Report for
The tenth day of the legislative session was
called to order by Lt. Gov. Mark
Taylor. The Journal was read and
found to be correct by Sen. Don Balfour of
the 9th and was subsequently confirmed. Senate Bills 459, 460 and Senate Resolutions
651-660, and House Bills 1209, 1217 and 1223 were read for the first time and
assigned to their respective committees.
Following the reports of the standing committees,
the following bills were read for the second time: Senate Bills 253, 337, 361
and 438 and HB 645. The roll was called and
Sen. Ross Tolleson of the 18th
led the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance. Sen. Tolleson
then introduced the Chaplain of the Day,
Rev. Jenny Jackson Adams of
There were no unanimous consents.
The following Points of Personal Privilege were
made:
Sen. David
Adelman of the 42nd took the well to recognize Steve Owings, a friend whose son was
killed in an auto accident. Sen. Adelman spoke about future legislation
he will introduce concerning speed limits on our highways.
Lt. Gov. Taylor
then recognized National Safe America Foundation CEO Len Pagano, who was seated in the gallery. The group provided driving simulators and
sponsored Safe America Day at the Capitol.
Sen. Valencia
Seay of the 34th took
the well to ask the Senators assist her in raising awareness of cardiovascular
diseases in
Lt. Gov. Taylor
called for the introduction of privileged resolutions. SR 633 was introduced honoring the Georgia
Farm Bureau. Sen. John Bulloch of
the 11th then introduced Georgia Farm Bureau President Wayne Dollar. Other privileged resolutions
read and adopted were SR 653-659 and 664.
There were no motions to withdraw and commit.
Sen. Carol
Jackson of the 50th introduced the Doctor of the Day, Dr. Don
Blakeslee of
The general calendar was read, beginning with SB
394.
President Pro Tempore Eric Johnson of the 1st spoke in favor of SB 394. The bill, entitled American Heritage in
Education Act, allows schools to read or display documents of American
heritage. Sen. Johnson mentioned that SB 394 will prevent future censorship of
important American documents, such as the Declaration of Independence. He then yielded to questions.
Sen. Steve
Thompson of the 33rd asked about the pros and cons of posting
U.S. Supreme Court documents in public schools.
Sen. Michael
Meyer Von
Sen. Johnson
said SB 394 is permissive and allows individual schools to decide what or what
not to post.
Sen. Nadine
Thomas of the 10th asked if SB 394 would allow other subjects,
such as sex education, to slip into the curriculum. Sen. Thomas
asked Sen. Johnson if he would
consider an amendment altering the bill’s language. Sen. Johnson
said he would like the bill to be passed as written.
Sen. Vincent
Fort of the 39th asked what would be considered an “organic
document”. Sen. Johnson replied that
the definition was included in the bill’s language.
SB 394 was adopted and passed as substituted by a
vote of 47-5.
Sen. Don
Cheeks of the 23rd took
the well to speak in favor of the committee substitute to SB 405. The bill concerns financial institutions and
their procedures and regulations.
SB 405 was adopted by a vote of 39-0, and passed
as a substitute by a vote of 50 to 0.
Sen. Tommie
Williams of the 9th took the well to speak in favor of the
committee substitute to SB 406. SB 406 concerns
licenses and permits for deer hunting with dogs.
Sen. Chuck
Clay of the 37th asked about some of the specifics of SB 406,
including the rights of property owners in this matter.
Sen. Regina
Thomas of the 2nd asked about the economic impact the passage of
SB 406 would have on the state. Sen. Williams did not know the exact data,
but did say SB 406 would generate additional revenue for the state.
The committee sub for SB 406 was adopted by a
vote of 36-0. The bill was passed by substitute with a vote of 50-2.
Sen. Johnson
took the well to speak in favor of SB 407, concerning historic preservation
license plates and how they will provide for the state financially. SB 407 was
adopted by committee amendment (40-0). SB 407 was passed as amended by a vote
of 53-0.
Sen. Dan
Moody of the 50th took the well to speak to SB 421, which
concerns the Georgia Municipal Training Act.
Sen. Steve
Henson of the 41st asked about some of the specifics of the
Georgia Municipal Association’s bill.
Sen. Renee Unterman of the 45th
responded and explained the nature of the bill.
SB 421 was adopted by substitute 41-0. The bill
passed by substitute with a vote of 54-0.
Sen. Tolleson
took the well to speak in favor of SB 426, which concerns the training,
requirements and other provisions for new peace officers. Sen. Henson
asked if SB 426 has any language concerning foreigners becoming peace
officers. Sen. Renee Unterman of the 45th inquired about the background
check process for new peace officers. Sen. Thompson
echoed the inquiries of the two previous Senators.
SB 426 passed by a vote of 51-1.
Sen. Bill
Hamrick of the 30th took the well to speak in favor of SB 427,
which creates a spot for the Director of Homeland Security on the State
Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, among other purposes.
SB 427 was passed by a vote of 51-0.
Administration Floor Leader Dan Lee of the 29th spoke to the committee sub to SB
428. The bill establishes new license regulations for high school students who
have excessive absences or more than 10 days suspension, and adds new offenses
to the code of conduct for students. Sen. Lee
moved that SB 428 be postponed and debated during tomorrow’s session. Sen. Lee
moved that SB 429, concerning education accountability and flexibility, also be
postponed. There was no objection to the postponement.
Sen. Thompson
made a point of order questioning the postponement, and Lt. Gov. Taylor instructed the Senator to see
rule 88 of the Senate Rule Book.
Sen. David
Shafer of the 48th took the well to urge the adoption of SB 430.
The bill extends hunting season for quadriplegics who use specially adapted
firearms.
SB 430 passed by a vote of 53-0.
Sen. Casey
Cagle of the 29th took the well to speak in favor of SR
580. The bill provides for a
constitutional amendment that gives three options in which state sales taxes
will help to roll back property taxes.
The committee substitute to SR 580 was adopted by
a vote of 33-1. SR 580 was adopted by
substitute by a vote of 49-3.
After the reading of the announcements, Sen. Bill Stephens of the 51st moved
to stand adjourned until
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