Wednesday 27th March 1, Legislative 2017 DAILY REPORT Day House Budget & Research Office House Media Services (404) 656-5050 (404) 656-0305

 The House will reconvene for its 28th Legislative Day on Friday, March 3 at 10:00 a.m.  The Rules committee will meet at 9:00 a.m.  28 bills / resolutions are expected to be debated on the Floor.

Today on the Floor

Rules Calendar HB 5 Courts; compensation of juvenile court judges; change provisions Bill Summary: HB 5 increases the grants to counties for full-time and part-time juvenile court judges to $100,000.

Authored By: Rep. Johnnie Caldwell (131st) Rule Applied: Modified-Structured House Committee: Juvenile Justice Committee 02-23-2017 Do Pass by Committee Action: Substitute Floor Vote: Yeas: 166 Nays: 4 Amendments:

HB 51 Postsecondary institutions; reporting and investigation of certain crimes by officials and employees; provide manner Bill Summary: This bill instructs all Georgia postsecondary institutions to report any information reasonably believed pertinent to a felony crime committed by an enrolled student, in or on properties overseen by the institution, to law enforcement officials. If the felony involves an alleged sexual assault, no identifying information shall be provided in the report without the consent of the victim.

The law enforcement agency determines whether to investigate the alleged criminal offense and report any findings to the appropriate prosecutor's office. No investigation of the alleged offense should be undertaken by the postsecondary institution unless the investigation is conducted by a campus law enforcement agent that is POST certified. This bill does not require a victim of an alleged sexual assault to cooperate with law enforcement in any investigation or to participate in any subsequent prosecution.

Each postsecondary institution is expected to meet its duty of care to protect the campus community as required by law. The postsecondary institution may pursue interim measures or formal disciplinary actions against any student for any violation of its code of conduct based on general disciplinary processes for students. Before any disciplinary actions are taken, the accused student must be provided the opportunity of a hearing and afforded due process protections. Furthermore, no disciplinary investigation shall obstruct or prejudice an ongoing criminal investigation. Postsecondary institutions are not allowed to force a victim of an alleged sexual assault to cooperation in any disciplinary investigation or to participate in any subsequent disciplinary proceedings; however, no disciplinary proceedings based upon an alleged sexual assault shall be conducted by a postsecondary institution without the participation of the victim of such alleged sexual assault.

Authored By: Rep. Earl Ehrhart (36th) Rule Applied: Modified-Structured House Committee: Appropriations Committee 02-27-2017 Do Pass by Committee Action: Substitute Floor Vote: Yeas: 115 Nays: 55 Amendments:

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HB 65 Low THC Oil Patient Registry; conditions and eligibility; change provisions Bill Summary: HB 65 increases the list of conditions that are eligible for treatment with medical cannabis. The new conditions are: tourette's syndrome; autism spectrum disorder; epidermolysis bullosa; alzheimer's disease; HIV; AIDS; and peripheral neuropathy. Patients in a hospice program are also eligible. In addition, the bill allows for reciprocity regarding medical cannabis registration cards of other states, so long as the medical cannabis in such a person's possession comports with the laws of Georgia. Also, the reporting requirement for doctors has been reduced from quarterly to annually.

Authored By: Rep. (141st) Rule Applied: Modified-Structured House Committee: Judiciary Non-Civil Committee 02-27-2017 Do Pass by Committee Action: Substitute Floor Vote: Yeas: 156 Nays: 6 Amendments:

HB 85 Ad valorem tax; methodology used to establish forest land fair market value; revise Bill Summary: House Bill 85 amends the definition of "forest land fair market value" by removing the benchmark of the 2008 value. It adds a new section, relating to special assessment of forest land conservation use property, which mandates the commissioner of the Department of Revenue to deduct and retain a one percent fee on the assistance grants provided to counties, and establishes the definition of "timberland property". Timberland property is defined as property that is primarily used for the production of trees for the purpose of producing commercial timber. "Qualified timberland property" is defined as property that is titled to a qualified owner who submits a list of all parcels that contain timberland property and the specific portions of the parcels that are timberland property, and a certification that the land will not be developed or sold for development as residential property of 20 acres or less. A "qualified owner" is defined as any individual or entity that certifies and registers with the commissioner that they are engaged in the production of trees primarily for commercial timber. The bill states that the assessment of qualified timberland be completed using the fair market value of the property based upon the ability of the property to generate income from the production of commercial timber and provides the commissioner with the ability to access qualified timberland property to conduct appraisals.

Authored By: Rep. Jay Powell (171st) Rule Applied: Structured House Committee: Ways & Means Committee 02-23-2017 Do Pass by Committee Action: Substitute Floor Vote: Yeas: 162 Nays: 2 Amendments:

HB 114 Move on When Ready Act; prohibit school systems from excluding students in dual credit courses from valedictorian or salutatorian determinations Bill Summary: House Bill 114 amends the 'Move on When Ready Act' to ensure dual-enrollment students are not penalized by local school systems for taking on the challenge of collegiate coursework while still in high school. This legislation provides that no school system can exclude a dual-enrolled student from eligibility for class valedictorian or salutatorian; however, students who move into the school system after their sophomore year must take at least one course on site at their high school to be eligible for valedictorian or salutatorian.

Authored By: Rep. Robert Dickey (140th) Rule Applied: Modified-Open House Committee: Education Committee 02-23-2017 Do Pass by Committee Action: Substitute Floor Vote: Yeas: 161 Nays: 5 Amendments:

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HB 118 Fantasy Contests Act; enact Bill Summary: HB 118 is the 'Fantasy Contest Operators Act'. The Act defines "fantasy contest" as a simulated game or contest in which the value of all prizes offered is known in advance; all winning outcomes reflect the relative knowledge and skill of those who enter the game or contest and are determined by statistical results of the performance of individuals in sporting events or other competitions; winning outcomes are not based on the performance of a single team, combination of teams, or any individual; and contests are not based on university, college, high school, or youth sporting events.

No fantasy contest operator can provide fantasy contests without being registered with the Department of Revenue. Before obtaining the necessary registration, the fantasy contest operator must pay an annual fee ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 depending on the gross revenues of the operator. In addition to the fee, the operator must also pay six percent of gross contest revenues. The bill requires that fantasy contest operators implement procedures intended to prevent employees of the operator from participating in contests with cash prizes; prevent the sharing of confidential information before information is made public; prevent operators from participating in contests; verify that the players are 18 years of age or older; ensure that individuals who participate in a sporting event that is the subject of a fantasy contest are restricted from entering such fantasy contests; and segregate fantasy contest player funds from operational funds of the fantasy contest operator.

Authored By: Rep. (16th) Rule Applied: Structured House Committee: Ways & Means Committee 02-21-2017 Do Pass by Committee Action: Substitute Floor Vote: Yeas: 126 Nays: 32 Amendments:

HB 165 Medical practice; maintenance of certification shall not be required; provide Bill Summary: This bill provides that "maintenance of certification" means a continuous professional development program through which certified physicians maintain a certification by a board that specializes in one particular area of medicine in addition to those the Georgia Composite Medical Board requires to practice medicine.

Authored By: Rep. (48th) Rule Applied: Modified-Structured House Committee: Health & Human Services Committee 02-14-2017 Do Pass by Committee Action: Substitute Floor Vote: Yeas: 171 Nays: 2 Amendments:

HB 202 Public officers and employees; annual salary for the Governor; change provisions Bill Summary: House Bill 202 increases the governor's annual salary from $60,000 to $175,000, effective January 1, 2019.

Effective on or before July 1, 2017, the bill revises the State Commission on Compensation from 12 to seven members, who may not be employed by the state nor an immediate family member of an officer or employee of the state. The governor has three appointments and the speaker of the House and the lieutenant governor have two appointments, respectively. Members will vote to elect a chair and are entitled to the state per diem and transportation costs. Recommendations of the committee should be filed as report with the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the House, clerk of the House, secretary of the Senate and legislative counsel at least 90 days before a regular legislative session with compensation recommendations or no recommendation.

Authored By: Rep. Jay Powell (171st) Rule Applied: Structured House Committee: Appropriations Committee 02-27-2017 Do Pass by Committee Action: Substitute Floor Vote: Yeas: 141 Nays: 22 Amendments:

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HB 208 Game and fish; boat registration fees and additional methods for reporting the sale of boats; revise Bill Summary: HB 208 revises the license fees and requirements associated with all hunting and fishing licenses. Changes include increases to fees for most hunting, trapping, and fishing licenses, as well as converting all three-day hunting and fishing licenses to one-day licenses that allow for the purchase of additional days at a reduced rate. HB 208 makes further changes to fees and requirements for commercial fishing boat licenses, including the addition of language for trawlers.

Authored By: Rep. (120th) Rule Applied: Modified-Structured House Committee: Game, Fish, & Parks Committee 02-14-2017 Do Pass by Committee Action: Substitute Floor Vote: Yeas: 150 Nays: 14 Amendments:

HB 245 Professional Standards Commission; establish process by which military spouses may qualify for temporary certificates; provide Bill Summary: This bill requires the Georgia Professional Standards Commission to implement a process allowing military spouses to qualify for temporary certificates, certificates by endorsement, or expedited certificates when moving to Georgia.

Authored By: Rep. (168th) Rule Applied: Modified-Open House Committee: Defense & Veterans Affairs Committee 02-23-2017 Do Pass Action: Floor Vote: Yeas: 161 Nays: 0 Amendments:

HB 266 Guardian and ward; personal property value guardian may receive without becoming legal conservator of minor; provisions Bill Summary: This bill amends Code sections relating to "natural guardians", defined as parents or a parent with sole custody, and "legally-qualified conservators", defined as court-appointed guardians, of minors. The following thresholds are increased from $15,000 to $25,000 for: (1) the personal property value that a natural guardian may receive without becoming a legally-qualified conservator of the minor; (2) the amount of debt owed to a minor which a natural guardian may release without court approval; (3) the amount of proposed gross settlement, present value of all amounts paid or to be paid, in settlement of a minor's legal claim that a natural guardian may settle without becoming the conservator of the minor or seeking court approval; and (4) the amount that a conservator may settle of any contested or doubtful claim or release the debtor of a minor without court approval.

Authored By: Rep. Trey Kelley (16th) Rule Applied: Modified-Structured House Committee: Judiciary Committee 02-21-2017 Do Pass Action: Floor Vote: Yeas: 170 Nays: 0 Amendments:

HB 275 Game and fish; rules and regulations used to establish criminal violations; change provisions Bill Summary: House Bill 275, relating to towing persons on water skis, aquaplanes, surfboards or similar devices, provides definitions for "body surfing" and "wake surfing", as well as requires the use of a life jacket for both activities. The bill also necessitates the use of a vessel with an inboard motor to body surf.

Authored By: Rep. (29th) Rule Applied: Modified-Structured House Committee: Game, Fish, & Parks Committee 02-21-2017 Do Pass Action: Floor Vote: Yeas: 146 Nays: 23 Amendments:

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HB 314 Georgia Agribusiness and Rural Jobs Act; enact Bill Summary: House Bill 314, the 'Georgia Agribusiness and Rural Jobs Act,' allows a rural investor, who makes a capital investment in a rural fund, a credit against the entity's state tax liability. A rural fund is an entity certified by the Department of Community Affairs that seeks to have an investment that can be reinvested in eligible businesses. The credit is not refundable or able to be sold in the open market. Credits that are allocated to a partnership, corporation, LLC, or S-corporation can then be allocated to the individual partners for their direct use. The department shall grant or deny applications for the program within 30 days of receipt of the completed application. The department shall certify up to $100 million in capital investments in the order received. If received on the same day, the applications shall be considered as received simultaneously, and will be ordered based on the percentage derived from the ratio of the amount of capital investments requested in the given application to the total amount of capital investments requested in all applications. The rural fund shall issue the capital investment within 60 days of the applicant receiving notice of the certification. At least 10 percent of the rural investor's capital investment must be composed of proceeds of equity investments contributed to the rural investor by its affiliates (officers, directors, members, and employees). Evidence of the receipt of the cash investment is to be provided to the department by the rural fund within 65 days of the applicant receiving the certification. The department may recapture the claimed credit from the rural fund if: (1) 100 percent of its capital investment is not invested in eligible investments within two years, and at least 10 percent of the investment was not invested in agribusiness; (2) the rural fund fails to maintain 100 percent eligible investments of its capital investment for the next five years after the credit allowance date (eligible investments can be sold or repaid but other funds must be reinvested to cover the difference); (3) the rural fund makes a distribution or payment that makes it not have 100 percent of the necessary investments; or (4) the rural fund makes an investment in a business that either owns interest in the rural fund or loans or invests in the rural fund. The recaptured credits and the related capital investment authority revert to the department and shall be reissued pro rata to the other applicants based on the previously stated ratio. Recapture shall not occur until the rural fund has been given notice of its noncompliance and six months from the date of notice to correct the noncompliance. The rural fund must submit a report to the department after the second year of the original credit allowance which documents the investment of 100 percent of its capital investment in eligible investments. In subsequent years, the rural fund must submit an annual report to the department within 45 days of the beginning of the year.

Authored By: Rep. Jason Shaw (176th) Rule Applied: Structured House Committee: Ways & Means Committee 02-27-2017 Do Pass by Committee Action: Substitute Floor Vote: Yeas: 173 Nays: 1 Amendments:

HB 328 Highways; uniform rules of the road; provisions Bill Summary: House Bill 328 is a Department of Transportation housekeeping bill. The legislation amends several Code sections. In regards to vehicle loads and length limitations, the current four-foot overhang is extended to six feet. In the section relating to calculating weight violations, the weight of idle reducing technology is taken from 400 pounds up to 550 pounds for what may be taken from the gross weight on a vehicle load. In the section regulating Flex Auto Lanes, language allowing for a maximum of eight-hour operations by GDOT is removed so that the department may regulate hours of these lanes completely. Finally, in the uniform rules of the road, two sections are updated. Flashing yellow and red lights are amended to include the word "circular" so that Code now refers to them as flashing circular red and flashing circular yellow signals, and in the section relating to approaching and entering an intersection, "inoperative traffic signal" is changed to "unactivated or in dark mode".

Authored By: Rep. (172nd) Rule Applied: Modified-Structured House Committee: Transportation Committee 02-23-2017 Do Pass by Committee Action: Substitute Floor Vote: Yeas: 165 Nays: 0 Amendments:

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HB 329 Income tax; rate of tax imposed on the taxable net income of individuals; modify Bill Summary: House Bill 329 amends 48-7, relating to imposition, rate, and computation of and exemptions from income taxes, by striking the bracketed tax rate model and replacing it with a flat 5.4 percent rate for all income levels, requiring the Department of Revenue to annually publish an inflationary index rate related to the inflation or deflation of the cost-of-living of residents of Georgia and to adjust the personal exemptions and standard deductions accordingly, removing the deduction of Georgia income taxes paid, and establishing an earned income tax credit at 10 percent of the federal credit, not to exceed the taxpayers income tax liability.

Authored By: Rep. Jay Powell (171st) Rule Applied: Structured House Committee: Ways & Means Committee 02-23-2017 Do Pass by Committee Action: Substitute Floor Vote: Yeas: 126 Nays: 40 Amendments:

HB 330 Human Services, Department of; certain individuals identified in a diligent search conducted as part of a dependency proceeding; specify additional information Bill Summary: HB 330 requires the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) of the Department of Human Services to include contact information for a regional DFCS case worker, who is knowledgeable in kinship care and financial assistance information, with notices for kinship caregivers during a relative search.

Authored By: Rep. Stacey Abrams (89th) Rule Applied: Modified-Open House Committee: Human Relations & Aging Committee 02-21-2017 Do Pass Action: Floor Vote: Yeas: 165 Nays: 0 Amendments:

HB 331 The Caregiver Educational Consent Act; enact Bill Summary: HB 331, known as 'The Caregiver Educational Consent Act', authorizes a kinship caregiver to give legal consent for educational services, medical services relating to academic enrollment, and curricular and extracurricular participation. The bill provides the "Kinship Caregiver's Affidavit" form, as well as protects any person acting in good faith on executing a kinship caregiver's affidavit from civil liability, criminal prosecution, or professional disciplinary procedure.

Authored By: Rep. Stacey Abrams (89th) Rule Applied: Modified-Open House Committee: Human Relations & Aging Committee 02-21-2017 Do Pass Action: Floor Vote: Yeas: 164 Nays: 0 Amendments:

HB 337 State Tax Execution Modernization Act; enact Bill Summary: House Bill 337, the 'State Tax Execution Modernization Act', is an overhaul of the Code sections relating to tax liens. The bill provides a uniform state-wide system for filing notices of state tax executions and allows for a taxpayer to appeal directly to the Georgia Tax Tribunal.

Authored By: Rep. Bruce Williamson (115th) Rule Applied: Structured House Committee: Ways & Means Committee 02-23-2017 Do Pass by Committee Action: Substitute Floor Vote: Yeas: 174 Nays: 0 Amendments:

HB 338 Education; system of supports and assistance for low-performing schools in the greatest need; provisions Bill Summary: House Bill 338 creates an alternative intervention for schools that fall under the State Board of Education's intervention power in the form of a turnaround school. Schools which currently fall under the State Board of Education's intervention power are schools which receive an unacceptable rating determined by the Office of Student Achievement. This alternative intervention

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will include a Chief Turnaround Officer, turnaround coaches, and a turnaround advisory committee. This legislation also includes the creation of two study committees; the Joint Study Committee on the Establishment of a State Accreditation Process and the Joint Study Committee on the Establishment of a Leadership Academy. HB 338 further amends O.C.G.A. 20-2-54.1 relating to the removal process of local school board members upon potential loss of accreditation.

Authored By: Rep. (9th) Rule Applied: Modified-Structured House Committee: Education Committee 02-23-2017 Do Pass by Committee Action: Substitute Floor Vote: Yeas: 138 Nays: 37 Amendments:

HB 341 Crimes and offenses; mandatory terms for trafficking individuals for sexual servitude; provisions Bill Summary: HB 341 adds those who patronize or solicit a person who is the victim of sexual servitude to the offense of sex trafficking. Moreover, sex trafficking a person for sexual servitude is added to the list of dangerous sexual offenses where the violator must register as a sex offender. HB 341 also clarifies and corrects the Code regarding probation for consecutive sentences for sexual offenses where probation can only be imposed upon the final consecutive sentence. In addition, the bill adds pimping and pandering to a list of offenses where the offender must serve at least 24 hours of incarceration.

Authored By: Rep. Albert Reeves (34th) Rule Applied: Modified-Structured House Committee: Judiciary Non-Civil Committee 02-27-2017 Do Pass by Committee Action: Substitute Floor Vote: Yeas: 168 Nays: 1 Amendments:

HB 344 Paternity; parties beyond movants in a child support case request a genetic test; allow Bill Summary: HB 344 allows for either party to move for genetic paternity testing when involved in a child support order. Moreover, the bill provides for a series of circumstances where the Department of Human Services can deny a request for genetic testing in a case where there is an underlying child support order. The department may deny the request for paternity testing if a paternity test was previously completed, the child has been adopted by one of the parties involved in the order, the child was conceived by means of artificial insemination, or the Department of Human Services has previously offered paternity testing and the requester refused the test.

Authored By: Rep. (13th) Rule Applied: Modified-Structured House Committee: Juvenile Justice Committee 02-23-2017 Do Pass Action: Floor Vote: Yeas: 173 Nays: 0 Amendments:

HB 357 Georgia Uniform Certificate of Title for Vessels Act; enact Bill Summary: House Bill 357, 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 ownership of a damaged hull vessel that is covered by a certificate of number, the owner must submit an application to the department 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 hull-damaged. The bill requires the Department of Natural Resources to maintain electronic records of titles and provide a physical certificate of title to the owner or lienholder upon request. The bill strikes the fees for numbering vessels for three-year registrations.

Authored By: Rep. Ron Stephens (164th) Rule Applied: Structured House Committee: Ways & Means Committee 02-23-2017 Do Pass by Committee Action: Substitute Floor Vote: Yeas: 164 Nays: 0 Amendments:

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HB 437 Agricultural Education Advisory Commission; recreate Bill Summary: House Bill 437 re-establishes the Agricultural Education Advisory Commission. The commission was establish in 2006 by House Bill 1227 and had a sunset; this legislation recreates the commission without a sunset provision and commission members will serve two-year terms coinciding with legislative terms.

Authored By: Rep. Robert Dickey (140th) Rule Applied: Modified-Open House Committee: Education Committee 02-27-2017 Do Pass by Committee Action: Substitute Floor Vote: Yeas: 165 Nays: 1 Amendments:

HB 486 Georgia Registered Professional Nurse Practice Act; training of proxy caregivers; provisions Bill Summary: HB 486 allows for the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and the Department of Community Health to select the training curricula for medication administration by proxy caregivers employed or contracted to providers of home and community- based services, community residential alternative services, or community living services.

Authored By: Rep. (31st) Rule Applied: Modified-Structured House Committee: Human Relations & Aging Committee 02-27-2017 Do Pass by Committee Action: Substitute Floor Vote: Yeas: 166 Nays: 1 Amendments: AM 37 0344

HR 51 Forest land fair market value; prescribed methodology; remove - CA Bill Summary: House Resolution 51 amends the Constitution, where it relates to forest land conservation use property, by striking the base year of 2008 for determining the fair market value of forest land conservation use property and allowing a fee of up to five percent to be deducted from assistance grants provided to counties to be retained by the state to cover the costs of administering the 'Forest Land Protection Act'. The bill also authorizes the General Assembly to establish a separate class of property for ad valorem taxation purposes known as "timberland property" and provides ballot language relating to these amendments.

Authored By: Rep. Jay Powell (171st) Rule Applied: Structured House Committee: Ways & Means Committee 02-23-2017 Do Pass by Committee Action: Substitute Floor Vote: Yeas: 162 Nays: 2 Amendments:

HR 362 Joint Study Committee on Stream Buffers in Georgia; create Bill Summary: HR 362 creates the Joint Study Committee on Stream Buffers for the purpose of reviewing the existing data and current practices relating to stream buffers prior to recommending legislation. The committee is composed of 17 members: five members of the House, with the chairperson of Natural Resources and Environment serving as co-chair, and five members of the Senate with the chairperson of Natural Resources and Environment serving as the co-chair; the director of the Environmental Protection Division; three members of the private sector with experience in water resources appointed by the speaker of the House, and three members appointed by the president of the Senate. The committee is authorized to meet up to five days.

Authored By: Rep. (70th) Rule Applied: Modified-Structured House Committee: Special Rules Committee 02-24-2017 Do Pass Action: Floor Vote: Yeas: 164 Nays: 0 Amendments:

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Postponed Until Next Legislative Day HB 67 Crimes and offenses; entering a motor vehicle with the intent to commit a theft or felony; provide for increased punishment Bill Summary: HB 67 adds a new tier relating to the theft of a motor vehicle by adding hijacking a motor vehicle in the second degree. A person commits the offense of hijacking a motor vehicle in the second degree when the offender steals a motor vehicle in the presence of the victim without using force. The punishment is in line with burglary, where the punishment for the first offense of hijacking in the second degree is imprisonment of not less than one and no more than 20 years with a fine not to exceed $5,000. For the second offense, the punishment is imprisonment of not less than three and no more than 20 years with a fine not to exceed $5,000. For the third or subsequent offenses, the punishment is imprisonment for not less than five and no more than 20 years with a fine not to exceed $5,000.

Authored By: Rep. (62nd) Rule Applied: Modified-Structured

HB 71 Insurance; consumer protections regarding health insurance; provisions Bill Summary: House Bill 71 provides consumer protections regarding health insurance. Health care providers must disclose to patients, in writing or through a website, the health benefit plans in which they are a participating provider and the hospitals with which the provider is affiliated. HB 71 does not apply to emergency services; health care providers must disclose this information prior to the provision of non-emergency services and verbally at the time an appointment is scheduled. If the healthcare provider is out-of-network, then they shall inform the patient of an estimated amount that the health care provider will bill the patient upon request.

A health care provider who is a physician shall provide contact information for any health care provider that is scheduled to perform services such as anesthesiology, laboratory, pathology, radiology, or assistant surgeon services when care is provided in the physician's office. For a patient's scheduled hospital admission or scheduled outpatient service, the physician shall provide the patient and hospital with contact information for any other physician who will provide service arranged by the physician during the hospital stay or outpatient service.

A hospital shall keep an updated list of standard charges for items and services provided by the hospital, including diagnosis-related groups established under the 'Social Security Act'. They shall also post online information about the health benefit plans in which the hospital is a participating provider, a statement that physicians who are out-of-network may provide services in the hospital, and that the patient should check with the physician to determine the health benefit plans in which the physician participates. The hospital shall provide contact information for contracted physician groups and physicians who may provide services at the hospital. Hospitals shall also provide such information to patients during registration or in admission materials provided in advance of non- emergency hospital services.

On and after January 1, 2018, it shall be a credentialing requirement that doctors who provide services at a hospital must participate in the hospital's benefit plans. A hospital has the power to contract for network participation of its providers if the health care providers are responsible for negotiating all other terms. Negotiations must be conducted in good faith. The obligation to conduct negotiation in good faith is enforceable by the Department of Community Health (DCH) and its commissioner.

An insurer shall provide an enrollee with information that an enrollee can get referred to a health care provider out-of-network when the insurer does not have an in-network provider that is accessible to the enrollee, as well as how the enrollee can obtain such a referral. An insurer shall also provide notice that the enrollee has direct access to primary and preventive pregnancy services from a provider of her choice. An insurer shall provide all contact information to be used by enrollees seeking information from an annually updated list of all contact information for participating providers. This information shall also be posted on the insurer's website. Where applicable, an insurer shall provide a description of the method by which enrollees can submit a claim for their health care

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service. With respect to out of network coverage, a clear description of the methodology used to determine out of network reimbursement, the amount that the insurer will reimburse, and examples of anticipated out of network costs must be provided. Information must also be provided in writing and online so that the enrollee can estimate anticipated out-of-pocket costs. Written application procedures and minimum qualification requirements for health care providers must be provided.

An insurer shall disclose whether a health care provider scheduled to provide service is in-network and the approximate dollar amount that the insurer will pay for out-of-network care. Insurers shall inform an enrollee that this approximate amount is not binding and may change.

An out-of-network referral denial is a denial of a request on the basis that the health plan benefit has a health care provider in the network. When a denial occurs, the notice of denial shall have information explaining how to appeal the denial.

An insurer shall provide information for how an enrollee may submit a claim for services by providing a description of the methodology used by the insurer to determine reimbursement for out of network health care services and the amount that the insurer will reimburse. They shall provide information that allows the enrollee to anticipate out-of-pocket costs. An insurer shall disclose whether a health care provider is an in-network provider and disclose the approximate dollar amount that the insurer will pay for out-of-network service. The insurer shall inform the enrollee that the approximation is not binding and that the dollar amount the insurer will pay for out-of-network service may change.

Authored By: Rep. Richard Smith (134th) Rule Applied: Modified-Structured

HB 197 Fair Business Practices Act; requirements for solicitations of services for obtaining a copy of an instrument conveying real estate; provide Bill Summary: This bill requires third party property deed solicitors that mail a solicitation for services to obtain a copy of an instrument conveying real estate to disclose at the top of their solicitation in all caps with at least 16-point Helvetica font that "this is not a bill or official government document. This is a solicitation."

Authored By: Rep. (37th) Rule Applied: Modified-Open

HB 271 Water resources; shore protection; revise various provisions Bill Summary: House Bill 271 replaces the current criteria for determining the landward boundary jurisdiction of the '1979 Shore Protection Act' (SPA) from 20-foot or taller trees and/or a pre-1979 habitable structure to the following: a line 25 feet landward from the ordinary high water mark; a line 25 feet landward from the landward most toe of the most landward sand dunes; and a line 25 feet landward from the crest of a visible and function shoreline or stabilization structure. The bill further provides additional definitions for "sand dunes" and a "minor activity category" for small alterations to be made to property within the SPA jurisdiction. Finally, HB 271 allows current or new property owners to request a transfer of a SPA permit.

Authored By: Rep. (166th) Rule Applied: Modified-Structured

HB 354 Georgia International and Maritime Trade Center; reconstitute and authorize Department of Economic Development to contract for certain projects Bill Summary: House Bill 354 renames and reconstitutes the Georgia International and Maritime Trade Center Authority in Chatham County. The bill provides for its membership, manner of appointment, terms of office and power and duties. It also provides for legislative findings, definitions, and exempts the Authority from taxation and provides for venue, disposition of property and exempting its property from levy and sale, and transfers certain assets and liabilities.

The bill replaces the term "local government", which individually or in combination means the City of Savannah and Chatham County and any development authority of either, with "the authority", Page 10 of 23 House of Representatives Daily Report for March 1, 2017 Today on the Floor

which is the Georgia International and Maritime Trade Center Authority. The bill creates the Georgia International and Maritime Trade Center Authority, a public corporation and instrumentality of the state with its principal office in Chatham County. As such, the authority shall not be required to pay taxes or assessments upon any of the property acquired or leased by it or under its control or possession, or upon its activities in the operation or maintenance of the buildings erected or acquired by it, or upon any fees or other charges received by the authority for the use of such buildings, or upon other income received by the authority. The authority shall also be exempt from all sales and use taxes.

The bill provides for the membership of the authority and their term limits, as well as providing for the reimbursement of proper expenses. The membership of the authority shall consist of one member appointed by each member of the representing a portion of Chatham County, and each of these members shall have a vote. These members shall serve terms of three years, and if a vacancy on the authority occurs, the seat shall be filled by the body or individual that appointed the member vacating the position. There are four ex officio members who shall have a vote each, the county manager of Chatham County, the city manager of the City of Savannah, the president of the Savannah Economic Development Authority, and the president of the Savannah Area Convention and Visitor's Bureau. The members of the authority shall not be entitled for compensation for their services, but instead shall be reimbursed for their actual expenses properly incurred in the performance of their duties.

The bill provides for the authority's powers. The authority is permitted to accept grants of money, materials, or property of any kind from the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof or from the State of Georgia, or any department, agency, authority, or instrumentality or political subdivision thereof, upon such terms and conditions the United States or the State of Georgia may impose. The authority also has the power and ability to purchase property, employ personnel, make contracts, construct and maintain projects, accept gifts or other contributions of money from private individuals, and exercise any general power which is usually possess by private corporations performing similar functions and which do not conflict with the Constitution and laws of the State of Georgia. If the authority, for any reason, be dissolved, title to all property held by the authority at the time of dissolution shall be conveyed to the State of Georgia. The bill further provides any action or suit against the authority shall be brought in the Superior Court of the Easter Judicial Circuit in Chatham County. The court is to liberally construe laws enacted with reference to the authority.

Authored By: Rep. Ron Stephens (164th) Rule Applied: Structured

HB 375 Revenue and taxation; tax executions; modify certain provisions Bill Summary: House Bill 375 repeals 48-5-163 which allowed tax collectors to collect a fee of 50 cents for issuing a tax execution.

Authored By: Rep. Brad Raffensperger (50th) Rule Applied: Structured

HB 391 Safe Place for Newborns Act of 2002; revise provisions Bill Summary: HB 391 expands the locations where a mother may drop off her newborn child into safe physical custody to include fire stations and police stations. Moreover, the age of such child to be accepted is increased from one week to thirty days. In addition, the mother now has the option to willingly provide proof of her identity, name and address.

Authored By: Rep. David Clark (98th) Rule Applied: Modified-Open

HB 448 Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission; require certain postsecondary institutions to qualify for exemptions; provisions Bill Summary: HB 448 enables the Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission (NPEC) to create policies to exempt education and postsecondary education institutions. This bill also exempts non-public law schools accredited by the American Bar Association when NPEC is designated as the recipient of complaints as a perquisite for the non-public law school's acceptance of federal student Page 11 of 23 House of Representatives Daily Report for March 1, 2017 Today on the Floor

financial aid. This bill also changes the composition of NPEC's board from 15 members to 10 members. Lastly, HB 448 changes the composition of the Board of Trustees of the Tuition Guaranty Trust Fund to include at least two members of postsecondary institutions rather than one member representing a non-degree granting postsecondary institution and one member representing a degree granting postsecondary institution.

Authored By: Rep. Chuck Williams (119th) Rule Applied: Modified-Open

Local Calendar HB 476 Dougherty County; coroner and deputy coroners; provide compensation Bill Summary: This bill provides for compensation for the coroner and deputy coroners of Dougherty County. The coroner will make $65,000 a year and deputy coroners will be compensated by fees for the performance of no more than 25 investigations performed during a calendar year.

Authored By: Rep. (151st) Rule Applied: House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Committee 02-28-2017 Do Pass Local Action: Floor Vote: Yeas: 164 Nays: 0 Amendments:

HB 477 Appling County; board of elections and registration; create Bill Summary: This bill creates a board of elections and registration for Appling County. The board will have the powers, duties, and responsibilities currently being exercised by the Board of Elections of Appling County and the Board of Registrars of Appling County.

Authored By: Rep. Chad Nimmer (178th) Rule Applied: House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Committee 02-28-2017 Do Pass Local Action: Floor Vote: Yeas: 164 Nays: 0 Amendments:

HB 480 Chatham County Urban Development Authority Act; enact Bill Summary: This bill creates the Chatham County Urban Development Authority to promote economic revitalization and community development. The bill creates a board of trustees made up of five members for the authority. Additionally, the authority is authorized to issue revenue bonds and collect payments for the bonds.

Authored By: Rep. J. Craig Gordon (163rd) Rule Applied: House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Committee 02-28-2017 Do Pass Local Action: Floor Vote: Yeas: 164 Nays: 0 Amendments:

SB 124 "City of Decatur Public Facilities Authority Act" Bill Summary: This bill creates the City of Decatur Public Facilities Authority and provides for the appointment of members to the authority. It also confers powers to the authority and authorizes the issuance of bonds for it.

Authored By: Sen. Elena Parent (42nd) Rule Applied: House Committee: Intragovernmental Coordination - Committee 02-28-2017 Do Pass Local Action: Floor Vote: Yeas: 164 Nays: 0 Amendments:

Page 12 of 23 House of Representatives Daily Report for March 1, 2017 Next on the Floor

Next on the Floor from the Committee on Rules The Committee on Rules has fixed the calendar for the 28th Legislative Day, Friday, March 3, and bills may be called at the pleasure of the Speaker.

HB 15 Courts; certain civil pleadings to be filed electronically; require

Bill Summary: This bill amends pleading filing requirements to allow or require electronic filing. In criminal cases, any superior court may permit electronic filing of pleadings, related documents, and payments with the consent of the district attorney, by court rule or standing order. In civil cases, on or after January 1, 2018, all pleadings and any other related document filed by an attorney in a state/superior court shall be filed electronically through the court's electronic filing service provider.

The court's electronic filing service provider may charge a transaction fee that shall not exceed $7 per transaction, regardless of how many parties shall be served, and a credit card service fee that shall not exceed 3.5 percent plus $0.30 per transaction. The term "per transaction" means a single upload to a court's electronic filing service provider for filing a pleading or document within an individual case, or multiple pleadings or documents within an individual case so long as they are filed concurrently.

The electronic attorney filing requirements and payment of fees for such services shall not apply to filings: in connection with a pauper's affidavit, pleadings or documents filed under seal or presented to a court in camera or ex parte, or pleadings or documents to which access is otherwise restricted by law or court order. For an attorney or attorney's designee who physically files at the courthouse only the credit card service fee shall apply and not the per transaction fee; however, the clerk may require such pleadings or documents be submitted via a public access terminal in the clerk's office.

The Council of Superior Court Clerks of Georgia shall make and publish in print or electronically such policies and procedures as it deems necessary to carry out these e-filing provisions. By court rule or standing order, any state/superior court may allow, but shall not require, the filing of pleadings and related documents in civil actions by individuals who are not attorneys and any other document related thereto, and for the acceptance or remittance of payments by electronic means. Any pleading or document filed electronically shall be deemed filed at the time of receipt by the electronic filing service provider. This bill states that court filings are not a public record until physically accepted by the clerk.

Authored By: Rep. (51st) Rule Applied: Modified-Structured House Committee: Judiciary Committee 02-22-2017 Do Pass by Committee Action: Substitute

HB 54 Health; indigent care in rural hospitals; provide an additional reporting requirement; change certain amounts eligible for tax credit Bill Summary: House Bill 54 amends 31-8-9.1, relating to tax credits for donations to rural hospitals, by requiring the report submitted by the rural hospital organization to the Department of Revenue to show all contributions received from individual and corporate donors and the manner in which those funds were utilized, as well as any payments made to a third party to solicit, administer, or manage the donations. The bill also amends 48-7-29.20 by increasing the amount of the tax credit from 70 percent of the donation to 90 percent of the donation or $5,000 per year for individuals and $10,000 per year for married couples, whichever is less, and flattens the cap at $60 million for 2017, 2018, and 2019.

Authored By: Rep. Geoff Duncan (26th) Rule Applied: Structured House Committee: Ways & Means Committee 02-09-2017 Do Pass by Committee Action: Substitute

HB 59 Revenue and taxation; tax credits for rehabilitation of historic structures; revise procedures, conditions, and limitations Bill Summary: House Bill 59 amends 48-7-29.8, relating to tax credits for the rehabilitation of historic structures, by increasing the credit cap to $50 million per calendar year for projects earning more than $500,000 in credits and allowing unused funds to roll forward to the next year. The bill also replaces "taxpayer" with "applicant" throughout the bill. The Department of Community Affairs is assigned the

Page 13 of 23 House of Representatives Daily Report for March 1, 2017 Next on the Floor

responsibility of processing the applications for this credit. The bill also states that the applicant is allowed the credit at the time the rehabilitation is completed and allows an applicant who is party to a fully executed written agreement for the purchase of property or a lease having a term of more than 40 years to submit the tax credit application. The bill removes the restriction of multiple sales or assignments of the credits. On January 1, 2028 the version of the section that existed prior to January 1, 2016 will go back into effect.

Authored By: Rep. Ron Stephens (164th) Rule Applied: Structured House Committee: Ways & Means Committee 02-27-2017 Do Pass by Committee Action: Substitute

HB 181 Revenue and taxation; furnishing of certain tax information in all municipalities having a population of 350,000 or more; change certain provisions Bill Summary: House Bill 181 amends 48-2-15, relating to confidential information secured in the administration of taxes, by allowing counties and municipalities to request information included on the vendor's sales tax certificate for all vendors that have filed a report for a designated period from the commissioner of the Department of Revenue. Any information furnished by the commissioner is to remain privileged and confidential in nature. The finance officer or taxing official of a county or municipality is not authorized to contact in any manner any taxpayer identified in such information. If the finance officer or taxing official finds any discrepancies, anomalies, or other issues relating to the data received, they must notify the commissioner of their findings. The information disclosed may only be shared with members of the governing authority of the county or municipality when the members of the governing authority are in executive session.

Authored By: Rep. (122nd) Rule Applied: Structured House Committee: Ways & Means Committee 02-27-2017 Do Pass by Committee Action: Substitute

HB 249 Controlled substances; collect more information regarding dispensing and use; provisions

Bill Summary: HB 249 requires those who have a DEA permit number to enroll in a prescription monitoring database and update that database when said individual writes a prescription for controlled substances or is a dispenser of controlled substances. Violation of this requirement is to be handled administratively by the state regulatory governing board for such a prescriber. Moreover, dispensers of such prescriptions must submit information to the prescription monitoring database every 24 hours. Patient information in the prescription monitoring database must be in compliance with the rules of the federal 'Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) of 1996'. Both prescribers and dispensers of such controlled substances may delegate not more than two individuals of their staff to have access and update the prescription monitoring database, so long as such individuals are properly licensed or have had a proper criminal record background check.

HB 249 provides for exceptions for the prescribers' requirement to update the database when the prescription for said controlled substances: are no more than a three day supply (26 pills) of such substance; the prescriptions are to be administered and used by a patient on the premises of a hospital or healthcare facility; the patient has had outpatient surgery and the supply is no more than 10 days (40 pills); the patient is in an outpatient hospice program; or the patient is receiving treatment for cancer. In addition, overdose rescue kits have been removed from the list of dangerous drugs and can be supplied over the counter.

Authored By: Rep. Kevin Tanner (9th) Rule Applied: Modified-Structured House Committee: Judiciary Non-Civil Committee 02-27-2017 Do Pass by Committee Action: Substitute

HB 253 Special license plates; dog and cat reproductive sterilization support program; increase the proportion of moneys derived from the sale Bill Summary: House Bill 253 clarifies that funds raised by the sale of the special license plate for the dog and cat reproductive sterilization support program of the Department of Agriculture (DOA) shall be disbursed to the DOA and deposited in a special fund for support of the dog and cat reproductive sterilization support program and not to the general fund of the state.

Page 14 of 23 House of Representatives Daily Report for March 1, 2017 Next on the Floor

Authored By: Rep. Wendell Willard (51st) Rule Applied: Modified-Structured House Committee: Motor Vehicles Committee 02-21-2017 Do Pass Action:

HB 258 Crimes and offenses; sentencing for persons who knowingly commit aggravated assault upon a peace officer; provisions Bill Summary: HB 258 amends the Code regarding the aggravated assault of a peace officer by increasing the minimum sentence to ten years of imprisonment. If the aggravated assault of a peace officer involves the discharge of a firearm, none of the mandatory minimum sentence can be probated, stayed, suspended, deferred or withheld. Moreover, HB 258 amends the Code for resisting a law enforcement officer by increasing the punishment for second and subsequent convictions. For a second such offense, the punishment is increased to not less than two but no more than ten years of incarceration. Upon the third or subsequent conviction, the punishment is increased to not less than three but no more than 15 years of incarceration.

Authored By: Rep. (32nd) Rule Applied: Modified-Structured House Committee: Judiciary Non-Civil Committee 02-27-2017 Do Pass by Committee Action: Substitute

HB 261 Penal institutions; certain individuals sentenced between March 18, 1968 and October 31, 1982; allow to petition court for first offender status Bill Summary: HB 261 corrects the Code regarding individuals sentenced prior to 1982 who can petition the court, with the consent of the prosecuting attorney, to have their criminal record exonerated and discharged so long as said individual would have otherwise been eligible for first offender status at the time of their sentencing.

Authored By: Rep. William Werkheiser (157th) Rule Applied: Modified-Structured House Committee: Judiciary Non-Civil Committee 02-27-2017 Do Pass by Committee Action: Substitute

HB 280 Firearms; license holders; carrying and possession of certain weapons in certain buildings or real property owned or leased to public institutions of postsecondary education; authorize Bill Summary: HB 280, regarding carrying weapons within a school safety zone, allows licensed holders to keep their weapon on their person while in or on any building or real property owned by or leased to any technical school, vocational school, college, university, or other institution of postsecondary education. This exception does not apply to buildings or property used for athletic events or student housing, which includes sorority and fraternity houses. The exception also excludes preschool space that is advertised on site that such preschool is designated for operations licensed or regulated under the Department of Early Learning. The division does not apply if the campus has more than three buildings designated as housing preschool space. This provision would only apply to the concealed carrying of handguns so as not to actively get the attention of others.

Authored By: Rep. (23rd) Rule Applied: Modified-Structured House Committee: Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee 02-27-2017 Do Pass by Committee Action: Substitute

HB 285 Ad valorem tax; criteria used by tax assessors to determine fair market value of real property; revise Bill Summary: House Bill 285 amends 48-5-2, relating to definitions for ad valorem taxation, by revising the criteria used to determine the fair market value of property. The bill states that federal low- income housing properties may only be compared to other federal low-income housing properties for the purpose of determining fair market value. When using the sales comparison approach to value property subject to rent restrictions, any income tax credits attributed to the property may be considered in determining the fair market value if comparable sales of property used for valuation had, at the time of the comparable sale, unused tax credits that were sold. When using the income approach to valuing property, any credits that are attributable to the property may be considered provided that such credits generate actual income to the owner.

Authored By: Rep. David Knight (130th) Rule Applied: Structured

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House Committee: Ways & Means Committee 02-27-2017 Do Pass by Committee Action: Substitute

HB 292 Firearms; laws relating to the carrying of weapons and safety; revise and clarify

Bill Summary: House Bill 292 amends Title 16 of Georgia Code. The bill includes several "housekeeping" provisions in the statute relating to firearms and the carry and possession of firearms. The bill provides for new Georgia residents, who have a carry license issued by a state which recognizes Georgia licenses, to have 90 days to secure a valid Georgia license. The bill states that persons who have a valid hunting or fishing license are not required to have that license on their person when they are engaged in legal hunting, fishing, or sport shooting on recreational or wildlife management areas owned by the state. The bill also allows probate judges receiving applications for permits to issue printed information on firearms safety courses. The bill requires the Department of Natural Resources to provide information on their principal website on state hunter education classes that render gun safety instruction. Another provision of the bill expands the exemption for retired law enforcement carry privileges, to include those officers who: are citizens of this state and have an aggregate of 10 years in law enforcement with arrest powers; separated from service in good standing, and have an identification card for retired law enforcement. The bill clarifies the definitions for "commercial service airport" and "major airline carrier" as they apply to those who carry a weapon into a commercial airport. An additional provision is the establishment of an appeals process for those who have been involuntarily hospitalized for relief of mental illness. The statute provides for a hearing of: the evidence concerning the circumstances of hospitalization; the person's mental health and criminal history, if any; the person's reputation as described by character witnesses; and changes in the person's condition or circumstances since hospitalization. Should the court find that the person is not likely to act in a manner dangerous to himself or public safety, relief may be granted and a license granted. Finally, the legislation provides immunity from civil liability for injuries caused by the failure of a person to use a firearm properly or lawfully to those instructors who provide safety training. The bill also provides that no state be required to give effect or recognize a license given to any person under the age of 21.

Authored By: Rep. (11th) Rule Applied: Modified-Structured House Committee: Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee 02-27-2017 Do Pass by Committee Action: Substitute

HB 302 Ad valorem tax; property; change certain requirements to notice pertaining to millage rate adoption Bill Summary: House Bill 302 amends 48-5-32.1, relating to advertising and notice requirements pertaining to the adoption of a millage rate, by changing the title of the notice to "Notice of Proposed Revenue Increase" and by revising the content of the notice to include the total amount of tax revenue expected to be generated with the new millage rate and the amount of tax revenue generated in the prior fiscal year.

Authored By: Rep. (69th) Rule Applied: Structured House Committee: Ways & Means Committee 02-27-2017 Do Pass by Committee Action: Substitute

HB 309 State liability; activities of organized militia engaged in training or duty; provide exception

Bill Summary: This bill exempts the state from liability from activities of the organized militia when engaged in state or federal training or duty. This exception does not apply to vehicular accidents.

Authored By: Rep. (103rd) Rule Applied: Modified-Structured House Committee: Defense & Veterans Affairs Committee 02-23-2017 Do Pass by Committee Action: Substitute

HB 342 Enterprise zones; certain urban redevelopment zones; provide designation

Bill Summary: House Bill 342 amends Chapter 88 of Title 36, relating to enterprise zones, by allowing for a sales and use tax exemption for an urban redevelopment area that has been chronically underdeveloped for 20 years or more and contains a redevelopment project having a minimum $400 million projected capital investment. Within the enterprise zone, an amount equal to the sales and use taxes exempted may be collected and pledged for securing revenue bonds for development or Page 16 of 23 House of Representatives Daily Report for March 1, 2017 Next on the Floor

infrastructure projects within the zone.

Authored By: Rep. (104th) Rule Applied: Structured House Committee: Ways & Means Committee 02-27-2017 Do Pass by Committee Action: Substitute

HB 403 Interstate cooperation; Senate Interstate Cooperation Committee and House Committee on Interstate Cooperation; clarify number of members Bill Summary: This bill clarifies the number of members of the Senate Interstate Cooperation Committee and the House Committee on Interstate Cooperation. The Senate's committee will consist of at least five senators and the House's committee will consist of at least five representatives.

Authored By: Rep. Matt Dubnik (29th) Rule Applied: Modified-Open House Committee: Interstate Cooperation Committee 02-22-2017 Do Pass Action:

HB 413 Public utilities; regulation of certain matters pertaining to rural telephone cooperatives; provisions Bill Summary: This bill amends Titles 44 and 46 of the Code to provide for regulation of matters pertaining to rural telephone cooperatives. It states all patronage dividends or capital credits held by a telephone cooperative that are presumed abandoned in a calendar year may be donated to a non-profit organization that supports education or economic development in the cooperative's service area and is exempt from taxation.

For the donation to take place, the cooperative has to maintain for at least six months on its website or on a public posting in its main office a list of the names and last known addresses of all the owners of property held by the cooperative that have been presumed abandoned. That list must also have instructions on how to claim the property. Additionally, the cooperative must publish a notice in the legal organ in the county where the main office is located of the last date to claim property that has been presumed abandoned. The notice shall be published within three to six months prior to the last date to claim the property and will also state the names of the owners found on the website or in the main office.

The bill also discusses lawsuits against cooperatives and states cooperatives can only be sued in the county of its residence, where its registered office is maintained. If a cooperative fails to maintain a registered office, it shall be deemed to reside in the county where its last named registered office or principal office was maintained, as shown in the Secretary of State's records. The cooperative may also be deemed to reside in and may be sued on contracts in a county in which the contract sought to be enforced was made or is to be informed, but only if the cooperative has an office and transacts business in that county. It may also be sued for damages because of torts, wrongs, or injury done in a county where the cause of action originated, if it has an office and transacts business in that county.

HB 413 amends the Code relating to the by-laws of cooperatives. It states the board of directors shall have the power to alter, amend, or repeal the by-laws, or adopt new by-laws, unless those powers are reserved exclusively for the members. However, any bylaws adopted by the board of directors may be altered, amended, or repealed by the members. The members may also state that any by-laws adopted by them shall not be altered, amended, or repealed by the board of directors.

Unless the by-laws state otherwise, the board of directors have the authority, but are not required, to pay revenues allocated but not previously paid to a member who has died. If the member dies with a will, the payments will be made to the executor of the estate, but if the member dies without a will and the cooperative is provided a copy of letters of administration for the estate of the dead member(s), the payments will be made to the administrator of the estate named in the letters. If the member dies without a will and the cooperative is not provided a copy of letters of administration and the payment is $2,500 or less, the payment will be made to the people listed in priority order: surviving spouse, surviving children, surviving mother and father, or the surviving brothers or sisters. If the member dies without a will and without the copy of letters of administration and the payment is greater than $2,500,

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the payment will be made to the person entitled under the laws of descent and distribution in the state.

Authored By: Rep. (44th) Rule Applied: Modified-Open House Committee: Energy, Utilities & Committee 02-27-2017 Do Pass Telecommunications Action:

HB 428 Downtown development authorities; authorize assessments Bill Summary: This bill amends Code Section 36-42-17 to authorize assessments relating to downtown development authorities. An assessment shall be levied and collected when a written contract regarding the assessment is executed by the property owner, the authority, and the project administrator. Additionally, the contract must be administratively acknowledged by the relevant local jurisdiction under the taxing authority and a notice of the assessment is recorded in the property records of the relevant local jurisdiction.

Authored By: Rep. Chuck Martin (49th) Rule Applied: Modified-Structured House Committee: Energy, Utilities & Committee 02-27-2017 Do Pass Telecommunications Action:

HB 448 Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission; require certain postsecondary institutions to qualify for exemptions; provisions Bill Summary: HB 448 enables the Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission (NPEC) to create policies to exempt education and postsecondary education institutions. This bill also exempts non-public law schools accredited by the American Bar Association when NPEC is designated as the recipient of complaints as a perquisite for the non-public law school's acceptance of federal student financial aid. This bill also changes the composition of NPEC's board from 15 members to 10 members. Lastly, HB 448 changes the composition of the Board of Trustees of the Tuition Guaranty Trust Fund to include at least two members of postsecondary institutions rather than one member representing a non- degree granting postsecondary institution and one member representing a degree granting postsecondary institution.

Authored By: Rep. Chuck Williams (119th) Rule Applied: Modified-Open House Committee: Higher Education Committee 02-22-2017 Do Pass Action:

HB 470 Economic Development, Department of; grants to certain organizations supporting military communities; create program Bill Summary: This bill amends the Code section relating to the Department of Economic Development (the "department"). The department shall administer a grant program to provide assistance to "military communities", defined as a county or municipality that has a military facility within its jurisdiction. The amount of the grant shall be determined by the department on a case-by-case basis with consideration of the grant goal being proposed and to the extent that it: (1) furthers the relationship between the military community and military installation/facilities; (2) furthers the military installation's economic development investment into the military community; or (3) assists in efforts to defend the success of a military installation from a federal review. The department shall also develop a set of criteria to ensure the credibility of the "community entity", a non-profit organization that works to benefit the military value of the military installations, which submits a grant application, and the potential success of the grant goal. This includes: (1) the length of time the community entity has been active; (2) the types of projects the community entity has been engaged in; and (3) the status the community entity has developed over time with the military installation. The department shall submit any pending grant award to the Governor's Defense Initiative for final review. If the Georgia Defense Initiative ceases to exist, the requirements applied in this legislation shall not be applicable. The department shall make public the regulations necessary to implement this article, and shall be authorized to charge and collect fees necessary for costs associated with the processing of applications submitted for the grant.

Authored By: Rep. (146th) Rule Applied: Modified-Structured House Committee: Economic Development & Tourism Committee 02-24-2017 Do Pass by Committee Action: Substitute

Page 18 of 23 House of Representatives Daily Report for March 1, 2017 Committee Actions

Committee Actions Bills passing committees are reported to the Clerk's Office and are placed on the General Calendar.

Governmental Affairs Committee HB 189 Contract Cancellation Act; enact Bill Summary: House Bill 189 provides that any contract the state of Georgia enters into shall include language that allows the state to cancel the contract on the basis of quality, price, or other measures.

Authored By: Rep. Sheila Nelson (125th) House Governmental Affairs Committee 03-01-2017 Do Pass Committee: Action:

HB 362 Elections; county and municipal governing authorities and consolidated governments; provisions Bill Summary: House Bill 362 eliminates the "lame duck" period between the November election and the time of swearing in for city council members and county commissioners. This bill provides that newly-elected members will take office on the first Monday that occurs five days after the election results are certified.

Authored By: Rep. Andrew Welch (110th) House Governmental Affairs Committee 03-01-2017 Do Pass by Committee Committee: Action: Substitute

HB 451 Counties and municipalities; ordinance restricting certain vehicles on certain roads; prohibit adoption Bill Summary: HB 451 provides that any ordinance passed by a local government that prohibits vehicle travel on certain roads based on the weight or size of the vehicle shall allow for an exemption for vehicles that deliver or pick up goods for businesses.

Authored By: Rep. James Epps (144th) House Governmental Affairs Committee 03-01-2017 Do Pass Committee: Action:

HB 493 Open and public meetings; agency minutes and online videos; require public commentary be included Bill Summary: House Bill 493 provides that the meeting minutes for any public meeting by a local governing authority must contain a description of any public comment period, including the name of every person providing public comment, and a brief description of the commentary provided by each person. It also requires any video archive of a public meeting to contain the complete meeting and be maintained for at least two years.

Authored By: Rep. (74th) House Governmental Affairs Committee 03-01-2017 Do Pass by Committee Committee: Action: Substitute

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Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee HB 461 Heard County; board of elections and registration; create

Bill Summary: This bill creates a board of elections and registration for Heard County.

Authored By: Rep. Randy Nix (69th) House Intragovernmental Coordination - Committee 03-01-2017 Do Pass by Committee Committee: Local Action: Substitute

HB 502 Bremen, City of; levy an excise tax

Bill Summary: HB 502 allows the governing authority of the City of Bremen to levy an excise tax.

Authored By: Rep. (18th) House Intragovernmental Coordination - Committee 03-01-2017 Do Pass Committee: Local Action:

HB 503 Randolph County; board of elections and registration; create Bill Summary: The bill creates a joint county-municipal board of elections and registration for Randolph County and the cities of Cuthbert and Shellman.

Authored By: Rep. Gerald Greene (151st) House Intragovernmental Coordination - Committee 03-01-2017 Do Pass Committee: Local Action:

HB 504 Waycross Convention and Visitors Bureau Authority Act; enact Bill Summary: This bill creates the Waycross Convention and Visitors Bureau Authority to promote tourism, trade, and conventions in the City of Waycross.

Authored By: Rep. Jason Spencer (180th) House Intragovernmental Coordination - Committee 03-01-2017 Do Pass Committee: Local Action:

HB 507 Jonesboro, City of; governing authority; create districts for election of members Bill Summary: This bill creates districts for the election of members to the governing authority of the city of Jonesboro.

Authored By: Rep. (75th) House Intragovernmental Coordination - Committee 03-01-2017 Do Pass by Committee Committee: Local Action: Substitute

HB 508 Morrow, City of; provide for a governing authority Bill Summary: This bill creates districts for the election of members to the governing authority of the city of Morrow.

Authored By: Rep. Mike Glanton (75th) House Intragovernmental Coordination - Committee 03-01-2017 Do Pass by Committee Committee: Local Action: Substitute

HB 511 Warm Springs, City of; change corporate limits

Bill Summary: This bill changes the corporate limits of the city of Warm Springs.

Authored By: Rep. (137th) House Intragovernmental Coordination - Committee 03-01-2017 Do Pass Committee: Local Action:

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Judiciary Committee HB 475 Charitable solicitations; use of collection receptacles for donations; implement additional requirements Bill Summary: HB 475 amends Code sections relating to charitable solicitations, specifically providing regulations and penalties for the operation of collection receptacles, which are unattended containers for collecting non-monetary donations such as clothing, personal and household items, or books. Currently, the Code is silent on how the operator is to obtain permission to operate on land in which it does not hold a property interest.

The bill requires the operator of any collection receptacle to obtain notarized, written permission from all owners or leaseholders of the property in which the operator has no property interest and on which the operator wishes to place the collection receptacle. The operator is to maintain copies of the notarized, written permission and provide copies to the owners or leaseholders of such property at any time upon request. Once the operator has received permission to place and operate a receptacle, the operator shall notify any leaseholders, tenants, or other occupants about the collection receptacle's placement and operation. If the operator fails to obtain permission, any owner or leaseholder may demand immediate removal of the collection receptacle.

The bill further requires that the operator to maintain the collection receptacle in a structurally sound, clean, and sanitary condition. The receptacle shall be regularly emptied at least every two weeks and the operator shall be responsible for ensuring that no donations are present on the ground surrounding the receptacle for more than 48 hours.

The bill provides the procedure for removing the collection receptacle. Any owner or leaseholder of property on which a collection receptacle is permissibly placed may demand its removal in writing by mail, return receipt requested, or overnight delivery to the address listed on the receptacle. The property owner or leaseholder shall also send a copy of the demand to the office of the Secretary of State. The operator of the collection receptacle shall remove the receptacle as well as all content left in and around it within 30 days of the date the demand is either deposited in the mail or received by overnight delivery. If the operator fails to remove the receptacle, any owner or leaseholder shall have the immediate right to take possession, remove, and dispose of the collection receptacle and its contents. The owner or leaseholder may also request law enforcement personnel to take possession, remove, and dispose of the collection receptacle and its contents. Any expenses incurred in the removal and disposal shall be paid by the operator. If the owner or leaseholder incurs expenses in removing and disposing of the receptacle following the 30-day notice to remove or because of any violation of any regulation, he or she may bring a civil action to recover actual damages.

The bill allows the Secretary of State to impose a fine for any willful violation of the regulations controlling charitable solicitations of up to $2,500 for a single violation or $25,000 for multiple violations in a single or a series of proceedings.

Authored By: Rep. (148th) House Judiciary Committee 03-01-2017 Do Pass by Committee Committee: Action: Substitute

HB 496 Official Code of Georgia; provide for Code revision corrections Bill Summary: HB 496 amends the Code by removing and reserving a provision, correcting an obsolete Code reference, updating agency references and moving the Governor's Office for Children and Families for administrative purposes.

The bill repeals the Code section requiring all county bodies in charge of receipts and expenditures of county funds to publish a financial statement every year.

The bill updates the Code section relating to home delivered meals, transportation, services for the elderly, and preschool children with special needs by replacing "Department of Community Health"

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with "Department of Public Health" everywhere the term appears to reflect current administration. Finally, the bill reassigns the Governor's Office for Children and Families from the Office of Planning and Budget to the Department of Public Health.

Authored By: Rep. (24th) House Judiciary Committee 03-01-2017 Do Pass Committee: Action:

Legislative & Congressional Reapportionment Committee HB 515 State house districts; revise boundaries of a certain district

Bill Summary: This bill amends state House districts 34, 35, 36, 40, 47, 49, 53, 73, and 111.

Authored By: Rep. Johnnie Caldwell (131st) House Legislative & Congressional Committee 03-01-2017 Do Pass by Committee Committee: Reapportionment Action: Substitute

Page 22 of 23 House of Representatives Daily Report for March 1, 2017 Committee Actions

Committee Meeting Schedule This meeting schedule is up to date at the time of this report, but meeting dates and times are subject to change. To keep up with the latest schedule, please visit www.house.ga.gov and click on Meetings Calendar.

Thursday, March 02, 2017 8:00 AM NATURAL RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENT - 606 CLOB 10:00 AM PUBLIC SAFETY - 403 CAP 11:00 AM Kelley Subcommittee of Judiciary Civil - 132 CAP 2:00 PM HIGHER EDUCATION - 403 CAP 4:00 PM Industry and Labor Subcommittee - 506 CLOB 5:00 PM INDUSTRY AND LABOR - 506 CLOB

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