House Information Office Room 505, Legislative Office Building 
Atlanta, Georgia 30334 404-656-5082 1-800-282-5800 
Weekly Wrap-up #6 
Representatives reconvened Wednesday, February 22nd at 1:00 p.m. for the 23rd day of the session. House lawmakers also voted to recess Friday, February 27th and Wednesday, March 3rd. This is to give committees more time to conduct business and allow House and Senate budget writers to work on the 2004 amended budget, which is a revised spending plan for the current fiscal year that ends June 30th. Work has also begun on the FY 2005 budget that will run from July 1st through June 30th of next year. There are 14 days remaining in the 40 day session. 
Juvenile Justice - HB 1299, which passed on Wednesday 163-0, requires prosecuting attorneys of juvenile court cases to undergo annual training and says any official operating a facility which is detaining a juvenile must provide a weekly report on all youthful offenders housed in their facility. The report would be sent to the local chief juvenile judge, and would include the child's name, age, offense, and current length of detention which would allow judges to review the information, and notify the department, or local authorities if a child is not receiving the proper attention in a timely manner. Finally, HB 1299 sets a 180-day limit for a local prosecuting attorney to determine whether a child will be indicted as an adult. 
Boating - HB 1185, which passed on Monday 162-2, requires Department of Natural Resource Officers who patrol Georgia's lakes and rivers to get the permission of the owner or operator, or have a reasonable cause to suspect that a regulation has been broken, before they board and inspect boats. The bill does not apply to any saltwater vessels, or any boat over 30 feet in length. Furthermore, persons engaged in any hunting, fishing, or commercial activities are still subject to random stops. 
Photographing Drivers - HB 1268 was adopted on Tuesday 155-7 and prohibits a traffic control device from producing a recorded image of the driver of a vehicle. Specifically the legislation says that traffic-control devices can record images of an auto's license tag so that authorities can identify it but it "shall not be used to produce any photograph, microphotograph, electronic image, or videotape showing the person operating the motor vehicle". Local governments use these photos to charge errant motorist with traffic fines. 
Natural Gas Payments - On Wednesday the House passed HB 1430 by a vote of 101-53. The measure mandates that natural gas marketers give consumers at least 20 days from the day they mail or electronically posts a bill before it becomes due. HB 1430 also requires marketers to give an eight-day grace period, after the bill's due date, in which a consumer may pay his or her bill without being subject to late fees. 
Curbing Drug Use - HB 1441 was adopted on Thursday 163-0 and makes it a felony and a trafficking offense for any person who knowingly sells, manufactures, delivers, brings into this 
 
 state, or has 28 grams or more of the drug of 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, or more commonly known as ecstacy. Those found guilty could face up to 30 years in prison with a fine of $250,000. 
Returning Vehicles - HB 834 was adopted on Wednesday 159-1 and would allow persons who own an automobile which is primarily stationed in another county to register the car in the county where the car is chiefly operated. 
Other Legislation Passed this Week 
Monday, February 22nd, 2004 - 23rd day of the Session HB 1087, A bill to amend Article 7 of Chapter 2 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to motor vehicle license fees and classes, so as to change certain provisions relating to fees for operation of vehicles; to change certain provisions relating to restricted license plates for vehicles; passed 164-3. 
HB 1194, A bill to amend Code Section 19-9-3 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to discretion of court in custody disputes, right of child 14 years old or older to select custodial parent, right of visitation rights, grandparent visitation, and policy, so as to provide for no civil liability for a court appointed custody evaluator; passed 157-4. 
HB 1243, A bill to amend Code Section 40-8-9 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to compliance with federal provisions, so as to clarify certain provisions relating to vehicle identification rules; passed 159-0. 
HB 1347, A bill to amend Chapter 5 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to programs and protection for children and youth, so as to provide that a child welfare agency shall obtain for every applicant for employment a preliminary criminal records check from the Georgia Crime Information Center through a local law enforcement authority; to define certain terms; to provide that an individual with a criminal record which includes certain crimes shall be prohibited permanently from employment in, service on behalf of, or residence in a child welfare agency or for a minimum of ten years from the date of final disposition of the crime, depending on the type of crime involved; passed 163-0. 
HB 1382, A bill to amend Article 4 of Chapter 5 of Title 12 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to coastal waters, beaches, and sand dunes, so as to change the membership of the Shore Protection Committee; to change the membership of the Coastal Marshlands Protection Committee; passed 168-2. 
HB 1457, A bill to amend Part 1 of Article 3 of Chapter 5 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general authority, duties, and procedures regarding state purchasing, so as to provide for additional vendor requirements; to provide for a definition; to provide for powers, duties, and authority of the Department of Revenue and the Department of Administrative Services; passed 169-0. 
 
 HB 1461, A bill to amend Article 1 of Chapter 2 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state administrative organization regarding revenue and taxation, so as to provide for limited circumstances under which the state revenue commissioner or an officer or employee of the Department of Revenue may disclose certain confidential taxpayer information; passed 166-0 
HR 1095, A resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution so as to provide that qualified low-income building projects may be classified as a separate class of property for ad valorem property tax purposes, and different rates, methods, and assessment dates may be provided for such building projects; passed 157-2. 
Tuesday, February 23rd, 2004 - 24th day of the Session HB 1026, A bill to amend Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to public officers and employees, so as to provide that the Secretary of State may initiate action to prevent the sale, transfer, or destruction of certain property removed from a public office or public officer or employee; to provide for definitions; to provide for certain records of public agencies or officers to be placed with the Division of Archives and History; passed 167-0. 
HB 1069, A bill to amend Code Section 9-11-11.1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to exercise of rights of freedom of speech and right to petition government for redress of grievances, so as to further describe certain actionable acts; passed 114-49. 
HB 1158, A bill to amend Article 7 of Chapter 8 of Title 42 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to ignition interlock devices as probation condition, so as to change certain provisions relating to ignition interlock device limited driving permits; passed 168-0. 
HB 1162, A bill to amend Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to professions and businesses, so as to provide for licensing of ignition interlock device provider centers; to provide a short title; to provide for definitions; to provide for certain requirements for operators of provider centers; to provide for a misdemeanor offense; passed 162-3. 
HB 1229, A bill to amend Code Section 16-5-70 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to cruelty to children, so as to add a nonmerger provision for the offense of cruelty to children in the second degree; passed 157-7. 
HB 1282, A bill to amend Chapter 11 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to taxes on tobacco products, so as to provide for definitions; to change provisions relating to licensure of manufacturers, importers, and distributors; to provide for penalties related to counterfeit cigarettes; passed 144-3. 
HB 1358, A bill to amend Code Section 50-18-72 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to public records exempted from inspection by members of the general public, so as to provide an exemption for certain records including identifying information for minors; to provide for disclosure of records with such information redacted; passed 135-0. 
 
 HB 1390, A bill to amend Code Section 38-4-2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the powers of the Department of Veterans Service and the Veterans Service Board and the appointment of the administrator and director of the Georgia War Veterans Nursing Homes, so as to change the method of appointment of the executive directors of the veterans' homes; passed 171-0. 
HB 1437, A bill to amend Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to revenue and taxation, so as to enact the State and Local Tax Revision Act of 2004; to provide for a short title; to define the terms "Internal Revenue Code" and "Internal Revenue Code of 1986" and thereby to incorporate certain provisions of federal law into Georgia law; to provide for applicability; to amend Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state government, so as to provide that public disclosure shall not be required for records that would reveal the home address or telephone number, social security number, or insurance or medical information of employees of the Department of Revenue; passed 163-1. 
HR 940, A resolution designating the Mayor George Merron Peters Memorial Highway; passed 162-1. 
HR 1308, A resolution ratifying the action of the Board of Community Affairs incorporating certain portions of certain counties into the Atlanta Regional Commission for certain purposes only; passed 165-2. 
HR 1345, A resolution amending the Rules of the House of Representatives; passed 164-0. 
Wednesday, February 24th - 25th day of the Session HB 838, A bill to amend Code Section 47-2-266 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to certain judicial employees' membership in the Employees' Retirement System of Georgia and contributions, so as to provide that a person who is a member of such retirement system because of employment as a court administrator may obtain up to four years of creditable service for prior service as a full-time law clerk for a judicial circuit; passed 156-0. 
HB 1034, A bill to amend Article 7 of Chapter 2 of Title 47 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to retirement allowances, disability benefits, and spouses' benefits under the Employees' Retirement System of Georgia, so as to change the method of computing the maximum compensation that a member receiving a disability benefit may earn without affecting the benefit; passed 165-0. 
HB 1228, A bill to amend Code Section 21-2-261.1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to boundary requirements for precincts, so as to authorize the use of the boundaries of a gated community or planned unit development as the boundaries of a precinct; passed 154-4. 
HB 1300, A bill to amend Chapter 14 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to electrical contractors, plumbers, conditioned air contractors, low-voltage contractors, and utility contractors, so as to prohibit persons from contracting with any other person to perform utility contracting work unless such other person is properly licensed; to provide that 
 
 persons holding utility manager and utility foreman certificates must provide proof of completion of a course in safety training every two years; passed 149-16. 
HB 1352, A bill to amend Chapter 9 of Title 25 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, the "Georgia Utility Facility Protection Act," so as to revise procedures for the protection of utility facilities from damage from excavating and blasting; to define and redefine terms; to change provisions relating to utility owners' and operators' responsibilities with respect to locating and marking of facilities; passed 137-25. 
HB 1459, A bill to amend Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to revenue and taxation, so as to change certain provisions regarding compensation of dealers for reporting and paying sales and use taxes and motor fuel taxes; to change certain provisions regarding the levy of motor fuel taxes; to change certain provisions regarding licensing of certain fuel or gas distributors; passed 155-0. 
Thursday, February 26, 2004 - day 26th of the Session HB 1373, A bill to amend Code Section 15-6-3 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to terms of superior courts, so as to change the term of court in Clay, Miller, and Randolph counties in the Pataula Circuit; passed 144-0. 
HB 1446, A bill to amend Code Section 48-5-48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to homestead exemption by qualified disabled veterans, filing requirements, periodic substantiation of eligibility, and persons eligible without application, so as to change references to the maximum exemption allowable; passed 168-0. 
HB 1549, A bill to amend Chapter 2 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles, so as to provide for special license plates supporting Rotary International; passed 149-0. HB 1445, A bill to amend Code Section 43-12-2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to qualifications for an exemption from occupation taxes, administrative fees, and regulatory fees, so as to provide for certain duties of the Department of Veterans Service; passed 144-0. 
HB 1455, A bill to amend Article 7 of Chapter 10 of Title 9 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to continuances, so as to provide for a continuance or postponement where a party or attorney is presiding as a judge or recorder in another court; passed 152-0. 
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