Department of Human Resources to share access to child abuse records and release information from such records to the Office of School Readiness; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 164 - 0. SB 214, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 45-16-45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to authority of coroners and medical examiners to disinter bodies, so as to provide that the chief medical examiner of the Division of Forensic Sciences of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and district attorneys shall have the authority to disinter bodies under certain circumstances; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 165 - 0. SB 215, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 8 of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to employment and training of peace officers, so as to change provisions relating to reimbursement by a governmental unit that employs a peace officer within a certain period of time after such peace officer has completed training while employed by another governmental unit; to provide that the reimbursement requirement shall apply only to governmental units and not to peace officers; to require certain acknowledgment by the peace officer of such requirement as a condition to demanding reimbursement; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 161 - 0.

SB 236, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 11 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to juvenile proceedings, so as to provide for additional placement options; to change certain provisions regarding definitions; to change certain provisions regarding reunification efforts; to change certain provisions regarding child placement following termination orders; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 158 - 0. SB 244, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the O.C.G.A., relating to postsecondary education, so as to authorize tuition equalization grants for part-time students; to provide for reduced grants to part-time students; to change residency requirements for student eligibility for tuition equalization grants; to remove a restriction on tuition equalization grants for summer school; to provide a limitation on the total number of semester hours or quarter hours an eligible student may receive a tuition equalization grant; to change the residency requirements for eligibility for HOPE scholarships for students attending a private postsecondary institution; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 160 - 0. SB 277, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 48-5-7.4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to bona fide conservation use property, residential transitional property, application procedures, penalties for breach of covenant, classification on tax digest, and an annual report, so as to provide that a conservation use covenant may be renewed and continued without a lapse in the agreement; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 163 - 0. SB 291, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 12-3-58 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to powers, duties, and authority of the Department of Natural Resources and its Division of Historic Preservation relative to a historic preservation grants program, so as to redefine a certain term; to change certain provisions relating to eligibility of historic property for funding under such program; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 160 - 0. SB 292, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions applicable to law enforcement officers and agencies, so as to provide for the creation or adoption of pursuit policies by law enforcement agencies; to provide for the withholding of funding for noncompliance; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 156 - 7. HR 624, A resolution urging the United States Department of State to seek the release of Xuefei Zhou, the wife of a Georgia resident, imprisoned by the Chinese government for the practice of Falun Gong; passed 164 - 0. SR 23, A resolution designating the Dean Bryant Intersection; passed 119 - 26.
Uncontested Resolution Calendar - HR 700, A resolution creating the House Study Committee on Local Government Infrastructure; HR 745, A resolution creating the House Study Committee on the Hearing Impaired; HR 760, A resolution creating the House Meeting Georgia's Transportation Needs Through the Year 2025 Study Committee; SR 35, A resolution creating the Blue Ribbon Commission on Response, Investigation, and Prosecution of Sexual Offenses; to provide for the commission& membership, powers, duties, mission, compensation, and expenses; to provide for related matters; SR 69, A resolution designating SR 94 in Echols County as the Dan J. DeLoach Highway and extending sympathy to the family of the late Mr. DeLoach; SR 150, A resolution designating SR 41 in Meriwether County as the Dan and Marie Branch Highway; SR 171, A resolution designating the historic Dixie Highway Auto Trail; SR 220, A resolution creating the Improvement of the HOPE Scholarship Joint Study Commission;

SR 229, A resolution designating the Charles F. Hatcher Highway; SR 234, A resolution creating the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund Joint Study Committee; passed 151 - 0. Friday, April 25th - 40th Day of the Session SB 24, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 49-5-12 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to licensing and inspection of child welfare agencies and child care facilities, standards, revocation or refusal of license, penalties, and violations, so as to provide that the owner of any day-care center, family day-care home, group day-care facility, or group day-care home which is not covered by liability insurance shall post that fact in a conspicuous place in the facility; to provide for notice to the parent or guardian of each child under the care of the facility; to provide that each such parent or guardian must acknowledge receipt of such notice in writing and a copy of such acknowledgment shall be maintained on file at the facility; to provide a penalty; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 157 - 2. SB 47, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 42-9-42 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the procedure for granting relief from sentence, conditions and prerequisites, and violation of parole, so as to provide that the written decision of the Board of Pardons and Paroles in each case shall be made public; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 161 - 0. SB 97, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 48-6-2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the exemption of certain instruments, deeds, or writings from the real estate transfer tax, so as to provide additional exemptions from the real estate transfer tax; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 165 0. SB 116, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 11 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to juvenile proceedings, so as to provide for the regulation of discovery and inspection in juvenile cases; to provide for conditions, limitations, and procedures with respect thereto; to provide for applicability; to provide for disclosure of evidence and reciprocal discovery; to provide for exceptions; to provide for continuing duties to disclose; to provide for production of statements of witnesses; to provide for court orders with respect to failure to comply; to provide for other matters relative to the foregoing; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 162 - 0. SB 119, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Article 3 of Chapter 5 of Title 5 of the O.C.G.A., relating to procedures for new trial, so as to change certain provisions relating to a motion for new trial where a person is sentenced for a capital crime and DNA testing may be exculpatory; to provide for post-conviction requests for DNA testing in cases where a person is sentenced to death; to provide criteria for said motion; to provide for matters related to previous DNA testing; to provide a procedure for the motion and hearing; to amend Code Section 17-5-54 of the O.C.G.A., relating to disposition of personal property in custody of law enforcement agency, so as to conform it to the changes made in Title 5; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 161 - 0. SB 121, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 11 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions of abandoned motor vehicles, so as to provide that the department shall have the authority to regulate the business of nonconsensual towing; to provide that the department shall have the authority to set rates for businesses engaged in nonconsensual towing; to provide for a penalty for violation; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 163 - 6. SB 123, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Article 4 of Chapter 13 of Title 19 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the family violence and stalking protective order registry,

so as to clarify the use of standardized forms and a court& ability to modify the form; to specify the sheriff& duties with respect to updating and maintaining the registry; to provide for registry of foreign protective orders; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 153 - 0. SB 129, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 31-3-5 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to functions of county boards of health, so as to change the definition of the term "soil classifier"; to repeal a certain definition; to change the provisions relating to who may conduct investigations of the suitability of sites within the state for on-site sewage management systems; to require certain standards and qualifications; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 146 - 5. SB 132, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Title 14 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to corporations, partnerships, and associations, so as to change certain provisions relating to reservation of names and filing fees for corporations, nonprofit corporations, limited partnerships, and limited liability companies; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 101 - 62. SB 136, 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 interest income from certain reserve funds may be used to pay the operating costs until June 20, 2008; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 130 - 38. SB 173, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Title 40 of the O.C.G.A., relating to motor vehicles and traffic, so as to provide for the disclosure of information to governmental agencies; to provide for the addition and modification of certain definitions; to provide for certain prohibitions against the operation of a commercial motor vehicle; to provide for an additional endorsement for a commercial driver& license; to provide for additional investigation of applicants for commercial drivers& licenses; to provide for additional disqualifications from operating a commercial motor vehicle; to correct a reference; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 164 - 1. SB 190, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 3 of Title 19 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to marriage generally, so as to repeal the provisions relating to serological testing for syphilis requirements for marriage licenses; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 142 - 15. SB 193, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the O.C.G.A., relating to elementary and secondary schools, so as to revise provisions relating to procedures for terminating or suspending contracts for teachers and for nonrenewal of contracts for certain teachers; to provide for a pool of impartial persons who have expertise in education but are not employees of the local board or the state board; to provide for selection of three tribunal members from such pool; to provide for hearing before a tribunal; to remove a provision for appeal to the state board; to provide that persons who first became teachers on or after July 1, 2000, shall acquire rights to continued employment under Code Section 20-2-942; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 160 - 7. SB 207, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 12-6-24 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to providing notice of timber harvesting operations, so as to change certain provisions relating to effect on local regulation of timber harvesting operations; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 155 - 3. SB 223, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 20-2-211 of the Official Code of

Georgia Annotated, relating to annual contracts for teachers, so as to provide that teacher and other professional employee contracts shall be complete in all terms and conditions, including the amount of compensation for the ensuing school year, when presented to the teacher or professional employee of the school system; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 159 - 1. SB 229, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 40-5-53 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to when courts are to send licenses and reports of convictions to the Department of Motor Vehicle Safety, so as to change certain provisions relating to forwarding of information and fees; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 152 - 9. SB 256, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 40-6-50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to driving on divided highways, controlled-access roadways, and emergency lanes, so as to change certain provisions of law to allow the commissioner of transportation the authority to designate the location and manner when a transit bus may operate on the emergency lanes of certain controlled-access facilities; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 151 - 7. SB 261, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 66 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to zoning procedures, so as to provide for additional procedures with respect to zoning decisions; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 160 8. SB 264, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Title 31 of the O.C.G.A., relating to health, so as to provide for actions against community living arrangements and drug abuse treatment and education programs licensed by the Department of Human Resources; to provide for the relocation of residents of certain community living arrangements and patients of certain drug abuse treatment and education programs under certain conditions; to include community living arrangements in a definition of long-term care facility for purposes of reporting abuse or exploitation; to amend Title 37 of the O.C.G.A., relating to mental health, so as to provide for the licensing of community living arrangements by the Department of Human Resources; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 162 - 2. SB 265, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 31-11-53.2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the use of automated external defibrillators by lay rescuers, so as to require the registration of automated external defibrillators with the Georgia Department of Human Resources; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 141 - 24. SB 281, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 8 of Title 19 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to adoption, so as to prohibit the sale or offer for sale of a child by any parent or guardian of a child; to provide for penalties; to repeal conflicting laws; SB 345, A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 25-2-9 of the O.C.G.A., relating to the power of the state fire marshal and staff to make arrests and carry weapons, so as to revise the authority of the state fire marshal and staff to make arrests and carry weapons; to require that such personnel be certified peace officers; to provide for the power to execute certain arrest and search warrants; to provide a prohibition on resisting arrest by and interfering with the duties of such persons; to amend Code Section 35-8-10 of the O.C.G.A., relating to applicability of peace officer certification requirements generally, so as to include persons employed by the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 163 - 0. SB 346, 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 a

program for preventing teen dating violence; to provide for related matters; to delete an obsolete phrase; to repeal conflicting laws; passed 162 - 0. HR 358, A resolution urging the Department of Human Resources, Division of Family and Children Services to adopt specific Farm Bill 2002 state options to provide access to the federal food stamp program for low-income Georgians; passed 102 - 11. HR 566, A resolution urging the President of the United States and the presidents of the 33 other democratic nations of the Western Hemisphere to locate the Secretariat of the Free Trade Area of the Americas in Atlanta, Georgia, and declaring support; passed 133 - 30. Uncontested Resolution Calendar - SR 6, A resolution designating the Earl T. Shinholster Interchange and Bridge; SR 66, A resolution designating the William S. Hutchings Bridge at the Interstate 75 South and SR 74 interchange in Macon; SR 90, A resolution commending Byrd M. Bruce and designating the Byrd M. Bruce Interchange; passed 143 - 3. Uncontested Resolution Calendar - SR 67, A resolution designating the Thelma "T-Lady" Ross Bridge at the Interstate 75 South and U.S. 80 interchange in Macon; passed 144 - 3. To view legislation click here
Georgia House of Representatives Public Information Office