Georgia House of Representatives
SESSION REPORT

House Budget & Research Office (404) 656-5050

2019 Session Report

HB 12

Quality Basic Education Act; post sign containing telephone number to receive reports of child abuse; require every public school
By: Rep. Ricky Williams (145th) Through the Education Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 12 creates O.C.G.A. 20-2-324.4, which is a new Code section requiring the posting of signs that contain the toll-free number to report incidents of child abuse in a visible, public area of a school.

HB 21

Gwinnett Judicial Circuit; additional judge of the superior court; provide
By: Rep. Chuck Efstration (104th) Through the Judiciary Committee
Final Bill Summary: This bill adds an 11th judge to the Superior Court of the Gwinnett Judicial Circuit. The additional judge is appointed by the governor for a term beginning January 1, 2020 and continuing through December 31, 2022, and until his or her successor is elected. The judge has the same powers, duties, dignity, jurisdiction, privileges, and immunities as other superior court judges, and is authorized to employ court personnel as his or her counterparts in the Gwinnett Circuit. The non-partisan judicial election will be held in 2022. The term, starting January 1, 2023, is for four years.

HB 25

Contracts; provide military service members civil relief concerning certain contractual

obligations due to circumstances of active duty

By: Rep. D. C. Belton (112th)

Through the Judiciary Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 25 allows "service members", meaning active duty members of the U.S. armed forces, Georgia National Guard, or Georgia Air National Guard, to terminate a contract with a provider of television, video, and audio programming services; internet access services; or health spa or gym services when the service member is ordered to relocate to a location that does not support the contract from that provider for a period of at least 90 days. The notice of termination shall be effective on the date stated in the notice provided it is accompanied by either a copy of the official military orders or a written verification signed by the service member's commanding officer indicating the relocation. Additionally, the Code's reference to the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act' regarding self-service storage facilities is updated to reflect current federal numeration.

HB 26

Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact; enter into an interstate compact

By: Rep. D. C. Belton (112th)

Through the Interstate Cooperation Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 26 enters the state of Georgia into the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (Psypact), and gives the State Board of Examiners of Psychologists the authority to administer and participate in the compact. A person permitted under this compact to practice interjurisdictional telepsychology, temporary practice, or both, may practice psychology in Georgia.

The compact is intended to regulate the temporary in-person practice of psychology by psychologists across state boundaries for 30 days within a calendar year. It authorizes the appropriate state authority to give legal recognition, in accordance with the compact, to psychologists licensed in another compact state. The compact also allows for telepsychological practice.

The compact creates a joint public agency known as the "Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact Commission" to promulgate uniform rules to facilitate and coordinate implementation and administration of the compact. These rules shall have the force and effect of law and shall be binding in all compact states. Furthermore, the commission shall have the power to purchase and maintain insurance and bonds, to hire employees, to borrow

Page 1 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

money, and perform other necessary functions. Each compact state will appoint a voting representative, while each state's psychology regulatory authority will appoint a delegate to act on behalf of the compact state. The commission may also levy and collect an annual assessment from each compact state or impose fees on other parties to cover the cost of operations and activities of the commission and its staff. The aggregate annual assessment amount shall be allocated based upon a formula to be determined by the commission. The commission shall not incur obligations of any kind prior to securing adequate funds, nor shall it pledge the credit of any compact state without its authority.
Furthermore, the bill amends the Code by requiring any person who wishes to practice psychology in this state must provide to the board suitable evidence that the candidate has received satisfactory results from a fingerprint record check report conducted by the Georgia Crime Information Center and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Moreover, an application to the board for a license constitutes express consent and authorization for the board or its representative to perform a criminal background check.

HB 28

Griffin Judicial Circuit; additional judge of the superior court; provide
By: Rep. Karen Mathiak (73rd) Through the Judiciary Committee
Final Bill Summary: This bill adds a fifth judge to the Superior Court of the Griffin Judicial Circuit. The additional judge is appointed by the governor for a term beginning January 1, 2020 and continuing through December 31, 2022, and until his or her successor is elected. The judge has the same powers, duties, dignity, jurisdiction, privileges, and immunities as other superior court judges, and is authorized to employ court personnel as his or her counterparts in the Griffin Circuit. The non-partisan judicial election will be held in 2022. The term, starting January 1, 2023, is for four years.

HB 29

Skidaway Island, City of; compliance with constitutional requirements; provide

By: Rep. Jesse Petrea (166th)

Through the Governmental Affairs Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 29 amends the act to incorporate the city of Skidaway Island by providing for two homestead exemptions. The first provides for a $12,000 city tax exemption from the assessed value of the home for each resident. The second provides a homestead exemption, which has the effect of a valuation freeze, for each resident of the city. Lastly, the bill states the election superintendent of Chatham County shall call a special election on the third Tuesday in March 2019 in order to approve the exemptions and incorporate the city within Chatham County.

HB 30

Supplemental appropriations; State Fiscal Year July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019

By: Rep. David Ralston (7th)

Through the Appropriations Committee

Final Bill Summary: The Amended Fiscal Year 2019 budget recognizes $435.7 million in additional revenue for a 1.6% increase over the FY 2019 budget passed during the 2018 Special Session. This brings the total appropriation for Amended FY 2019 to $26.9 billion. The bill, tracking sheet and highlights may be found on the House Budget and Research Office website: http://www.house.ga.gov/budget.

HB 31

General appropriations; State Fiscal Year July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2020

By: Rep. David Ralston (7th)

Through the Appropriations Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 31, the Fiscal Year 2020 budget, is set by a revenue estimate of $27.5 billion,

an increase of $1 billion or 3.95% over the FY 2019 original budget. All education agencies receive 55% of

available funds, followed by 22% budgeted for health and human services agencies, 8% for public safety

activities and the remaining 15% for economic development and general government agencies. The bill and

tracking sheet may be found on the House Budget and Research Office website:

http://www.house.ga.gov/budget.

HB 33

Weapons carry license; extension of time for the renewal of a license for certain service members serving on active duty outside of the state; provide
By: Rep. Eddie Lumsden (12th) Through the Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 33 allows a grace period of up to six months for the renewal of a weapons carry license for any service member whose license expires while they are on active duty. Once home, the service member may carry within the limits of the permit until they renew their license as long as they have with them their military orders or a written verification signed by the commanding officer. Any application

Page 2 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

submitted within six months of discharge from active duty or reassignment to this state will be considered for a renewal license.

HB 35

Sales and use tax; certain poultry diagnostic and disease monitoring services; create exemption

By: Rep. Sam Watson (172nd)

Through the Ways & Means Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 35 amends O.C.G.A. 48-8-3, relating to exemptions from state sales and use tax, by adding an exemption on sales tax for 501(c)(5) non-profit organizations which, as their primary purpose, provide poultry-related diagnostic and disease monitoring services.

HB 39

Physical Therapy Licensure Compact Act; enter into an interstate compact

By: Rep. D. C. Belton (112th)

Through the Interstate Cooperation Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 39 enters the state of Georgia into the 'Physical Therapy Licensure Compact Act'. It authorizes the State Board of Physical Therapy to administer the compact for the state. The bill is designed to increase public access to physical therapy services by providing for the mutual recognition of other member state licenses. It also gives the board the power to conduct criminal history record checks as determined by the board through the Georgia Crime Information Center and Federal Bureau of Investigation for the purpose of issuing licenses.

Compact state members create a joint public agency known as the "Physical Therapy Compact Commission," which shall have the power to promulgate uniform rules to facilitate and coordinate implementation and administration of this compact. The commission has the power to purchase and maintain insurance and bonds, hire employees, borrow money, and perform other necessary functions. Each member state's licensing board shall select one delegate to be a member of the commission. The delegate must be a member of the licensing board, in addition to being a physical therapist, a physical therapist assistant, public member, or the board administrator.

The commission may levy and collect an annual assessment from each member state or impose fees on other parties to cover the cost of operations of the commission and staff. The aggregate annual assessment amount shall be allocated by formula to be determined by the commission. The commission shall not incur any obligations until securing adequate funds, nor shall the commission pledge the credit of any member state.

HB 50

Lincoln County; office of elected county surveyor; abolish

By: Rep. Tom McCall (33rd)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: This bill abolishes the office of elected county surveyor of Lincoln County.

HB 51

Quitman County Water and Sewerage Authority; change number of members serving on authority
By: Rep. Gerald Greene (151st) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: This bill changes the number of members on the Quitman County Water and Sewerage Authority to five board members.

HB 52

Clay County; judge of Probate Court shall also serve as magistrate of the Magistrate Court; provide
By: Rep. Gerald Greene (151st) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: This bill states the judge of the Clay County Probate Court shall also serve as the magistrate of the Clay County Magistrate Court beginning on January 1, 2021, or upon the vacancy of the office of the magistrate.

HB 54

Fitzgerald, City of; levy an excise tax

By: Rep. Clay Pirkle (155th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: This bill modifies the city of Fitzgerald's excise tax on lodging to align the tax with both

the provisions of general law and the city's resolution relating to the expenditure of funds from the levy of the

excise tax.

Page 3 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

HB 59

Education; military students enroll in public school based on official military orders prior to

physically establishing residency; allow

By: Rep. D. C. Belton (112th)

Through the Education Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 59 amends O.C.G.A. 20-2-150 to allow parents or guardians on active duty in the military to pre-enroll a student when official military orders to transfer into or within the state of Georgia are received. Students will be eligible to enroll in the same manner and time as students residing within the local school system, in the public school of the attendance zone in which he or she will be residing, or in a public school in a school system in which the military base or off-base military housing is located.

House Bill 59 amends O.C.G.A. 20-2-2066 relating to the admissions requirements of start-up charter schools to clarify that a student must reside in the attendance zone specified in the charter at the time of enrollment.

HB 59 amends O.C.G.A. 20-2-2081 relating to state charter schools by clarifying the definition of attendance zone. House Bill 59 allows state charter schools with a state-wide attendance zone the ability for board members to meet through teleconference as allowed under Chapter 14 of Title 50.

HB 62

Margie's Law; enact By: Rep. Sharon Cooper (43rd) Through the Health & Human Services Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 62 requires a healthcare facility to notify a patient if the patient's mammogram demonstrates dense breast tissue.

HB 63

Insurance; health benefit plans to establish step therapy protocols; require
By: Rep. Sharon Cooper (43rd) Through the Insurance Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 63 requires health benefit plans to utilize certain clinical review criteria to establish step-therapy protocols, and provides for a determination process for patients and their doctors to petition for an override of these protocols. Additionally, this bill requires that drug samples are not considered trial and failure of a preferred prescription drug in lieu of trying the step therapy required prescription drug.
Furthermore, a health benefit plan will grant or deny a step therapy exception, or appeal of a step therapy exception, within 24 hours in an urgent health care situation and two business days from the date such request or appeal is submitted in a non-urgent health care situation. If the health benefit plan fails to respond in accordance with the established time frame, such step therapy exception, or an appeal, is deemed approved. Upon the granting of a step therapy exception, the health benefit plan will immediately authorize coverage for the prescription drug prescribed by the patient's practitioner, provided that the drug is covered under the health benefit plan.

HB 64

Parent and child; require child welfare agencies to make efforts to determine whether a parent

or guardian of a child who is the subject of abuse allegations is on active duty in the military

By: Rep. Brian Prince (127th)

Through the Juvenile Justice Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 64 requires that the appropriate child welfare agency make efforts as soon as possible to notify the applicable military installation's family advocacy program in the event of a child abuse or neglect allegation involving an active-duty military parent or guardian.

HB 68

Education; prohibit certain entities from being student scholarship organizations

By: Rep. John Carson (46th)

Through the Education Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 68 limits the type of entity which can be a student scholarship organization. No entity which provides accreditation of elementary or secondary schools or is affiliated with an accreditation entity is eligible to be a student scholarship organization under this Code section.

HB 70

Guardian and ward; guardian and conservators of minors and adults; revise provisions By: Rep. Chuck Efstration (104th) Through the Juvenile Justice Committee Final Bill Summary: HB 70 updates and revises provisions relating to guardians and conservators of minors and adults. Moreover, the bill allows a guardian to pay security bonds and bond premiums from the estate from
Page 4 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

the minor. Conservators are allowed access to digital assets of the minor to perform acts for the benefit of the minor. With respect to a guardianship order from another state that is properly registered and recorded with Georgia, courts from this state are authorized to communicate with the appointing court to share any action relating to a bond of the guardian. Regarding a foreign conservator, HB 70 allows the court to communicate with the appointing court to inform that court of any proceedings relating to the conservatorship in Georgia and compel a foreign conservator to protect an interest. In any proceeding for the appointment of a guardian or conservator pursuant to Code, the costs and expenses of the proceedings are listed for the court to consider. Additionally, HB 70 recognizes the 'Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgements Act.'

HB 79

Blind persons; child custody matters; provisions

By: Rep. Carl Gilliard (162nd)

Through the Juvenile Justice Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 79 prevents courts, the Department of Human Services, and any child-placing agency from denying child placement, custody, visitation, guardianship, or adoption to a party because the party is blind. Further, the bill mandates that the Department of Human Services promulgate rules and regulations implementing this Code section by December 31, 2019.

HB 83

Quality Basic Education Act; recess for students in kindergarten and grades one through five; provide
By: Rep. Demetrius Douglas (78th) Through the Education Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 83 amends O.C.G.A. 20-2-323 to require local boards of education to provide recess, an average of 30 minutes per day, for kindergarten and grades one through five beginning in the 20192020 school year. Recess is not required on any school day a student has physical education, structured activity time, or any day when reasonable circumstances may impede recess. Local boards of education will establish policies to ensure recess is safe, scheduled in a manner that allows a break from academic learning, and prohibits recess from being withheld from students as a form of punishment.

HB 91

Hospitals and health care facilities; Federal Bureau of Investigation to retain fingerprints when an agency or entity is participating in the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's program; allow
By: Rep. Andrew Welch (110th) Through the Judiciary Committee
Final Bill Summary: HB 91 requires health professionals who are required to submit to a fingerprint-based criminal background check to submit their fingerprints to the Department of Community Health or, in lieu of that, submit evidence that the department determined within the immediate preceding 12 months that there was a satisfactory clearance of their background; however, this time frame does not apply when fingerprints are retained by the department due to its participation in the Georgia Crime Information Center's program of ongoing retention and continuing review of fingerprints and criminal history. This bill also allows the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Federal Bureau of Investigation to retain fingerprints submitted by a health professional to the Department of Community Health for a fingerprint-based criminal background check.

HB 92

Georgia Municipal Courts Training Council; training hours completed by a municipal court judge in excess of those required may carry over to the following year; provide
By: Rep. Dale Rutledge (109th) Through the Judiciary Committee
Final Bill Summary: HB 92 amends Code sections related to the Georgia Municipal Courts Training Council, so that up to six training hours completed by a municipal court judge in excess of those required that year may carry over and be applied to the number of hours required for the next calendar year upon the request of the municipal court judge.

HB 95

Jenkins County; appointment of deputy magistrates; provide By: Rep. Butch Parrish (158th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: This bill states the chief magistrate and any deputy magistrate of Jenkins County shall be appointed by the county governing authority.

HB 96 Candler County; Board of Education; modify compensation of members By: Rep. Butch Parrish (158th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Page 5 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

Final Bill Summary: This bill states the chairperson and members of the Candler County Board of Education shall be paid $500 per month, in addition to being reimbursed for actual expenses incurred during the performance of their official duties.

HB 97

Swainsboro, City of; corporate limits; change provisions By: Rep. Butch Parrish (158th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee Final Bill Summary: This bill changes the corporate limits of the city of Swainsboro.

HB 99

Insurance; provide for modernization and updates
By: Rep. Richard Smith (134th) Through the Insurance Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 99 updates and modernizes Title 33, relating to insurance, by removing repetitive language, expired deadlines, and expired sections. Additionally, this bill provides provisions for captive insurance companies.

HB 101

Ad valorem tax; all-terrain vehicles; revise definitions

By: Rep. Jason Ridley (6th)

Through the Ways & Means Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 101 amends multiple Code sections including 48-1-1, relating to definitions, by revising the definition of "all-terrain vehicle" to mean a motorized vehicle manufactured for off-highway use which is equipped with three or more non-highway tires, is 80 inches or less in width with a dry weight of 2,500 pounds or less, and is designed for or capable of cross-country travel on or immediately over land, water, snow, ice, marsh, swampland, or other natural terrain.

The bill also amends 40-8-9.1, relating to marking and equipment of all-terrain vehicles used as law enforcement vehicles, and 48-5-504.40, relating to watercraft and all-terrain vehicles which are held in inventory for resale to be exempt from ad valorem taxation for a limited period of time, by revising the definition of "all-terrain vehicle" to match the definition on 48-1-1.

HB 118

Crimes and offenses; transmitting a false alarm; revise offense

By: Rep. Marc Morris (26th)

Through the Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 118 replaces the offense of "transmitting a false public alarm" with the

offense of "making an unlawful request for emergency services assistance." A person commits this offense

when he/she knowingly and intentionally transmits in any manner a request for emergency services assistance

when there is no reasonable ground for believing the information which forms the basis of the request. It is also

an offense when the request involves or relates to: a purported destructive device or hazardous substance

located in a place where the detonation or release would endanger human life, cause injury or damage to

property; an individual who has purportedly caused or threatened physical harm to themselves or another

person by using a deadly weapon or any instrument that is likely to result in serious bodily injury; an individual

who has purportedly committed a criminal act involving the use or threat of physical force or violence or an act

constituting an immediate threat to any person's life or safety; or the use of any electronic device or software to

alter or conceal or attempt to alter or conceal the requestor's identity.

The bill establishes felony guilt for an unlawful request which results in serious bodily harm or death from the response of a public safety agency and a minimum sentence upon conviction of imprisonment for one but not more than 10 years and a minimum fine of $5,000.

HB 120 Bell-Forsyth Judicial Circuit; Superior Court judges; increase salary supplement

By: Rep. Marc Morris (26th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: This bill states each superior court judge of the Bell-Forsyth Judicial Circuit shall receive an annual salary supplement of $49,500 a year.

HB 124 Centralhatchee, Town of; provide for a municipal court

By: Rep. Randy Nix (69th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: This bill provides for a municipal court in the town of Centralhatchee.

Page 6 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

HB 125 Bowdon, City of; provide for a municipal court

By: Rep. Randy Nix (69th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: This bill provides for a municipal court in the city of Bowdon.

HB 127 Echols County; Probate Court; extend time for collecting technology fee

By: Rep. John Corbett (174th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: This bill states the Echols County Probate Court's authority to assess a technology fee

shall be terminated on July 1, 2025.

HB 128

Insurance; insurers do not have to notify the Georgia Composite Medical Board of agreements to settle medical malpractice claims against physicians when the settlement resulted in the low payment under a high/low agreement; provide
By: Rep. Deborah Silcox (52nd) Through the Insurance Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 128 requires that every insurer providing medical malpractice insurance coverage in this state to provide written notification to the Georgia Composite Medical Board when it pays a judgement or enters into an agreement to pay an amount to settle a medical malpractice claim, other than a low payment under a high/low agreement against a person authorized by law to practice medicine in Georgia.

Furthermore, every licensee, certificate holder, or permit holder shall notify the board of any settlement or judgement, excluding any low payment under a high/low agreement, involving the licensee, certificate holder, or permit holder involving an action for medical malpractice.

HB 130

State Board of Education; authorize the Georgia Foundation for Public Education to establish a

nonprofit corporation to qualify as a public foundation; authorize

By: Rep. Randy Nix (69th)

Through the Education Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 130 amends O.C.G.A. 20-2-14.1 as it relates to the 'Georgia Foundation for Public Education' to authorize the foundation to establish a nonprofit under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The creation of a nonprofit would allow the foundation to solicit and accept more funding to carry out its purpose for supporting educational excellence in public schools and at the Georgia Academy for the Blind, Georgia School for the Deaf, and Atlanta Area School for the Deaf.

HB 134

County law libraries; repeal a population provision regarding the disposition of law library

funds in certain counties

By: Rep. Bonnie Rich (97th)

Through the Judiciary Committee

Final Bill Summary: This bill repeals the chapter relating to the collection and disposition of funds collected by counties with a population of 950,000 or more according to the United States decennial census from 1980 and onward for maintenance of a county law library where no county law library fund exists.

HB 159 Molena, City of; provide for four-year terms of office for mayor and councilmembers

By: Rep. Ken Pullin (131st)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: This bill provides for four-year terms of office for the mayor and councilmembers of the city of Molena.

HB 161 Jackson County; board of elections and registration; provide composition By: Rep. Tommy Benton (31st) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: This bill provides for the composition of the board of elections and registration in Jackson County.

HB 162 Commerce, City of; independent school district ad valorem tax; change net income limitation By: Rep. Tommy Benton (31st) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Page 7 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

Final Bill Summary: This bill amends a city of Commerce school tax homestead exemption so that the $10,000 exemption for those 62 and older and the $20,000 exemption for those 65 and older are only eligible to those with a net household income that does not exceed $25,000.

HB 163

Jefferson, City of; independent school district ad valorem tax; change net income limitation

By: Rep. Tommy Benton (31st)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: This bill amends a city of Jefferson school homestead exemption so that the $10,000 exemption for those 62 and older and the $20,000 exemption for those 65 and older are only eligible to those with a net household income that does not exceed $25,000.

HB 164

Jackson County; school district ad valorem tax; change net income limitation

By: Rep. Tommy Benton (31st)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: This bill amends a Jackson County homestead exemption so that the $10,000 school tax exemption for those 62 and older is only eligible for those with a net household income that does not exceed $25,000.

HB 166

Genetic Counselors Act; enact
By: Rep. Deborah Silcox (52nd) Through the Health & Human Services Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 166 establishes the 'Genetic Counselors Act'. Effective January 1, 2020, a person will not engage in the practice of genetic counseling in this state without a valid license issued by the Georgia Composite Medical Board.

HB 168

Sales and use tax; tangible personal property to certain non-profit health centers; extend exemption for five additional years
By: Rep. Darlene Taylor (173rd) Through the Ways & Means Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 168 extends the exemption of sales and use tax on purchases made by nonprofit health centers and non-profit volunteer health centers to June 30, 2024.

HB 182

Sales and use tax; lower threshold amount for certain dealers

By: Rep. Brett Harrell (106th)

Through the Ways & Means Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 182 amends O.C.G.A. 48-8, relating to sales and use tax, by revising the definition of "dealer" to lower the established economic nexus within the state from $250,000 to $100,000 in annual revenue. The bill also repeals the reporting requirements for out-of-state retailers.

HB 183

Ad valorem tax; right to appeal for any taxpayer that fails to file a property tax return or whose

property tax return was deemed returned; provide

By: Rep. Brett Harrell (106th)

Through the Ways & Means Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 183 amends O.C.G.A. 48-5, relating to ad valorem taxation of property, by

stating that the failure to return real property shall not affect the taxpayer's right to appeal.

HB 185

Financial institutions; change certain definitions
By: Rep. Bruce Williamson (115th) Through the Banks & Banking Committee
Final Bill Summary: HB 185 updates regulations regarding the practices and procedures of financial institutions, along with the role of the Department of Banking and Finance in overseeing those institutions including credit unions and mortgage lenders. This bill extends the definition of "financial institution" to include banks and credit unions chartered by states other than Georgia or by the federal government, provided that those institutions have federal deposit insurance. This bill: amends the definition of "paid-in capital" to remove consideration of those funds reserved for an expense fund; updates the definition of "residential mortgage loan" to reflect current federal regulations; and eliminates consideration of "appropriated retained earnings" from the formation and dealings of financial institutions. HB 185 also removes the requirement that financial institutions maintain a designated "expense fund." Further, this bill amends the organizational requirements of incorporated institutions to require that each incorporated entity maintain an "audit committee,"

Page 8 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

rather than the previously required "supervisory committee."
In addition, HB 185 broadens the discretionary powers of the department regarding investigations or examinations of financial institutions to provide greater flexibility in waiving these investigations or altering their frequency and scope. To this end, this bill amends the requirements for such investigations to allow them to be conducted at least once every 60 months; as compared to once every 24 months as previously mandated. Likewise, this bill limits the restrictions on the receipt of money, property, or loans by certain officers of financial institutions so as to restrict only those officials who examine or exercise supervisory responsibility over any such institution.
In the case of trust companies, this bill extends the circumstances by which the department may base approvals on results from the Georgia Crime Information Center and FBI fingerprint record check reports or other background fitness checks. For shareholders, this bill prohibits dissent from any sale made wholly for cash and from which all, or substantially all, of the net proceeds will be distributed to the shareholders within one year. For bank holding companies, this bill no longer requires an institution to be registered with the department in order to acquire control of a banking institution through formation of a de novo bank.
For credit unions, this bill eliminates previous mandates on proposed by-laws and amends a credit union's power to invest to allow the selling or purchasing of whole loans or loan participations. Customers of a bank that has been acquired by a credit union are also allowed to become members of the credit union once the original bank ceases to exist. The board of directors of a credit union are also empowered with the ability to expel members based on non-participation in the affairs of the credit union. The department's discretion and powers of oversight in investigating credit unions, including mergers of credit unions, is expanded.
For mortgage lenders, the bill expands the exemptions for mortgage licensure and authorizes licensed mortgage lenders to engage in all activities that are authorized for a mortgage broker. This bill eliminates references to the 2010 effective date for requirements necessary to engage in activities of a mortgage loan originator. The bill also empowers the department with greater authority to implement federal legislation related to mortgage loan originators. In addition, the bill creates a process by which a mortgage loan originator license shall become inactive and eliminates the process for departmental issuance of notices of intent to suspend the license of a mortgage loan originator.

HB 186

Health; sale or lease of a hospital by a hospital authority; revise provisions

By: Rep. Ron Stephens (164th)

Through the Governmental Affairs Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 186 revises Certificate of Need (CON) provisions, extends the Rural Hospital Tax Credit and creates the Office of Health Strategy and Coordination. For CON, HB 186 increases the capital threshold to $10 million for new, expanded, or relocated clinical facilities and removes the requirement for CON approval for non-clinical space upgrades and renovations. It expands the definition of "health care facility" to include freestanding emergency departments and facilities not located on a hospital's primary campus. "Primary campus" is the building where the bulk of inpatient beds are operating and any facilities within 1,000 yards of it. "Remote hospital location" is a new or acquired facility or organization that is under the administrative and operational control of a main provider. CON application fees for a health care facility in a rural county are waived; however, no new, modified, or converted CON will be issued to an applicant with outstanding payments owed to the state until the payments have been resolved.

It allows for the conversion and application of CON without opposition or appeal for a destination cancer hospital to become a "general cancer hospital," which is defined as a destination cancer hospital in existence prior to January 1, 2019 that provides inpatient and outpatient treatment for cancer and co-morbid illnesses; it includes general cancer hospital within the definition and requirements of "hospital" for the purposes of CON.

Appeals to a CON application are allowed by parties that: have a similar service application in the same batching cycle; or offer similar services or have a primary service area within a 35-mile radius of the proposal.

Hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) are not required to have a CON for certain imaging and diagnostic equipment under $4 million, but the ASC physician must be present 75 percent of the time the machine is in use.

Letters of determination are approved within 60 days if the letter is without objection. Objections must be filed within 30 days of an entity providing DCH with notice of the activity.

Page 9 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

The bill requires the Department of Community Health (DCH) to prepare the state health plan by December 1st of every calendar year and allows the department to seek recommendations from technical advisory committees for the plan. DCH is charged with reviewing, recommending the requirements and standardized reporting of indigent and charity care levels for each type of facility for accurate tracking and enforcement. Additional annual reporting and posting requirements for CON entities include: direct and emergency medical services transfers to a hospital or the emergency department; the number of rooms, beds, procedures and patients with demographics and payer source; patient's county of origin; and operational information, such as procedure types, volume and charges. The department and CON facilities will publish annual reports on their website, and DCH will also provide copies to certain leadership.
Further disclosure and requirements for hospitals and hospital authority corporations, enforced by DCH and effective July 1, 2020, include: audited financial statements; audited Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 990 with Schedule H, and for those hospitals that are not required to submit this form, one will be designed and provided by DCH; state-required annual questionnaire and financial survey; community benefit report; disproportionate share hospital survey; property holdings; ownership or interest in any partnership, corporation, joint venture, trust or captive insurance company; loans, bonds and debt information; ending fund balances of net assets for the hospital and each affiliate; cash reserves; going concerns; the legal organizational chart showing the relationship of the hospital to its parent corporation, subsidiaries, and affiliates; salaries and fringes as reported to the IRS Form 990; evidence of accreditation; and policies regarding the provisions for financial assistance and debt collection. Information or links to the information must be provided on the hospital's website and updated annually with a minimum two-year archive period.
HB 186 states non-profit hospitals may not renew or hold any property for medical use rights.
The Rural Hospital Tax Credit is extended to 2024 and requires DCH to create a manual with the criteria to qualify and submit for the credit, as well as to develop and include a formula to rank the hospitals by greatest financial need in the manual. This ranked hospital list must also be distributed by any third-party entity soliciting or managing donors. The department will prominently post the: manual; eligible hospitals; annual report; total amount received by third-party entities soliciting or managing donors; and a link to the Department of Revenue's donation information on their webpage. The Department of Revenue will also post the list of eligible hospitals by need, as well as the timeline for donations and a monthly update of all designated and undesignated contributions pre-approved and received, and the aggregate totals for contributions and available credits. All parties are subject to annual auditing by the state.
Authorities that have not operated a hospital for seven or more years, have no outstanding debt, and have a corpus of at least $20 million may invest up to 30 percent of those funds in mutual funds or other collective investments.
Finally, the bill creates the Office of Health Strategy and Coordination with the objective of connecting state resources, functions, reports, and agencies for improved health care service infrastructure. It allows for the creation of an advisory committee, as well as a Georgia Data Access Forum to promote the collection and use of robust data to meet the objectives. Existing mandatory reporting requirements of certain health entities are amended to include the submission information to the office.

HB 187

Community Health, Department of; pilot program to provide coverage for the treatment and

management of obesity and related conditions; provide

By: Rep. Katie Dempsey (13th)

Through the Health & Human Services Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 187 establishes a three-year pilot program, through the Department of Community Health (DCH), to provide coverage for the treatment and management of obesity and related conditions for 250 people per year, including medication and counseling.

Eligible participants include people who elected coverage under a state health insurance plan and who meet other criteria established by the department. DCH will partner with a post-secondary institution in Georgia for pilot program management, data collection, patient engagement, and other activities related to the pilot program, including coverage of all U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved medications for chronic weight management.

DCH shall review the results and outcomes of the study starting six months after its initiation and continue to conduct subsequent reviews every six months thereafter. DCH shall provide a final report to the chairpersons of the House and Senate Health and Human Services committees and the House and Senate Appropriations committees by December 15th of the last year of the pilot program.

Page 10 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

HB 192

Professions and businesses; real estate management companies; change certain provisions

By: Rep. Alan Powell (32nd)

Through the Regulated Industries Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 192 authorizes the Georgia Real Estate Appraisers Board to establish rules to provide

for the regulation and maintenance of real estate appraisal management companies as required by federal

regulations.

HB 193

Banking and finance; banks and credit unions to offer savings promotion raffle accounts in which deposits to a savings account enter a depositor in a raffle; allow
By: Rep. Emory Dunahoo (30th) Through the Banks & Banking Committee
Final Bill Summary: HB 193 allows banks and credit unions (financial institutions) to offer "savings promotion raffle accounts," which is a contest where the participant or depositor deposits a specified amount of money into a savings account or other savings program offered by the financial institution where each entry or ticket will have an equal chance of being drawn to win a specified prize. The financial institution must conduct the raffle in a manner that is safe and sound and not misleading as to chances of winning. All depositors must be provided with information on the terms of the raffle and the verifiable retail value of each prize that a depositor has a chance of receiving, including the odds of receiving a prize and information regarding any fees or penalties associated with such an account. The financial institution conducting such raffles must also maintain all records the Department of Banking and Finance determines are necessary to conduct an examination or audit of these raffles, and may contract third-party service providers to handle the administrative details of these raffles.

These institutions may not charge any fees associated with the savings account or other savings program which underlies a savings promotion raffle account that are in excess of the fees charged for the most similar savings accounts or other programs offered by the institution. Additionally, the bill exempts savings promotion raffles from the definition of "lottery".

HB 194 Meigs, City of; provide new charter

By: Rep. Sam Watson (172nd)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: This bill provides a new charter for the city of Meigs.

HB 196

Retirement and pensions; each public retirement system trustee to complete appropriate education applicable to his or her fiduciary duties; require

By: Rep. Tommy Benton (31st)

Through the Retirement Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 196 requires trustees for each public retirement system to complete education training applicable to their fiduciary duties and obligations. The bill details the type and amount of training required and allows for the removal of the trustee for not completing the training. The Department of Audits and Accounts has certified HB 196 as a non-fiscal retirement bill.

HB 197

Office of Planning and Budget; provide for the establishment of the Strategic Integrated Data

System

By: Rep. Katie Dempsey (13th)

Through the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 197 creates the Georgia Data Analytic Center (GDAC Project), to be established by the Office of Planning and Budget (OPB) by September 1, 2019. The GDAC Project will be capable of securely receiving, maintaining, and transmitting data in accordance with the 'Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.' OPB will have oversight of the GDAC Project. Any state agency or department that creates, receives, or maintains publicly-supported program, fiscal, or health data must transmit or allow access to its data as is deemed necessary to the GDAC Project, as long as sharing the data does not violate state or federal law. The GDAC Project may receive funding from private grants, fees, federal or local grants, or state appropriations. Beginning July 1, 2020, and continuing each year after, the OPB must publish a report outlining the implementation and uses of the data collected by the GDAC Project.

HB 201 Board of Natural Resources; promulgate rules and regulations regarding anchoring certain vessels within estuarine areas; authorize
Page 11 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

By: Rep. Don Hogan (179th)

Through the Natural Resources & Environment Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 201 prohibits live-aboard vessels from discharging sewage into estuarine areas of the state. Individuals operating or floating live-aboard vessels with marine toilets must create and maintain records for at least one year containing the names and locations of pump-out facilities used. Pump-out facilities are to create and maintain records for at least one year that indicate the name and vessel registration number, date of pump-out, and verification of pump-out.

The bill gives the Department of Natural Resources the authority to adopt rules and regulations relating to overnight or long-term anchoring, as well as to establish anchorage areas within estuarine areas of the state.

HB 212

Banking and finance; retail brokers of manufactured homes or mobile homes and residential

contractors from the requirement to obtain a license as a mortgage loan originator, broker, or

lender under certain circumstances; exempt

By: Rep. Clay Pirkle (155th)

Through the Banks & Banking Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 212 amends the definition of "mortgage broker" for the purposes of licensing

mortgage lenders and brokers to exclude any retailer or retail broker of a manufactured or mobile home or a

residential industrialized building, so long as: their residential mortgage loan activities are limited to facilitating the exchange of documents between applicants and lenders; and they do not receive compensation for assisting applicants in applying for or obtaining financing.

HB 213

Georgia Hemp Farming Act; enact

By: Rep. John Corbett (174th)

Through the Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 213 allows for the cultivation and processing of hemp and hemp products in Georgia.

The bill further provides for colleges and universities in the University System of Georgia to conduct research

on hemp, including the development of new hemp varieties, seed development, and consumer uses.

House Bill 213 requires hemp growers to apply annually for a license and pay a license fee of $50 per acre cultivated up to a maximum fee of $5,000. Any grower must be a qualified agriculture producer and provide the Department of Agriculture with the following upon application for a license: a legal description and global positioning coordinates to locate fields and greenhouses used for cultivation of hemp; a written agreement with a permitted processor with which the grower intends to enter into a partnership; written consent allowing the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and other affected law enforcement to enter premises where hemp is being cultivated, harvested, or handled to conduct inspections; and a criminal background check. No person may hold more than one hemp growers license nor be issued a license if convicted of a felony or misdemeanor involving the sale of or trafficking of a controlled substance.

The Department of Agriculture may annually accept applications for hemp processor permits. Hemp processors must pay an initial fee of $25,000 for a permit and $10,000 for the annual renewal of the permit. A processor must provide the following to the Department of Agriculture to receive a permit: a legal description and global positioning coordinates to locate facilities for processing hemp; a written agreement with a licensed grower with which the processor intends to enter into a partnership; written consent allowing the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and other affect law enforcement, to enter premises where hemp is being processed; a surety bond in the amount of $100,000 issued by a surety company authorized to do business in the state; and a criminal background check. A permit may not be issued if the applicant has been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor involving the sale or trafficking of a controlled substance. Every permittee shall at all times have written agreements with at least five growers. A permitted processor may also apply for and be issued no more than one growers license. Harvested hemp may be brought to Georgia for processing, provided the originating state has a qualifying hemp cultivation program in place.

The Department of Agriculture, using its own personnel or qualified independent contractors, has the right to test hemp at the fields and greenhouses of growers, as well as at the processing facilities of processors. If a test sample taken from a grower's facility reveals a delta-9-THC concentration greater than 0.33 percent, then the grower's crop must be destroyed under the supervision of law enforcement. If the sample from the grower reveals a delta-9-THC concentration between .30 percent and .33 percent, the sample shall be retested; if the retested sample is found to be above .30 percent, the crop shall be destroyed under the supervision of law enforcement. If a sample test taken from a processing facility reveals a delta-9-THC concentration above .30 percent, all hemp products at the facility shall be destroyed. Until December 31, 2022, when a grower's crops is required to be destroyed, half of the value of the destroyed crop will be reimbursed by the processor.

Page 12 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

HB 213 states that the following violations shall not result in a criminal or civil action, but require a corrective action plan to be submitted to the Department of Agriculture: failing to provide a legal description of the land; failing to obtain a license; producing a crop with more than the federally-defined THC level for hemp; or otherwise negligently violating rules and regulations. Any licensee that violates a corrective action plan three times in a five-year period shall have their license permanently revoked. If the commissioner of the Department of Agriculture determines that a licensee has violated state law with a culpable mental state greater than negligence, the commissioner shall report the licensee to the United States attorney general and the state attorney general.
Within 60 days of the effective date of the chapter, the commissioner of the Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the governor and state attorney general, shall submit to the secretary of agriculture of the United States a plan to regulate hemp production. The plan shall include a system to maintain information regarding land on which hemp is produced, a procedure to test delta-9-THC concentration levels in hemp, and a procedure to enforce rules and regulations.

HB 217

Crimes and offenses; employees and agents of syringe services programs are not subject to certain offenses relating to hypodermic syringes and needles; provide
By: Rep. Houston Gaines (117th) Through the Health & Human Services Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 217 provides that an employee or agent of a registered syringe services program is immune from civil and criminal liability arising from the possession, distribution, or exchange of hypodermic syringes, needles, and related supplies as part of the syringe services program.

HB 218

Education; eligibility requirements to receive the HOPE Scholarship as a Zell Miller Scholarship Scholar; provide
By: Rep. Ricky Williams (145th) Through the Higher Education Committee
Final Bill Summary: HB 218 provides that students receiving a HOPE scholarship between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2019 will remain eligible for that scholarship for up to seven years from their high school graduation date; however, if the student serves in the military during that seven-year period, their active duty service will not count towards the seven years. HB 218 also provides that students receiving a HOPE scholarship on or after July 1, 2019 will remain eligible for that scholarship for up to 10 years from their high school graduation date; however, if the student serves in the military during that 10-year period, their active duty service will not count towards the 10 years.

HB 220 Solid waste management; certain solid waste disposal surcharges; extend sunset date

By: Rep. Terry Rogers (10th)

Through the Natural Resources & Environment Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 220 changes sunset dates, effective dates, and fees related to the Solid Waste Trust Fund and Hazardous Waste Trust Fund.

The sunset date for tire disposal fees related to the Solid Waste Trust Fund is changed to June 30, 2022. Effective July 1, 2020, the replacement tire fee is decreased from $1 to $0.38.

The sunset date for the collection of surcharges per ton of solid waste and the fees collected for hazardous waste management related to the Hazardous Waste Trust Fund is changed to July 1, 2022. Effective July 1, 2020, the per ton surcharge on solid waste disposal is changed from $0.75 per ton to $0.51 per ton.

HB 221 Geo. L. Smith II Georgia World Congress Center; limit on indebtedness; increase

By: Rep. Terry Rogers (10th)

Through the Ways & Means Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 221 increases the amount of bond debt the Georgia World Congress Center Authority may incur from $400 million to $500 million.

HB 223

Conservation and natural resources; provide for an exception to notification of spills or releases; provide for definitions
By: Rep. Robert Dickey (140th) Through the Natural Resources & Environment Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 223 inserts the definition for "animal waste" into Code Section 12-14-1, which concerns oil or hazardous material or releases.

Page 13 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

HB 224

Income tax; credit for new purchases and acquisitions of qualified investment property shall be earnable for mining and mining facilities and allowed against a taxpayer's payroll withholding; provide
By: Rep. Bruce Williamson (115th) Through the Ways & Means Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 224 amends the Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit, Investment Tax Credit, and Quality Jobs Tax Credit.

The Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit is amended to allow the credit to be claimed in the year that the rehabilitation is placed in service, which may be up to two years after the year the credit was originally reserved.

The Investment Tax Credit is amended by increasing the minimum investment from $50,000 to $100,000 for all tiers. For Tier One and Tier Two counties, credits earned on or after January 1, 2020 must first be applied to at least 50 percent of the taxpayer's state income tax liability before up to $1 million per year of excess credits may be taken as a credit against payroll withholdings. Unused credits claimed prior to January 1, 2020 shall be treated the same as new credits and allowed to be used against withholdings if: in Tier One counties, the taxpayer maintains at least 100 jobs in rural counties and purchases or acquires at least $5 million of qualified investment property in rural counties; and in Tier Two counties, the taxpayer maintains at least 100 jobs in rural counties and purchases or acquires at least $10 million of qualified investment property in rural counties. Rural counties are defined as a counties having a population of 50,000 or less and 10 percent or more of the population living in poverty. A statewide annual cap of $10 million in aggregate for all taxpayers in the state is established for credits being used against payroll withholdings.

The job creation threshold for the Quality Jobs Tax Credit is also revised. For counties designated as Tier One by the commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs with a population of less than 50,000 and a poverty rate of greater than 10 percent, at least 10 new quality jobs must be created within one year. Counties designated as Tier Two by the commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs, with a population of less than 50,000 and a poverty rate of greater than 10 percent, must create at least 25 new quality jobs within one year. For all other counties in the state, the threshold remains 50 new quality jobs within two years.

HB 225

Motor vehicles; reference date to federal regulations regarding the safe operation of commercial

motor vehicles and carriers; update

By: Rep. Bonnie Rich (97th)

Through the Motor Vehicles Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 225 is the annual update to the 'Uniform Carriers Act.' It updates the effective

date from January 1, 2018 to January 1, 2019 to comply with federal law.

HB 226

Courts; additional penalty for violation of traffic laws or ordinances under Joshua's Law; extend sunset
By: Rep. Dominic LaRiccia (169th) Through the Motor Vehicles Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 226 extends the sunset date of an additional penalty for a traffic violation under "Joshua's Law" from June 30, 2019 to June 30, 2022.

HB 227

Insurance; discrimination against victims of family violence to include victims of sexual assault;

expand prohibitions

By: Rep. Spencer Frye (118th)

Through the Insurance Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 227 amends Title 33, relating to enumeration of unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices regarding insurance, by including victims of sexual assault to the prohibitions on discrimination against victims of family violence.

HB 228

Marriage; change minimum age from 16 to 17 and require any person who is 17 to have been emancipated
By: Rep. Andrew Welch (110th) Through the Juvenile Justice Committee
Final Bill Summary: HB 228 raises the minimum age of marriage to 17 and require any person who is 17, and seeking a marriage license, to provide documentary proof of emancipation by law. Moreover, the older party to

Page 14 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

the marriage shall not be more than four years older than the younger party to the marriage. HB 228 requires both parties of such a marriage to present a certificate of completion of premarital education. The premarital education must include 6 hours of instruction involving marital issues and be conducted by a professional counselor, social worker, marriage and family therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, or clergy whom are properly licensed.
Moreover, HB 228 makes changes to the Code regarding emancipation if the purpose is to marry. The court must appoint an attorney for the minor and must inquire into whether the intended marriage is in the minor's best interest or puts the minor at risk. The minor must provide information about the intended spouse including copies of criminal records or protective orders. HB 228 requires a waiting period of 15 days after the emancipation of the minor before the court can issue a marriage license.

HB 233

Pharmacy Anti-Steering and Transparency Act; enact

By: Rep. David Knight (130th)

Through the Health & Human Services Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 233 enacts the 'Pharmacy Anti-Steering and Transparency Act'. This act, effective January 1, 2020, restricts a pharmacy licensed in or holding a non-resident pharmacy permit in Georgia from transferring or sharing records relative to prescription information containing patient and prescriber identifiable data to or from an affiliate for any commercial purpose.

House Bill 233 further restricts these pharmacies from presenting a claim for payment to any individual, thirdparty payer, affiliate, or other entity for a service furnished pursuant to a referral from an affiliate. Pharmacies licensed or holding a nonresident pharmacy permit in Georgia are required to annually file with the Board of Pharmacy a disclosure statement identifying all such affiliates.

HB 239

Georgia Business Court; establish
By: Rep. Chuck Efstration (104th) Through the Judiciary Committee
Final Bill Summary: HB 239 provides the general legislation for the Georgia State-wide Business Court as approved by the constitutional referendum in 2018. The terms of court are the same as the Georgia Supreme Court. Except as otherwise provided under the Georgia Constitution, pretrial proceedings shall be held in Atlanta or Macon-Bibb County, or at the court's sole discretion, via teleconference; all trials shall be held in the county as determined according to traditional venue rules, unless otherwise agreed to by the parties. A judge shall appoint another court judge if there must be a recusal, and if one is not available, the Georgia Supreme Court shall order a sitting judge of the Court of Appeals, superior, or state court to sit by designation in that case.

The court shall not have jurisdiction over cases involving physical, including threats of harm, or emotional injury, matters related to domestic relation, family farming, residential landlord and tenant disputes, or foreclosures, but it will have jurisdiction over equity cases, regardless of the amount in controversy, related to: corporations; small business entities; internal affairs of businesses; sale of goods under the uniform commercial Code; trade secrets; securities; arbitration; licensing of any intellectual property right arising from e-commerce agreements involving commercial real property; and where the state and federal courts have concurrent jurisdiction. When damages are requested, the amount in controversy must be at least $500,000 unless the dispute is for damages related to commercial real property, and then the amount in controversy must exceed $1 million.

Cases may come before the court by: a party filing in the court to initiate a civil action that has not already been filed in superior court or state court, unless a party objects within 30 days of the initial filing and seeks a transfer to a state or superior court of proper venue; a party to an action already in state or superior court who files a transfer to the court within 60 days of all parties being served, or the case becomes transferable and filed within those 60 days and the judge finds the case within the court's authority and orders, subject to a presumption of remaining in the court of filing, the transfer, unless a party objects within 30 days of the petition for transfer; or all parties to an action already in a state or superior court agree to remove to the business court and file that agreement within 60 days of commencing the action in state or superior court. The filing fee is $3,000 to be paid by the party or parties seeking initiation or transfer, or by all parties pro rata where removed by agreement. When a pleading or petition for transfer or removal is filed with the Georgia State-wide Business Court, the date of filing shall be the date of receipt by the court and any applicable statute of limitations shall be tolled until the court accepts or rejects acceptance of the pleading or petition. Upon proof of such transfer or removal the state court or superior court shall certify the transfer or removal.

Page 15 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

The court shall initially consist of one judge, one clerk, and one division which shall be appointed and confirmed by December 31, 2019. It will commence operations on January 1, 2020 and begin accepting cases on August 1, 2020; however, the General Assembly may create additional judges, clerks, or divisions based on caseload and need. To qualify as a court judge, the appointee must be for the past seven years a: Georgia resident, U.S. citizen, and admitted to the practice of law in Georgia with at least 15 years of legal experience in complex litigation, preferably in business. Court judges and clerks are appointed by the governor, subject to majority approval of the House and Senate Judiciary committees, serve a five-year term, and may be reappointed at the end of their term so long as the judge remains qualified. An oath of office for the judge is provided. The salary for the judge is $174,500. The salary for the clerk shall be the same as the clerk of the Court of Appeals. The judge may be reimbursed like other state employees, including expenses for travel, if the judge resides 50 miles or more from the main office in Atlanta.
Subject to Georgia Supreme Court approval, the judge of the court is empowered to create rules governing the business court that shall contain guidelines and procedures for filing documents and pleadings with the Georgia State-wide Business Court, and to that end may empanel a commission of up to eight volunteer individuals to assist. The judge may appoint and remove law assistants, who are either admitted or in the process of being admitted to the bar. The court may also purchase supplies, publications, and employ other staff as needed, and the clerk will pay them based on appropriations by the General Assembly. Appeals shall be made to the Court of Appeals, unless otherwise taken by the Supreme Court. The court is also authorized to grant relief by declaratory judgment. Proceedings shall be filed in the court as other proceedings are filed in superior court, and similarly trial shall not commence earlier than 20 days after services unless otherwise agreed to by the parties. Also, like superior court, the court has contempt authority. Lastly, only non-attorneys may reject electronic service of pleadings.
HB 239 also amends the process by which the state must pay for the cost of any deposition taken at the instance of the state in the course of a criminal proceeding against an accused who is financially unable to employ counsel. Such depositions shall be paid for in the same manner as any other motion hearing, rather than the previous requirement that such depositions be paid for by the Prosecuting Attorney's Council out of funds appropriated for the operations of the district attorneys. Further, depositions shall be taken and filed in the manner provided in civil proceedings or any nonjury motion hearing, as compared to the previous requirement that only allowed for the manner provided in civil proceedings.
Also, mandatory e-filing in state and superior courts for civil actions is amended to not require individuals who are acting on their own behalf to file at a public access terminal. The e-filing requirements are further amended to provide that the Office of the Attorney General, Office of the Secretary of State, Office of Legislative Counsel, district attorneys, and public defenders are not subject to mandatory e-filing fees; nor are filings done on behalf of municipal corporations or county governments. Similarly, leave of absence and conflict notices filed pursuant to the Uniform Rules of the Superior Courts or Uniform State Court Rules are no longer subject to a fee. Additionally, only non-attorneys may reject electronic service of pleadings.

HB 240 East Dublin, City of; new term for mayor pro tempore; provide By: Rep. Matt Hatchett (150th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee Final Bill Summary: This bill provides a new term for the mayor pro tempore of the town of East Dublin.

HB 242

Professions and businesses; regulation of massage therapy educational programs; provide

By: Rep. Lee Hawkins (27th)

Through the Regulated Industries Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 242 establishes board certification of massage therapy educational programs, within and outside the state, which meet the standards for training and curriculum set by the rules of the Georgia Board of Massage Therapy. The bill allows the board to request on-site inspections of massage therapy businesses and requires these businesses to continuously maintain liability insurance coverage for bodily injuries and property damages. Further, massage therapy businesses must comply with appropriate advertising. The bill increases fines for non-compliance and unlawful acts. HB 242 also provides rules and limitations for local jurisdictions in regulating massage therapy businesses.

HB 253 Professions and businesses; occupational therapists; update and revise various provisions

By: Rep. Lee Hawkins (27th)

Through the Regulated Industries Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 253 updates and revises the Code regarding occupational therapists. The bill allows licensed occupational therapists to provide therapeutic services through telecommunication and e-health

Page 16 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

services. In addition, authorized agents of the State Board of Occupation Therapy are granted the authority to enter and make reasonable inspections of any place where occupational therapy is practiced. In order for a foreign-trained occupational therapist to practice in Georgia, that therapist must complete an academic program approved by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists or other credentialing entity recognized by the board.

HB 257

Council of Magistrate Court Judges; organization and provide for officers; increase authority
By: Rep. Mitchell Scoggins (14th) Through the Judiciary Committee
Final Bill Summary: The organizational governing structure of the Council of Magistrate Court Judges is removed. Provisions related to the assumption of and removal from office, along with the expiration of terms for magistrates that are dated before 1985 are eliminated. The chief magistrate is still elected to a four-year term and all other magistrates are still appointed by the chief judge upon a majority vote by the judges of the superior court. The bond for faithful performance of duties is increased from $25,000 to $100,000. The qualifications for magistrates are amended. The county residency requirement preceding the beginning of their term is increased from one to two years, and magistrates must: remain a resident of the county they serve during their term of office; be a citizen of the United States; be registered to vote; and have a high school or general educational development diploma. Lastly, the provisions related to justices of the peace, which have been superseded by the magistrate Code section since 1983, have been removed.

HB 266 Revenue and taxation; income for contributions to savings trust accounts; revise deduction By: Rep. Marcus Wiedower (119th) Through the Ways & Means Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 266 amends 48-7-27, relating to the Georgia Higher Education Savings Plan, by increasing the limit for single filers to $4,000 per year and for joint filers to $8,000 per year.

HB 272

Chamblee, City of; ad valorem tax; certain residents under 65 years of age; increase homestead

exemption amount

By: Rep. Scott Holcomb (81st)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: This bill increases a city of Chamblee homestead exemption from $30,000 to $50,000 for

those under the age of 65.

HB 273

Chamblee, City of; ad valorem tax; residents 65 years of age or older or who are totally disabled;

revise homestead exemption

By: Rep. Scott Holcomb (81st)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: This bill amends a city of Chamblee homestead exemption for those 65 and older or those who are totally disabled in order to provide that the exemption does not apply for taxes levied by the city to pay interest on and to retire bonded indebtedness.

HB 274

Catoosa County; school district ad valorem tax; residents 65 years of age or older; provide

homestead exemption

By: Rep. Dewayne Hill (3rd)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: This bill provides a $40,000 Catoosa County school homestead exemption for those who

are 65 and older and whose income does not exceed $30,000.

HB 277

Insurance; allow good will from insurer acquisitions to be treated as an asset

By: Rep. John Carson (46th)

Through the Insurance Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 277 allows "good will" from insurer acquisitions to be treated as an asset. This includes "good will" up to 10 percent of the acquiring insurer's capital and surplus shown on its statutory balance sheet for the most recently filed statement with the Insurance commissioner adjusted to exclude any net positive good will, electronic data processing equipment, operating system software, and net deferred tax asset.

Page 17 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

HB 279

Revenue and taxation; certain law enforcement officers may use department vehicles relative to certain approved off-duty jobs; provide
By: Rep. Eddie Lumsden (12th) Through the Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 279 allows certified law enforcement officers appointed by the commissioner of the Department of Revenue as a special agent or enforcement officer of the department to use a department motor vehicle while working an off-duty job if that job requires vested police powers as a condition of employment. These jobs must have prior approval of the commissioner and must be determined by the commissioner to be in the furtherance of the department's mission and service to the state.

HB 281

Crimes and offenses; pimping and pandering; increase penalty provisions
By: Rep. Teri Anulewicz (42nd) Through the Judiciary Non-Civil Committee
Final Bill Summary: HB 281 increases the punishment for both pimping and pandering. On the first offense for either pimping or pandering, the amount of imprisonment that cannot be suspended, stayed, or probated is increased to 72 hours. On the second or subsequence offense, the penalty is increased to a felony with a term of imprisonment not less than one year nor more than 10 years.

HB 282

Criminal procedure; increase amount of time that law enforcement agencies are required to

preserve certain evidence of sexual assault

By: Rep. Scott Holcomb (81st)

Through the Judiciary Non-Civil Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 282 requires law enforcement agencies to maintain physical evidence collected that relates to the identity of the perpetrator of an alleged sexual assault for 30 years from the date of arrest, or seven years from the completion of the sentence; if there is no arrest, evidence must be maintained for 50 years.

HB 284

Cobb County; Magistrate Court chief judge; provide nonpartisan elections

By: Rep. John Carson (46th)

Through the Governmental Affairs Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 284 specifies that elections for the office of chief judge of the Magistrate

Court of Cobb County will be nonpartisan elections. The bill will not impact the current term of the sitting chief

judge of the Magistrate Court of Cobb County, but will apply in all following elections.

HB 285

Cobb County; probate judge; provide nonpartisan elections

By: Rep. John Carson (46th)

Through the Governmental Affairs Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 285 specifies that elections for the office of probate judge of Cobb County will be nonpartisan elections. The bill will not impact the current term of the sitting probate judge of Cobb County, but will apply in all following elections.

HB 287

Income tax; certain physicians serving as community based faculty physicians; delete deduction

By: Rep. Matt Dubnik (29th)

Through the Ways & Means Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 287 adds language which replaces the preceptor tax deduction with a tax credit. For physicians, the credit is $500 for the first through third preceptorship rotations and $1,000 for the fourth through tenth preceptorship rotations. For physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses, the credit is $375 for the first through third preceptorship rotations and $750 for the fourth through tenth preceptorship rotations. The Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) program office at Augusta University shall administer the program and provide an annual report to the governor, chairperson of the Senate Finance Committee, and the chairperson of the House Ways and Means Committee which includes the number of community-based faculty preceptors claiming a credit, the number of preceptorship rotations completed, the number of students who participated in a preceptorship rotation, and the total amount of credits awarded. The credit sunsets on December 31, 2023.

HB 288

Superior courts; revise the sums that the clerks are entitled to charge and collect for filing

documents and instruments pertaining to real estate or personal property

By: Rep. Alan Powell (32nd)

Through the Judiciary Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 288 provides for a $25 flat fee for the clerks of superior court to charge and collect for filing documents and instruments pertaining to real estate and personal property. The bill amends the fee

Page 18 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

associated with filing maps or plats from $7.50 per page to a flat $10 fee for each filing. For any instrument that includes a request for cancellation, satisfaction, release or assignment of more than one instrument, the bill creates a flat $5 fee for each instrument. The bill also creates a $5 fee for page one of the filing of a tax lien by a state or local government agency, with a $2 fee for each additional page. In addition, for each tax cancellation, satisfaction, release, notice, withdrawal, or other document referencing a previously filed tax lien, the bill creates a $2 fee for each previous tax lien referenced. The bill also updates internal Code sections and clarifies the process for distributing these filing fees.

HB 290

Health; pilot program to provide preexposure assistance to persons at risk of HIV infection; establish
By: Rep. Sharon Cooper (43rd) Through the Health & Human Services Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 290 establishes a three-year pilot program to provide pre-exposure prophylaxis drug assistance or services to people who have tested negative for HIV but have risk factors that may expose them to the virus. The pilot program will be conducted in counties identified as at risk for outbreaks of HIV as a result of a high rate of opioid-related use. No later than December 31, 2022, the Department of Public Health shall submit a detailed written report on the implementation and effectiveness of the pilot program.

HB 291 Peachtree City, City of; creation of one or more community improvement districts; provide

By: Rep. Josh Bonner (72nd)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: This bill provides for the creation of one or more community improvement districts in Peachtree City.

HB 293 Fayetteville, City of; Public Facility Authority; create

By: Rep. Josh Bonner (72nd)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: This bill creates the city of Fayetteville Public Facilities Authority.

HB 296

Superior Court of Hall County in the Northeastern Circuit; revise term of court

By: Rep. Lee Hawkins (27th)

Through the Judiciary Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 296 revises the terms of Hall County Superior Court in the Northeastern Circuit to be the second Monday in January, April, July, and first Monday in October, rather than the first Monday in May and November and the second Monday in January and July.

HB 297 Monroe County; abolish office of elected county surveyor; provide appointment by governing authority By: Rep. Robert Dickey (140th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: This bill abolishes the office of elected county surveyor of Monroe County.

HB 300 Health; redesignate continuing care retirement communities as life plan communities

By: Rep. Vance Smith (133rd)

Through the Human Relations & Aging Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 300 changes the name of "continuing care retirement community" to "life plan

community."

HB 304

Putnam County; Magistrate Court; revise number, manner of selection, and compensation of the

judges

By: Rep. Trey Rhodes (120th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: This bill revises the number, manner of selection, and compensation of the judges of the Putnam County Magistrate Court.

HB 305 Sylvania, City of; levy an excise tax

By: Rep. Jon Burns (159th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Page 19 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

Final Bill Summary: This bill authorizes the city of Sylvania to levy an excise tax.

HB 306

Screven County Industrial Development Authority; revise projects that the authority may

undertake

By: Rep. Jon Burns (159th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: This bill revises the projects the Screven County Industrial Development Authority may undertake.

HB 307

Abandoned Motor Vehicle Act; enact

By: Rep. Alan Powell (32nd)

Through the Motor Vehicles Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 307 creates the 'Abandoned Motor Vehicle Act.' The intent of the General

Assembly is to decrease the burden on businesses that remove abandoned vehicles at the request of law

enforcement officers or private property owners.

When an insurance company acquires a motor vehicle after paying out a total loss claim but does not receive, within 30 days, the certificate of title from the vehicle owner, the insurance company, or a salvage dealer, is authorized to apply to the Department of Revenue to receive a replacement certificate of title.

Several Code sections relating to abandoned and derelict vehicles are repealed and reserved.

When a peace officer, or authorized entity, discovers an unattended vehicle on a highway or public property, they must immediately perform an unattended vehicle check. Once the check is complete, the officer, or authorized entity, must attach a completed unattended vehicle check card to the vehicle. The Department of Public Safety will specify the rules and regulations regarding the unattended vehicle check cards and will provide them to law enforcement agencies free of charge if possible. These cards must only be attached to a vehicle by a peace officer or an authorized entity. Within 24 hours of completing or discovering the completion of an unattended vehicle check, the peace officer must check the criminal justice information system to determine if the vehicle is stolen. If the vehicle is stolen, the peace officer must notify the law enforcement agency which filed the stolen vehicle report.

If a vehicle has been left unattended on a highway for more than five days or if the vehicle's abandonment poses an immediate threat to public safety or traffic congestion, a peace officer can have the vehicle removed to a safer place. Within three days of the removal, the towing company which tows the vehicle at the request of the peace officer may request from the Department of Revenue the identification of the vehicle owner. The department has five days to provide the requested information and may charge a fee of $2 or less.

Within three days of the removal of an unattended vehicle from private property, the towing company which tows the vehicle at the request of the property owner may request from the Department of Revenue the identification of the vehicle owner. The department has five days to provide the requested information and may charge a fee of $2 or less. After no more than one day, the towing company must submit a copy of the Department of Revenue request to the law enforcement department with jurisdiction over the location that the vehicle was abandoned. Within 24 hours, the local law enforcement department must check the criminal justice information system to determine if the vehicle has been reported as stolen. If the vehicle is stolen, the law enforcement officer must contact the law enforcement agency which filed the stolen vehicle report, who will in turn notify the vehicle owner and the towing company. If a repair facility or salvage dealer has been in possession of a vehicle for at least 15 days with no contact from the owner or insurance company, they may request from the Department of Revenue the identification of the vehicle owner. The department has five days to provide the requested information and may charge a fee of $2 or less.

It is prohibited to remove or tow a vehicle left in a paid private parking lot between midnight and 9 a.m. of the following day; the parking lot owner can impose a penalty of $25 or less and is not liable for any damage to the abandoned vehicle.

A towing company, repair facility, or salvage dealer must give the vehicle owner up to 30 days after notice is sent to retrieve any personal property from the vehicle. After 30 days, any remaining personal property will be considered abandoned.

Within 15 calendar days of removal, the towing company or salvage dealer must send the owners the notification letter form developed by the Council of Magistrate Court Judges to give notice of the vehicle's location and fees owed. If the identity of the owners cannot be found, the towing company or salvage dealer
Page 20 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

must place a notice in the local newspaper or the county courthouse for two consecutive weeks. When a vehicle is left with a repair facility for at least 15 days without payment, the repair facility must send the owner the applicable notification letter form developed by the Council of Magistrate Court Judges to give notice of the vehicle's location and fees owed. The towing company, salvage dealer, or repair facility shall have a lien placed on motor vehicles in their possession in the amount of the noticed recoverable fees.
Between 10 days and six months after compliance with the notice requirements, a towing company, repair facility, or salvage dealer may file an action for a petition to foreclose a lien against the motor vehicle in any magistrate court in the judicial circuit where the vehicle is located. The towing company, repair facility, or salvage dealer must send a copy of the filed claim to any known owners of the vehicle. If the identity of the owners cannot be found, the towing company, repair facility, or salvage dealer must advertise the notice in the local newspaper or the county courthouse for two consecutive weeks. The vehicle owner may file an answer to the claim within 10 days of receipt by using the included answer form. If no answer is filed within the specified time frame, the towing company, repair facility, or salvage dealer may seek to foreclose the lien through a judgment. If the judgement is granted by the court, the vehicle will be considered abandoned and within five days the court must transmit an order for the disposition of the motor vehicle. If an answer is returned to the court, a trial deciding whether to foreclose on the lien will be held within 10 days.
After a court order, the towing company, repair facility, or salvage dealer is authorized to sell the vehicle to the highest bidder at public sale. The towing company, repair facility, or salvage dealer will use the proceeds from the sale to satisfy the outstanding lien and cover any costs associated with the advertisement and sale of the vehicle. The remaining proceeds will be submitted to the Department of Revenue as unclaimed property.
The purchaser of a motor vehicle at such a public sale will receive a certified copy of the court order authorizing the sale. The purchaser will be able to obtain a clear title from the Department of Revenue by meeting specified requirements.
Once the vehicle proceeds have been turned over to the Department of Revenue as unclaimed property, any person claiming a property interest in the motor vehicle sold and the excess funds from the sale must make a claim within six months of the sale. If no claim is made within six months, the person who sold the motor vehicle can make a claim for the excess funds until one year from the date of the deposit of excess funds.

HB 310

Insurance, Department of; must submit an autism coverage report to General Assembly; move

annual due date to June 15

By: Rep. Greg Morris (156th)

Through the Insurance Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 310 moves the due date of the Department of Insurance's autism coverage report to the General Assembly from January 15 to June 15.

HB 311

State government; waiver of sovereign immunity as to actions ex contractu and state tort claims; provisions
By: Rep. Andrew Welch (110th) Through the Judiciary Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 311 provides a limited waiver of sovereign immunity for declaratory and injunctive relief against the state in Part I and against all other political subdivisions, including counties and municipalities, in Part II. Part III addresses the limited waiver for quiet title claims, which is the process used to clear any 'cloud' on the plaintiff's title to property, against the state or its political subdivisions. Part IV addresses judgments and rulings deemed directly appealable with regard to sovereign immunity.

The waiver in Part I is limited to claims against the state, a state governmental entity, officer, or employee in his or her official capacity to remedy, through declaratory of injunctive relief, injuries caused or that may imminently be caused either in violation of state law, the Constitution of Georgia, or the Constitution of the United States or by enforcement of a state statute on the basis that the statute violates the Constitution of Georgia or the Constitution of the United States. The waiver applies only if: the aggrieved person provides 30days' written notice to the attorney general of the aggrieved person's intent to file such a suit; the court is provided proof of service upon the attorney general or his or her designee and the state governmental entity that is charged with enforcing the state statute being challenged; and the suit for which notice has been provided and filed no later than 90 days after the notice has been provided.

Part I clarifies official immunity for state officers and employees, who shall not be subject to a suit in his or her individual capacity for performance or non-performance of official duties. When a suit names a state officer or

Page 21 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

employee in his or her individual capacity, under proper motion the court shall substitute as the party defendant such officer or employee in his or her official capacity, unless the suit is expressly authorized by state statute or federal law or the suit alleges the officer's or employee's conduct was outside of his/her scope of authority, unconstitutional, or illegal, in which case official immunity is waived.
The waiver of sovereign immunity in Part II is limited to claims against a county, municipal corporation, or consolidated government to remedy, through declaratory of injunctive relief, injuries caused to an aggrieved person or that may imminently be caused either by such political subdivisions acting without lawful authority, beyond the scope of its official power, or in violation of the Constitution of Georgia, the Constitution of the United States, a state statute, a rule or regulation, or a local ordinance, or by the award of a proposed agreement with a political subdivision or an officer or employee in his or her official capacity, so long as the suit is filed no later than 10 days from the date that the award is made public. Additionally, the bill clarifies that sovereign immunity is waived for claims against political subdivisions for breach of contract. Part 2 also creates a 30-day written notice requirement.
Additionally, the state and its political subdivision's defense of sovereign immunity, including municipal corporations, is waived in quiet title proceedings within Part III. When a clear title to property or an instrument is held by the state or any state entity, notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the pleadings shall be served on the attorney general and the state or any department, agency, commission, board, authority, or state entity allegedly holding such title. If the attorney general does not file a responsive pleading in such actions then the court shall accept the state's acquiescence to the petitioner's filed claim for relief.
All judgments, orders, or rulings denying or refusing to grant immunity to one or more parties based upon sovereign, official, or qualified immunity are directly appealable to the Supreme Court of Georgia and the Court of Appeals, provided that the right to direct appeal shall not be exercised by any one party more than once in a case. Lastly, this Act shall apply to causes of action accruing on or after July 1, 2019.

HB 314

Georgia Uniform Certificate of Title for Vessels Act; enact

By: Rep. Ron Stephens (164th)

Through the Ways & Means Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 314, the 'Georgia Uniform Certificate of Title for Vessels Act,' requires that every vessel using the waters of this state be titled unless it is exempt from being required to be numbered. All outboard motors greater than 25 horsepower must be included on the vessel title. If an owner transfers the ownership of a damaged hull vessel that is covered by a certificate of number, the owner must submit an application to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for a new certificate of number including the title brand designation "damaged hull" or indicate on the certificate of title or bill of sale that the vessel is hulldamaged. The bill requires DNR to maintain electronic records of titles and provide a physical certificate of title to the owner or lienholder upon request.

HB 315

Local government; certain agreements from consultants who enter into contracts or arrangements to prepare or develop requirements for bids; provide
By: Rep. Mark Newton (123rd) Through the Governmental Affairs Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 315 creates a new Code section which outlines the agreement that counties, municipalities, and other local governmental entities must enter into with consultants. The consultant will avoid any appearance of impropriety, disclose any potential conflicts of interest, and acknowledge that violation of the agreement entitles the governmental entity to seek injunctive relief. This Code section does not apply to any development authority or to economic development activities that are confidential under O.C.G.A. 50-18-4.

HB 316

Elections; definitions; provide for uniform equipment and ballot marking devices
By: Rep. Barry Fleming (121st) Through the Governmental Affairs Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 316 impacts several Code chapters and sections relating to elections and provides a new voting system for the state. Section 2 of the bill removes "direct recording electronic (DRE)" in the description of the voting systems used by the state. Throughout the bill, "optical scanner," "tabulator," and "optical scanning tabulator" are replaced with "ballot scanner." Throughout the bill, "or electronic ballot markers" is added to every reference to DRE voting units in several different Code sections. Also throughout the bill, "electronic ballot marker" is added in various Code sections as a type of voting machine.

Section 3 adds a new Code section which establishes that an independent candidate for president or vice president must file with the Georgia secretary of state a slate of candidates for the office of presidential elector,

Page 22 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

no later than the Friday before qualifying begins.
Section 4 replaces "notice of candidacy" with "nomination petition" for what a presidential elector nominee must submit with a certified copy of the minutes of a convention.
Section 5 prohibits a person from voting if they are not at least 18 years of age on or before the election date.
Section 6 provides that if a person's registration application information does not match the information on file with the Department of Driver Services or the federal Social Security Administration, the applicant is still considered registered to vote but will be required to provide proof of their identity the first time that they request a ballot for any federal, state, or local election.
Section 7 permits the secretary of state to become a member of an information-sharing non-governmental entity in order to improve the accuracy of voter registration systems. The Department of Driver Services will provide driver's license and identification card information to the secretary of state in order to exchange voter registration information with the nongovernmental entity.
Section 8 removes a reference to a DRE unit from a provision regarding challenging a person on a list of electors.
Section 9 directs the secretary of state to send a list of persons convicted of a felony in this state and a list of persons convicted of a felony in federal court to the appropriate county board of registrars. The county board of registrars will mail a notice to each listed person notifying them of their removal from the list of electors, allowing a 30-day time period for the recipient to request a hearing on the removal.
Section 10 requires that when an elector moves to a new state and the registration officials of that state send notice of cancellation, a confirmation notice must be sent to the elector unless an elector-signed copy of the elector's new voter registration application is included with the notice of cancellation.
Section 11 adds "not using an absentee ballot" to the list of reasons an elector can be labeled "no contact." When assessing if an elector is "no contact," the time period is changed from three years of inactivity to five years of inactivity.
Section 12 requires that an elector will remain on the inactive list of electors until the day after the second general election that takes place while they are on the list. After that time, if no contact is made, the elector will be removed from the list. Between 30 days and 60 days prior to the elector's removal from the list, notice must be sent to notify the elector.
Sections 13 and 14 require the superintendent to provide 30-day's notice of a precinct alteration; such notice shall also be submitted to the secretary of state. Unless there is an emergency, a polling place cannot be changed: on the day of a primary, election, or runoff; during the 60 days prior to a general primary or general election; or during the 30 days prior to a special primary or special election.
Section 16 provides that the secretary of state will prescribe the design of the ballots printed by an electronic ballot marker to ensure ease of reading by electors.
Section 18 establishes that as soon as possible, all federal, state, and county elections in the state of Georgia will be conducted with the use of scanning ballots marked by electronic ballot markers and tabulated by using ballot scanners. Additionally, the electronic ballot markers must produce paper ballots which are marked with the elector's choices in a format that is readable by the elector. For each county, the state will furnish uniform equipment which has been certified by the United States Election Assistance Commission. Counties may acquire additional equipment of the same type at their own expense. Municipalities may acquire their own voting equipment of the same type at their own expense.
Section 20 requires that there must be one voting booth or enclosure for every 250 electors in precincts which use optical scanning voting systems.
Section 22 requires that ballots must be of a suitable design and construction to allow processing by a ballot scanner. Section 24 requires the election superintendent to prominently post signs reminding electors to verify their ballot choices before inserting their ballot into the ballot scanner and that sample ballots are available upon request.
Page 23 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

Section 26 adds a new Part to Title 21 Article 9 relating to voting machines. Each polling place which uses optical scanning voting systems must have at least one electronic ballot marker that is accessible to disabled individuals. Electronic ballot markers must not be used unless they meet a list of standard requirements. Provides specific guidelines for the appearance and information included on a ballot printed by an electronic ballot marker. The paper ballot printed by the electronic ballot marker will be considered the official ballot and will be used in any recount or audit conducted after the election. The secretary of state will examine and certify electronic ballot markers before they are used in an election. Any ten or more electors of this state may request the secretary of state to reexamine a device that was previously examined and approved. If a vendor sells an electronic ballot marker that has not been approved by the secretary of state, they will be subject to a penalty of $100,000. The superintendent of each county or municipality will ensure the following: that the proper ballot is programmed for each electronic ballot marker; each device is in proper working order; and that each device is examined and verified before being sent to a polling place for an election. The superintendent may appoint a custodian and deputy custodians of the electronic ballot markers who are responsible for preparing the devices for election. On or before the third day preceding an election, the superintendent will test each electronic ballot marker to ensure proper working order. These tests are open to the public and must be noticed at least five days prior. When the electronic ballot markers are not in use, the superintendent is responsible for their safe storage.
Section 27 allows absentee ballots to be sent to an address other than the permanent mailing address if the elector is in jail in the county or municipality. Removes a reference to a DRE voting system. An absentee ballot application will not be rejected due to lack of signature matching. If the signature on file does not match with the signature on the application, the board of registrars or absentee ballot clerk will send a provisional absentee ballot, along with instructions on how to correct the signature discrepancy. If the ballot is returned prior to the closing of the polls on the day of the election and the signature discrepancy is corrected before the end of the period for verifying provisional ballots, the provisional ballot will be counted. If the board of registrars or absentee ballot clerk does not find the signature discrepancy corrected, the ballot will be rejected.
Section 28 adds polling places to the list of places that can serve as registrar's offices or places to receive absentee ballots.
Section 29 provides that in jurisdictions where electronic ballot markers are used on election day, the electronic ballot markers will be used to cast absentee ballots in person at a registrar's or absentee ballot clerk's office.
Section 30 removes references to an elector's residence address and year of birth on the oath of the elector which accompanies the absentee ballot that is mailed to the elector. The Oath of Person Assisting Elector is amended so that the person providing assistance does not list their relationship to the elector. The addition of the signer's printed name is added to both oaths. Additionally, language is removed from the Oath of Person Assisting Elector which prohibits a person from assisting more than 10 electors in any election. It replaces "42 U.S.C. Section 1973ff" with "52 U.S.C. Section 20302" in two places regarding the transmission of absentee ballots to members of the military.
Section 31 provides that the absentee ballot of a disabled elector may be mailed or delivered by a relative or a caregiver. The absentee ballot of an elector in jail may be mailed or delivered by a jail employee. A disabled or illiterate elector may receive ballot assistance from any person of their choice other than the following: the elector's employer, the elector's union representative, a candidate on the ballot, or a relative of a candidate on the ballot. The section removes the prohibition of a person assisting more than 10 electors in any one election. The time period for early voting for a run-off election is set as no later than the second Monday immediately prior to the run-off.
Section 32 requires that if an absentee ballot is rejected, the elector must be notified and is given until the end of the period for verifying provisional ballots to address the problem that resulted in ballot rejection. If the elector cures the issues before the end of the time period, the ballot will be approved by the board of registrars or absentee ballot clerk and counted. If an absentee ballot is submitted without identification verification, the board of registrars or absentee ballot clerk must promptly notify the elector and provide instructions on addressing the issue. The ballot will be considered provisional until the issue is addressed, at which time it will be counted.

Section 33 provides that if an absentee voter has not yet returned their ballot, they can have their absentee ballot canceled and vote in person on election day. If the absentee ballot is not surrendered to the poll manager, the elector must destroy the ballot after casting his or her vote in person.
Section 34 provides that any elector who is entitled to receive voting assistance in any election may receive assistance from any person of the elector's choice, other than the following: the elector's employer; the elector's
Page 24 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

union representative; a candidate on the ballot; or a relative of a candidate on the ballot. Notice of the availability of assistance must be prominently posted at each polling place.
Section 36 provides that a Georgia voter identification card will remain valid as long as the elector resides in the same county. If the elector moves to a new county, the voter identification card must be surrendered to the board of registrars in the new county of residence.
Section 37 requires that as soon as possible after a provisional ballot is cast, the election superintendent must notify the secretary of state with all pertinent information regarding the provisional ballot.
Section 38 requires that when reviewing provisional ballots, the board of registrars must make a good faith effort to determine if the ballot is valid. This section expounds on what a "good faith effort" means. As soon as possible after a determination is made regarding a provisional ballot, the board of registrars must notify the impacted electors.
Section 40 requires that the superintendent must certify election returns no later than 5:00 p.m. on the second Friday following the election. The secretary of state may extend the time limit if necessary to complete a precertification audit.
Section 41 provides that when the difference in votes received by the declared winner and one or more other candidates is less than one-half of one percent of the total votes cast, the losing candidate has two business days from the time of certification to request, in writing, a recount. When the difference in votes for approval or rejection of a constitutional amendment is less than one-half of one percent of the total votes cast, the Constitutional Amendments Publication Board has two business days from the time of certification to request a recount. The State Election Board is authorized to regulate and administer such recounts.
Section 42 requires that as soon as possible, but no later than the November 2020 general election, the local election superintendents will conduct precertification audits for any federal or state general election, based on requirements set by the State Election Board. The audit must be completed prior to the final certification of results and the results must be available to the public within 48 hours of completion. The secretary of state must conduct a risk-limiting audit pilot program by December 31, 2021.
Section 43 increases the amount of time that the secretary of state and governor are given to certify the votes for presidential electors by three days.
Sections 44 and 49 prohibit a person or a poll worker from tampering with an "electronic ballot marker."

HB 319

Georgia Firefighters' Pension Fund; member's benefits payable after death shall be paid to his or her estate when such member failed to designate a beneficiary or his or her designated beneficiaries are deceased; provide
By: Rep. Noel Williams (148th) Through the Retirement Committee
Final Bill Summary: HB 319 allows members of the Georgia Firefighters' Pension Fund to have their death benefits paid to his or her estate in the event the member failed to designate a beneficiary or if all named beneficiaries have predeceased the member. The Department of Audits and Accounts has certified HB 319 as a non-fiscal retirement bill.

HB 321 Health; hospital Medicaid financing program; extend sunset provision

By: Rep. Jodi Lott (122nd)

Through the Appropriations Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 321 includes provisions relating to hospital transparency, the Rural Hospital Tax

Credit, and the hospital provider payment program.

Section 1 of the bill requires a non-profit hospital, hospital-owned or operated authority, or the authority's nonprofit corporation to increase transparency by prominently posting online the most recent versions of certain federal and state documents, which include audited financial statements for the hospital and its affiliates, including all subsidiaries and parent companies. The hospital's statements must distinguish and include gross patient revenue, allowances, charity care, and net patient revenues for the hospital. The subsidiaries and affiliates must provide audited balance sheets that break out the hospital's operating costs. Posted documents must include the hospital's audited Internal Revenue Service Form 990 with Schedule H, and for those hospitals that are not required to submit this form, one will be designed and provided by the Department of Community

Page 25 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

Health (DCH). State-specific documents for publication online include the hospital's: annual questionnaire; community benefit report; disproportionate share hospital survey; property holdings with location, use, and value; loan, bond, and debt information; ownership, interest, value, and domicile of any joint venture, partnerships, holdings, or captive insurance companies; year-end fund balances (less any interest in the foundation) of net assets that distinguish the purposes and any restrictions of those assets; going concern statements; the legal organizational chart showing the relationship of the hospital to its subsidiaries and affiliates; a report listing the 10 highest salaried administrative positions with amount, fringe, titles, and other benefits; proof of accreditation(s); and policies for charity and reduced cost care payments and collections. While postings must be updated and filed at least once a year by July 1, the documentation for each year will be available on the website indefinitely and DCH's website will provide prominent links to each of these. Failure to comply within 30 days of the deadline results in the suspension of all state funding, provided that DCH gave notice and allowed the opportunity for correction; willful violations will be prosecuted.
Section 2 of the bill provides that hospital authority board members are subject to state conflict of interest laws governing sale and lease transactions.
Section 3 relates to the eligibility and obligations of rural hospitals receiving tax credits. A "rural hospital" is further defined as a hospital that has a three-year average patient margin that is less than one standard deviation above the statewide three-year average, as calculated by the department. DCH is required to create a manual with the criteria to qualify and submit for the credit, as well as develop and include a formula to rank the hospitals by greatest financial need in the manual. The department will prominently post the: manual; eligible and ranked hospital list determined by December 1st of every year; annual report; total amount received by third-party entities soliciting, administering, or managing donors; and a link to the Department of Revenue's donation information on their webpage.
Section 4 of the bill changes the sunset date on the hospital provider payment program from June 30, 2020 to June 30, 2025.
Section 5 directs unspecified donations to rural hospitals to be automatically applied to the hospital ranked with the greatest need that has not yet received the maximum amount of contributions for that year. The Department of Revenue will post the list of eligible hospitals by need, the timeline for donations, and a monthly update of all designated and undesignated contributions preapproved and received as well as the aggregate totals for contributions and available credits. All parties are subject to annual auditing by the state. Lastly, the Rural Hospital Tax Credit is extended through calendar year 2024.

HB 322

Local government; advertisement of certain bid or proposal opportunities; change provisions

By: Rep. Tom McCall (33rd)

Through the Governmental Affairs Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 322 provides that if a bid or proposal opportunity is extended by a county, municipal corporation, or local board of education valued at $100,000 or more, the bid must be advertised in the same way and for the same period of time that the local government entity would normally advertise a bid or proposal. A governmental entity must publicly advertise a contract opportunity on the Georgia Procurement Registry for at least four weeks.

HB 323

Insurance; administration of claims by pharmacy benefit managers; revise provisions

By: Rep. David Knight (130th)

Through the Insurance Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 323 requires that pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) annually report to each client, insurer, or payer, the aggregate amount of all rebates that the PBM receives from pharmaceutical manufacturers in connection with claims administered on behalf of the client, as well as the aggregate amount of such rebates the PBM received from pharmaceutical manufacturers that it did not pass through to the client. Additionally, this bill also adds several new PBM provisions.

HB 324

Georgia's Hope Act; enact

By: Rep. Micah Gravley (67th)

Through the Regulated Industries Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 324 is known as the 'Georgia's Hope Act' and allows for the production,

manufacturing, and dispensing of low THC oil with a lawful valid license issued by the Georgia Access to

Medical Cannabis Commission ('the commission'). The commission is granted the authority to coordinate its

activities with the Department of public health; to promulgate rules and regulations to establish security, quality

Page 26 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

control, tracking, and oversight of all low THC oil production to ensure market stability and adequate supply. The commission, comprised of 7 members chosen by the Governor, the Speaker of the House, and the Lt. Governor, is charged with reviewing and approving applications to ensure a competitive process for licenses issued. Moreover, the commission is prohibited from promulgating any rules or regulations that unduly burden access to low THC oil by registered patients. Members of the commission serve without compensation but receive a per diem for each day of attendance for meetings.
The commission shall issue up to two Class 1 production licenses, providing it receives at least two qualified applications. Class 1 licenses are authorized to: grow cannabis or hemp products in only indoor facilities, limited to 100,000 square feet of cultivation space, for producing low THC oil; and manufacture low THC oil. Applicants for a Class 1 license must show: at least $2 million in available cash reserves; a written production plan; a comprehensive security plan which also includes transportation; a detailed employment plan; a written plan for certified organic production; letters of support from local government entities; a demonstration of significant involvement in the business by one or more minority business enterprises; documentation of industry capabilities and experience; and copies of recent criminal background checks for all employees and owners. The applicant for a Class 1 production license must submit a non-refundable application fee of $25,000. Upon the award of a Class 1 production license, the applicant must submit an initial license fee of $200,000 with an annual renewal fee of $100,000. No person or entity may hold ownership in more than one Class 1 production license.
The commission shall issue four Class 2 production licenses, providing it receives at least four qualified applications. Class 2 licenses are authorized to: grow cannabis or hemp products in only indoor facilities, limited to 50,000 square feet of cultivation space, for producing low THC oil; and manufacture low THC oil. Applicants for a Class 2 license must show: at least $1.25 million in available cash reserves; a written production plan; a comprehensive security and tracking plan which also includes transportation; a detailed employment plan; detailed designs of all production facilities; a written plan for certified organic production; letters of support from local government entities; a demonstration of significant involvement in the business by one or more minority business enterprises; documentation of industry capabilities and experience; and copies of recent criminal background checks for all employees and owners. The applicant for a Class 2 production license must submit a non-refundable application fee of $5,000. Upon the award of a Class 2 production license, the applicant must submit an initial license fee of $100,000 with an annual renewal fee of $50,000. No person or entity may hold ownership in more than one Class 2 production license.
HB 324 requires that each Class 1 and Class 2 production licensee to establish, utilize, and maintain a sophisticated tracking system and record keeping program for all phases of production allowing for real-time commission access. Moreover, the tracking system must be operated in compliance with the federal `Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996'.
The commission shall issue non-transferrable designated university licenses for the production of low THC oil which have the option to be licenses as a production facility either separately or jointly. Each designated university may conduct research on marijuana for therapeutic use ant must submit an annual report to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and the House Committee on Health and Human Services Committee which includes data and outcomes of the research conducted.
HB 324 requires the University System of Georgia to contract with the National Institute of Drug Abuse for receipt of cannabis pursuant to regulations promulgated by the Institute, the United States Food and Drug Administration, and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration or obtain cannabis, or substantially similar products, from any available legal source.
The State Board of Pharmacy shall develop an annual, non-transferable specialty dispensing license for a pharmacy to dispense low THC oil to registered patients. The State Board of Pharmacy and the commission must jointly adopt rules for dispensing low THC oil by pharmacies and retail dispensing licensees.
The General Assembly is directed to establish a Medical Cannabis Commission Oversight Committee with two members appointed by the lieutenant governor and two members appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives which is permitted to inspect any production facility upon request and with reasonable notice. Beginning January 1, 2020, and every four years thereafter, the commission must undertake a retrospective study of the participation of minority and women owned businesses as licensees. In the event that any proof of discrimination based on race or gender in the issuance of licenses, the commission is authorized to address such discrimination.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is responsible for ensuring that all activities of licensees are conducted in accordance with the laws of the state and all licensees must provide on-demand access to facilities for
Page 27 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

inspection when requested by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the commission, or the local law enforcement agency for the jurisdiction in which a production facility is located.
No licensee shall operate in any location, whether for cultivation, harvesting, and processing marijuana for low THC oil, within a 3,000-foot radius of a school, an early care program, church, synagogue, or other place of public worship in existence prior to the date of licensure by the department. In addition, licensees must comply with strict advertisement requirements which prohibit advertising that promotes recreational or non-medical use of marijuana.
It is unlawful to ingest low THC oil in a manner that employs a heating element that can be used to produce vapor or other food-like edible form.

HB 325

Law enforcement officers and agencies; records of investigation of an officer by the Georgia

Peace Officer Standards and Training Council shall be retained for 30 years; provide

By: Rep. Heath Clark (147th)

Through the Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 325 requires the records of an investigation of an officer by the Peace Officer Standards and Training Council be retained for 30 years following the date that the investigation was deemed concluded. After 30 years, the records may be destroyed. POST Council is authorized to destroy any records prior to 30 years when the officer is deceased and no action upon the complaint was taken by the council beyond the initial intake of the complaint.

HB 329 South Fulton, City of; Redevelopment Powers Law; provide for a referendum

By: Rep. Marie Metze (55th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: This bill authorizes the city of South Fulton to exercise all redevelopment and other powers under Article IX, Section II, Paragraph VII(b) of the Constitution and O.C.G.A. 36-44.

HB 332

Agriculture; service of the Commissioner of Agriculture and the president of the Georgia Farm

Bureau Federation as ex officio members; revise provisions

By: Rep. Steven Meeks (178th)

Through the Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 332 allows for the commissioner of the Department of Agriculture to appoint a designee to serve on agricultural commodity commissions, except for the Agricultural Commodity Commission for Peanuts.

HB 339

Special license plates; Alabama A&M University; establish
By: Rep. Dewey McClain (100th) Through the Motor Vehicles Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 339 reclassifies the special license plate for the Georgia Aquarium as a wildlife conservation plate, which will increase the amount that the organization receives from $10 for new and renewed tags to $19 for new tags and $20 for renewed tags.

The bill creates specialty license plates supporting Alabama A&M University, autism awareness, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

HB 344

Sales and use tax; mission to advance arts shall not be required to be an organization's primary mission in order to obtain an exemption for certain sales of tickets for admission to fine arts performances; provide
By: Rep. Matthew Gambill (15th) Through the Ways & Means Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 344 amends O.C.G.A. 48-5-41, relating to property exempt from ad valorem taxation, by adding an exemption for all real property owned by a charity if the property is held exclusively for the purpose of building or repairing single-family homes to be financed by the charity to individuals using interest free loans. If the property is not used for the purpose of building or repairing single-family homes to be financed by the charity to individuals using interest free loans, then the full amount of ad valorem taxes exempted shall be due and payable.

Page 28 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

HB 345

Penal institutions; pregnant female inmates or a female inmate who is in the immediate postpartum period; provide prohibited practices
By: Rep. Sharon Cooper (43rd) Through the Health & Human Services Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 345 provides prohibitions relating to a pregnant female inmate or a female inmate who is in the immediate postpartum period.

It prohibits custodians from requiring a woman during the second or third trimester of pregnancy to squat or cough during a strip search. Additionally, a pregnant woman is not required to undergo any vaginal examinations unless prescribed and performed by a licensed health care professional. The bill prohibits a custodian from using handcuffs, waist shackles, leg irons, or restraints of any kind on a woman who is in the second or third trimester of pregnancy, in labor, in delivery, or in the immediate postpartum period.

House Bill 345 requires that a woman who is pregnant or in the immediate postpartum period may only be restrained using wrist handcuffs, held in front of her body, if there are compelling grounds to believe that the woman presents an immediate and serious threat of harm to herself or others, or is a substantial flight risk and cannot be contained by other means. Any wrist handcuffs used by a custodian on a pregnant woman, or postpartum, must be documented within two days of the incident, reviewed by the officer in charge, and retained by the penal institution; however, House Bill 345 does not prohibit the use of medical restraints by a licensed health care professional to ensure the medical safety of the woman.

House Bill 345 also requires that a woman who is pregnant, or in immediate postpartum, will not be placed in a solitary confinement setting; provided, however, that this will not prevent the placement of such woman in a cell or hospital room by herself.

Furthermore, The Department of Corrections and a sheriff overseeing a county jail in which a pregnant woman is incarcerated will make all reasonable efforts to facilitate the transfer of a pregnant woman who is temporarily held in a county jail pending transfer to a state penal institution. This does not apply to a pregnant woman who has been sentenced to a county jail by a judge.

HB 346

Property; prohibit retaliation by a landlord against a tenant for taking certain actions
By: Rep. Sharon Cooper (43rd) Through the Judiciary Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 346 adds a new Code section that allows tenants to establish a prima-facie case of retaliation by their landlord if the landlord retaliates against the tenant after the tenant, in good faith: exercises a right or remedy against the landlord granted by lease or law; gives notice to repair; files a building, housing, or utility code complaint with a governmental entity responsible for enforcing such codes; or establishes or participates in a tenant organization.

Within three months of the tenant engaging in any of the above actions, the landlord must not: file a dispossessory action; deprive the tenant of the use of the premises; decrease services to the tenant; increase the tenant's rent or terminate the tenant's lease; or (materially interfere with the tenant's rights under the lease. A landlord is not liable for retaliation if the landlord can prove: the action was not retaliation; the rent increased pursuant to an escalation clause in the lease or as part of a pattern of rent increases in the complex, or as part of rent increase due to the landlord's participation in a federal government program involving receipt of federal funds; or it instituted a dispossessory proceeding because: the tenant is delinquent in rent; intentionally damaged the property; threatened the landlord, another tenant, or an employee; materially breached the lease; held over after giving notice to terminate or vacate; violates the written lease terms which prohibit criminal conduct on the property; or took action against the landlord for housing conditions only after the landlord provided the notice of termination to the tenant.

When a tenant proves the landlord retaliated, the tenant is entitled to, minus any delinquent rents or other sums for which the tenant is liable to the landlord, one month's rent plus: $500; actual damages and expenses; court costs; reasonable attorney's fees in an action for recovery of property damages; moving costs; civil penalties; or declaratory or injunctive relief; however, when the tenant's rent is subsidized by a governmental entity, the tenant is entitled to the fair market rent of the dwelling plus $500.

The landlord is provided a defense against the tenant's claim if the property has been inspected by a code enforcement officer or building inspector of the state or federal government program and such inspector or officer certifies that the property complies with applicable housing and building codes within the 12 months prior to the tenant's claim.

Page 29 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

HB 349 Local government; counties to exercise powers in incorporated areas; authorize

By: Rep. Chuck Martin (49th)

Through the Governmental Affairs Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 349 expands the definition of "area of operation" to include the county territory which lies within the corporate limits of a municipality.

HB 352

Sales and use tax; exemption for competitive projects of regional significance; change sunset

provision

By: Rep. Albert Reeves (34th)

Through the Ways & Means Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 352 amends 48-8-3, relating to exemptions from sales and use tax, by extending the sunset date on the sales tax exemption for tangible personal property used for and in the construction of a competitive project of regional significance from June 30, 2019 to June 30, 2021.

HB 353

Insurance; create the crime of staging a motor vehicle collision
By: Rep. Kasey Carpenter (4th) Through the Insurance Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 353 creates the crime of staging a motor vehicle collision when the intent is to commit insurance fraud or file a lawsuit. The felony offense shall be punishable by at least one, but no more than 10 years of imprisonment, depending on the nature of the collision.

HB 358

Morrow, City of; ad valorem tax for city purposes; provide for a nonbinding advisory referendum
By: Rep. Rhonda Burnough (77th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: This bill provides for a nonbinding advisory referendum for the purpose of ascertaining whether the city of Morrow governing authority should seek a reduction in the $60,000 homestead exemption from city ad valorem taxes.

HB 367

Corporate Governance Annual Disclosure Act; enact
By: Rep. Darlene Taylor (173rd) Through the Insurance Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 367 establishes the 'Corporate Governance Annual Disclosure Act.' This act requires that an insurer, or the insurance group of which the insurer is a member, submit a corporate governance annual disclosure no later than June 1 of each calendar year to the commissioner of the Department of Insurance.

HB 373

Labor, Department of; employment security; change certain provisions

By: Rep. William Werkheiser (157th)

Through the Industry and Labor Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 373 authorizes the commissioner of the Department of Labor (DOL) to set the

rules and regulations necessary to follow the guidelines set forth in Title 34 of Georgia Code. The bill

authorizes the commissioner to require criminal background checks for all DOL employees or applicants.

The bill also modifies the time frame for a benefit year from a one-year period starting on the day of the claim to a 52-week period starting on the Sunday of or prior to the claim. The bill removes a provision which required employers to notify an employee in writing that their unemployment benefits may be denied if the employee violates the attendance policy. The bill clarifies the penalties for making false statements or misrepresentations when applying for unemployment benefits. The bill increases the minimum and maximum amounts for weekly unemployment benefits.

The bill allows employers to use discretion over using checks as a method of payment for their employees. The bill removes provisions which require employers who use payroll cards to allow employees to opt out of payroll card payments if they prefer a check or electronic credit transfer.

HB 374 Health; administer medications to residents under hospice care pursuant to a physician's written orders; authorize certified medication aides
By: Rep. John LaHood (175th) Through the Human Relations & Aging Committee

Page 30 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

Final Bill Summary: HB 374 allows for liquid morphine to be administered to hospice patients by a medication aide. The initial dose must be administered by a licensed hospice health care professional to observe any adverse reactions, and then the medication aide must observe and document the patient's need for liquid morphine thereafter. The assisted living community is responsible for training the medication aide. The bill sets an on-site limit of 50 milliliters of liquid morphine per hospice patient.

HB 379

Revenue and taxation; projects and purposes using SPLOST funds; revise annual reporting

requirements

By: Rep. Beth Moore (95th)

Through the Ways & Means Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 379 amends O.C.G.A. 48-8-122, relating to annual reporting of county special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) projects, by changing the due date for publishing reports from December 31 to 180 days following the close of the most recent fiscal year.

HB 380 Dawsonville, City of; election of members of the city council by district; provisions

By: Rep. Kevin Tanner (9th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: This bill provides for the election of the Dawsonville City Council members by district.

HB 381

Child support; defined terms and terminology, grammar, and punctuation; revise and correct
By: Rep. Chuck Efstration (104th) Through the Judiciary Committee
Final Bill Summary: HB 381 amends the child support guidelines to correct grammatical errors, update internal cross-references, and revise defined terms. The bill also clarifies that all powers and discretion granted to the court relating to the determination of child support obligations are also available to the jury. The bill adds certain federal benefits received under the 'Social Security Act,' along with state funding associated with adoption assistance, to the list of income sources which may be excluded from one's gross income for child support determination.

HB 382

Outdoor stewardship; eligible applicants for and recipients of the grants; redefine

By: Rep. Jon Burns (159th)

Through the Natural Resources & Environment Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 382 aligns the language concerning qualified governments or recreation authorities eligible to receive funds from the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund with the definitions in the rules and regulations of the Department of Community Affairs. It states that no more than five percent of all funds received by the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund may be used to administer the program.

HB 387

Property; liens in favor of private, nonprofit, volunteer fire departments for instances of fire services that are requested by property owners; provide
By: Rep. Eddie Lumsden (12th) Through the Judiciary Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 387 establishes a new category of allowable liens to include those in favor of private, non-profit, volunteer fire departments for debts which stem from the performance of their services that are requested by property owners.

HB 392

Board of Public Safety; expense allowance and travel cost reimbursement for members in like fashion as other state boards and commissions; provide
By: Rep. Marcus Wiedower (119th) Through the Governmental Affairs Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 392 adds the Board of Public Safety to the list of boards and commissions whose members are eligible to receive an expense allowance and travel reimbursement. The bill requires the secretary of state to establish security protocols for voter registration information.

HB 405

Revenue and taxation; Level 1 Freeport Exemption; modify provisions

By: Rep. David Knight (130th)

Through the Ways & Means Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 405 amends O.C.G.A. 48-5-48.2, relating to the Level One Freeport Exemption, by allowing raw materials held by a taxpayer's affiliate to be considered for the freeport exemption and by allowing remanufacturing to be considered to be part of the ordinary course of manufacturing.

Page 31 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

HB 406

Local government; joint authorities to furnish certain information necessary for the state auditor to determine the net impact of their activities on associated tax digests; require
By: Rep. Bruce Williamson (115th) Through the Ways & Means Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 406 amends O.C.G.A. 36-62-5.1, relating to joint authorities, by adding a new subsection which requires each joint authority with established revenue sharing agreements between the joint authority and its participating local governments and revenue emanating pursuant to such an agreement to submit an annual report to the state revenue commissioner and the state auditor which identifies all real property and all property interests that are owned, in part or in full, by the joint authority as well as any encumbrances, liens, or covenants on such properties. The annual report must also include all agreements or contracts related to the joint authority that are between one or more counties, municipalities, joint authorities, or private parties that reference taxes, lease agreements, or the sharing of revenue, funds, fees, taxes, assessments, fines, or any other income. The information compiled in this report shall be used by the state auditor to determine each county's equalized adjusted property tax digest. The state auditor must annually produce a report that compiles the information gathered by the joint authorities and present that report to the affected local taxing jurisdiction.

HB 419

Revenue and taxation; Internal Revenue Code and Internal Revenue Code of 1986; define terms

and incorporate certain provisions of federal law into Georgia law

By: Rep. David Knight (130th)

Through the Ways & Means Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 419 provides the annual Internal Revenue Code update to 48-1-2 and amends 48-7-53, relating to partnerships, by clarifying that the decision to pay tax at the entity level is irrevocable and requiring the partnership to notify the partners of adjustments even if the decision to pay at the entity level was made. The bill also states that if income is fraudulently underreported, the commissioner shall treat income attributable to a Georgia resident tiered partner as being allocated to Georgia to the extent that the partners of such partnership are Georgia residents. The bill also adjusts the tax rate to match that of the corporate tax rate established in 48-7-21.

HB 423 South Fulton, City of; ad valorem tax for municipal purposes; provide new homestead exemption By: Rep. Debra Bazemore (63rd) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: This bill provides a new homestead exemption, which has the effect of a valuation freeze, from city of South Fulton ad valorem taxes.

HB 424

Crimes and offenses; include certain sex crimes into the definition of criminal gang activity
By: Rep. Deborah Silcox (52nd) Through the Judiciary Non-Civil Committee
Final Bill Summary: HB 424 adds trafficking persons for labor servitude or sexual servitude, keeping a place of prostitution, pimping, and pandering to the offenses listed in the definition of "criminal gang activity." In addition, the court may admit evidence relating to the past sexual behavior of the complaining witness when: offered to prove that someone other than the defendant was the source of physical evidence; it supports an inference that the accused could have reasonably believed the complaining witness consented to the conduct detailed in the prosecution; with respect to the defendant or other person if offered by the prosecutor; and when the exclusion of such evidence violates the defendant's constitutional rights. Before admission of this evidence, the court must conduct an in camera hearing to examine the merits of the motion.

HB 430 Alpharetta, City of; ad valorem tax; eliminate income restriction for homestead exemption

By: Rep. Chuck Martin (49th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: This bill eliminates the income restriction for the $10,000 homestead exemption for residents in the city of Alpharetta who are 65 and older.

HB 431 Alpharetta, City of; ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes; increase homestead exemption

By: Rep. Chuck Martin (49th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: This bill raises a city of Alpharetta homestead exemption for all residents from $40,000 to $45,000 for all taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2020.

Page 32 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

HB 445

Conservation and natural resources; shore protection; revise various provisions

By: Rep. Don Hogan (179th)

Through the Natural Resources & Environment Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 445 provides new determinants for establishing boundaries associated with the 'Shore Protection Act.' The boundaries are to be drawn as follows: 25 feet landward from the landward most sand dunes to shore; 25 feet landward from the crest of a shoreline stabilization activity; or, in the absence of sand dunes or stabilization structures, 25 feet landward from the ordinary high-water mark for private property or 100 feet landward from the ordinary high-water mark for state property.

The bill provides for a minor activity permit that allows alterations to property if the impact is less than onethird of the portion of the property within the jurisdictional boundary.

HB 445 creates a Shore Protection Committee within the Department of Natural Resources. The committee shall be composed of five members, including the commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources and four individuals selected by the board. Three of the board-selected individuals shall be resident of Camden, Glynn, McIntosh, Liberty, Bryan, or Chatham County. The committee has the authority to issue orders or decisions on permits that are relevant to the 'Shore Protection Act'.

HB 446

Revenue and taxation; timber producers incurring losses from Hurricane Michael; clarify that

certain credits that have been transferred shall not be refundable

By: Rep. David Knight (130th)

Through the Ways & Means Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 446 amends the income tax credits for timber producers incurring losses from Hurricane Michael by limiting the refundability of the credit to the taxpayer who incurred the timber loss and by expanding the requirements to claim the credit to include the restoration of each acre for which timber losses were incurred to a condition that is expected to result in forest products or ecological services in the foreseeable future.

HB 453 Douglas County; Redevelopment Powers Law; provide for a referendum

By: Rep. Roger Bruce (61st)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: This bill authorizes Douglas County to exercise all redevelopment and other powers under Article IX, Section II, Paragraph VII(b) of the Constitution and O.C.G.A. 36-44.

HB 454

Motor vehicles; operation of motorized mobility devices; provide

By: Rep. Kevin Tanner (9th)

Through the Transportation Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 454 updates the policies which guide the Department of Natural Resources in

creating and administering the Georgia Scenic Trails system to state that bicycle trails should provide protection

for cyclists from traffic capable of moving over 20 miles per hour and to include electric-assisted bicycles in the

guidelines relating to bikeways. The bill also allows for electric-assisted bicycles to be used in bicycle lanes.

The legislation establishes three classes of electric-assisted bicycles.

Class I and Class II are authorized to be operated on any bicycle path or shared use path where bicycles are permitted to operate unless a local governing authority or state agency prohibits their use on those paths within its jurisdiction. Class III electric-assisted bicycles are not permitted on a bicycle path or shared use path unless the path is within or adjacent to a highway, or if the use on these paths is authorized by the local governing authority or state agency with jurisdiction over the path. Any electric-assisted bicycle manufactured after January 1, 2020 is required to have a permanently affixed label in a prominent location which identifies the class of the bike. An additional equipment requirement is a speedometer for the Class III models. The operation of a Class III bike is prohibited for any person under the age of 15. Any operator or passenger must wear a bicycle helmet and no rental or lease of a Class III bicycle may be approved unless the person has a bicycle helmet in their possession. Finally, the bill removes electricassisted bicycles from the Code section prohibiting use upon the highways of the state.

HB 456 Local government; elect an annual report in lieu of a biennial audit; increase expenditure amount By: Rep. Jan Tankersley (160th) Through the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight Committee
Page 33 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

Final Bill Summary: HB 456 increases the threshold for when a local government entity with a population of less than 1,500 can choose to do an annual report instead of a biennial audit from less than $300,000 in fiscal year expenditures to less than $550,000.

HB 458

Fire protection and safety; use of class B fire-fighting foam for testing purposes if such foam

contains a certain class of fluorinated organic chemicals; prohibit

By: Rep. Joseph Gullett (19th)

Through the Natural Resources & Environment Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 458 prohibits the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Class B firefighting foam during training, unless it is used at a training facility capable of preventing the release of the foam into the environment. The bill does not restrict the use of foam containing PFAS for fire-fighting operations.

HB 459

Education; driver's license verification system for school bus drivers; provide

By: Rep. Ginny Ehrhart (36th)

Through the Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 459 requires each local school board to submit to the Department of Public

Safety the full name and driver's license number of every person who is to be employed or used as a school bus driver prior to authorizing that person to operate a school bus. This list of authorized drivers is to be updated twice within a calendar year. The Department of Public Safety (DPS) is required to maintain a database of the names and license information of these authorized operators in coordination with the Georgia Technology Authority and the Department of Driver Services for the immediate electronic furnishing of information. DPS is to confirm or verify the status of each person's driver's license and provide notification to the local board of education if an operator's license or driving privileges have expired, been cancelled, suspended, or revoked; in these instances, the school board is required suspend the authorization to operate a school bus, as well as provide the reason for the suspension. The driver is required to notify the school board if the license or driving privilege is expired, cancelled, suspended, or revoked. Upon reinstatement of the license or driving privileges, the driver may request a new authorization to drive a school bus.

The bill removes the term "school crossing guard" to allow law enforcement or a designee to direct and regulate the flow of traffic at school crossings or within school speed zones.

Finally, this legislation allows for the authorization of certain personnel employed by or volunteering for law enforcement agencies or fire departments to assist in directing and regulating the flow of traffic. With the approval of the local governing authority, a police chief or fire chief of a local department is authorized to designate and train non-sworn employees and volunteers to assist. These designated persons must have completed at least one hour of a traffic control training program approved by the Georgia Public Safety Training Center.

HB 460 Roswell, City of; levy an excise tax By: Rep. Mary Robichaux (48th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee Final Bill Summary: This bill authorizes the governing authority of the city of Roswell to levy an excise tax.

HB 462

Coweta County; school district ad valorem tax; raise homestead exemption amounts

By: Rep. Lynn Smith (70th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: This bill amends a Coweta County school district homestead exemption by raising the exemption amounts. Each resident who is 65 years of age but less than 71 years of age shall be granted a $60,000 exemption. Each resident who is 71 years of age but less than 75 years of age is granted an $85,000 exemption. Each resident who is 75 years or older is granted an $115,000 exemption.

HB 470

Law enforcement officers and agencies; analysis and collection of DNA for individuals charged

with a felony offense but sentenced as a first offender or under conditional discharge; provide

By: Rep. Steven Sainz (180th)

Through the Judiciary Non-Civil Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 470 updates and refines the Code regarding DNA sampling of felons and the purging of such records. The bill adds DNA collection to those who have been charged with a felony and the sentence has been imposed under first offender status. Moreover, DNA profiles of individuals must be destroyed within 30 days of the receipt of a certified copy of a: court order reversing the conviction together with a court order

Page 34 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

from the prosecuting attorney stating that the charges were dismissed; judgement of acquittal; sentencing order showing that all of the felony charges were reduced to misdemeanors; or court order showing successful completion of a sentence imposed under first offender status.

HB 471

Motor vehicles; implied consent notices; revise

By: Rep. Steven Sainz (180th)

Through the Judiciary Non-Civil Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 471 repeals the implied consent notice read by law enforcement officers during a DUI arrest and replaces the implied consent notice with updated language for: hunting under the influence; driving under the influence; and boating under the influence.

HB 472

Juvenile Code; procedures concerning removal considerations; revise

By: Rep. Albert Reeves (34th)

Through the Juvenile Justice Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 472 updates the definition of "fictive kin" to include a person, who is known to and has a substantial and positive relationship with the family and child prior to the child's placement in foster care, and who is willing and able to provide a suitable home for the child. The bill also allows a judge to order a temporary alternative to foster care by requiring a child to remain in his or her home as a safeguard rather than requiring removal. Moreover, the bill prohibits Department of Juvenile Justice staffers to serve as intake officers for juvenile courts and lists the training and continuing education requirements for juvenile court intake officers. The responsibility for immediate determination if a child should be released or taken into custody is vested with court and for the court to consider alternatives to a child's removal from a home. HB 472 grants the authority for judges to issue ex parte orders prior to preliminary hearings as an attempt to find temporary alternatives to foster care in the best interests of the child and requires preliminary hearings to occur within five days. If a judge order's a child's removal from the home a relative, friend or fictive kin, the court must make a written determination that staying in the home would be harmful to the child. When a temporary alternative to foster care is ordered, there must be a walkthrough inspection of the home. Within 72 hours of placement, there must be checks for criminal records, sex offender registry, and child abuse records of everyone in the home. The bill also adds a requirement that judges in delinquency cases who are deciding continued custody for a child, must consider placement options with a relative, neighbor, or family friend who will return to child to court when needed in lieu of placement with the Division of Family and Children Services.

HB 478

Social services; improvements to the operation of the child abuse registry; provide
By: Rep. Mandi Ballinger (23rd) Through the Juvenile Justice Committee
Final Bill Summary: HB 478 improves and streamlines the operation of the child abuse registry. Minors are removed from the registry. The bill provides that when an abuse investigator, through preponderance of the evidence, finds that abuse has occurred, a copy of the investigator's report must be included in the child abuse registry unless a hearing to dispute the report is requested within 30 days. Moreover, the accused child abuser must be: given notice of the report; informed of the right to a hearing; notified of the process involved in the hearing; and told the consequences of being named in the child abuse registry. HB 478 refines the process for expungement from the registry based on the nature and circumstances of the crime, as well as the risk to the community that such individual poses.

HB 481

Living Infants Fairness and Equality (LIFE) Act; enact

By: Rep. Ed Setzler (35th)

Through the Health & Human Services Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 481 is known as the 'Living Infants Fairness and Equality (LIFE) Act'. Section II lists out the findings of the Georgia General Assembly that apply to the policy change. Section III requires that, unless otherwise provided by law, any natural person, including an unborn child with a detectable human heartbeat, is included in state population-based determinations.

Section IV states that no abortion is authorized or will be performed if an unborn child has been determined to have a human heartbeat except when: a physician determines, in reasonable medical judgement, that a medical emergency exists; the probable gestational age of the unborn child is 20 weeks or less and the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest in which an official police report has been filed alleging the offense of rape or incest; or the pregnancy is medically futile.

Furthermore, Section IV requires that no abortion is authorized or will be performed after the first trimester unless the abortion is performed in a licensed hospital, ambulatory surgical center, or in a health facility
Page 35 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

licensed as an abortion facility by the Department of Community Health. Additionally, an abortion will only be performed by a physician licensed to practice pursuant to Georgia Code.
House Bill 481 requires health records be made available to the district attorney of the judicial circuit in which the abortion occurs or the woman upon whom an abortion is performed resides. This bill allows that any woman upon whom an abortion is illegally performed may recover damages through civil action. Section IV clarifies that it is an affirmative defense to prosecution if: a licensed physician, physician's assistant, or pharmacist provides medical treatment or care to a pregnant woman which results in the accidental or unintentional injury to or death of an unborn child; an advanced practice registered nurse engages in the practice of nursing to provide care for a pregnant woman which results in the accidental or unintentional injury to or death of an unborn child; or if a woman sought an abortion because she reasonably believed that an abortion was the only way to prevent a medical emergency.
Section V amends Chapter 6 of Title 19, relating to child support, as to require that the maximum amount of support which the court may impose on the father of an unborn child is the amount of direct medical and pregnancy related expenses of the mother during pregnancy.
Section VI requires that for the homicide of an unborn child, the right to recover for the full value of the life of such child will begin at the point at which a detectable human heartbeat is present.
Section VII requires the physician or other qualified agent inform the female, at least 24 hours before the abortion, of the probable gestational age and presence of a detectable human heartbeat of an unborn child at the time the abortion is to be performed.
Section VIII requires that the Department of Public Health update its materials and website to be reflective of the policy changes included in House Bill 481.
Section IX repeals Code Section 31-9A-6.1, relating to civil and professional penalties for violations and prerequisites for seeking penalties.
Section X is related to the physician's obligation in performance of abortions. Except in the case of a medical emergency, or when a pregnancy is diagnosed as medically futile, no abortion will be performed or attempted to be performed unless the physician performing such procedure has first made a determination of the presence of a detectable human heartbeat of an unborn child. In addition to any criminal or civil penalties provided by law, failure by any physician to conform to the requirements constitutes unprofessional conduct and may result in medical licensing sanctions.
Section XI requires that any physician who performs or attempts to perform an abortion will report to the Department of Community Health the following: if a detectable human heartbeat exists, the probable gestational age, and the method and basis of the determination; if a detectable human heartbeat exists, the basis of the determination that the pregnant woman had a medically futile pregnancy, that a medical emergency existed, or that the pregnancy was the result of rape or incest; and the method used for the abortion.
Section XII provides that an unborn child at any stage of development who is carried in the womb qualifies as a dependent minor as it relates to income taxes.
House Bill 481 also states that any citizen in Georgia has standing and the right to intervene and defend in any action challenging the constitutionality of any portion of this act, which becomes effective on January 1, 2020.

HB 483

Controlled substances; Schedules I, IV, and V; change certain provisions

By: Rep. Ron Stephens (164th)

Through the Judiciary Non-Civil Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 483 is the annual narcotics and drug update regarding Schedules I, IV, and V controlled substances to capture new synthetic opiates and synthetic marijuana, commonly known as bath salts.

HB 490

Banking and finance; payment of large deposits of deceased intestate depositors and the deposit

of sums held for deceased intestate residents; make changes

By: Rep. Jason Ridley (6th)

Through the Banks & Banking Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 490 amends the Code to change deposits relating to deceased depositors. When a person dies without a will and has no more than $15,000 deposited in a banking institution where deposits are

Page 36 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

federally insured, the banking institution must receive an affidavit to be authorized to pay the proceeds of the deposit account directly to the surviving spouse. If there is no surviving spouse, the proceeds are authorized to go to the children pro rata; if there are no children or a surviving spouse, the proceeds go to the parents pro rata; and if none of the above exist, the proceeds go to the siblings of the decedent pro rata.
A form affidavit is provided. The affidavit must state that the individuals qualify as the proper relations to the decedent, there is no will, and no other known individual is making a claim to such deposit. If no application is made for the deposit within 45 days of the death of the intestate depositor, the banking institution has authorization to apply no more than $15,000 of the deposit to the funeral service and expenses associated with the illness which resulted in the patient's death. The banking institution must receive an itemized statement of those expenses and the affidavit of the provider of those services to verify whether they are true, correct, and have not been paid.
The bill provides that these payments will operate as a complete discharge of the banking institution from liability of any suit or claim by any heir, distributee, creditor of the decedent, or any other person. The banking institution may rely on the properly executed affidavit in disbursing these funds.

HB 491

Insurance; regulation of insurance company holding systems; update
By: Rep. Darlene Taylor (173rd) Through the Insurance Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 491 updates the regulations of insurance company holding systems. The commissioner of Insurance is authorized to act as the group-wide supervisor for any internationally active insurance group or may acknowledge another group-wide supervisor pursuant to Code Section 33-13-7.1.

HB 492

Property; dispossessory proceedings; require applications for execution of a writ of possession be

made within 30 days of issuance of the writ unless good cause is shown

By: Rep. Bonnie Rich (97th)

Through the Judiciary Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 492 amends the Code section relating to a writ of possession issued by a court order to recover possession of land or property. Applications to execute a writ of possession by a sheriff or marshal must be made within 30 days of issuance of the writ, unless the application is accompanied by an affidavit showing good cause for a delay. If the landlord fails to execute a writ of possession within 30 days from the issuance of any order granting the writ of possession, the landlord must reapply for the writ.

HB 493

Private Permitting Review and Inspection Act; enact

By: Rep. Kevin Tanner (9th)

Through the Regulated Industries Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 493 is the 'Private Permitting Review and Inspection Act' and relates to standards and

requirements for construction, alteration, restoration, and any other modifications of buildings and other

structures in counties or municipalities. A private professional provider must be a properly certified

professional engineer or a professional architect who is not an employee of, affiliated with, or financially

interested in the person, firm, or corporation engaged in the construction project to be reviewed or inspected.

HB 493 requires a county or municipality which imposes regulatory fees or regulatory requirements within its

jurisdiction to make available all documentation related to compliance with those requirements. Upon the

receipt and acceptance of any application related to regulatory requirements, the governing authority must

notify the applicant whether the governing authority will be able to provide regulatory action within 30 days for

plan review or provide inspection services within two business days of receiving a valid written request. If the

governing authority cannot provide services within these time frames, the applicant has the option of retaining,

at its own expense, a private professional provider to provide the services. If the applicant elects to utilize the

services of a private professional provider, the regulatory fees are reduced by 50 percent with the amount paid

to the governing authority upon the completion of the application. If the governing authority determines that

regulatory action or inspection services can be provided in the above timeframes, and the applicant choses to

use a private professional provider, the applicant must pay the full amount of the regulatory fees. Any delay in

the processing of an application due to causes outside the control of the governing authority, or through fault of

the applicant, do not count toward these time frames.

HB 501

Game and fish; provide for mariculture development

By: Rep. Jesse Petrea (166th)

Through the Game, Fish, & Parks Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 501 allows for the board of the Department of Natural Resources to create rules regarding the shellfish industry, including the: size, possession, and creel limits; season and siting criteria;

Page 37 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

number of leases issued per year; and the importation of shellfish, shellfish tissues, or shells into the state. Following the establishment of a harvesting season, master harvesters may apply for permission to harvest during the closed season. The Department of Natural Resources is to continue leasing intertidal water bottoms using a bidding system and shall offer leases of subtidal water bottoms using a lottery system. HB 501 requires an individual to obtain a permit establishing the maximum number of cages that may be deployed. Permits are to be approved in 25-cage increments at a fee of $1 per cage.

HB 502

Civil practice; continuances for members of the Board of Regents and the Attorney General; revise
By: Rep. Andrew Welch (110th) Through the Judiciary Committee
Final Bill Summary: HB 502 amends the criteria under which court continuances shall be granted to accommodate the official duties of members of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, members of the State Board of Education, and the attorney general. For members of the Board of Regents or the State Board of Education, the bill allows for continuances during the board's sessions when the member is otherwise occupied as counsel or party in any court case. Current law requires that the member simply be "engaged" as counsel or party in any case at the time of the board's session. For cases in which the attorney general is of counsel, the bill allows for a continuance if the case is scheduled to be called for any reason, rather than the current "for any purpose," during sessions of the General Assembly or 15 days preceding or following such sessions.

Legislative leave is also addressed. A member of the General Assembly who is a party to a civil or criminal case or lead counsel for a case pending in any trial or appellate court, shall be granted upon request the stay of a case: for seven days prior to the regular or extraordinary session of the General Assembly; the length of any regular or extraordinary session of the General Assembly; or the entirety of the day during which a member serves or is a staff member of a legislative committee and the committee holds a scheduled meeting; or for civil cases when the member attends a national legislative conference or board meeting, a caucus meeting, or meeting of a study committee of the General Assembly.

For all other requests, the member may receive a continuance and stay when the member certifies to the court that his or her presence is required elsewhere due to his or her duties with the General Assembly. The certification must be in writing and state with a degree of specificity the nature of the General Assembly duties that require the continuance or stay. Opposing counsel, any person who is alleged by the state to be a victim in a criminal case, any party in a civil case, or the court itself has 10 days to object to a member's request by stating with particularity the grounds in which a stay or continuance will cause significant harm to the rights of the parties or is detrimental to the interest of justice.

The court, upon the receipt of the objection, will consider the following factors in determining whether to grant or deny the continuance or stay: the length of time the case has been pending; the length of the delay that the stay or continuance will cause to the resolution of the case; the nature of the duties of the General Assembly that require the continuance or stay; and other factors relevant in determining the harm to the rights of the parties.

HB 507

Ad valorem tax; criteria used by tax assessors to determine the fair market value of real property; revise
By: Rep. Michael Wilensky (79th) Through the Ways & Means Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 507 amends O.C.G.A. 48-5-2, relating to definitions regarding ad valorem taxation of property, by revising the definition of "fair market value" to allow assessors to consider rather than utilize data that is available for income producing properties when using the income approach to valuing property.

HB 510 Douglas, City of; Redevelopment Powers Law; provide for a referendum By: Rep. Dominic LaRiccia (169th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: This bill authorizes the city of Douglas to exercise all redevelopment and other powers under Article IX, Section II, Paragraph VII(b) of the Constitution and O.C.G.A. 36-44.

HB 512 Agricultural Commodity Commission for Propane; provide

By: Rep. Sam Watson (172nd)

Through the Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee

Page 38 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 512 creates the Agricultural Commodity Commission for Propane. The commission will consist of five members, three of whom are elected by the House Committee on Agriculture and Consumer Affairs and three members elected by the Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee. All members of the commission must be either a propane dealer or distributor and cannot be a member of the General Assembly.
No more than 10 percent of funds collected can be used for administrative expenses. A referendum is to be held every five years to vote on the continuation of the commission.
HB 707 allows for the commissioner of the Department of Agriculture to promulgate and adopt rules related to fertilizers, liming materials, and soil amendments derived from industrial by-products. The commissioner is authorized to share any related information and consult with agencies such as, but not limited to, the Environmental Protection Division of the Department of Natural Resources and the United States Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service.

HB 514

Georgia Mental Health Reform and Innovation Commission; create

By: Rep. Kevin Tanner (9th)

Through the Health & Human Services Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 514 creates the Georgia Behavioral Health Reform and Innovation Commission. The purpose of this commission is to conduct a comprehensive review of the behavioral health system in Georgia. The commission will review the behavioral health services and facilities available in Georgia, the identification of behavioral health issues in children, adolescents, and adults, as well as the role the education system has in the identification and treatment of behavioral health issues. Additionally, the commission will review the impact behavioral health issues have on the criminal justice system, the state's homeless population, delivery of care, access to care, the role of payers in such access, and the impact untreated behavioral illness has on children transitioning into adulthood. The commission will conclude on June 30, 2023.

HB 516

Professions and businesses; profession of professional structural engineer; provide

By: Rep. Vance Smith (133rd)

Through the Regulated Industries Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 516 provides for the profession and licensure of professional structural engineers governed by the Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors. The bill outlaws any persons other than professional structural engineers to practice or offer structural engineering in the state. To be eligible for a certificate of registration as a professional structural engineer, an applicant must meet the following requirements: obtain a certification by the board as an engineer-in-training; have no less than four years' experience in structural engineering that is satisfactory to the board; and subsequently pass a board-approved written exam. Any applicant seeking a certificate of registration as a professional structural engineer prior to January 1, 2021, who already holds a valid certificate of a professional engineer from the board, has a record of primary practice of structural engineering, and is currently engaged in the practice of structural engineering may submit a signed affidavit to the board for the purpose of determining if the qualifications have been met for a certificate of registration as a professional structural engineer.

HB 525

Georgia International and Maritime Trade Center; rename to Savannah Convention Center

By: Rep. Ron Stephens (164th)

Through the Economic Development & Tourism Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 525 changes the name of the Georgia International Maritime Trade Center to the Savannah Convention Center. The bill also creates a state authority, the Savannah-Georgia Convention Center Authority, to operate the center located in Chatham County, Georgia.

The authority has seven members appointed by the governor, two members appointed by the Chatham County delegation of the Senate, two members of the Chatham County delegation of the House of Representatives, the president of the Savannah Economic Development Authority, who is an ex-officio member with a vote, and the president of the Savannah Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, who is an ex-officio member with a vote. The appointed members shall serve three-year terms, which stagger over the first three years as follows: three members start with a one-year term, two members start with a two-year term, and three members start with a three-year term. The member appointments from the delegation in both the Senate and House of Representatives shall have one member serve an initial two-year term and one member serve an initial threeyear term. These members shall be appointed by June 1, 2019 and shall take office July 1, 2019.

An executive committee consists of a chairman, vice-chairman, and secretary-treasurer. These positions are

Page 39 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

elected by the authority members, and five members shall constitute a quorum. Authority members are not entitled to compensation, but are reimbursed for actual costs incurred in performing their duties.
House Bill 525 authorizes the authority to: have a seal; acquire land by purchase, lease, or otherwise; acquire its own name by purchase; employ personnel for administrative duties; make and execute contracts; acquire and manage its own projects logistically and financially; accept funds and/or materials from the state government and federal government; have the ability to lease, sell, exchange, or grant surplus property, both real and personal; inform interested parties on land acquisition and facility developments to take place; procure insurance and liability policies; adopt, change, and repeal its own by-laws; and accept loans limited to $50 million.
The authority is exempt from paying sales and use taxes on property, and any legal activity shall be brought in the Superior Court of Chatham County. The authority is able to retain any revenue for its own purposes and is subject to an annual audit of income and expenditures. Should the authority be dissolved for any reason, titles to any property shall be conveyed to the state of Georgia. This authority succeeds the Georgia International and Maritime Trade Center on July 1, 2019.

HB 527 Quality Basic Education Formula; change program weights for funding purposes By: Rep. Robert Dickey (140th) Through the Education Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 527 amends O.C.G.A. 20-2-161, relating to the Quality Basic Education Formula, by updating the weights of instructional programs.

HB 529 Norcross, City of; change terms of mayor and city councilmembers

By: Rep. Beth Moore (95th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: This bill changes the terms of the mayor and city councilmembers of the city of Norcross.

HB 530

Education; prohibit parents or guardians from withdrawing or removing a child from a public

school for the purpose of avoiding compliance with laws relating to mandatory attendance,

school discipline, parental involvement, or parental responsibilities

By: Rep. Bill Hitchens (161st)

Through the Juvenile Justice Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 530 requires that the Department of Education provide copies of declarations of intent to utilize home study programs to the local school systems in which the home study program is located. Moreover, if a child is withdrawn from a public school without a declaration of intent and that child stops attending a public school for a period of 45 days, the school must contact the Division of Family and Children Services to conduct an assessment where the purpose is limited to determining whether the withdrawal was to avoid educating the child. Presentation of a filed declaration of intent will satisfy the assessment.

HB 531

Lee County; tax commissioner shall retain a percentage of educational funds and reimburse the

county for the cost of collecting school taxes; repeal Act

By: Rep. Ed Rynders (152nd)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: This bill repeals an act providing that the Lee County tax commissioner shall retain a percentage of educational funds collected by the commissioner and then remit the funds to the governing authority of Lee County to reimburse the county for the cost of collecting school taxes.

HB 534 Upson County; Probate Court; authorize assessment and collection of a technology fee

By: Rep. Ken Pullin (131st)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: This bill authorizes the assessment and collection of a technology fee by the Upson

County Probate Court.

HB 543

Domestic relations; equitable caregivers; provide By: Rep. Chuck Efstration (104th) Through the Judiciary Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 543 creates a process by which a judge may confer standing to have access to the court in cases involving the care, custody, or welfare of a minor child upon individuals who can demonstrate

Page 40 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

by clear and convincing evidence that to do otherwise would cause the child to suffer physical or long-term emotional harm. This high bar to have standing as an equitable caregiver can only be met by proving: a permanent, unequivocal, committed, and responsible parental role in the child's life has already been established; this role was fostered or supported by a parent of the child; and the individual seeking standing has a bonded and dependent relationship with the child and has also accepted full and permanent responsibilities of the child without expectation of financial compensation. Equitable caregiver standing will not be available in cases in which the parents of the child are not separated and the child is living with both parents, or if any child welfare and youth services cases involving the child or parents is open with the Division of Family and Children Services of the Department of Human Services. If standing is established, the court may confer certain rights on the child to have contact with the equitable caregiver.

HB 551

Controlled substances; kratom; provisions

By: Rep. Dewayne Hill (3rd)

Through the Judiciary Non-Civil Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 551 regulates "kratom," a tropical evergreen known as mitragyna speciosa that contains the alkaloid mitragynine. It is a misdemeanor to transfer possession to those under the age of 18, or for those under 18-years old to possess or buy it. Moreover, to sell kratom, the packaging must: clearly label ingredients; provide notice that the sale or transfer of possession to those under the age of 18 is prohibited; state the amount of mitragynine in the product; state the name and principal mailing address of the manufacturer; provide clear directions for safe use of the product; and note any precautionary statements to the safety and effectiveness of the product.

HB 553

State Victim Services Commission; bill of rights for foster parents; delete references to an

obsolete entity

By: Rep. Katie Dempsey (13th)

Through the Code Revision Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 553 amends the State Victim Services Commission and the Foster Parent Bill of Rights. The bill reduces the total number of members on the State Victim Services Commission from 15 to 14 by removing the executive director of the Georgia Association of Homes and Services for Children, as well as eliminates the term lengths of its initial members. The bill also eliminates any reference to the Georgia Association of Homes and Services for Children from the regulations regarding the Foster Parent Bill of Rights.

Additionally, this bill repeals the following authorities, boards, councils, and commissions that are inactive: Pacific White Shrimp Aquaculture Development Advisory Council; Georgia Tobacco Community Development Board; Southern Dairy Compact Commission; Heritage Trust Commission; Child Care Council; Georgia Southern University Herty Advanced Material Development Center Advisory Board; Immigration Enforcement Review Board; Private Colleges and Universities Authority; Education Information Steering Committee; Federal and State Funded Health Care Financing Programs Overview Committee; Commission on Men's Health; Renal Dialysis Advisory Council; Arthritis Prevention and Control Program Advisory Panel; Special Advisory Commission on Mandated Health Insurance Benefits; Commission on the Georgia Health Insurance Risk Pool; and the Georgia Silver-Haired Legislature. The bill also removes the general prohibition of alcohol sales on certain licensed entertainment establishments.

HB 557 Grady County; board of education; increase compensation of members By: Rep. Darlene Taylor (173rd) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: This bill increases the compensation of the members of the Grady County Board of Education to $350 per month.

HB 559 Bryan County Public Facilities Authority; create

By: Rep. Ron Stephens (164th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: This bill creates the Bryan County Public Facilities Authority.

HB 563

Stonecrest, City of; levy an excise tax

By: Rep. Doreen Carter (92nd)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: This bill authorizes the governing authority of the city of Stonecrest to levy an excise tax.

Page 41 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

HB 571 Ben Hill County; Magistrate Court chief judge; provide nonpartisan elections

By: Rep. Clay Pirkle (155th)

Through the Governmental Affairs Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 571 specifies that elections for the office of chief judge of the Ben Hill County Magistrate Court shall be nonpartisan.

HB 572 Ben Hill County; probate judge; provide nonpartisan elections

By: Rep. Clay Pirkle (155th)

Through the Governmental Affairs Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 572 specifies that elections for the office of probate judge of Ben Hill County

shall be nonpartisan.

HB 574 Dawson, City of; provide new charter By: Rep. Gerald Greene (151st) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee Final Bill Summary: This bill provides a new charter for the city of Dawson.

HB 584

Cobb County; Superior Court; restyle the executive assistant and the executive secretary of the

clerk as administrative managers

By: Rep. John Carson (46th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: This bill restyles the executive assistant and the executive secretary of the clerk of Cobb County Superior Court as administrative managers.

HB 585 Miller County; Board of Commissioners; revise the districts for the election of members By: Rep. Winfred Dukes (154th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee Final Bill Summary: This bill revises the districts of the Miller County Board of Commissioners.

HB 590 Tybee Island, City of; filling of vacancies; provide

By: Rep. Jesse Petrea (166th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: This bill provides for the filling of vacancies of the mayor or councilmembers of the city of Tybee Island.

HB 591 Tybee Island, City of; levy an excise tax

By: Rep. Jesse Petrea (166th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 591 authorizes the governing authority of Tybee Island to levy an excise tax.

HB 594

Waverly Hall, Town of; Municipal Court; authorize assessment and collection of a technology fee
By: Rep. Debbie Buckner (137th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: This bill authorizes the assessment and collection of a technology fee by the municipal court of the town of Waverly Hall.

HB 595 Jenkins County; Probate Court judge; provide nonpartisan elections By: Rep. Butch Parrish (158th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination Committee Final Bill Summary: House Bill 595 provides that future elections for the office of the judge of the Jenkins County Probate Court shall be nonpartisan.
HB 596 Washington County; State Court; authorize assessment and collection of a technology fee By: Rep. Mack Jackson (128th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee Final Bill Summary: House Bill 596 authorizes the Washington County State Court to assess and collect a technology fee.
Page 42 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

HB 597 Sparks, City of; provide new charter By: Rep. Penny Houston (170th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee Final Bill Summary: House Bill 597 provides a new charter for the city of Sparks.

HB 598 Harlem, City of; change corporate boundaries By: Rep. Barry Fleming (121st) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee Final Bill Summary: House Bill 598 changes the corporate boundaries of the city of Harlem.

HB 600

Monroe County; Board of Commissioners; provide for the removal of the duties of disbursements
By: Rep. Robert Dickey (140th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 600 repeals a section relating to the road superintendent and provides for oaths, bonds, removal, and compensation for each member of the Monroe County Board of Commissioners.

HB 601 Statham, City of; governing organization; revise provisions By: Rep. Terry England (116th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 601 revises provisions governing organization of the city of Statham government.

HB 602 Rome Building Authority; create

By: Rep. Katie Dempsey (13th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 602 creates the Rome Building Authority.

HB 603 Floyd County; Board of Education; provide for compensation of members

By: Rep. Katie Dempsey (13th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 603 provides for the compensation of the Floyd County Board of Education.

HB 607

Chatham County; State Court judges; provide for an accountability court supplement

By: Rep. Ron Stephens (164th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 607 provides for an accountability court supplement of $6,000 for judges of the Chatham County State Court if the court has implemented a drug court, mental health court, under the influence court, or veterans court division.

HB 608 Hoboken, City of; change corporate limits

By: Rep. Steven Meeks (178th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 608 changes the corporate limits of the city of Hoboken.

HB 610

Carroll County; Magistrate Court; authorize to charge a technology fee for each conviction of a

traffic or ordinance violation

By: Rep. J. Collins (68th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 610 authorizes the Carroll County Magistrate Court to charge a technology fee for each conviction of a traffic or ordinance violation and each civil case.

HB 611

South Fulton, City of; levy an excise tax By: Rep. Derrick Jackson (64th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 611 authorizes the governing authority of the city of South Fulton to levy an excise tax.

Page 43 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

HB 612 Hapeville, City of; homestead exemption for residents 65 years or older; provide

By: Rep. David Dreyer (59th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 612 provides a $20,000 homestead exemption from city of Hapeville ad valorem taxes for residents who are 65 or older, who are veterans, or who are disabled.

HB 613

Flovilla, City of; municipal court; dissolve By: Rep. Susan Holmes (129th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 613 dissolves the municipal court of the city of Flovilla and grants all matters of jurisdiction to the Butts County Magistrate Court.

HB 614 Hapeville, City of; increase existing homestead exemption to $15,000.00

By: Rep. David Dreyer (59th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 614 increases a city of Hapeville homestead exemption from $10,000 to $15,000.

HB 616

Polk County; grand jury shall not be required to be impaneled on the first day of each term;

provide

By: Rep. Trey Kelley (16th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 616 provides that the grand jury of Polk County shall not be required to be

impaneled on the first day of each term.

HB 617

Haralson County; grand jury shall not be required to be impaneled on the first day of each term;

provide

By: Rep. Trey Kelley (16th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 617 provides that the grand jury of Haralson County shall not be required to be impaneled on the first day of each term.

HB 619 Newton County; coroner; provide for salary supplements authorized by the governing authority

By: Rep. D. C. Belton (112th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 619 provides for salary supplements for the coroner of Newton County as authorized by the governing authority.

HB 622 Sinclair Water Authority; determination of a quorum of the members of the board; change By: Rep. Ricky Williams (145th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 622 changes the determination of a quorum of the members of the Sinclair Water Authority.

HB 623

Joint Board of Elections and Registration of Pike County; create

By: Rep. Ken Pullin (131st)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 623 creates the Joint Board of Elections and Registration of Pike County,

which shall conduct primaries and elections for Pike County, the town of Concord, the city of Meansville, the

city of Molena, the town of Williamson, and the city of Zebulon.

HB 625

Coweta County; levy an excise tax

By: Rep. Lynn Smith (70th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 625 authorizes the governing authority of Coweta County to levy an excise tax.

Page 44 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

HB 626

Newnan, City of; levy an excise tax

By: Rep. Lynn Smith (70th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 626 authorizes the governing authority of the city of Newnan to levy an excise tax.

HB 631

Butts County; courthouse; provide that fees collected are for maintenance
By: Rep. Susan Holmes (129th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 631 provides for a $15 add-on to each case in Butts County where a fine is collected or a bond is forfeited and collected for the purpose of maintaining the Historic Butts County Courthouse.

HB 632

Pickens County; Board of Education; revise districts

By: Rep. Rick Jasperse (11th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 632 revises the education districts of the Pickens County Board of Education by dividing Pickens County into five education districts for the purpose of electing members to the board.

HB 635

Atlanta, City of; ad valorem tax for municipal purposes; provide for a new homestead exemption

By: Rep. Park Cannon (58th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 635 provides a $30,000 homestead exemption from city of Atlanta ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes for each resident who holds real property subject to a written lease having an initial term of not less than 99 years with a landlord that is an entity exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the federal Internal Revenue Code and who owns all improvements located on the real property.

HB 637 Lula Development Authority Act; enact

By: Rep. Lee Hawkins (27th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 637 creates the Lula Development Authority.

HB 639 Kennesaw, City of; corporate limits; change provisions

By: Rep. Ed Setzler (35th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 639 changes provisions relating to the corporate limits of the city of Kennesaw.

HB 640 Ware County; superior court clerk shall also be state court clerk; provide

By: Rep. John Corbett (174th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 640 provides that the clerk of the Ware County Superior Court shall also be

the clerk of the Ware County State Court.

HB 642 Zebulon, City of; provide new charter

By: Rep. Ken Pullin (131st)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 642 provides a new charter for the city of Zebulon.

HB 644 Pooler, City of; Municipal Court; authorize assessment and collection of a technology fee

By: Rep. Bill Hitchens (161st)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 644 authorizes the assessment and collection of a technology fee by the city of Pooler Municipal Court.

HB 645 Brookhaven, City of; existing general homestead exemption; increase By: Rep. Matthew Wilson (80th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Page 45 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 645 increases the existing general homestead for the city of Brookhaven to $40,000 through five annual increases.

HB 646 Covington, City of; change corporate limits

By: Rep. D. C. Belton (112th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 646 changes the corporate limits of the city of Covington.

HB 647

Brookhaven, City of; existing homestead exemption for senior citizens and disabled persons; increase
By: Rep. Matthew Wilson (80th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 647 increases the existing senior and disabled person homestead exemption for the city of Brookhaven to $160,000 through five annual increases.

HB 648 White, City of; provide new charter By: Rep. Mitchell Scoggins (14th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee Final Bill Summary: House Bill 648 provides a new charter for the city of White.

HB 649 Gainesville, City of; levy an excise tax

By: Rep. Matt Dubnik (29th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 649 authorizes the city of Gainesville to levy an excise tax.

HB 650 Gainesville, City of; change corporate boundaries

By: Rep. Matt Dubnik (29th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 650 changes the corporate boundaries of the city of Gainesville.

HB 651 Gainesville Redevelopment Authority; provide for reappointment

By: Rep. Matt Dubnik (29th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 651 provides for reappointment of the Gainesville Redevelopment Authority.

HB 653

Joint Liberty County, City of Gum Branch, City of Midway, City of Riceboro, and City of

Walthourville Fire Protection Facilities and Equipment Authority; repeal act

By: Rep. Al Williams (168th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 653 repeals the act creating the Joint Liberty County, city of Gum Branch, city of Midway, city of Riceboro, and city of Walthourville Fire Protection Facilities and Equipment Authority.

HB 654 Jonesboro, City of; change corporate limits

By: Rep. Mike Glanton (75th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 654 changes the corporate limits of the city of Jonesboro.

HB 656 Fulton County; board of elections and registration; revise manner of appointment of chairperson By: Rep. Derrick Jackson (64th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 656 revises the manner of appointment of the chairperson of the Fulton County Board of Elections and Registration.

HB 657 Richmond Hill, City of; Redevelopment Powers Law; provide for a referendum

By: Rep. Ron Stephens (164th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Page 46 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 657 authorizes the city of Richmond Hill to exercise all redevelopment and other powers under Article IX, Section II, Paragraph VII(b) of the Constitution and Chapter 44 of Title 36 of the O.C.G.A.

HB 665 Locust Grove, City of; dissolution and reactivation of districts under certain conditions; provide

By: Rep. David Knight (130th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 665 provides for the creation of one or more community improvement districts in the city of Locust Grove.

HB 668

Macon-Bibb County; levy an excise tax By: Rep. Miriam Paris (142nd) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 668 authorizes the governing authority of Macon-Bibb County to levy an excise tax.

HB 678

Richmond County; Probate Court; change compensation of judge By: Rep. Henry "Wayne" Howard Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
(124th)
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 678 changes the compensation of the judge of the Richmond County Probate Court to $142,000 a year.

HB 681

Camden County Public Service Authority; revise a term; provide for composition

By: Rep. Steven Sainz (180th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 681 revises the definition of "project" under an act creating the Camden County Public Service Authority, in addition to providing for the composition of the authority and an annual certified audit of the authority.

HB 682 Camden County Spaceport Authority Act; enact

By: Rep. Steven Sainz (180th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 682 creates the Camden County Spaceport Authority.

HB 683 Saint Marys Airport Authority; repeal Act

By: Rep. Steven Sainz (180th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 683 repeals an act creating the Saint Marys Airport Authority.

HB 685

Fort Valley Utility Commission; provide for establishment and powers

By: Rep. Patty Bentley (139th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 685 provides for the establishment and powers of the Fort Valley Utility Commission. The bill also states the commission shall annually pay to the city of Fort Valley, in lieu of franchise fees, the greater of $1.25 million or six percent of all revenue collected for charges for services for the year.

HB 688 Covington, City of; term limits for the governing authority of such municipality; provide

By: Rep. D. C. Belton (112th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 688 provides for term limits for the mayor and councilmembers of the governing authority of the city of Covington.

HB 689 Henry County Governmental Services Authority; purpose of the authority to include providing stormwater facilities and undertakings as defined by the Revenue Bond Law; expand By: Rep. Demetrius Douglas (78th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Page 47 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 689 expands the purpose of the Henry County Governmental Services Authority to include providing stormwater facilities and undertakings as defined by the Revenue Bond Law.

HB 694

DeKalb County; clerk of the Superior Court; require that tax parcel identification number

information be included on documents recorded in the real property records

By: Rep. Billy Mitchell (88th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 694 provides for the clerk of the DeKalb County Superior Court to require that tax parcel identification number information be included on documents recorded in the real property records of the clerk.

HB 696 Forsyth County; creation of one or more community improvement districts; create

By: Rep. Todd Jones (25th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 696 provides for the creation of one or more community improvement

districts in Forsyth County.

HB 697

Alamo, City of; provide for incorporation, boundaries, and powers

By: Rep. Jimmy Pruett (149th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 697 amends an act providing a new charter for the city of Alamo to provide

for: general powers and limitations on powers; the powers, duties, authority, election, terms, method of filling

vacancies, compensation, expenses, qualifications, and prohibitions relative to the members of the governing

authority; and for official positions and duties of those positions.

HB 698 Covington, City of; provide new charter

By: Rep. D. C. Belton (112th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 698 provides a new charter for the city of Covington.

HR 1

Nathan Deal Judicial Center; naming the forthcoming new state appellate judicial complex

By: Rep. David Ralston (7th)

Through the State Properties Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Resolution 1 declares that the state appellate judicial complex be designated and known as the "Nathan Deal Judicial Center".

HR 37

Study Committee - Georgia Commission on Freight and Logistics; create

By: Rep. Kevin Tanner (9th)

Through the Transportation Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Resolution 37 creates the Georgia Commission on Freight and Logistics. The commission will be composed of 22 members: three members of the House appointed by the speaker and three members of the Senate appointed by the lieutenant governor, including the chairs of the House and Senate Transportation committees; six representatives of entities which provide freight and logistics services, possess expertise in the operations of a major airport hub, or lead a major commodity or major commodity shipper, major air shipping provider, or major manufacturing operation based in this state; and three of these industry representatives are appointed by the speaker and three by the lieutenant governor; four members who each serve as a local government official, two appointed by the speaker and two appointed by the lieutenant governor; the executive director of the Georgia Municipal Association; the executive director of the Association County Commissioners of Georgia; the president of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce; the president of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce; the commissioner of transportation, ex officio; and the executive director of the Georgia Ports Authority, ex officio.

The charge of the commission is to study and determine the best course of action with regard to funding and policy development relating to freight and logistics to ensure growth and support of this industry.

HR 51 Study Committee - Joint Georgia-North Carolina and Georgia-Tennessee Boundary Line

Commission; create

By: Rep. Marc Morris (26th)

Through the Interstate Cooperation Committee

Page 48 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

Final Bill Summary: House Resolution 51 creates the joint Georgia-North Carolina and Georgia-Tennessee Boundary Line Commission. The commission shall be composed of six members, three appointed by the president of the Senate and three appointed by the speaker of the House. The commission shall meet with similar commissions of the North Carolina and Tennessee General Assemblies in order to take action or pursue a remedy to establish the definite and true boundary lines between Georgia and North Carolina and Georgia and Tennessee. The commission shall stand abolished on December 1, 2020.

HR 165 Property; conveyance of certain state owned real property; authorize By: Rep. Gerald Greene (151st) Through the State Properties Committee Final Bill Summary: HR 165 is a conveyance resolution for properties located in six counties, conveying property owned by the state of Georgia or amending those conveyances, as follows:
Article 1 conveys approximately 0.062 of an acre, being a portion the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center, under the custody of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, to the City of Savannah, or to a local government or state entity, for a consideration of $10 so as long as the property is used for public purposes in perpetuity.
Article 2 conveys approximately 1.398 acres in fee and 1.244 acres of permanent easement, being a portion of approximately 146 acres, commonly known as the Atlanta Farmers Market, under the custody of the Georgia Department of Agriculture, to the Georgia Department of Transportation for the purpose of the construction of a C-D roadway to service the I-75 and I-285 interchange for a total consideration of $529,976; said total consists of $290,693 for the improved property, $81,298 for the permanent easement, $135,000 in cost to cure and $22,935 in damage to trade fixtures.
Article 3 conveys approximately 15.005 acres of real property, commonly known as the Southwest Probation Center, under the custody of the Georgia Department of Corrections, to Colquitt County for $10 so long as the property is used for a public purpose in perpetuity and that Colquitt County shall not take, nor fail to take, any action which would cause any outstanding tax exempt bonds to be deemed private activity bonds or arbitrage bonds under the tax Code and shall not use the above-described property for any nongovernmental purpose, or any purpose that would give rise to private business use within the meaning of the tax Code, which shall cause a reversion to the state of Georgia, or its successors and assigns, of all the rights, title, privileges, powers, and easement granted herein; or to a local government or state entity for fair market value; or by competitive bid for fair market value.
Article 4 concerns a ground lease of approximately 0.68 acres, being a portion of 8.38 acres, commonly known as the Cumming Park and Ride Lot, under the custody of the Georgia State Road and Tollway Authority, to the city of Cumming for term of 50-years with a 25-year renewal option for a consideration of $10,600 annually and the requirements that the city of Cumming maintain the storm water detention pond in accordance to law and remove of the water tank upon the termination of the lease.
Article 5 conveys approximately 41.188 acres, commonly known as Lanier Technical College at Oakwood, under the custody of the Technical College System of Georgia, to the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, or to a local government or state entity, for a consideration of $10 so long as the property is used for public purpose in perpetuity.
Article 6 leases approximately 276 square feet of office space located in the Georgia Public Safety Training Facility, under the custody of the Georgia Public Safety Training Center, to Justice Federal Credit Union for a term of 10-years, with two 5-year renewal options, for an initial annual rent of $5,000, to be increased annually at a compounded rate of 3 percent, and for such further terms and conditions as determined by the State Properties Commission as to be in the best interest of the state of Georgia.
Article 7 conveys approximately 9.46 acres, under the custody of the Georgia Forestry Commission, to the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia for a consideration of $10 so long as the property is used for public purpose in perpetuity; or to a local government or State entity for a consideration of $10.00 so long as the property is used for public purpose in perpetuity; or to a local government or State entity for fair market value; or by competitive bid for fair market value and other consideration and provisions as the State Properties Commission shall in its discretion determine to be in the best interest of the State of Georgia.
Article 8 resolves all disputes of ownership of real property and all present and former littoral, wharfing, and other rights, interests, and privileges in and to the Property and adjoining tidally influenced water bottoms, convey approximately 1.165 acres of State owned marshlands to SRL Land Venture II, LLC in exchange for the
Page 49 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

conveyance of property from SRL Land Venture II, LLC, which property shall include a strip of land measuring not less than three feet in width adjoining the south face of the sheetpile bulkhead for the length of the SRL Land Venture II, LLC's interests along the Savannah River, adjoining water bottoms, related rights, and the receipt of payment in an amount sufficient for the State to receive fair market value for its property, and such other consideration and provisions as the State Properties Commission shall in its discretion determine to be in the best interests of the State of Georgia.
Article 9 resolves all disputes of ownership of real property and all present and former littoral, wharfing, and other rights, interests, and privileges in and to the property and adjoining tidally influenced water bottoms, convey approximately 0.745 of an acre of State owned marshlands to Savannah River Front, LLC in exchange for the conveyance of property from Savannah River Front, LLC, which property shall include a strip of land measuring not less than three feet in width adjoining the south face of the sheetpile bulkhead for the length of the Savannah River Front, LLC's interests along the Savannah River, adjoining water bottoms, related rights, and the receipt of payment in an amount sufficient for the State to receive fair market value for its property, and such other consideration and provisions as the State Properties Commission shall in its discretion determine to be in the best interests of the State of Georgia.
Article 10 leases approximately 2.303 acres in fee simple and approximately 0.83 of an acre of air rights commencing on a plane located twenty-three (23) feet from the top of any rail of the Western and Atlantic Railroad or twenty-three feet from ground level, together with so much of the land level as is necessary for supports and appurtenances for the structures to have been constructed, under the custody of the State Properties Commission, to CNN Center Ventures for a term of up to seventy-five (75) years for fair market value and for such other considerations as determined by the State Properties Commission to be in the best interest of the State of Georgia.
Article 11 leases approximately 0.015 of an acre, being a portion of Black Rock Mountain State Park, under the custody of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, to Currahee Paging Inc. for a term of ten (10) years for fair market value and other considerations as determined by the State Properties Commission to be in the best interest of the State of Georgia.

HR 182 Property; granting of non-exclusive easements; authorize By: Rep. Gerald Greene (151st) Through the State Properties Committee Final Bill Summary: HR 182 authorizes the granting of non-exclusive easements for the construction, operation, and maintenance of facilities, utilities, roads, and ingress and egress in, on, over, under, upon, across, or through property owned by the state of Georgia in the counties of Barrow, Camden, Cobb, Floyd, Houston, and White, as follows:
Article 1 grants an easement to the Georgia Power Company or its successors and assigns over approximately one acre under the custody of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to construct, install, operate, and maintain underground electrical distribution lines and associated equipment that will serve a new visitor center at Fort Yargo State Park for $10.
Article 2 grants an easement to Georgia Power Company or its successors and assigns over approximately 1.56 acres under the custody of the Technical College System of Georgia for the construction, installation, operation and maintenance of underground and overhead electrical distribution lines to serve TCSG-265 (Classroom and Library Building) at the Camden County Campus of Coastal Pines Technical College for $10.
Article 3 grants an easement to the city of Marietta or its successors and assigns over approximately 0.0157 of an acre under the custody of the States Properties Commission for the construction, installation, operation and maintenance of a pedestrian trail crossing, for the project known as Chattahoochee River (KMCR) Trail (P.I. 0010705) over the Western and Atlantic Railroad for $1,879.
Article 4 grants an easement to the North Georgia Electric Membership Corporation or its successors and assigns over approximately 0.08 of an acre under the custody of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for the construction, installation, operation and maintenance of underground distribution lines and underground electrical equipment to serve the new Department Region One Game Management and Fisheries Office Buildings for $10.
Article 5 grants an easement to Flint Energies, Inc. or its successors and assigns over approximately 0.449 of an acre under the custody of the Department of Natural Resources for the construction, installation, operation and maintenance of underground electrical equipment and lighting poles at Flat Creek Public Fishing Area for $10.
Page 50 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

Article 6 grants an easement to Habersham Electric Membership Corporation or its successors and assigns over approximately 0.3 of an acre under the custody of the Department of Natural Resources for the construction, installation, operation and maintenance of underground electrical equipment and distribution lines to serve a new entrance sign at Hardman Farm Historic Site for $10.
Article 7 grants an easement to the City of Cumming or its successors and assigns over approximately 0.07 of an acre, under the custody of the Georgia State Road and Tollway Authority to construct, install, operate, and maintain underground water utilities, fire hydrant and associated equipment that will serve the Forsyth County Park and Ride for $10.00.
Article 8 grants an easement to the City of Gainesville or its successors and assigns over approximately 1.32 acres, under the custody of the Department of Natural Resources to construct, install, operate, and maintain an access for ingress/egress and parking that will enhance Don Carter State Park's Lake Lanier Parcel recreation area for $10.00.
Article 9 grants an easement to the Georgia Department of Transportation or its successors and assigns for approximately 3.551 acres, under the custody of the Department of Natural Resources to construct, install, operate, and maintain a bridge across the Altamaha River and widen the road along SR 135/US 221 (PI No. 0007037) for $10.00.
Article 10 grants an easement to Georgia Power Company or its successors and assigns for approximately 1.0 acre under the custody of the Technical College System of Georgia to construct, install, operate, and maintain overhead electrical distribution lines to serve Chattahoochee Technical College for $10.00.

HR 214 Study Committee - House Rural Development Council; reauthorize

By: Rep. Sam Watson (172nd)

Through the Economic Development & Tourism Committee

Final Bill Summary: HR 214 reauthorizes the House Rural Development Council (RDC) for two more years. The RDC shall be composed of 15 members of the House of Representatives appointed by the speaker of the House, with two members to be designated as co-chairpersons. The RDC shall be authorized to begin meeting in different rural locations within the state beginning on April 1, 2019. The co-chairpersons shall file two reports of findings and recommendations, one no later than December 31, 2019 and the second prior to December 31, 2020. The RDC shall be abolished on December 31, 2020.

HR 239 Savannah Logistics Technology Innovation Corridor; designate

By: Rep. Ron Stephens (164th)

Through the Special Rules Committee

Final Bill Summary: HR 239 designates the Savannah Logistics Technology Innovation Corridor as an official technology innovation corridor in the state of Georgia. This will establish a specific information technology corridor to directly foster the growth of information technology and innovation through local collaboration among universities, hospitals, and logistics hubs.

HR 259 Study Committee - Johnny Tolbert III House Study Committee on Heat-Related Injuries, Cardiac Injuries, and other Sports-Related Injuries; create
By: Rep. William Boddie (62nd) Through the Health & Human Services Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Resolution 259 establishes the Johnny Tolbert, III House Study Committee on Heat-Related Injuries, Cardiac Injuries, and Other Sports-Related Injuries. This committee is composed of five members of the House, appointed by the speaker, and will be abolished on December 1, 2019.

HR 261 Study Committee - Joint Study Committee on Evaluating and Simplifying Physician Oversight of Midlevel Providers; create
By: Rep. Mark Newton (123rd) Through the Health & Human Services Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Resolution 261 creates the Joint Study Committee on Evaluating and Simplifying Physician Oversight of Midlevel Providers. This committee evaluates current state laws, as well as proposed legislation to revise such laws, relating to physician oversight of mid-level providers to determine how such physician oversight could be simplified and streamlined to navigate in the practice environment. This study committee includes three members from the House and will be abolished on December 1, 2019.

Page 51 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

HR 346 Georgia Southern Nursing Angels Memorial Bridge; Bryan County; dedicate By: Rep. Jan Tankersley (160th) Through the Transportation Committee Final Bill Summary: House Resolution 346 is the annual House version of road dedications and includes the following:
House Resolution 346 dedicates the northern bridge on U.S. 280 over Interstate 16 at exit 143 in Bryan County as the Georgia Southern Nursing Angels Memorial Bridge;
House Resolution 39 dedicates the bridge on Highway 92 east of I-575 that spans Noonday Creek in Cherokee County as the Patrick Price Memorial Bridge;
House Resolution 49 dedicates the bridge on State Route 39 over Drag Nasty Creek in Clay County as the James Bland, Sr., Memorial Bridge;
House Resolution 73 dedicates the portion of Georgia Highway 52 East from First Avenue to Greenfield Road in Gilmer County as the G.L. Huff Family Memorial Highway;
House Resolution 74 dedicates the bridge on Highway 515 over Ada Street in Blue Ridge, Georgia, as the John D. McDaniel Bridge;
House Resolution 75 dedicates the intersection of State Route 515 and First Avenue in Gilmer County as the Ben Whitaker Intersection;
House Resolution 76 dedicates the portion of U.S. Highway 84 from the eastern corporate limits of the City of Ludowici to the Long County/Liberty County line as the Chief Frank McClelland, Jr., Memorial Highway;
House Resolution 96 re-dedicates the bridge on State Route 45 over Bear Creek in Terrell County as the Kennedy and Hanner Bridge; House Resolution 136 dedicates the bridge on State Route 1 southbound over Hod Chod-Kee Creek in Stewart County as the Thomas Morton Fort, Jr., Memorial Bridge;
House Resolution 30 dedicates the portion of State Route 138 from State Route 85 to US 19/US 41 as the Charles Ware, Sr., Memorial Highway;
House Resolution 229 dedicates the bridge on Interstate 85 over Metropolitan Parkway in Fulton County as the Grace W. Davis Memorial Bridge;
Senate Resolution 299 dedicates the Interstate 95 interchange at Exit 7 in Camden County as the Patriots of Thiokol Memorial Interchange;
Senate Resolution 319 dedicates the portion of State Route 120 between State Route 316 and Peachtree Industrial Boulevard in Gwinnett County as the Richard L. Tucker Highway;
Senate Resolution 320 dedicates the portion of State Route 120 from its intersection with State Route 13 in Duluth to Parsons Road in Johns Creek as the Bill Russell Highway;
Senate Resolution 321 dedicates the portion of U.S. 78 from Snellville to Loganville in Gwinnett County as the Wayne Mason Highway;
Senate Resolution dedicates the intersection of Highway 52 and Major Abercrombie Road in Lumpkin County as the James Chapman Intersection;
Senate Resolution 382 dedicates the intersection of Harbins Road and Winder Highway (State Route 8) in Gwinnett County as the Mayor Jimmy Wilbanks Intersection;
Senate Resolution 374 dedicates the bridge on Flat Shoals Road/State Route 155 over SR 407/Interstate 285 in DeKalb County as the Marlon Harris and New Life Church Bridge;
Senate Resolution 400 dedicates the bridge on Nelson Brogdon Boulevard/Highway 20 crossing over the railroad tracks located just before the intersection of Highway 20 and Peachtree Industrial Boulevard in Gwinnett County as the Maron Sidney Buice Bridge;

Page 52 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

Senate Resolution 436 dedicates the portion of State Route 16 from Kings Drive to Higgins Road in Butts County as the Congressman Mac Collins Memorial Highway;
Senate Resolution 451 dedicates the portion of State Highway 56 from Brier Creek to Old Waynesboro Road in Burke County as the R. Wayne Crockett Memorial Highway;
Senate Resolution 458 dedicates the portion of State Route 16 from Old Carrollton Road to the Chattahoochee River as the Jimmy Lassetter Memorial Highway; and
Senate Resolution 477 dedicates the intersection of John Lewis Freedom Parkway (State Route 10) and Boulevard NE in Fulton County as the Dr. Eugene Thomas and Elmo James Overlook Intersection.

HR 421 Study Committee - Joint Study Committee on Infant and Toddler Social and Emotional Health

By: Rep. Katie Dempsey (13th)

Through the Health & Human Services Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Resolution 421 creates the House Study Committee on Infant and Toddler Social and Emotional Health. The purpose of the committee is to study the full continuum of services that is needed to best support babies, young children, and the significant adults in their lives. Additionally, this committee is to study the effects of adverse childhood experiences on infants and toddlers and the investment of services for these ages specifically. The committee is composed of five members of the House and will stand abolished on December 1, 2019.

HR 533 Study Committee - House Study Committee on Innovative Financial Options for Senior Living

By: Rep. John LaHood (175th)

Through the Human Relations & Aging Committee

Final Bill Summary: HR 533 creates the House Study Committee on Innovative Financial Options for Senior Living. The committee is composed of five members and can meet up to five times prior to the abolishment date of December 1, 2019. The committee is responsible for studying the availability of affordable independent living with supportive services and exploring options to expand these types of housing for Georgia seniors.

HR 584 Study Committee - House Study Committee on Exploring a Floor and Trade Charity Care

System; create

By: Rep. Todd Jones (25th)

Through the Special Committee on Access to Quality Health Care Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Resolution 584 creates the House Study Committee on Exploring a Floor and Trade Charity Care System. Members are charged to study new ideas to distribute the burden of uncompensated care more evenly across the different types of health care providers. A floor and trade or tradeable credit program for uncompensated care could provide a market oriented approach for the innovative provision of indigent and charity care. The study committee, which will be abolished on December 1, 2019, is composed of ten members: five members of the House, one member representing safety net hospitals, one member representing hospitals that provide inpatient psychiatric and substance abuse services, one member representing hospitals in rural counties; one member representing freestanding ambulatory surgery centers or other freestanding outpatient specialty care providers; and one representative from the Department of Community Health knowledgeable in health care financing and Medicaid reimbursement.

HR 585 Study Committee - House Study Committee on Gang and Youth Violence Prevention; create

By: Rep. Carl Gilliard (162nd)

Through the Juvenile Justice Committee

Final Bill Summary: HR 585 creates the House Study Committee on Gang and Youth Violence Prevention. The committee consists of six House members appointed by the speaker of the House and six non-legislative members as follows: the commissioner of juvenile justice; the commissioner of human services; the state school superintendent; and three persons who are representatives of social service organizations that provide programs for youth. The allowances for the committee are for up to five days and the committee stands abolished December 1, 2019.

HR 589 Study Committee - House Study Committee on Maternal Mortality; create By: Rep. Mark Newton (123rd) Through the Health & Human Services Committee

Page 53 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

Final Bill Summary: House Resolution 589 creates the House Study Committee on Maternal Mortality. In addition to identifying, investigating, and disseminating findings regarding maternal deaths, the committee will also develop strategies and institute systematic changes needed to decrease and prevent maternal deaths in Georgia. This study committee is composed of seven members of the House. The bill requires at least two of these members to be African American female legislators. Additionally, two members of the Georgia Maternal Mortality Review Committee shall be appointed to the study committee by the speaker of the House. The study committee will stand abolished on December 1, 2019.

HR 590 Study Committee - House Study Committee on Georgia's Barriers to Access to Adequate Health

Care; create

By: Rep. Karen Bennett (94th)

Through the Special Committee on Access to Quality Health Care Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Resolution 590 creates the House Study Committee on Georgia's Barriers to Access to Adequate Health Care. Committee members are charged to undertake a study of the needs, issues, and problems associated with Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) and Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder with Streptococcal infection (PANDAS) disorders. These disorders create the sudden onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder in children, causing previously healthy and emotionally-adjusted children to experience severe anxiety and emotional disturbances. The study committee, which will be abolished on December 1, 2019, is composed of eight members: five members of the House, one practicing psychiatrist, one practicing pediatrician, and one public health practitioner.

HR 591 Study Committee - House Study Committee on Workforce Housing; create

By: Rep. Vance Smith (133rd)

Through the Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee

Final Bill Summary: HR 591 creates the House Study Committee on Workforce Housing. The committee is tasked with reviewing current practices and regulations relating to residential design mandates and the effects of those mandates on affordable housing options and consumer choices. The committee is composed of five members of the House of Representatives, as appointed by the speaker of the House.

SB 1

"C.J.'s Law"; penalty for hit and run accidents that result in serious injury; provide

By: Sen. Elena Parent (42nd)

Through the Judiciary Non-Civil Committee

Final Bill Summary: SB 1, titled 'C.J.'s Law', refines the Code regarding the crime of serious injury by vehicle. The bill adds those who, without malice aforethought, leave the scene of a vehicular accident that results in serious bodily injury. This crime is punished as a felony, with a term of imprisonment for not less than one year nor more than 10 years.

SB 2

Public Utilities and Public Transportation; electric membership corporations and their affiliates; authorize; broadband services; provide

By: Sen. Steve Gooch (51st)

Through the Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 2 allows an electric membership corporation (EMC) to provide and operate broadband facilities or form, fund, support, and operate a broadband affiliate. An EMC or an affiliate may apply for and utilize loans, grants, or other financing and enter into contracts, agreements, partnerships, or other types of business relationships.

No EMC, broadband affiliate, or gas affiliate shall permit cross-subsidization between its electricity services activities, its broadband activities, or its gas activities. Furthermore, an affiliate providing retail broadband service may not condition the receipt of electricity service upon receipt of broadband services, nor provide more favorable terms for electricity services in exchange for the purchase of retail broadband service.

Each broadband affiliate must develop and maintain a cost allocation manual, to be approved by the Public Service Commission (PSC), describing the EMC's methods of cost allocation and other information and policies required to ensure compliance with the cross-subsidization requirements. The PSC shall have jurisdiction over each broadband affiliate and each EMC that has a broadband affiliate that provides retail broadband.

The bill states that an EMC that terminates, without cause, a new or existing pole attachment agreement with a provider shall not be permitted to form or utilize a broadband affiliate for one year from the date of termination if the number of poles with attachments under the terminated agreement constitutes one-half or more of all EMC's poles containing an attachment by a provider.
Page 54 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

Lastly, the bill states the General Assembly finds a person providing broadband services should be permitted to use existing electric easements to provide or expand access to broadband services.

SB 5

Lincoln County Recreation Authority; repeal

By: Sen. Lee Anderson (24th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: This bill provides for the assets and liabilities of the Lincoln County Recreation Authority.

SB 6

Correctional Institutions of the State and Counties; use of unmanned aircraft systems to deliver or attempt to deliver contraband to a place of incarceration; prohibit By: Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick (32nd) Through the Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 6 makes it unlawful for any person to intentionally use an unmanned aircraft system to deliver to an inmate weapons, liquor, drugs, telecommunications devices, or tobacco products without the authorization of the warden or superintendent or his or her designee.
The bill also prohibits the intentional photographing or otherwise recorded images of a place of incarceration through the use of the unmanned aircraft system. There is a provision that allows a person to obtain the warden's or superintendent's authorization for photographing or recording as evidence of a noncriminal intent; however, the failure to receive the prior authorization does not suffice as evidence of a criminal intent.
Persons who commit or attempt to commit a violation of this provision are guilty of a felony. Upon a conviction for attempting to deliver or for delivering contraband, the person is sentenced to imprisonment for not less than one nor more than 10 years. A conviction of a violation of the photography provision results in a sentence of imprisonment for not less than one but no more than five years.

SB 7

Board of Ethics of DeKalb County; change a definition
By: Sen. Emanuel Jones (10th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 7 changes a definition regarding the DeKalb County Board of Ethics to exclude certain employees and persons; to provide for reporting of violations by county employees; to change the manner of appointment and terms of office of the members of the board; to provide for an ethics administrator; and to provide for preliminary investigations by the board and penalties for violations regarding board inquires.

SB 8

Specialty License Plate; benefit the Atlanta United Foundation; establish

By: Sen. P. K. Martin (9th)

Through the Motor Vehicles Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 8 creates a specialty license plate supporting the Atlanta United Foundation.

SB 9

Invasion of Privacy; sexual extortion; prohibit; definitions; elements of the crime; provide By: Sen. Harold Jones II (22nd) Through the Judiciary Non-Civil Committee
Final Bill Summary: SB 9 prohibits sexual extortion. The bill outlaws the conduct of intentionally coercing orally, in writing, or electronically another individual, more than 18 years of age, to distribute any photograph, video, or image that depicts any individual in a state of nudity or engaged in sexually-explicit conduct. The punishment upon the first offense is a misdemeanor of high and aggravated nature. The punishment upon the second or subsequent offense is punished as a felony with imprisonment for not less than one nor more than five years. Each violation is considered a separate offense and does not merge with any other offense.
SB 9 also updates and revises the crime of sexual assault by persons with supervisory or disciplinary authority. An individual commits the offense of improper sexual contact by an employee or agent in the first degree when such individual knowingly engages in sexually-explicit conduct with another person, whom such employee or agent knows or reasonably should have known is contemporaneously: enrolled as a student at a school where he or she is an employee or agent; under probation, parole, accountability court, or pretrial diversion supervision, of the office or court in which he or she is an employee or agent; a patient in or at a hospital in which he or she is an employee or agent; in the custody of a correctional or juvenile detention facility, facility providing services to a person with a disability or child welfare, in which he or she is an employee or agent; the subject of a psychotherapy or counseling of such employee or agent; or admitted for care at a sensitive care facility in
Page 55 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

which he or she is an employee or agent. The punishment is imprisonment for not less than one nor more than 25 years, a fine not to exceed $50,000, and the offender must be placed on the Sexual Offender Registry.
An individual commits the offense of improper sexual contact by an employee or agent in the second degree when such individual knowingly engages in sexual contact, excluding sexually-explicit conduct, with another person, whom such employee or agent knows or reasonably should have known is contemporaneously: enrolled as a student at a school which he or she is an employee or agent; under probation, parole, accountability court, or pretrial diversion supervision, of the office or court in which he or she is an employee or agent; a patient in or at a hospital in which he or she is an employee or agent; in the custody of a correctional or juvenile detention facility, facility providing services to a person with a disability or child welfare, in which he or she is an employee or agent; the subject of a psychotherapy or counseling of such employee or agent; or admitted for care at a sensitive care facility in which he or she is an employee or agent. The punishment is a misdemeanor of high and aggravated nature. Upon a second or subsequent conviction of the offense of improper sexual contact by an employee or agent in the second degree, the person is guilty of a felony with imprisonment for not less than one nor more than five years and must be placed on the Sexual Offender Registry.

SB 15

"Keeping Georgia's Schools Safe Act"

By: Sen. John Albers (56th)

Through the Education Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 15 creates the 'Keeping Georgia's Schools Safe Act'. The act requires public schools to conduct site threat assessments by a certified private individual or company or by a government agency. Every public school must conduct a site threat assessment before January 1, 2021 and every five years thereafter. Every public school must submit a school safety plan to the Department of Education after the local law enforcement agency has approved the plan. The Department of Education will post a list of which schools have submitted a school safety plan and which schools have yet to meet this requirement. Additionally, SB 15 streamlines communication efforts between schools and the relevant state intelligence agencies by designating a single individual at each school as the school safety coordinator. The bill requires schools to use and promote a statewide mobile application, the 'See Something Send Something' anonymous app, to report suspicious activity or potential threats.

SB 16

"Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Act" By: Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick (32nd) Through the Health & Human Services Committee
Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 16 authorizes the Georgia Composite Medical Board to administer the 'Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Act'. This bill allows physicians to become licensed in multiple states and creates another pathway for licensure that does not otherwise change a state's existing Medical Practice Board. Additionally, the bill adopts the prevailing standard for licensure and affirms that the physician must be under the jurisdiction of the state medical board where the patient is located. State medical boards that participate in the compact retain the jurisdiction to impose an adverse action against a license to practice medicine in that state issued to physician through the procedures in the compact.
Senate Bill 16 also adds that an applicant who submits an application to the board for licensure, certification, or permit agrees to provide the board with any and all information necessary to run a criminal background check, including, but not limited to, a classifiable set of fingerprints.

SB 17

Public Utilities and Public Transportation; authorize telephone cooperatives and their

broadband affiliates; provide broadband services

By: Sen. Steve Gooch (51st)

Through the Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 17, which relates to the 'Rural Telephone Cooperative Act,' gives cooperative

non-profit corporations the ability to furnish, improve, and expand broadband services. These services may be

furnished in conjunction or separately from telephone service; however, broadband services are not eligible for

fund recovery through the Universal Access Fund.

SB 18

"Direct Primary Care Act" By: Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick (32nd) Through the Insurance Committee Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 18 is known as the 'Direct Primary Care Act.' The bill provides that a direct primary care agreement is not insurance and is not subject to state insurance laws. A physician offering, marketing, selling, or entering into a direct primary care agreement is not required to obtain a certificate of authority or license other than to maintain a current license to practice medicine in Georgia.
Page 56 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

Additionally, a physician providing health care services under a direct care primary agreement may decline to accept a patient if the provider is unable to provide the appropriate level and type of health care services needed by the patient.
Furthermore, a physician may discontinue care for a patient under the direct primary care agreement if the physician or the physician's medical practice discontinues operation as a direct primary care practice or if the patient: fails to pay the periodic fee or any additional fees specified by the agreement; performs an act of fraud; or presents an emotional or physical danger to staff or other patients.

SB 25

Rules of the Road; when driver of a vehicle need not stop upon meeting or passing a school bus;

clarify

By: Sen. Bill Heath (31st)

Through the Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 25 allows drivers to continue driving past a stopped school bus on a highway with separate roadways only when the roadways are separated by a grass median, unpaved area, or physical barrier when the bus is on the separate roadway.

SB 29

Waiver of Immunity for Motor Vehicle Claims; definition to clarify sheriff, deputy sheriff, other agent, servant, or employee of sheriff's office; include
By: Sen. Harold Jones II (22nd) Through the Judiciary Committee
Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 29 revises the definition of "officer", as it relates to waiving sovereign immunity for local government entities, to expressly include sheriff, deputy sheriff, or other agent, servant, or employee of a sheriff's office, so that these individuals are protected from liability for official acts particularly in torts involving use of a covered motor vehicle in performance of his or her official duties.

SB 31

Law Enforcement Officers and Agencies; performing any duty at the scene of an emergency; law

enforcement officers shall not be liable; clarify

By: Sen. Michael Rhett (33rd)

Through the Judiciary Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 31 states law enforcement officers employed by state or local government are immune from liability for actions taken while performing duties at the scene of an emergency, unless the law enforcement officer's actions constitute gross negligence, willful or wanton misconduct, or malfeasance. Emergencies include imminent danger to life or health of a person or pet, such as the rescuing a person or pet from inside a locked motor vehicle.

SB 37

Statute of Frauds; clarify that a mutual agreement to modify an existing promise, agreement, contract; shall be in writing and subject to statute of frauds
By: Sen. William Ligon, Jr. (3rd) Through the Judiciary Committee
Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 37 amends the requirements for making obligations binding on a promisor. Currently, certain promises must be in writing to be enforceable. These promises include promises by an executor, administrator, guardian, or trustee to answer damages out of his or her own estate; promises to answer for the debt, default, or miscarriage of another; any agreement made upon consideration of marriage; any contract for sale of lands, or any interest in or concerning lands; any agreement that is not to be performed within one year from the making thereof; any promise to revive a debt barred by a statute of limitation; and any commitment to lend money.
Now, any agreement to modify, alter, cancel, repeal, revoke, release, or rescind such a promise, agreement, contract or commitment must also be in writing and signed by all parties. However, where a party admits in a pleading, testimony, or otherwise in court that such an agreement was made then that agreement shall be enforceable even if not reduced to writing.

SB 48

Dyslexia; identification of and support for students in pre-kindergarten through second grade;

provide

By: Sen. P. K. Martin (9th)

Through the Education Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 48 instructs the State Board of Education to develop policies for referring students in kindergarten and grades one through three for screening who have been identified as having dyslexia characteristics or other disorders. SB 48 also requires the Georgia Department of Education to implement

Page 57 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

guidance and training in all schools regarding the teaching of students with dyslexia and requires that all schools submit data to the department regarding students with dyslexia. Additionally, the bill requires the Professional Standards Commission to create a dyslexia endorsement for teachers and require dyslexia instruction in teacher preparation programs. The state school superintendent will establish a three-year pilot program. After the pilot program is concluded, the state school superintendent will make recommendations regarding the identification of and interventions for students with characteristics of dyslexia to the House Education Committee and the Senate Committee on Education and Youth.

SB 52

Code Revision Commission; statutory portion of said Code; revise, modernize, correct errors or omissions in and reenact
By: Sen. William Ligon, Jr. (3rd) Through the Code Revision Committee
Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 52 is the annual Code Revision clean-up bill. It amends the Official Code of Georgia Annotated to revise, modernize, and correct errors or omissions. The bill reflects the work of the Code Revision Commission to repeal portions of the Code which have become obsolete, unconstitutional, or preempted or superseded by subsequent laws. Lastly, the bill provides for other matters relating to revision, reenactment, and publication of the Code.

SB 53

County Board of Education of DeKalb County; boundaries of an independent school system are not extended by annexation; provide
By: Sen. Emanuel Jones (10th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: This bill states that the boundaries of an independent school system in DeKalb County are not extended by annexation unless expressly approved in a separate referendum.

SB 55

Retirement; method and manner by which a member of the Employees' Retirement System of Georgia may purchase an annuity; revise
By: Sen. Chuck Hufstetler (52nd) Through the Retirement Committee
Final Bill Summary: SB 55 authorizes the Board of Trustees of the Employees' Retirement System to offer a lifetime annuity benefit to certain members. Interested members may transfer some or all funds, $25,000 at minimum, from their 401(k) plan or 457(b) plan into an account for the system to purchase an annuity. Furthermore, members have the option to elect whether the annuity be calculated based on his or her lifetime only or to provide the annuity benefit to a named survivor. The Department of Audits and Accounts has certified SB 55 as a non-fiscal retirement bill.

SB 60

"Jeremy Nelson and Nick Blakely Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act"

By: Sen. P. K. Martin (9th)

Through the Education Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 60 creates the 'Jeremy Nelson and Nick Blakely Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act'. This act requires the Department of Education to develop and publish guidelines relating to cardiac arrest. A student who faints or passes out during or immediately after participating in an interscholastic athletic activity will be removed from participation by the athletic director, coach, or trainer. If a student exhibits any of the other warning signs for cardiac arrest, that student may be removed immediately if the athletic trainer reasonably believes the symptoms are cardiac related. In the absence of an athletic trainer, coaches who observe any symptoms must notify the parents or guardians of the student so the parent or guardian can determine what treatment, if any, is necessary. A student who is removed from participation after exhibiting a symptom of cardiac arrest will not be allowed to return to play without a written release by a health care provider. A coach must review the guidelines and materials each school year and is not allowed to coach until the requirements of this Act are completed.

SB 65

Alternative Ad Valorem Tax on Motor Vehicles; transfer of a title between legal entities owned

by the same person; not constitute a taxable event; provide

By: Sen. Tyler Harper (7th)

Through the Ways & Means Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 65 amends Code Section 48-5C-1, relating to alternative ad valorem tax on motor vehicles, by allowing an exemption from the title ad valorem tax when a title is transferred from one legal entity to another legal entity in which the same individual owns at least 50 percent of each entity and the title ad valorem tax has been levied on the vehicle and paid by the transferring entity or individual. The bill also amends the definition of "fair market value" as it relates to used motor vehicles and kit cars, lowers the tax rate

Page 58 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

from 7 percent to 6.6 percent for January 1, 2020 through July 1, 2023, and extends the range for model year vehicles receiving a reduced rate of 0.5 percent from 1963 to 1985 model years to 1963 to 1989 model years.
The definition of "fair market value" of a new and used vehicle is amended to equal the retail selling price of the vehicle less any reduction for a trade-in when purchased from a new or used car dealer and the "fair market value" for kit cars is amended to equal the retail selling price of the kit.
The bill has an effective date of January 1, 2020.

SB 66

"Streamlining Wireless Facilities and Antennas Act"

By: Sen. Steve Gooch (51st)

Through the Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 66, the 'Streamlining Wireless Facilities and Antennas Act', streamlines the deployment of small cells in public rights-of-way by placing caps on fees and deadlines for application processing.

A small cell, or a "small wireless facility", is defined as a piece of communications network equipment that meets both of the following qualifications: the antenna can fit within an enclosure of no more than six cubic feet, and all other wireless equipment associated with the small cell is no more than 28 cubic feet.

A wireless provider may "collocate", meaning to install, mount, modify, or replace, small cells, and install, modify, or replace poles under Code Section 36-66 without an agreement with an authority and without an implementing ordinance. An "authority" includes a county, consolidated government, or a municipality, but does not include electric utilities. To receive a permit to collocate a small cell or to install, modify, or replace a pole, an applicant shall pay a fee for: each application for the collocation of small cells on an existing pole to be assessed by the authority that shall not exceed $100 per small cell; each application for each replacement pole associated with small cells assessed by the authority that shall not exceed $250; each application for a new pole associated with small cells assessed by an authority that shall not exceed $1,000 per pole; an annual rightof-way occupancy rate assessed by the authority for non-exclusive occupancy that shall not exceed $100 per year for each small cell on an existing or replacement pole or $200 per year for each new pole; an annual attachment rate for collocations on authority poles not to exceed $40 per year per small cell; make-ready work; and a generally applicable non-discriminatory fee for any permit required under generally applicable law. The monetary caps provided in the first five items shall increase 2.5 percent annually beginning on January 1, 2021.

If the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) order, which states that rates and fees for small cell must be cost-based, is overturned and not subject to further review or appeal, the state fees shall double beginning on July 1 of the calendar year following the final FCC review decision. Furthermore, on July 1 of the following year, the monetary caps shall be removed and applicants shall pay any fees or rates that are considered as fair and reasonable compensation to the authority.

Section 36-66C-7 contains the requirements for a governing authority's review of applications for uses that are subject to administrative review. Within 20 days of receiving an application, the authority shall notify the applicant in writing of the commencement and completion dates of scheduled or anticipated widening, repair, reconstruction, or relocation of the applicable right-of-way within 24 months of the date the application is filed; notify the applicant of any grounds for denial; and determine whether the application is complete and inform the applicant of its determination in writing. A denial shall be sent in writing and shall identify all reasons for the denial, including the provisions of applicable codes and other standards.

Small cells and new, modified, or replacement poles to be used for collocation of small wireless facilities may be placed in the right-of-way as permitted, subject to applicable codes, and with the following requirements: each new, modified, or replacement pole installed in the right-of-way in a historic district and in a residential zone shall not exceed 50 feet or greater above ground level; each new, modified, or replacement pole installed in the right-of-way not in a historic district or residential zone shall not exceed 50 feet above ground level or 10 feet in height greater than the tallest existing pole in the same authority's right-of-way; and new small cells in the right-of-way shall not exceed more than 10 feet above the existing pole or support structure or the height limits previously provided for a new, modified, or replacement pole.

SB 66 requires a wireless provider to comply with reasonable and non-discriminatory requirements that prohibit communications and electric service providers from installing poles in a right-of-way in an area designated for underground or buried facilities where: the authority has required all facilities other than light poles and attachments to be placed underground; does not prohibit the replacement of light poles or the collocation of small cells in the designated area; and permits wireless providers to seek a waiver of the underground

Page 59 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

requirements for the placement of a new pole to support small cells. An authority that adopts underground requirements after an agreement is made shall allow a wireless provider to maintain any small cells already collocated to any applicable pole or allow a wireless provider to replace the pole associated with a collocated device at the same location or an alternate location within 50 feet of the prior location.
Within a historic district, an applicant may collocate or place a pole only when it receives a permit from the authority per Code Section 36-66C-6 and complies with objective and reasonable aesthetic and structural requirements that have been made publicly available by the authority at least 30 days prior to submission of an application; however, the historic district requirements may not inhibit the provider's technology or service and the requirements shall not be considered a part of the small cell for the purpose of size restrictions.
For new pole applications in rights-of-way zoned for residential use, the authority may propose an alternate location within 100 feet of the requested location. The provider shall use the alternate location unless the location imposes technical limits or significant additional costs.
Applicants may submit a consolidated application, provided that the application shall be for a geographic area no more than two miles in diameter. The denial of one or more small cells or poles within a consolidated application shall not delay the processing of other small cells or poles in the application. An authority may issue a single permit or multiple permits for the small cells and poles in the consolidated application. The bill has further stipulations based on county, consolidated government, or city parcel size.
If multiple applications are received by the authority to install two or more poles or collocate two or more small cells on the same pole, the authority shall resolve the conflicting requests in an appropriate, reasonable, and non-discriminatory manner.
The bill does not apply to an authority and provider agreement entered into prior to October 1, 2019, and it shall not apply to that authority until the agreement expires or is terminated.

SB 67

Capital Outlay Funds; eligibility for regular funding, advance funding for educational facilities;

destroyed by fire or natural disaster; provide

By: Sen. Dean Burke (11th)

Through the Appropriations Committee

Final Bill Summary: SB 67 allows school systems which have experienced damage from a fire or natural disaster to immediately qualify for regular state capital outlay funds, regular advance capital outlay funds, and low-wealth capital outlay funds. Furthermore, these funds may be used for a portion of the building that was not damaged, but is at least 20-years old. Second, the bill adds an additional criteria for school systems to qualify for low-wealth capital outlay grants. School systems that are consolidating educational facilities according to their local facilities plan and where five years of special-purpose local-option sales tax (SPLOST) revenue does not generate enough for the local required match can qualify for low-wealth capital outlay grants.

SB 72

Game and Fish; hunting on wildlife management areas; prohibition; remove

By: Sen. Tyler Harper (7th)

Through the Game, Fish, & Parks Committee

Final Bill Summary: SB 72 removes county-specific restrictions on maximum open hunting seasons for opossums and raccoons, subsequently setting a statewide maximum open season of October 15 to February 29 for both animals. An archery extension to the maximum open season concerning deer for specific counties is removed, and the Department of Natural Resources may extend the season for archery by rule to January 31 for any region, county, or locale. The bill sets a maximum deer bag limit of 12, except by rule of the department for deer taken on department-managed lands. The department may exempt a bear taken on department-managed lands from the maximum bag limit.

SB 72 also defines "air gun" as any pistol, handgun, or shoulder-held device of not less than 0.30 caliber that propels a projectile utilizing unignited compressed air or gas. The bill prohibits the use of an air gun, except for hunting big game during primitive weapon hunts, primitive weapon seasons, and firearm seasons. This portion of the bill shall be reviewed by the General Assembly during the 2020 Legislative Session and stand repealed on July 1, 2020 without action from the General Assembly.

The bill allows for the use of feed or bait to lure feral hogs, so long as the feed or bait is not placed in a manner that prohibits the hunting of any species of wildlife on any adjoining property.

Senate Bill 72 removes a restriction on hunting game animals using shotguns with a capacity of more than three shells. The bill further removes language concerning the use of a plug that limits a shotgun's capacity.
Page 60 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

SB 73

Peace Officers' Annuity and Benefit Fund; fees collected in criminal and quasi-criminal cases

prior to adjudication of guilt; provide

By: Sen. Tyler Harper (7th)

Through the Retirement Committee

Final Bill Summary: SB 73 clarifies the clerk of court is responsible for remitting the $5 fee collected from

offenders for the purpose of pretrial diversion to the secretary-treasurer of the Peace Officers' Annuity and

Benefit Fund. The Department of Audits and Accounts has certified SB 73 as a non-fiscal retirement bill.

SB 75

State Board of Veterinary Medicine; professional health program for impaired veterinarians;

provide

By: Sen. Ellis Black (8th)

Through the Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee

Final Bill Summary: SB 75 authorizes the State Board of Veterinary Medicine to operate a professional health program to provide monitoring and rehabilitation services to impaired veterinarians in the state. A veterinarian is considered "impaired" if the individual is unable to practice due to illness, use of alcohol, drugs, narcotics or chemicals, or any mental or physical condition. The bill allows for the office of the Secretary of State, on behalf of the State Board of Veterinary Medicine, to enter into a contract to provide the services. Any impaired veterinarian who chooses to participate in the program must pay all associated costs. Information provided to the board regarding the monitoring or rehabilitation of veterinarians is to be considered privileged and confidential.

The bill adds a seventh member to the State Board of Veterinary Medicine. The member must be a registered veterinary technician and have practiced for at least five years.

SB 77

State Flag, Seal, and other Symbols; additional protections for government statues; provide

By: Sen. Jeff Mullis (53rd)

Through the Governmental Affairs Committee

Final Bill Summary: SB 77 states that any person who damages, destroys, loses, takes, or removes a publiclyowned military service monument is liable for attorney's fees and court costs expended by the public entity, as well as triple the amount of the full cost of repair or replacement of the monument. An agency may relocate a monument if necessary for construction or expansion, but the monument must be relocated to a site of similar prominence. The bill prohibits the relocation of a monument to a museum, cemetery, or mausoleum.

SB 79

Outdoor Advertising; references to the term "mechanical" in relation to multiple message signs; remove

By: Sen. Steve Gooch (51st)

Through the Transportation Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 79 removes the references to the term "mechanical" in relation to the multiple message sign restrictions in the outdoor advertising Code section. This creates a prohibition on digital billboards being placed closer than 5,000 feet apart.

SB 80

Georgia Music Hall of Fame Authority; expired provisions; issuance and review of requests for

proposals for a new location, ownership; remove

By: Sen. David Lucas (26th)

Through the Economic Development & Tourism Committee

Final Bill Summary: SB 80 removes obsolete provisions in reference to the joint operations of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. The bill adds language to allow state funds to be appropriated to the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame to be used to increase its exposure as well as to protect and display artifacts of historical significance.

SB 83

Quality Basic Education; elective courses in History and Literature of the Old and New

Testament Eras; provisions; revise

By: Sen. Jeff Mullis (53rd)

Through the Education Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 83 amends O.C.G.A. 20-2-148 by expanding curriculum provisions to allow

high schools to provide elective courses on the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments of the Bible.

Senate Bill 83 codifies the 'Realizing Education Achievement Can Happen (REACH) Scholarship Act'. The REACH scholarship is a needs-based mentoring and scholarship program established to provide support to students to ensure graduation from high-school and postsecondary educational success. The legislation further

Page 61 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

defines the student's eligibility, school requirements, and commitment requirements by all parties to the REACH Scholarship program.

SB 87

Toombs County Development Authority; qualifications of members of said authority; provide

By: Sen. Blake Tillery (19th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: This bill provides for the qualifications of the members of the Toombs County Development Authority.

SB 89

City of Decatur; corporate limits; change

By: Sen. Elena Parent (42nd)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 89 changes the corporate limits of the city of Decatur.

SB 91

Nonpublic Postsecondary Educational Institutions; exemption for dental schools meeting certain criteria; provide
By: Sen. Chuck Hufstetler (52nd) Through the Higher Education Committee
Final Bill Summary: SB 91 allows for an accredited non-public orthodontic school and residency program that is sponsored by a properly accredited hospital or postsecondary institution to be exempt from necessary authorization by the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission, provided it annually submits proof of a surety bond or letter of credit totaling $450,000 for the five years following the program's qualification for the exemption.

SB 93

Superior Court of the Cherokee Judicial Circuit; supplement to be paid to each judge of such circuit; change
By: Sen. Bruce Thompson (14th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: This bill changes the supplement to be paid to each judge of the Cherokee Judicial Circuit so they receive $45,000 per year. The district attorney shall receive $18,000 a year, which is in addition to the compensation paid to the district attorney by the state. These funds shall be paid out of the funds of Gordon and Bartow counties and apportioned among those two counties on a per capita basis.

SB 95

Local Government; terms for contracts for utility services; change By: Sen. Randy Robertson (29th) Through the Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications Committee
Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 95 revises Code Sections 36-1-26, 36-30-3, and 36-80-17, by stating no contract for solar utility services or wind utility services shall be for a term in excess of 20 years.

SB 97

Self-Service Storage Facilities; limit fees charged and collected by self-service storage facilities

for the late payment of rent; provide

By: Sen. Jesse Stone (23rd)

Through the Judiciary Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 97 updates and revises the regulations regarding self-service storage facilities. In addition to modernizing statutory language and updating definitions, the bill allows the owner of a selfservice storage facility to charge and collect a fee from an occupant for the late payment of rent pursuant to the terms of a rental agreement. The bill mandates that this fee shall be no more than $20 per month for each month there is a late payment or 20 percent of the monthly rent for each month there is a late payment, whichever is greater. The bill allows owners to obtain a lien against occupants who are delinquent in the payment of these fees. Additionally, persons cannot use a self-service storage facility for residential purposes, and the bond required for public warehousemen does not apply to any owner of a self-service storage facility. The bill also sets an effective date of July 1, 2019 for rental agreements entered into or extended after that date.

SB 99

Department of Natural Resources' Online Licensing System; allow applicants to make an

anatomical gift; provide

By: Sen. Tyler Harper (7th)

Through the Game, Fish, & Parks Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 99 allows for any person who applies for a hunting, fishing, or trapping license to make an anatomical gift. The Department of Natural Resources may make the organ donation

Page 62 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

information available to procurement organizations as provided by the 'Georgia Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act'.

SB 100

Telephone System for the Physically Impaired; state-wide dual party relay service and audible

universal information access service; provisions; change

By: Sen. P. K. Martin (9th)

Through the Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 100, relating to telephone systems for the physically impaired, states that wireless devices and applications may be distributed as part of the telecommunications equipment distribution program.

SB 103

Air Facilities; airports owned by a county, municipality shall not assess any fee to a veteran for motor vehicle parking; provide
By: Sen. Gail Davenport (44th) Through the Transportation Committee
Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 103 requires any airport owned or operated by a county, city, or other political subdivision of the state with scheduled commercial air service to establish at least two priority parking spaces for veterans. For the purposes of this Code section, the term "veteran" applies to any person issued a motor vehicle license plate designated for veterans and who has that plate on the motor vehicle that he or she is operating or is a passenger therein.

SB 106

"Patients First Act"

By: Sen. Blake Tillery (19th)

Through the Special Committee on Access to Quality Health Care Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 106, referred to as the 'Patients First Act', authorizes the Department of

Community Health (DCH) to submit a Section 1115 waiver request to the United States Department of Health

and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services by June 30, 2020. This may include an

increase in the income threshold of up to a maximum of 100 percent of the federal poverty level. Upon approval

of this waiver, the bill also authorizes DCH to implement the terms and conditions without any further

legislative action.

Additionally, Senate Bill 106 authorizes the governor to submit a Section 1332 innovation waiver proposal, or multiple thereof, to the United States Secretaries of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Treasury by December 31, 2021.

SB 108

Competencies and Core Curriculum; computer science in middle school and high school; require

By: Sen. P. K. Martin (9th)

Through the Education Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 108 requires all public high schools to offer a course in computer science by the 2024-2025 school year. SB 108 outlines a phase-in schedule, lays out the requirements for charter and middle schools, and allows the General Assembly to offer grants for the professional development of teachers who wish to teach computer science courses. Courses may be taught by a teacher trained in computer science instruction or through a proctored virtual course offered by the Georgia Virtual School.

SB 111

Magistrate Court of Dooly County; judge of the Probate Court of Dooly County shall also serve

as the chief magistrate; provide

By: Sen. Greg Kirk (13th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: This bill provides that the judge of the Dooly County Probate Court shall also serve as the chief magistrate of the Dooly County Magistrate Court on or after January 1, 2021.

SB 115

"Medical Practice Act of the State of Georgia"; telemedicine licenses for physicians in other states; engage in the practice of medicine with patients in this state through telemedicine; provide
By: Sen. Renee Unterman (45th) Through the Health & Human Services Committee

Page 63 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 115 amends the 'Medical Practice Act of the State of Georgia' by authorizing the Georgia Composite Medical Board to issue telemedicine licenses to physicians who are licensed in other states but not licensed in Georgia for the specific practice of telemedicine.

SB 116 Lanier County; board of elections and registration; create

By: Sen. Ellis Black (8th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 116 creates the Lanier County Board of Elections and Registration.

SB 118

Insurance; Georgia Telemedicine Act; modernize; Telemedicine Act the Telehealth Act; rename
By: Sen. Renee Unterman (45th) Through the Insurance Committee
Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 188 modernizes the 'Georgia Telemedicine Act' by renaming it to the 'Georgia Telehealth Act'. The bill requires that each insurer that issues a health benefit policy provides coverage for the cost of healthcare services provided through telehealth or telemedicine services.

The bill requires that insurers not exclude a service for coverage solely because the service is provided through telemedicine services and is not provided through in-person consultation or contact between a provider and a patient for services appropriately provided through telemedicine services. A health care provider or telemedicine company is not required to accept more reimbursement than they are willing to charge and payment for telemedicine interactions will include reasonable compensation to the originating or distant site for the transmission cost incurred during the delivery of healthcare services.

Senate Bill 118 also requires insurers to reimburse the provider for the diagnosis, consultation, or treatment of the insured delivered through telemedicine services on the same basis and at least at the rate that the insurer is responsible for coverage for the provision of the same service through in-person consultation or contact. Furthermore, no insurer will impose any annual or lifetime dollar maximum on coverage for telemedicine services other than an annual or lifetime dollar maximum that applies in the aggregate of all items and services covered under the policy. The bill adds that no insurer will require its insureds to use telemedicine services in lieu of in-person consultation or contact.

A new definition of "telehealth" and a revision of "telemedicine" are also included. Senate Bill 118 becomes effective January 1, 2020.

SB 120

"Georgia Tax Credit Business Case Act"

By: Sen. John Albers (56th)

Through the Ways & Means Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 120 allows the chairpersons of the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee to request from the Department of Audits and Accounts an economic analysis of up to three existing or proposed tax incentives per committee. The requests must be made by May 1, and the department must return the economic analysis to both committees by December 1 of the same year. The economic analysis must include an estimate of the annual fiscal impact of the law or proposed law for the next five years, as well as the net change in state revenue, state expenditures, economic activity, and, if applicable, public benefit resulting from the tax incentive. During the following legislative session, if a fiscal note is requested and a relevant economic analysis was completed, then a summary of the relevant economic analysis must be attached to the fiscal note.

SB 121

Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Data Base; length of time prescription information is retained from two years to five years; increase
By: Sen. Larry Walker III (20th) Through the Judiciary Non-Civil Committee
Final Bill Summary: SB 121 increases the data retention time of the prescription drug monitoring program from two to five years. In addition, the bill adds the attorney general's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit to the list of entities that can have access to the data through the issuance of an administrative subpoena.

SB 122 Motor Vehicle Franchise Practices; protection of certain consumer data in motor vehicle sales or

lease transactions; provide

By: Sen. John Kennedy (18th)

Through the Motor Vehicles Committee

Page 64 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 122 provides guidelines for the use, disclosure, and access of motor vehicle dealer consumer data by a franchisor, manufacturer, or distributor. At the election of the dealer, each franchisor, manufacturer, or distributor must compensate the dealer for parts and labor provided as part of warranty service work. A manufacturer or franchisor and at least a majority of its dealers may establish a uniform warranty reimbursement agreement. A manufacturer or franchisor must give dealers a 30-day written notice of a proposed uniform warranty reimbursement agreement. If the reimbursement agreement is made, the manufacturer or franchisor must notify the Department of Revenue, provide copies of the agreement and relevant documents, and attest under oath that a majority of the dealers impacted have entered into the agreement.
The bill provides standards for the performance criteria that franchisors use to evaluate a dealer. Provisions relating to dealership remodeling, changes, or improvements are added to the list of things that a franchisor is prohibited from requiring of a dealer. Franchisors are prohibited from auditing dealership activity that is more than one year old. If the franchisor has reason to believe that fraudulent claims have been made, the time period may be extended, but cannot exceed four years. The bill provides guidelines for dealers and franchisors to follow in the event that money is allegedly owed to a franchisor or dealer as a result of an audit or investigative findings. The performance criteria that a franchisor uses to determine incentives or reimbursements must be fair, reasonable, and based on accurate information.

SB 127

Motor Fuel Tax; electronic filing of certain reports; require By: Sen. Chuck Hufstetler (52nd) Through the Ways & Means Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 694 amends O.C.G.A. 48-9-8, relating to reports from distributors regarding the motor fuel tax, by requiring that the monthly reports be submitted electronically.

SB 130

Office of Probate Judge of Johnson County; future nonpartisan elections; provide

By: Sen. Jesse Stone (23rd)

Through the Governmental Affairs Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 130 specifies that elections for the offices of probate judge of Johnson County and chief magistrate of the Johnson County Magistrate Court shall be nonpartisan.

SB 132

Insurance; modernization and updates; provide; Commission on the Georgia Health Insurance

Risk Pool; repeal Article 2 of Chapter 29A

By: Sen. Marty Harbin (16th)

Through the Insurance Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 132 amends Title 33, relating to insurance, by modernizing and updating the

language of various sections. Additionally, this bill repeals the Commission on the Georgia Health Insurance

Risk Pool effective July 1, 2019.

SB 133

Insurance; modernization and updates; provide

By: Sen. Marty Harbin (16th)

Through the Insurance Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 133 amends Title 33, relating to insurance, by modernizing and updating the language of various sections.

SB 135

Workers' Compensation; certain provisions; change
By: Sen. Larry Walker III (20th) Through the Industry and Labor Committee
Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 135 provides that any director or administrative law judge of the State Board of Workers' Compensation in office on June 30, 2019, is eligible to be appointed as director emeritus or administrative law judge, respectively, of the board under certain conditions. The bill provides exceptions to the 400-week limitation for the medical treatment of injuries that are not designated as catastrophic. The compensation maximums are raised for temporarily total injuries, partial but temporary injuries, and deaths.

SB 137

Tuskegee University; specialty license plate; establish

By: Sen. David Lucas (26th)

Through the Motor Vehicles Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 137 creates a specialty license plate honoring Tuskegee University. The funds raised by the sale of this plate will be disbursed to the Atlanta Tuskegee Alumni Club, Inc.

Page 65 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

SB 138

Disabled First Responders; certain benefits; provide

By: Sen. P. K. Martin (9th)

Through the Motor Vehicles Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 138 provides for the issuance of a free motor vehicle license plate for disabled first responders. Additionally, the bill creates a specialty license plate supporting the Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia, Inc.

SB 140

World War I Centennial Commission; sunset provisions; extend

By: Sen. Ed Harbison (15th)

Through the Defense & Veterans Affairs Committee

Final Bill Summary: SB 140 extends the sunset date of the World War I Centennial Commission to either

December 31, 2019 or 30 days after activities of the commission are completed, whichever is earlier.

SB 141 City of Acworth; reference a certain map; adopt By: Sen. Lindsey Tippins (37th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 141 adopts by reference a certain map for the city of Acworth.

SB 142

Insurance; statement indicating that the subscriber's health policy is fully insured is included on a subscriber's health insurance identification card; require
By: Sen. Larry Walker III (20th) Through the Insurance Committee
Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 142 requires that the subscriber's health insurance identification card include a statement indicating that the subscriber's health policy is fully insured.

SB 153

Trauma Scene Cleanup Services; comprehensive regulation; provide

By: Sen. Tyler Harper (7th)

Through the Regulated Industries Committee

Final Bill Summary: SB 153 regulates for-hire trauma scene cleanup companies through a registration process. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is directed to oversee the registration process, promulgate rules and regulations, provide the proper forms, and maintain a current list of all registered trauma scene waste management practitioners on the GBI website. A trauma scene waste management practitioner must apply with the GBI and: pay a $100 registration fee; submit to a fingerprint-based criminal background check conducted by the Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); submit a surety bond in the amount of $25,000; and provide proof of insurance coverage in the amount of at least $100,000. The registration is valid for three years and may be renewed every three years thereafter with a $100 renewal fee and completed application. It is unlawful to perform or engage in the cleanup of a trauma scene unless properly registered with the GBI. Moreover, trauma scene waste management practitioners must provide a good faith estimate of expected cost of services to clients.

SB 154

Georgia Coroner's Training Council; hearing complaints from outside parties regarding

coroners; provide

By: Sen. Steve Gooch (51st)

Through the Governmental Affairs Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 154 authorizes the Georgia Coroner's Training Council to review complaints from outside parties and make recommendations regarding the retention, suspension, or removal of a coroner.

SB 156

Insurance; division of a domestic insurer into two or more resulting domestic insurers; provide

By: Sen. P. K. Martin (9th)

Through the Insurance Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 156 provides that any domestic insurer may divide into two or more resulting insurers pursuant to a plan of division. This bill also requires that a written notice of a reduction in coverage provided by an insurer to the insured provide such notice in a separate document with the words "NOTICE OF REDUCTION IN COVERAGE" written in all capital letters in at least 12 point type. Previously the entire document was written in this format, as opposed to just the title.

SB 157 Public Funds; when funds shall be considered to held by a depository; specify; State Depository

Board certain policies and procedures related to deposit placement programs; establish

By: Sen. John Kennedy (18th)

Through the Banks & Banking Committee

Page 66 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 157 amends the requirements for depositories of county and school funds to allow for their participation in deposit placement programs, so long as: the full amount of principal and accrued interest of each financial deposit instrument is insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; each institution in which the funds are deposited is insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; and any third-party service provider facilitating the placement of the deposits is approved by the State Depository Board. The bill also requires that the State Depository Board establish policies and procedures for providing this approval, as well as for monitoring these deposit placement programs, by December 31, 2019.

SB 158

"Anti-Human Trafficking Protective Response Act"
By: Sen. Brian Strickland (17th) Through the Juvenile Justice Committee
Final Bill Summary: SB 158 is the 'Anti-Human Trafficking Protective Response Act'. The bill authorizes the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) to provide emergency care and supervision of any child who is the victim of human trafficking for labor or sexual servitude without a court order or the consent of the parents or legal guardian. Moreover, SB 158 directs DFCS and law enforcement to take the child to an available victim services organization, which is certified by the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, to provide comprehensive trauma-informed services.

SB 158 limits the prosecution of prostitution to individuals who are 18 years of age or older. In addition, the occurrence of either of the following shall be prima-facie evidence of the existence of a nuisance when: the owner or operator of any building for any sexually-related charges based on conduct in or on the premises of such buildings; or when the prosecuting attorney of the county in which the building is located notifies the owner in writing that two or more separate sexually-related charges or indictments have occurred on the premises within a 24-month period prior to the notice, and another sexually-related charge occurs within the next 24-month period after said notice. The bill provides a defense to nuisance claims if the owner or operator aids law enforcement in the investigation of criminal sexual-related conduct.

SB 167

Relative Search by DFCS; foster placement for a child adjudicated as a dependent; determine

such child's permanency plan; provide

By: Sen. Matt Brass (28th)

Through the Juvenile Justice Committee

Final Bill Summary: SB 167 increases the amount of preference given to foster parents regarding custody cases. Six months from the date a relative receives notice of a dependency hearing and fails to demonstrate an interest in and willingness to provide a permanent home for a child, the court may excuse the Division of Family and Children Services from considering the relative as a placement. Moreover, the court may presume that continuation of the child's placement with current caregivers is in the best interest of the child if the court finds that the child has been living in a stable home environment for 12 months and that removal of the child would be detrimental to the child's well-being.

SB 168

Nurses; certain definitions; revise

By: Sen. Greg Kirk (13th)

Through the Health & Human Services Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 168 clarifies the requirements of granting authorization for holders of multi-

state licenses to engage in advanced nursing practice in Georgia. This bill grants nurses licensed in states that

have substantially similar licensure requirements to order up to a 14-day supply of drugs as necessary in an

emergency situation, excluding Schedule II controlled substances and benzodiazepines.

SB 170

State and Other Flags; Honor and Remember flag as the state's emblem of the service and sacrifice of the members of the armed forces; designate
By: Sen. Bruce Thompson (14th) Through the Special Rules Committee
Final Bill Summary: SB 170 designates the Honor and Remember flag as the state's emblem of the service and sacrifice of the members of the armed forces who have given their lives in the line of duty. Designated areas where the flag may be displayed for visibility to the public is also included in the bill. Local governments may also display the flag at any local government building and any department or agency may adopt guidelines as necessary.

SB 171 Courts, Primaries and Elections, and Ad Valorem Taxation; compensation of various local government officials; modify
Page 67 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

By: Sen. John Wilkinson (50th) Through the Governmental Affairs Committee
Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 171 increases the minimum salaries for each clerk of the superior court, judge of the probate court, sheriff, tax commissioner, and tax collector in this state, based on population levels established by the decennial census. The bill increases the additional minimum monthly salary for a clerk of the superior court who serves as clerk of a state court, and for a sheriff who performs additional duties as sheriff for a court or courts. Minimum monthly salaries are increased for the chief deputy registrars and tax collectors or commissioners who perform duties of the sheriff.
The additional minimum monthly salary is increased for any judge of a probate court who also holds and conducts elections or is responsible for traffic cases. Beginning January 1, 2021, the minimum annual compensation will be increased for any probate judge who serves as chief magistrate or magistrate. The effective date for the census is changed from July 1 to January 1 of the first year after the year that the census was conducted.

SB 177

General Assembly; requirements for consideration of local legislation revising existing districts

or creating new districts; provide

By: Sen. Matt Brass (28th)

Through the Governmental Affairs Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 177 provides requirements for local bills which revise or create districts for county boards of commissioners, county boards of education, independent boards of education, or municipal governing authorities. A plan to create or revise districts must be drawn or certified by the staff of the Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Office of the General Assembly. When the local government entity wishes to have districts drawn, they must contact a member of the General Assembly who represents the area and request a letter of sponsorship. If a member of the General Assembly proceeds with a local bill containing a district plan that was not drawn or certified by the Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Office, a letter from the office will be attached to the bill stating that the district plan has not been certified.

SB 183

Revenue and Taxation; each person that files FORM 1099-K with the Internal Revenue Service shall also file electronically to the state revenue commissioner on or before federal deadline; provide
By: Sen. Chuck Hufstetler (52nd) Through the Ways & Means Committee
Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 183 amends Code Section 48-2-32, relating to forms of payment, by requiring that each person who is required to file Form 1099-K with the Internal Revenue Service to also electronically file a copy of the Form 1099-K with the commissioner of the Department of Revenue.

The bill also amends Chapter 7 of Title 48 by establishing late penalties for the delayed release of 1099 and W2 forms to an employee and to the Department of Revenue. The penalties for submitting 1099s and W-2s after January 31 to the employee are: $10 per statement filed up to 30 days late not to exceed $50,000; $20 per statement filed between 31 and 210 days late not to exceed $100,000; and $50 per statement filed more than 210 days late not to exceed $200,000. The penalties for submitting 1099s and W-2s after January 31 to the Department of Revenue are identical to the penalties for employees.

SB 184

State Employees' Health Insurance Plan; services covered and furnished by a federally qualified

health center are reimbursed at no less than the Medicare maximum; provide

By: Sen. Greg Kirk (13th)

Through the Insurance Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 184 requires that starting January 1, 2020, any contracts entered into or renewed by the Department of Community Health for health care coverage for enrollees under the State Health Benefit Plan must include payment for services furnished to enrollees by federally- qualified health centers in an amount no less than the applicable Medicare maximum allowable reimbursement rate to federally-qualified health centers for any such service.

SB 190

Child Custody Intrastate Jurisdiction Act; party may bring a counterclaim for contempt in

response to a complaint seeking a change of legal or physical custody; provide

By: Sen. John Kennedy (18th)

Through the Juvenile Justice Committee

Final Bill Summary: SB 190 updates and clarifies the Code regarding legal custody and physical custody of a minor child. The bill also allows for counter claim actions in custody cases.

Page 68 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

SB 202

Title Insurance; lender's security interest; personal property taken by the lender as collateral for a commercial loan; allow
By: Sen. William Ligon, Jr. (3rd) Through the Insurance Committee
Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 202 allows title insurance to be procured on a lender's security interest in personal property taken by the lender as collateral for a commercial loan.

SB 207

Georgia Board for Physician Workforce; change name; board's membership; revise

By: Sen. Dean Burke (11th)

Through the Health & Human Services Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 207 changes the name of the Georgia Board for Physician Workforce to the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce effective July 1, 2019. The board is composed of 15 members: four primary care physicians; four non-primary care physicians; three members who represent hospitals, two of whom are physicians; one dentist; one physician assistant; one nurse practitioner; and one member with no connection to the practice of medicine or the provision of health care. All current board members in office on July 1, 2019 will continue to serve as a member until the expiration of his or her term of office.

SB 212

Department of Driver Services; criteria; authorize certain licensed driver training schools to

administer on-the-road driving skills testing; revise

By: Sen. P. K. Martin (9th)

Through the Motor Vehicles Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 212 provides additional methods for applicants to qualify to take an on-theroad driving skills test administered by an authorized driver training school.

SB 213

Campaign Contributions; content of and certain reporting times for certain campaign disclosure

reports; revise

By: Sen. Bill Heath (31st)

Through the Governmental Affairs Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 213 provides that campaign contribution disclosure reports must be filed after an election year. In each non-election year, constitutional officers, executive heads of state departments, and members of the General Assembly must submit campaign contribution disclosure reports on January 31 and June 30; elected state officials, county officials, members of local boards of education, and municipal officers must submit on June 30 and December 31. The bill replaces March 31 with April 30 as a date for report submission during election years. Any person who makes contributions on behalf of candidates must submit a campaign contribution disclosure report on December 31, regardless of whether the supported candidate must submit a report on that date.

SB 214

Barbers and Cosmetologists; the number of apprenticeship hours required; change

By: Sen. P. K. Martin (9th)

Through the Regulated Industries Committee

Final Bill Summary: SB 214 redefines tattoo artist and tattoo studio as "body artist" and "body art studio". Body artist permits are issued by the Department of Public Health, and the department is authorized to establish reasonable permit fees. Further, the department may deny, suspend, or revoke a body artist permit with appeals conducted in accordance with the 'Georgia Administrative Procedure Act.' The bill requires body art studios to conspicuously display a warning that any body art can disqualify an individual from military service.

The bill refines and updates the Code regarding electrical contractors to allow for continuing education classes, within and outside the state, that meet requirements of the Division of Electrical Contractors. Moreover, the programs must self-sustaining by individual fees set and collected by the provider of the program. In addition, persons not licensed or who do not have a certificate of competency issued by the division are prohibited from advertising in any manner that he or she is in the business or profession of electrical contracting or plumbing unless the work is performed by a licensed electrical contractor or plumber.

SB 214 also removes outdated language in the Code regarding the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers and allows for the theory portion testing of apprentices within twelve months of beginning an apprenticeship.

SB 216 Ad Valorem Taxation; local governments to accept prepayments of ad valorem taxes; allow

By: Sen. Jeff Mullis (53rd)

Through the Ways & Means Committee

Page 69 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

Final Bill Summary: SB 216 amends Code Section 48-5-31.1, relating to ad valorem taxation of property, by allowing any taxpayer to enter into an agreement with any local government and tax commissioner or tax collector for the prepayment of ad valorem taxes. Before a taxpayer may begin making prepayments of ad valorem taxes, the local government, with the concurrence of the tax commissioner or tax collector, must adopt a resolution authorizing prepayment agreements.
The bill also amends Code Section 48-4-1, relating to procedures for sales under tax levies and executions, by allowing the tax commissioner or tax collector to conduct a sale for taxes due in the office of the tax commissioner or tax collector or another location which must be identified in the notice required.

SB 225

Juvenile Code; in conformity with the federal Social Security Act and the Family First Prevention Services Act; bring provisions
By: Sen. Larry Walker III (20th) Through the Juvenile Justice Committee
Final Bill Summary: SB 225 updates and revises the Code to comply with 'The Family First Prevention and Services Act' in order to maintain federal funding. In order to preserve the tribal culture of children who are members of federally-recognized Native American Tribes, the bill increases the standard of evidence in proving maltreatment in dependency cases involving such children. SB 225 creates a new type of placement for children called a "Qualified Residential Treatment Program" that has a trauma-informed treatment model designed to address the needs, including clinical needs, of children with serious emotional or behavioral disorders and is able to implement the treatment, identified through assessment, to determine the appropriateness of placing a child within the program. The bill lists the qualifications for clinicians working in the program, procedures for assessing this placement, judicial oversight, and the mechanism for a child's family to work through a case plan overseen by the court and the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS). The program must also be licensed in accordance with federal law. Moreover, the bill adds to existing legal requirements to provide vital records to youth aging out of foster care by requiring DFCS to provide any official documentation necessary to prove a youth was previously in foster care for more than six months.

SB 227

Special License Plates; benefit the Georgia Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs, Inc.; establish

By: Sen. P. K. Martin (9th)

Through the Motor Vehicles Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 227 creates specialty license plates supporting the Georgia Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs, Inc. and the Autism Alliance of Georgia.

Additionally, the bill requires a distinctive logo to be included on a manufacturer's, distributor's, or manufacturer headquarters' license plate for an alternative fueled vehicle. This logo will allow the vehicle to travel in specially-marked alternative fueled vehicle lanes.

SB 230 "City of Tucker Public Facilities Authority Act"

By: Sen. Steve Henson (41st)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 230 creates the city of Tucker Public Facilities Authority.

SB 234

Judge of Probate Court; shall also serve as chief magistrate judge of the Magistrate Court of

Atkinson County on and after January 1, 2021; provide

By: Sen. Tyler Harper (7th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 234 provides that the judge of the Atkinson County Probate Court shall also serve as the chief magistrate judge of the Atkinson County Magistrate Court.

SB 241

Lumpkin County Water And Sewerage Authority; composition; change

By: Sen. Steve Gooch (51st)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 241 changes the composition of the Lumpkin County Water and Sewer Authority.

SB 242 Town of Toomsboro, Georgia; new charter; provide

By: Sen. David Lucas (26th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Page 70 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 242 provides a new charter for the town of Toomsboro.

SB 244

Dade County Water and Sewer Authority; composition; terms of office for members, and

vacancies; provide

By: Sen. Jeff Mullis (53rd)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 244 provides for the composition of and terms of office for members of the Dade County Water and Sewer Authority.

SB 245 City of Buford; a certain map; adopt by reference By: Sen. Renee Unterman (45th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 245 adopts by reference a certain map for the city of Buford.

SB 246

DeKalb County Board of Registration and Elections; board members; appoint and nominate

By: Sen. Steve Henson (41st)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 246 provides that the DeKalb County Board of Registration and Elections

members shall be appointed by the chief judge of the superior court.

SB 247

Magistrate Court of Troup County; technology fee for conviction of traffic or ordinance

violation; charge

By: Sen. Matt Brass (28th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 247 authorizes the Troup County Magistrate Court to charge a technology fee for each conviction of a traffic or ordinance violation.

SB 250

State Court of Fulton County; appointment of associate judges and their compensation; provide

By: Sen. Jennifer Jordan (6th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 250 provides for the appointment and compensation of pro tempore judges, pro hac judges, and judicial officers to the Fulton County State Court.

SB 252

Clerk of Superior Court of Twiggs County; authority to fix compensation of employees of

Clerk's office; provide

By: Sen. David Lucas (26th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 252 changes the manner of fixing salary adjustments or allowances of the Twiggs County Superior Court clerk and employees of the superior court clerk's office.

SB 253

Judge of Probate Court of Twiggs County; authority to fix court employee compensation;

provide

By: Sen. David Lucas (26th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 253 changes the manner of fixing salary adjustments or allowances of the Twiggs County Probate Court judge and employees of the court.

SB 254

Tax Commissioner of Twiggs County; authority to fix compensation of tax commissioner's office employees; provide

By: Sen. David Lucas (26th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 254 changes the manner of fixing salary adjustments or allowances of the Twiggs County tax commissioner and the employees of the tax commissioner's office.

SB 255 Town of Danville; new charter; incorporation, boundaries, general powers and limitations, governing authority, duties, election, terms, method of filing vacancies, and compensation; provide
Page 71 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

By: Sen. David Lucas (26th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 255 provides a new charter for the town of Danville.

SB 256 Stockbridge Public Facilities Authority; create By: Sen. Emanuel Jones (10th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 256 creates the Stockbridge Public Facilities Authority.

SB 257

Sheriff of Twiggs County; manner of fixing salary adjustments or allowance; change

By: Sen. David Lucas (26th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 257 changes the manner of fixing salary adjustments or allowances of the Twiggs County sheriff and the employees of the sheriff's office.

SB 263

Probate Court of Troup County; technology fee and uses; charge and specify

By: Sen. Matt Brass (28th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 263 authorizes the Troup County Probate Court to charge a technology fee on each filing of a civil action or proceeding.

SR 67

Senator Bill Jackson Interchange; Columbia County; dedicate

By: Sen. Lee Anderson (24th)

Through the Transportation Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Resolution 67 is the annual Senate version of road dedications and includes the following:

Senate Resolution 67 dedicates the interchange at Interstate 20 and Highway 221/Exit 183 in Columbia County as the Senator Bill Jackson Interchange;

Senate Resolution 49 dedicates the portion of the Highway 87 Bypass from the intersection of Highway 87 and Bellflower Drive to the intersection of Highway 87 and Holly Ross Road in Bleckley County as the Jackie Holder Bypass;

Senate Resolution 99 dedicates the bridge on State Route 66 over Crooked Creek/Brasstown Creek in Towns County as the Dick Campbell Bridge;

Senate Resolution 175 dedicates the bridge on State Route 16 between Pea Ridge Road and Old Phoenix Road in Putnam County as the Cecil J. Embry Memorial Bridge;

Senate Resolution 215 dedicates the interchange at Interstate 16 and State Route 307 in Chatham County as the SPD Patrol Officer Anthony Christie Memorial Interchange;

Senate Resolution 265 dedicates the bridge on State Route 64 over the Satilla River in Atkinson County as the Lawrence James Gillis Bridge;

House Resolution 77 dedicates the portion of Interstate 85 between mile markers 131 and 133 in Jackson County as the Edward Monroe Evans Highway;

House Resolution 258 dedicates the bridge at the interchange of I-285 and Camp Creek Parkway in Fulton County as the Representative Joe Heckstall Bridge;

House Resolution 370 dedicates the bridge on Martin Luther King, Jr., Drive SW over Interstate 285 in Fulton County as the Edward "Ed" Menifee Memorial Bridge;

House Resolution 449 dedicates the new interchange on Interstate 985 at Exit 14 in Hall County as the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility Interchange;

House Resolution 450 dedicates the intersection of State Route 14 and Pegasus Parkway in Troup County as the Sgt. Corey E. Spates Purple Heart Memorial Intersection;

Page 72 of 73

House of Representatives

End of Session Report

House Resolution 451 dedicates the portion of State Route 16 from Old Carrollton Road to the Chattahoochee River as the Jimmy Lassetter Memorial Highway;
House Resolution 479 the portion of State Route 49 South from mile marker 1 to mile marker 2 in Sumter County as the Marcy Tarrer Massey Memorial Mile;
House Resolution 497 dedicates the bridge on Interstate 75 at State Route 331/Forest Parkway Exit in Clayton County as the Sparkle K. Adams Bridge;
House Resolution 532 dedicates the bridge on Lee Street over Interstate 20 in Fulton County as the Hank Aaron Bridge; and
House Resolution 643 dedicates the intersection of GA 113 and Interstate 20 at Exit 19 in Carroll County as the 3rd U.S. Army Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) Intersection.

Page 73 of 73