Today was the 20^th legislative day and floor activity continued at a slow pace. The Members are now returning on Mondays at 1:30PM so they can travel on Monday morning instead of Sunday afternoon.

FLOOR ACTION

The House passed 19 bills, but most of them were local legislation. House Bill 1285 extends the powers of the State Auditor to conduct security and compliance audits and highlights these functions for the state computer systems and Web sites, apparently in response to the breach of the Hope scholarship data. It protects information during the course of the audit from the Open Records Act.

H.B. 1192 tightens regulation of air bag repairmen so that a license is required and passed 158 votes to 3. H.B. 1026 adopted the new provisions of the federal revenue code so they would pass through new provisions for Georgia's income tax, and H.B. 1313 increased the retirement income exclusion from state income tax for those over age 65.

The Senate dealt with 6 bills and resolutions. Of note, it passed the Governor's bioterrorism bill 48-2 , S.B. 385. An amendment was added to require the General Assembly to meet the day after the declaration of an emergency. S B. 409 allowing the Georgia Building Authority to lease space for day care centers for State employees was also notable.

COMMITTEE ACTION

Afternoon committee action was limited because of the late start to the legislative day.

NEW BILLS INTRODUCED

HB 1412 by Reps. Stokes, Parham, Keen, Byrd and Jamieson propose to extend child support for mentally or physically disabled children past the age of majority.

HB 13 by Reps Walker and Childers will require criminal records checks for personal care home employees, as is required for nursing home employees.

HB 1418 by Rich Golick allows for sales tax exemptions for sales to specified local governments.

HB 1423 by Reps Drenner, McCall, Shannahan and Broome permits DNR to enter brownfield agreements with developers of contaminated property and establish regulations therefor.

HB 1424 by Reps Drenner, Orrock, Benfield, Turnquest and Henson enacts a safe and healthy workplace act for state employees under state law. It identifies particular hazards that the state must avoid. In its employer role.

HB 1434 led by Reps Buck, Royal, Smith and Skipper contains proposed corrections to the state income tax and includes some amendments relating to the higher education savings plan.

HB 1439 also is sponsored by the Ways and Means leadership and would alter the income tax credits for the zero emission electric vehicles.

HB 1440 is signed by the Governor's floor leaders and deals with state insurance premium tax credits.

HB 1443 by Reps Skipper, Royal and Buck amends the sales and use tax to tax mobile telecommunications services and deals with billing for 911 calls.

HB 1445 by Reps Powell, Murphy, Coleman, Walker, and Royal (nice list, huh?) creates a Georgia Technology Authority Overview Committee, legislative of course.

HB 1446 also has an impressive list of sponsors from Ways and Means and alters the definition of gross sales with respect to sales of telephone services.

HR 1118, led by the House pharmacists, urges the Congress to require Medicare to cover the cost of all oral anticancer drugs.

HR 1136 declares February 28 as Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities Day.

SB 466 by Sen. Fort , Scott and others proposed to limit lot block tax executions.

SR 668 proposes to create and Investment Capital Study Committee.