Weekly wrap-up [House], No. 7 (Mar. 7, 2003)

GEORGIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE ROOM 131, STATE CAPITOL 30334 404-656-5082 1-800-282-5800
Weekly Wrap-up #7
Back to PIO The House of Representatives reconvened Monday, March 3, 2003 at 10:00 am. Lawmakers voted to recess Friday, March 7th and reconvene Monday, March 24th at 10:00 am. The two week break will be used to work on the 2003 mid-year budget that ends June 30th and the 2004 budget, which begins July 1st. Also set in motion was a tentative schedule for the rest of the session. Members have agreed to recess March 31st through April 4th to work on the state spending plan, reconvene April 7th at 10:00 am and work through the rest of the week. They will then be in session April 14th, 15th and 16th, take one day of recess before the 40th day, and finish Sine Die on Friday April 18th. Of course, this is subject to change. Thursday was the 26th day of the 40 day session.
Predatory Lending - On Tuesday, the House passed SB 53 by a vote of 148 - 25. The measure amends the Georgia Fair Lending Act which was adopted last year and intended to stop unscrupulous lenders from extracting huge fees from unsuspecting borrowers. Several consumer protections remain in the legislation, however, House members changed SB 53 and those in support say it strikes a balance between protecting consumers and not hurting Georgia's mortgage industry. Key provisions include limiting liability to the original lender in most circumstances, not the secondary mortgage holder, and prohibiting flipping, which is the rapid refinancing of loans with no benefit for the consumer, on high cost loans. Loans are considered 'high cost' if the lender charges an interest rate higher than 10 percentage points above the U.S. Treasury yield (or approximately 13 percent) or if the total fees and points charged to the borrower exceed 7 percent of the total loan amount. A conference committee will most likely hammer out a compromise bill before the end of the session. Early this year, rating agencies like Standard & Poors requested changes in the law and said they would no longer rate securitized packages of mortgage loans, which threatened to dry up money available to those wanting to buy a home in Georgia. To view SB 53 click here
Greenspace Fund - The House passed HB 314 on Monday by a vote of 133 - 13. The measure diverts $2 million in interest from a green space fund and use it to help balance the budget. However, a new law is also needed because currently contributions to the Georgia Greenspace Fund must remain with that fund.
Soil Erosion Fee - On Tuesday the House passed HB 285 by a vote of 166 - 3. Under the bill, builders and developers would be charged an $80 per-acre fee to fund erosion-control programs at construction sites. $5.3 million is expected to be generated from the fees which will be used to hire around 80 new inspectors.
Limited Driving Permits for Teens - HB 185, which passed on Tuesday by a vote of 165 - 2,

allows 18 to 21 year olds who lose their license for 6 months because of speeding 24 mph over the limit to gain restricted driving privileges. They could be issued a provisional license and be permitted to go to school, work and church.
Bullet Proof Vests - HB 173, which passed Tuesday by a vote of 167 - 4, adds a five year prison sentence for the commission of various violent crimes while wearing body armor. The five year sentence would be added to penalties already in place for such crimes as burglary and armed robbery.
Sex Offender Registry - HB 463 that passed on Thursday 155 - 0 requires those guilty of conspiracy to transport, ship, receive, or distribute visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct to register yearly with the Criminal Justice Information System and notify the local sheriff. Failure to register could result in a felony. Also, the bill requires sex offenders to obtain a state driver's license or state identification within 30 days of relocating in Georgia.
Honoring Former Representative Max Davis - HR 29, which passed Wednesday by a vote of 159-0, honors J. Max Davis, a former member of the Georgia House of Representatives who died last year. The resolution also names the intersection of Interstate 285 and Chamblee-Dunwoody Road as the J. Max Davis Interchange.
Grief Counseling - HB 206, which passed on Thursday 155 - 2. Under the bill, counselors without a Georgia license could volunteer in this state if there were an emergency.
Death Certificates - HB 32 passed on Wednesday 165 - 0 and allows probate judges to grant death certificates where there is no corpse with "clear and convincing" evidence that a person has undergone a catastrophic incident and was killed.
Speed Reduction - HB 457, which passed 143 - 23 on Tuesday, requires drivers to slow down or merge left when passing a stationary emergency vehicles on the side of a road. Those charged could see a fine of $500.
Bingo - HB 279 passed the House on Tuesday 133 - 28 and allows for electronic devices that help elderly bingo players track numerous cards at the same time. These devices are limited to licensed bingo halls operated by non-profits.
Other Legislation Passed this Week
Monday, March 3, 2003 - 23rd Day of the Session HB 327, A bill to amend Code Section 43-14-2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to definitions, so as to provide that the term "conditioned air equipment" and the term "plumbing" include natural gas piping systems on the outlet side of the gas meter passed 161 - 4.
HB 456, A bill to amend Part 3 of Article 5 of Chapter 5 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, "the Georgia Distance Learning and Telemedicine Act of 1992," so as to

change provisions relating to the use of funds available in the Universal Service Fund; to provide that for a certain period of time such funds may be used for any lawful purpose that promotes or supports enterprise information technology needs; passed 163 - 1.
Tuesday, March 4, 2003 - 24th Day of the Session HB 93, A bill to amend Code Section 48-13-5 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to definitions relative to occupation taxes and regulatory fees, so as to revise the definition of gross receipts to exclude interorganizational sales or transfers between or among certain parent corporations, their wholly owned subsidiaries, and certain corporations partially owned by such parents or subsidiaries; passed 161 - 0.
HB 424, A bill to amend Chapter 7of Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to salaries and fees of public officers and employees, so as to provide that deductions are authorized for the purpose of contributing to savings trust accounts established under the Georgia Higher Education Savings Plan; passed 160 - 0.
HB 461, A bill to amend Chapter 24 of Title 47 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Georgia Military Pension Fund, so as to provide that certain ordered active duty shall not constitute a break in service; passed 162 - 0.
Wednesday, March 5, 2003 - 25th Day of the Session HB 117, A bill to amend Code Section 34-8-194 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to grounds for disqualification of unemployment benefits, so as to provide that leaving an employer voluntarily because of the transfer of a spouse from one military assignment to another shall not disqualify a person from such benefits; passed 161 - 0.
HB 259, A bill to amend Code Section 33-24-59.5 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to timely payment of health benefits, notification of failure to pay, and penalty for violation, so as to expressly provide that the amount of any such penalty shall not apply toward any cap on benefits payable; passed 163 - 0.
HB 293, A bill to amend Article 3 of Chapter 14 of Title 2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to honeybees, so as to change certain provisions relating to inspection of colonies and duty to register as colony owner; passed 152 - 0.
Thursday, March 6, 2003 - 26th Day of the Session HB 289, A bill to amend Code Section 45-20-16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to sick and personal leave for public officers and employees, so as to provide for restoration of certain forfeited sick leave after return to service for two consecutive years; passed 144 -7.
HB 455, A bill to amend Code Section 46-7-85.5 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to safety and mechanical inspections, so as to provide that each limousine carrier shall obtain and furnish a report of inspection for safety and mechanical function on an annual basis; passed 158 - 0.

HB 470, A bill to amend Chapter 11 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to juvenile proceedings and parental rights, so as to expand the jurisdiction of the juvenile court to all persons under the age of 18; to conform provisions relating to juveniles to such expansion of jurisdiction; passed 145 - 0.
HB 475, A bill to amend Article 2 of Chapter 18 of Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to deferred compensation plans, so as to provide that qualified defined contribution plans authorized for the state and its political subdivisions may accept contributions from employers and employees; passed 162 - 0. To view legislation click here
Georgia House of Representatives Public Information Office