JUDICIAL COUNCIL OF GEORGIA ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS WEEKLY LEGISLATIVE REPORT January 31, 2020 legislation.georgiacourts.gov Week 3 (Legislative Days 5-9) The third week of the session began on Monday, January 27 (LD 5). After standing in recess last week to hold joint budget hearings, both chambers returned to standard operations and greatly increased activity. Committees stayed busy for the entire week and many bills are starting to make their way through the legislative process. House Appropriations subcommittee hearings were held throughout the week, with the Judicial Council presenting its budget to the Appropriations Public Safety Subcommittee on Monday, January 27. The tracking documents for the FY 2020 Amended Budget and FY 2021 can be found by following the respective links. Both the Council of Magistrate Court Judges and the Council of Probate Court Judges will host their respective Day at the Capitol on Tuesday, February 4 (LD 11). Both chambers stand adjourned until Monday, February 3, for Legislative Day 10. This report is a compilation of the items acted on this week affecting Georgia’s judiciary. To view more legislation pertaining to the judiciary, as well as bill summaries, previous reports, and committee meeting schedules, please visit legislation.georgiacourts.gov. Floor & Committee Action HB 38 - Crimes and offenses; theft; define a term Sponsor: Rep. Rhonda Burnough (D – Riverdale) Action: No action was taken on HB 38 by the House Judiciary Non-Civil Reeves Subcommittee (1/28/20). HB 303 - Crimes and offenses; anachronistic terms; remove Sponsor: Rep. Josh McLaurin (D – Sandy Springs) Action: No action was taken on HB 303 by the House Judiciary Non-Civil Setzler Subcommittee (1/28/20). HB 440 - Juvenile Code; juvenile court to include children who are under the age of 18 years; change jurisdiction Sponsor: Rep. Mandi Ballinger (R – Canton) Action: HB 440 received a hearing from the House Juvenile Justice Committee (1/28/20). HB 544 - Mental health; procedures regarding emergency involuntary treatment; revise Sponsor: Rep. Chuck Efstration (R – Dacula) Action: HB 544 received a hearing from the House Judiciary Civil Kelley Subcommittee (1/27/20). HB 555 - Criminal procedure; add public child welfare case manager to the people for whom arrest warrants may be issued only by certain judicial officers Sponsor: Rep. Kasey Carpenter (R – Dalton) Action: HB 555 received a Do Pass by Substitute from the House Juvenile Justice Committee (1/30/2020) HB 720 - Criminal procedure; term of probation shall follow the mandatory term of imprisonment for persons convicted of a sexual offense; clarify Sponsor: Rep. Steven Sainz (R – Woodbine) Action: No action was taken on HB 720 by the House Judiciary Non-Civil Setzler Subcommittee (1/28/20). HB 757 - Elections; determination of qualifying periods for special elections; provide Sponsor: Rep. Barry Fleming (R – Harlem) Action: HB 757 received a Do Pass from the House Governmental Affairs Elections Subcommittee (1/27/2020); and received Do Pass from the House Governmental Affairs Committee (1/28/20); and was recommitted to the House Governmental Affairs Committee by the House Rules Committee (1/30/20). HB 759 - Controlled substances; Schedule IV; change certain provisions Sponsor: Rep. Butch Parrish (R – Swainsboro) Action: HB 759 received a Do Pass from the House Judiciary Non-Civil Reeves Subcommittee (1/28/20); and received a Do Pass from the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee (1/31/20). HB 765 - Courts; increase in the minimum compensation for chief magistrates; provide Sponsor: Rep. Mitchell Scoggins (R – Cartersville) Action: HB 765 received a Do Pass from the House Judiciary Civil Committee (1/28/20). SB 35 - Sex Offenders; residing near their victims and such victims' immediate family members; prohibit Sponsor: Sen. Lester Jackson (D – Savannah) Action: SB 35 received a hearing from the Senate Judiciary Committee (1/27/20). SB 159 - Motor Vehicles and Traffic; operation of motorized mobility devices; provide Sponsor: Sen. Steve Gooch (R – Dahlonega) Action: SB 159 received a Do Pass from the Senate Transportation Committee (1/28/20). SB 295 - Courts and Revenue and Taxation; cost-of-living and general performance based increases; revise Sponsor: Sen. John Wilkinson (R – Toccoa) Action: SB 295 received a Do Pass from the Senate State & Local Governmental Operations Committee (1/28/20). SB 298 - Crimes and Offenses and Education; protections for and education to minors regarding smoking and vaping Sponsor: Sen. Renee Unterman (R – Buford) Action: No action was taken on SB 298 by the Senate Regulated Industries & Utilities Committee (1/28/20); and no action was taken by the Senate Regulated Industries & Utilities Committee (1/30/20). SB 317 - County Police; method for the abolition of a county police department and returning the law enforcement functions of such department to the sheriff of county; provide Sponsor: Sen. William Ligon (R – Brunswick) Action: SB 317 received a Do Pass from the Senate Government Oversight Committee (1/30/20). * Floor & Committee Meeting Schedule Monday, February 3, 2020 – Legislative Day 10 9:00 AM House Rules 341 CAP 10:00 AM House Floor Session House Chamber 10:00 AM Senate Floor Session Senate Chamber ADJ Senate Rules 450 CAP 1:00 PM House Public Safety & 606 CLOB Homeland Security HB 113 - Motor vehicles; prohibit license and instruction permit holders from using a stand-alone electronic 2:00 PM Senate Public Safety Mezz 1 4:00 PM Senate Judiciary 307 CLOB Tuesday, February 4, 2020 – Legislative Day 11 8:00 AM Council of Magistrate Court 230 CAP Judges Day at Capitol 9:00 AM House Rules 341 CAP 10:00 AM House Floor Session House Chamber 10:00 AM Senate Floor Session Senate Chamber ADJ Senate Rules 450 CAP 11:30 AM Council of Probate Court 230 CAP Judges Day at Capitol 2:00 PM House Retirement 515 CLOB HB 821- Retirement and pensions; granting postretirement benefit adjustments to certain individuals; provisions HB 659 - Retirement and pensions; age of eligibility for retirement benefits for appellate court judges; decrease HB 733 - Georgia Judicial Retirement System; prohibition of postretirement benefit adjustments for members who first became members of the retirement system on or after July 1, 2009; remove HB 664 - Georgia Judicial Retirement System; membership for certain persons employed in certain full-time positions requiring admission to the State Bar of Georgia as a condition of employment; require HB 699 - Employees' Retirement System; certain former members of the Georgia Judicial Retirement System may elect to resume active membership in the Georgia Judicial Retirement System upon obtaining certain employment; provide Wednesday, February 5, 2020 – Legislative Day 12 9:00 AM House Rules 341 CAP 10:00 AM House Floor Session House Chamber 10:00 AM Senate Floor Session Senate Chamber ADJ Senate Rules 450 CAP 1:00 PM Senate Public Safety Mezz 1 4:00 PM Senate Judiciary 307 CLOB Thursday, February 6, 2020 – Legislative Day 13 9:00 AM House Rules 341 CAP 10:00 AM House Floor Session House Chamber 10:00 AM Senate Floor Session Senate Chamber ADJ Senate Rules 450 CAP 4:00 PM Senate Judiciary 307 CLOB Friday, February 7, 2020 – In Recess No Meetings Scheduled *This meeting schedule is up to date at the time of this report, but meeting dates and times are subject to change. Please visit the House Meetings page and the Senate Meetings page for a complete list of meetings, the most current schedules and agendas. Tracy Mason Senior Assistant Director Governmental & Trial Court Liaison (404) 463-0559 [email protected] Tyler Mashburn Legislative Liaison (404) 651-7616 [email protected] Robert Aycock Trial Court Liaison (404) 463-1023 [email protected] LaShawn Murphy Trial Court Liaison (404) 651-6325 [email protected] Darron Enns Policy Analyst (404) 656-5453 [email protected] Legislative Interns Franchesca Badia Athena Zhang www.georgiacourts.gov legislation.georgiacourts.gov Twitter: @GACourtsLegis & @GACourts .