Georgia Legislative Watch

It’s been a few days since we’ve done a news round-up. I apologize for that. But we are getting going again. I’ll be under the Gold Dome tomorrow, hopefully doing some blogging, if I can get an internet connection.

Here is the House Daily Report for days 15 and 16, as well as some legislative news below.

- Senate quickens the pace on legislation
Sonji Jacobs, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

- Senate passes tougher penalty for absentee ballot fraud
Vicky Eckenrode (MNS), Augusta Chronicle
Related to SB 40.

- Georgia Senate balks at national ID card
Doug Gross (AP), Macon Telegraph
Related to SB 5.

- Stem cell research issue gains new life
Vicky Eckenrode (MNS), Athens Banner-Herald

- Georgia to stop enrolling new PeachCare patients
Shannon McCaffrey (AP), Macon Telegraph

- Georgia lawmaker says new Sunday alcohol bills on the way
Doug Gross (AP), Macon Telegraph

- Bill allows officials to require records requests be written
Jeremy Redmon, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Related to HB 283.

- Gwinnett fights special-ed vouchers
Laura Diamond, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

HB310 - Death investigations; certain notification requirements; provide
HB311 - Georgia HERO Scholarship; qualifying term of service; change definition
HB312 - Braselton, Town of; Redevelopment Powers Law; authorize
HB313 - Georgia Correctional Industries Administration; certain inmate work programs; clarify
HB314 - Persons convicted of certain sex offenses; probation; DNA analysis; provide
HB315 - Town of Braselton Community Improvement District Act; enact
HB316 - Public Service Commission; towing of certain vehicles; provide
HB317 - Public transportation; motor contract carrier; change definition
HB318 - Public Retirement Systems Investment Authority Law; change certain provisions
HB319 - District attorneys; increase annual salaries
HB320 - Columbus, City of; Redevelopment Powers Law; authorize
HB321 - Bona fide conservation use property; assessment; change certain eligibility requirements
HB322 - Ad valorem tax; certain business aircrafts; provide exemption
HB323 - Peace Officers’ Annuity and Benefit Fund; Georgia Drugs and Narcotics Agency; include for membership
HB324 - The Children’s Health Insurance Act; enact
HB325 - Waycross and Ware County Industrial Development Authority; revenue bonds issuance; change certain provisions
HB326 - Sheriffs; candidates; certified peace officers; require
HB327 - Setoff debt collection; public housing authorities; authorize
HB328 - Ad valorem tax; finished goods; provide freeport exemption
HB329 - Sales and use tax; packaging farm products; certain items; provide exemption
HB330 - Georgia State Board of Pharmacy; registry of pharmacy technicians; establish
HB331 - Stockbridge, City of; election of mayor and councilmembers; provide
HB332 - Quality Basic Education Act; certain maximum class size requirements; delay implementation
HB333 - Weapons; crime or delinquent act; provisions
HB334 - Associate juvenile court judges; hearing in certain cases; change provisions
HB335 - Refundable income tax credits; low-income residents; provisions
HB336 - Driving under the influence; mandatory sentences; increase
HB337 - New institutional health service; revise definition
HB338 - Sheriff’s services; increase fees for service in civil cases
HB339 - Tax executions; tax collectors and comissioners; collection of costs; provide
HB340 - PeachCare; threshold income amount for eligibility; revise
HR183 - Adjournment; relative to
HR194 - Carter, Mr. Joseph Talmadge “J.T.” & Mrs. Zena Cannon Carter; honor anniversary
SB112 - Appellate Court Judges; optional benefits; notice of election; eligibility
SB113 - Insurance; appointment of agents by authorized insurer before licensing; background checks
SB114 - Real Estate Brokers; criminal convictions; terms/conditions of sentence; provide that certain time periods shall pass; application for licensure
SB115 - Residential/General Contractors; revise the licensure provisions
SB116 - State Forestry Commission; qualifications of the director; change provisions
SB117 - Bail; sexual offenses; certain additional conditions
SB118 - Educational Facilities Surveys; change certain provisions
SB119 - Criminal Procedure; victim/members of immediate family with rights; provide for certain procedures
SB120 - State Properties; requirement that acquisitions of real property must be conducted through commission; remove certain exceptions
SB121 - State Properties; administrative space; modify certain exceptions
SB122 - Education; annual performance evaluations; require signature of evaluator and provide to certificated person
SB123 - Local Boards of Education; require twins placed in same classroom if parent requests
SB124 - O.C.G.A.; correct errors/omissions; Title 21
SB125 - Motor Vehicles; speed restrictions; instruments charging violations of speed regulations; specify two-lane or highway
SB126 - Decatur County School Building Authority; create
SB127 - Retirement System; Dept. of Public Safety; may elect to pay additional employee contribution; certain members
SB128 - Child Advocate, Office of; provide confidentiality of records
SR228 - Peace Officers; appropriate funds necessary to provide for retirement credit for retired members; prior to January 1, 1976 CA

SR228 - Peace Officers; appropriate funds necessary to provide for retirement credit for retired members; prior to January 1, 1976 CA
Sponsored by: Harbison,Ed 15th

A RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to the Constitution so as to provide that the General Assembly shall be authorized to enact legislation and appropriate funds necessary to provide for retirement credit for retired members of the Peace Officers’ Annuity and Benefit Fund for service rendered prior to January 1, 1976; to provide that such legislation may provide for membership in such fund for peace officers who rendered service as a peace officer prior to January 1, 1976, but who are not members of the fund on July 1, 2009; to provide for the submission of this amendment for ratification or rejection; and for other purposes.

SB128 - Child Advocate, Office of; provide confidentiality of records
Sponsored by: Carter,Joseph 13th

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 5 of Chapter 11 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Office of the Child Advocate for the Protection of Children, so as to provide for confidentiality of records held by the Office of the Child Advocate for the Protection of Children; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes