Weekly wrap-up [House], No. 3 (2004)

House Information Office Room 505, Legislative Office Building
Atlanta, Georgia 30334 404-656-5082 1-800-282-5800
Weekly Wrap-up #2
Back to PIO The House of Representatives reconvened Monday, February 2, 2004 at 1:00 pm for the 10th day of the 40 day session. Representatives were in recess Wednesday, February 4th to hold committee meetings and the Rules Committee began meeting on Monday February 2nd to begin setting the calendar for the next legislative day. There are 27 days remaining in the 2004 session.
Revenue Increase - It was announced this week that revenue collections are up 99.7 million which is a 7.3 increase over January 2003. This is the sixth consecutive month where there is an increase over last year. The 2005 fiscal year begins this coming July 1st.
Environmental Regulations - HB 242 was approved on Monday 131-33 and requires the state Environmental Protections Division to publish a "statement of rationale" when implementing any regulation which deviates from federal regulatory statutes. The statement's depth would be at the discretion of the EPD Director and would include the scientific basis for the new regulation, as well as the cost of implementation on both the state and local entities. Any policy guidelines, study reports, or professional judgements used in developing the new regulation would also be required to be included. Finally, the "statement of rationale" would have to include any alternate policy considerations which came up during the deliberation of the new standards.
Jail Over Crowding - HB 239, which passed on Thursday 165-0, attempts to relieve overcrowding in jails by letting sheriffs give people convicted of certain misdemeanors 4-for-1 credit for good behavior if they work on details such as picking up trash alongside roadways. Current law only allows sheriffs to offer two days of credit toward release for good behavior, but doesn't require the inmate to put forth an effort to earn his or her keep. The bill does not apply to serious misdemeanors such as DUI's and estimates show that there are some 33,000 people in local jails, many of which could earn an early release under this proposal.
Public Accessing Emergency Devices - HB 1113 was adopted on Thursday 167-1 and would make it unlawful for any person other than law enforcement, fire department or emergency personnel to posses with the ability to use, sell or purchase a MIRT device. A MIRT device, or mobile infrared transmitter, can change signals from green to red in two seconds by sending infrared beams to traffic light receivers. It is used by police and fire departments to clear intersections and halt opposing traffic on emergency runs. They can sit on the dash and be plugged into a car's 12-volt battery.
Helping the Blind - HB 1055 was adopted 165-1 on Monday and would establish a state-wide

telecommunication system which provides audible information access services to blind and print disabled citizens. The measure would be paid for with a monthly one-cent surcharge on household phone bills in the state and the Public Service Commission would contract the administration and operation the such system. The total surcharge on any bill could never exceed 20 cents.
Vince Dooley - The House honored Vince Dooley, longtime Football Coach and Athletics Director at the University of Georgia, on Tuesday. Members of the Athens delegation presented him with HR 1126 which says he will soon retire from UGA where he has devoted 40 years of untiring and exemplary service and has brought great honor.
Solid Waste Facilities - HB 1083 was adopted on Thursday 171-0 and prohibits the permitting of a disposal facility or solid waste handling facility if it is within one mile of a outdoor recreational camp for kids under 18 years of age. The camp must have also been in operation for at least 25 years.
Cosmetology - HB 1175, which passed Monday 164-3, requires the board of cosmetology to test those in the state's correctional system who apply to take the state's cosmetology exam. The measure also increase the number of Board of Cosmetology members from 9 to 11.
Spear fishing - HB 1095 passed Monday 168-2 and would allow spear fishing for catfish in the Savannah River basin.
Other Legislation Passed this Week
Monday, February 2, 2004 - 10th day of the Session HB 366, A bill to amend Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 47 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to retirement allowances, disability benefits, and spouses' benefits under the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia, so as to provide that a teacher who retired on a service retirement may be employed as a classroom teacher, principal, superintendent, counselor, or librarian without having his or her benefits affected; passed 168-0.
HB 941, A bill to amend Part 9 of Article 8 of Chapter 14 of Title 44 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to liens of veterinarians and boarders of animals, so as to change certain provisions relating to liens for treatment, board, or care of animals and right to retain possession; passed 161-2.
HB 1177, A bill to amend Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to motor vehicles and traffic, so as to change certain requirements relating to pamphlets issued by the department; to change certain provisions relating to suspension of driving privilege of a nonresident; to change certain provisions relating to issuance of forms by the department; passed

165-0.
HB 1186, A bill to amend Article 2 of Chapter 10 of Title 2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to farmers' markets, so as to define a term relative to farmers' markets; to change certain provisions relating to a license required to sell in farmers' markets and consent to inspection of property; to change certain provisions relating to suspension or revocation of registration, license, or permit, procedure, and enforcement of laws, regulations, or orders; passed 167-0.
HB 1208, A bill to amend Article 4A of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to community involvement in education and the role of local boards of education and school councils, so as to change the provisions relating to school councils and their membership, selection, terms, powers, duties, officers, operations, bylaws, meetings, practices, and procedures; passed 169-0.
Tuesday, February 3, 2004 - 11th day of the Session
HB 328, A bill to amend Code Section 20-2-55 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to per diem and expenses of local boards of education, so as to authorize the expenditure of funds for life, disability, and liability insurance, retirement and pension coverage, social security coverage, and similar benefits for members of such local boards of education; passed 162-6.
HB 441, A bill to amend Chapter 23 of Title 47 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Georgia Judicial Retirement System, so as to provide that any person who becomes a judge of the State Court of Fulton County on or after July 1, 2004, shall become a member of such retirement system; to provide that any person serving in such position on June 30, 2004, may elect to be a member of such retirement system; passed 167-0.
HB 746, A bill to amend Code Section 47-2-91 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to credit in the Employees' Retirement System of Georgia for accumulations of forfeited annual and sick leave, so as to provide that such Code section includes such forfeited annual and sick leave forfeited during certain periods of prior service; passed 167-0.
HB 1117, A bill to amend Code Section 50-27-34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the legislative oversight committee for the Georgia Lottery Corporation, so as to change the reference to the House Committee on Industry to the House Committee on Regulated Industries to conform such reference to the committee name as adopted by resolution by the Georgia House of Representatives; passed 161-0.
Thursday, February 5, 2004 - 12th day of the Session

HB 229, A bill to amend Title 29 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to guardian and ward, so as to rewrite said title; to provide for definitions; to provide for the appointment, powers, duties, termination, resignation, removal, bond, annual returns and status reports, compensation, modification, and all matters relative to guardians; to amend Titles 15,16,24,30,31, and 53 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated; to amend Code Section 5018-72 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to when public disclosure shall not be required under Article 4 of Chapter 18 of Title 50; passed 170-2.
HB 1159, A bill 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 and retention of license by the department, so as to change certain provisions relating to conviction notification requirements; passed 159-1.
Friday, February 6th, 2004 - 13th day of the Session
HB 340, A bill to amend Chapter 1 of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to law enforcement officers and agencies, so as to repeal certain provisions relating to a passenger motor vehicle for the warden of Georgia State Prison to be furnished by the Department of Public Safety; passed 94-0.
HB 618, A bill to amend Title 47 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to retirement and pensions, so as to create the Magistrates Retirement Fund; passed 99-1.
HB 794, A bill to amend Chapter 6 of Title 28 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to interstate cooperation, so as to change certain provisions regarding the function of the Georgia Commission on Interstate Cooperation; to change certain provisions regarding the status of the Council of State Governments; passed 92-3.
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