Weekly summary [No. 5 (2007)]

GEORGIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Communications Office
Room 609, Legislative Office Building Atlanta, GA 30334 404-656-0305 Phone 404-656-5639 Fax
WEEKLY SUMMARY

February 12-15, 2007

Legislative Week # 5

On Monday February 12th 2007, the House of Representatives passed 5 bills. House bill 89 which was authored and presented by Representative Tim Bearden, a former law enforcer, would allow for a law abiding citizen to carry a loaded weapon inside a vehicle out to plain sight for individual protection. House Bill 89 spurred the first major debate of the 2007-2008 session. Tuesday February 13th, House Bill 112, presented by Representative Tom McCall, would allow for the Department of Agriculture to eliminate archaic fees collected relating to milk products, cream testers, and soft drink bottling or manufacturing plants, with out altering the responsibility of either the Department to regulate or the industry to produce clean and wholesome products. House Bill 106, presented by Representative Ben Bridges, is a house keeping measure allowing for the board of The Peace Officers' Annuity and Benefit Fund to change the table used in calculating interest rate and mortality basis every 2 to 5 years without coming to the General Assembly when updates are needed. Wednesday February 14th, The House of Representatives passed 4 bills. House Bill 231 which was presented by Vance Smith would insure that any person or towing service requested to move a vehicle from the scene of an accident by emergency personnel and causes another accident would not be liable for any damages awarded in a lawsuit, except in cases involving gross negligence. House bill 151, presented by Representative Lunsford, gives legislators the option to fill vacancies on their hospital authorities through local legislation. With a call for a stronger focus on a patient's right o choose various options concerning the type of end of life treatment and care received in a healthcare facility, House Bill 24 was passed. Representative Burke Day presented house bill 76 which required that permission be obtained in order to use

any symbol form Georgia Emergency Management Agencies. All bills passed on the floor this week have been sent to the Senate for their approval. Finally Thursday February 15, 2007, the House of Representatives passed House Resolution 230 in honor of former U.S. Congressman Charlie Norwood. This resolution commended his life and career has a United States Representative for the State of Georgia. Representative Fleming presented this resolution and spoke of Congressman Norwood's strong passion, and work ethic for his public service. Representative Harbin also spoke of Congressman Norwood's drive to succeed in whatever endeavor he faced. Both Representative Fleming and Representative Harbin's districts are located with in U.S. Congressman Charlie Norwood's congressional district. Speaker Richardson alluded to The Patients Bill of Rights as one of Congressman Norwood's greatest accomplishments, along with recognizing a good honest man who worked hard for the people of this state and this nation.
This is Jessica Zarter reporting for the Georgia Legislative Network.