2013 Legislation Travels to Governor's Desk

For the next several weeks, we will highlight bills that received final passage through the legislature and are traveling to the Governor's desk for final approval or veto. The below list outlines all bills that are currently being reviewed, signed into law, or vetoed by the Governor for the first term of the 152nd Legislative Session, according to Senator Bill Heath's official newsletter:

SB 1: Child's Health Insurance Information and Records; provide that both parents have equal access

SB 11: Georgia Geospatial Advisory Council; reestablish; membership; duties

SB 14: Georgia Alzheimer's and Related Dementias State Plan Task Force; create

HB 21: Adoption; post adoption contact agreements

SB 24: "Hospital Medicaid Financing Program Act"; enact

HB 36: Game and fish; definition of "game fish"

HB 45: Public property; writing off small amounts due to the state; change certain provisions

HB 55: Wiretapping; interception of wire or oral transmissions by law enforcement; change provisions

HB 57: Controlled substances; definition of Schedule I; expand

HB 59: Alarm monitoring services; licensed persons and companies to utilize alarm verification

SB 61: "Georgia Self-service Storage Facility Act of 2013" change the due date for monthly rental payments

SB 62: Federal and State Funded Health Care Financing Program Overview Committee; establish

SB 66: Courts; increase penalties that can impose for contempt of superior and state courts

HB 68: Physicians; continuing education requirements licensed to practice orthotics or prosthetics; revise provisions

SB 70: Transportation, Dept. of; change type of projects eligible for design-build contracts and procurement process

HB 70: Special needs students; waiver of one of the scholarship requirements under certain conditions;

HB 71: Georgia Municipal Employees Benefit System; total percentage of investments permissible in real estate investments; increase

SB 76: Returning Veterans Task Force; create; membership

HB 78: Crimes and offenses; protection of disabled adults and elder persons; change provisions

HB 79:Official Code of Georgia; revise, modernize and correct errors or omissions

SB 81: Forest Resources; shorten the legal season for harvesting ginseng

SB 82: Education; change designations from North Georgia College to the University of North Georgia

SB 83: Counties; support of paupers; provide for cremation as an alternative for deceased indigents

HB 83: Mortgage broker licensing requirements; licensed real estate brokers and salespersons assisting in a short sale real estate transaction; exempt

SB 86: Family Violence Order; provide greater protection of victims of family violence

SB 87: Roadside Markets Incentive Program; repeal

HB 87: Elections; use of the boundaries of a gated community as the boundaries of a precinct; authorize

SB 91: "Emerging Crops Fund Act"; repeal

HB 94: Damages; reduction of earnings to present value; change provisions

SB 96: State Courts, Solicitors-General of; part-time solicitor-general; engage in private practice of law; not represent defendants in criminal matters in such solicitor-general's state court

SB 97: Agricultural Commodity Commission for Beef; create; membership; powers

HB 99: Malt beverages; amount produced by a person in his or her private residence; change

SB 100: Career and Technical Education Advisory Commission; reestablish; membership

HB 101: Nonprofit organizations; exclude certain events from "food service establishment" definition

HB 103: Insurance; issuance of group life insurance policy to certain groups as approved by the Commissioner; allow

SB 104: Dept. of Community Affairs; comprehensive plans of local government; revise the minimum elements

SB 105: "Uniform Fraudulent Transfers Act"; provide for a definition

HB 105: Supplemental appropriations; State Fiscal Year July 1, 2012 - June 30, 2013

HB 106: General appropriations; State Fiscal Year July 1, 2013 - June 30, 2014

SB 113: Civil Practice; personal service of a summons on a corporation; provisions

SB 115: Education; performance data of students in certain placements included in resident school system data

HB 115: Local boards of education; suspension and removal of members under certain circumstances; revise provisions

HB 116: Georgia Foundation for Public Education; state board donations, gifts and other property held in trust; authorize transfer

SB 120: Probate Courts; provide for prosecuting attorneys in counties where there is not state court

SB 121: License Plates; retired members of the General Assembly

SB 122: Drivers' Licenses; authorize the issuance of a temporary driving permit; noncitizen applicant whose license has expired; filed extension

HB 122: Sexual Offender Registration Review Board; review and utilize records of Board of Pardons and Paroles in making assessments; authorize

HB 124: Local elections; votes cast for disapproval of Sunday alcohol sales by retailers shall not nullify prior election results; provide

HB 126: Park rangers; any person obstructing or hindering the lawful discharge of official duties; prohibit

HB131: HOPE; dual credit courses; treated the same as advanced placement and international baccalaureate courses for determining eligibility; provide

HB 132: Georgia Board of Pharmacy and Georgia Board of Dentistry; administratively attached to Department of Community Health; provide

SB 136: "Kyle Glover Boat Education Law" and "Jake and Griffin BUI Law"; provide for greater public protection for hunting and boating

SB 137: Income Tax; authorize the commissioner of economic development to designate areas as opportunity zones

SB 139: Contracts; collection of closing fees; advance of money/extension of credit

HB 139: Sheriffs; general qualification requirements; revise

SB 140: Insurance; include contracts, agreements, and instruments for repair of a motor vehicle

HB 141: Kidnapping; certain businesses and establishments post a model notice to enable persons who are the subject of human trafficking to obtain help and services; require

HB 142: Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission; change certain provisions

HB 143: Campaign contributions; disclosure reports; change certain provisions

HB: 146: Criminal procedure; the issuance of arrest and search warrants by video conference; change provisions

HB 150: Law enforcement officers; the reproduction of arrest booking photographs; enact provisions

HB 154: Worker's compensation; awards and benefits; change certain provisions

HB 155: Game and fish; licensing and operation of shooting preserves; revise provisions

HB 156: Electronic pornography; certain acts amounting to unlawfully seducing or enticing a child through use of computer online service; clarify

HB 160: Mortgages; vacant and foreclosed real property registries; revise provisions

HB 161: Trial juries; oath of bailiffs; change provisions

HB 164: Sales and use tax; exemption regarding sale or use of engines, parts, equipment or other property used in maintenance of certain aircraft; eliminate sunset

HB 175: Covenants and warranties; certain covenants run with the land as a matter of public policy of this state; provide

HB 177: Oconee River Greenway Authority; change the membership

HB 178: Georgia Pain Management Clinic Act; enact

HB 179: Pharmacies; The Pharmacy Audit Bill of Rights; change certain provisions

HB 182: Juvenile court administration; hearing on the order of an associate court judge; delete provisions

HB 187: Controlled substances; date of incorporation of local ordinances by reference; change

HB 188: Professions and businesses; certain military certifications entitle persons to obtain certain professional licenses in this state; provide

HB 189: Natural Resources, Department of; notify local governing authorities before making certain significant changes in park service; require

HB 192: Podiatry; podiatric medicine includes the diagnosis and treatment of cosmetic conditions regarding the human foot and leg; provide

HB 193: Sales and use tax; tangible personal property to certain nonprofit health centers; provide exemption only for a limited period of time

HB 194: Public utilities; venue for actions against gas companies; provide

HB 197: Ad valorem tax; land subject to a forest land conservation use covenant; provide taxation

HB 198: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; licensing of health insurance navigators; provide

HB 202: Highways, bridges, and ferries; performing value engineering studies; provide requirements

HB 207: Licenses; issuance of a special turkey-hunting permit for young and mobility impaired hunters; authorize

HB 208: Nursing homes; annually offer influenza vaccinations to health care workers and other employees; require

HB 209: Pharmacists and pharmacies; revise definition of "security paper"; revise requirements

HB 210: Gasoline and aviation fuel; temporary suspension of the collection of taxes; provide legislative findings

HB 211: Motor fuel excise tax; public school systems under certain circumstances; exempt

"As many of these bills are currently being reviewed and signed into law, I encourage you to reach out to the Governor's office on bills you support," reads Heath's newsletter. "I also invite you to email or call my office with your feedback and suggestions on any bills that you'd like for me to expound upon in future columns."

For a complete listing of bills signed into law, please visit the Governor's website at: http://gov.georgia.gov/bills-signed/2013.

Sen. Bill Heath serves as Chairman of the Government Oversight Committee and as a member of the Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, Appropriations and Finance committees. The 31st Senate District consists of Haralson, Polk counties and portions of Paulding county. He may be reached at 404-656-3943, by email at BillHeath@BillHeath.net or on Facebook as Bill Heath.