March 9, 2004

For more information contact:

Stanley S. Jones, Jr.

404-817-6133

March 9, 2004 

          Greetings!  After a long weekend, the General Assembly returned to the Capitol for the "home" stretch.  Many Legislators were present over the weekend as details on the FY 2004 Budget were hammered out in Conference Committee. 

          Tort reform initiatives continue to be a sticky issue.  The Coalition for Civil Justice Reform, composed of various members of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Georgia's hospitals and GHA, and the Medical Association of Georgia have been working on a strategy not to engross HB 1712, the omnibus tort reform bill assembled by Dubose Porter.

Floor News

          On March 4, 2004, we did not include that the House and Senate agreed to accept the Conference Committee Report on SB 157 which is the "pay day loan" legislation.  The House vote was 132 to 38; the Senate vote was 49 to 2.  These changes to O.C.G.A. § 7-3-29 and Title 16 will address crimes and offenses and include payday lending in the definition of racketeering activity.  It also proposes that it will be unlawful to engage in the business of making certain small loans unless that person is engaging in financial transactions permitted pursuant to A) the laws regulating financial institutions as defined under Chapter 1 of Title 7, the Financial Institutions Code of Georgia; B) the laws regulating state and federally chartered credit unions; C) Article 13 of Chapter 1 of Title 7, relating to Georgia residential mortgages; D) Chapter 3 of Title 7, the Georgia Industrial Loan Act; E) Chapter 4 of Title 7, relating to interest and usury; F) Chapter 5 of Title 7, the Credit Card and Credit Card Bank Act including financial institutions and their assignees who are not operating in violation of said chapter; or G) Paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of Code Section 7-4-2 in which the simple interest rate is not greater than 16 percent per annum; 2) such loans are lawful under the terms of A) Article 1 of Chapter 1 of Title 10, the Retail Installment and Home Solicitation Sales Act; B) Article 2 of Chapter 1 of Title 10, the Motor Vehicle Sales Finance Act; or C) Part 5 of Article 3 of Chapter 12 of Title 44 relating to pawnbrokers; 3) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (4) of subsection (b) of this Code section, such person is a bank or thrift chartered under the laws of the United States, a bank chartered under the laws of another state and insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or a credit card bank and is not operating in violation of the federal and state laws applicable to its charter; or 4) such loan is made as a tax refund anticipation loan.  In order to be exempt under this paragraph (4) the tax refund anticipation loan must be issued using a borrower's filed tax return and the loan cannot be for more than the amount of the borrower's anticipated tax refund.  Tax returns that are prepared but not filed with the proper government agency will not qualify for a loan exemption under this paragraph.

          Rep. Childers also moved for engrossment of HB 1711 which deals with liability for providers of care in free healthcare clinics.  His motion received a vote of 87 to 60 and failed to receive enough votes for engrossment.

          Today (Tuesday, March 8), the House voted on the engrossment of HB 1712, the omnibus tort reform package.  The Coalition for Civil Justice Reform opposed this engrossment, as it believes that the bill only helps the trial lawyers and does not make meaningful changes.  Due to rules on engrossment, the House only allows two Members to discuss the merits/objections of engrossment.  Rep. DuBose Porter took the Well in support of his motion to engross HB 1712 which he claimed was a compromise and compilation of insurance and judiciary work.  He stated that the lawyers disagree with the bill's provisions and their intended efforts on civil justice reform; he asked, however, that the House talk to the House Judiciary Committee Members to see what their thoughts were after hearing the component bills in Committee.  He also stated that the House needed to get to the merits of the issue and to do so would require a vote for engrossment.  As for the expert witness provisions included in HB 1712, Rep. Porter asserted that was what MAG Mutual had asked for.  He did state that the bill did not revolutionize the Civil Practice Act but it does balance the system. 

          Rep. Ron Dodson, the Democrat opposition on the motion to engross, took the Well to support hospitals, physicians, and businesses who have lobbied for tort reform.  He stated that he felt as if he were the sacrificial lamb in the process.  He mentioned to the House that 86% of Georgians had asked for tort reform.  Rep. Dodson also mentioned that Rep. Royal's bill on expert witnesses, which was filed late last week, had received 100 signatures and that was telling (Rep. Royal's expert witness provisions are much different than what is contained in HB 1712.)  Moreover, Rep. Dodson stated that HB 1712 actually "backs up" many of the processes presently used (such as for expert witnesses).  Finally, Rep. Dodson stated that what speaks volumes is a letter received from former Attorney General Griffin Bell who states that HB 1712 basically does little to address meaningful tort reform and actually harms the attraction of new business to Georgia.  The vote to engross was 58 to 92, with a number of House Members "walking" on the vote.  However, the vote spoke volumes – the House did not agree that HB 1712 should be the complete tort reform initiative.  The bill may not be moved by leadership, absent engrossment.

          After this vote in the House, Rep. Porter basically claimed he was "done" with the issue for the year.  Meanwhile, Rep. Bordeaux, a plaintiff's lawyer and chair of the House Judiciary Committee, claimed victory that HB 1712 was "dead."  It is unlikely that any sweeping changes will be addressed this year on tort reform.

          Otherwise, the House had a lengthy calendar.  Another bill on its calendar was Rep. Jamieson's HR 1471 which proposes a Constitutional amendment on marriage so that marriage would be between a man and a woman.  It does not specifically state that gay marriage is banned.  She too had a Motion to engross her Resolution.

          HB 1450, the proposed Judicial Emergency Act of 2004, cleared the House today.  This establishes procedures for when judges (such as the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and Superior Court (chief judges)) may declare such emergencies for times of natural disaster, etc. 

          HB 1416 also cleared the House Floor.  Rep. Lane spoke about the ad valorem tax amendment which addresses conservation use of property and what land qualifies.  It would be available to wildlife habitats of ten or more acres.  Rep. Sims attempted to amend the bill by including language to help provide an exemption for entities which feed, manage, and raise exotic livestock.  Rep. Sims' amendment failed.  In the end, the bill passed, with an amendment by Rep. Lane which tightens the qualification on the property where such may be applied, by a vote of 162 to 1.

          The House also passed out changes to the current State law governing the Athletic and Entertainment Commission (ticket brokers) by a vote of 149 to 16.  HB 1431, which amends the cancellation process for executions on judgments, passed without additional changes.

          In a procedural move to change committees, Rep. Massey moved that HB 1009 be moved from the House Judiciary Committee to the House Industrial Relations Committee.  His motion passed by a vote of 87 to 74.  This bill amends Chapter 10 of Title 13, Chapter 91 of Title 36, and Article 3 of Chapter 5 of Title 50 to prohibit the State or a governmental entity contracting for public works construction from requiring a contractor, subcontractor, or material supplier or handler to become a party to any labor agreement as a condition of bidding, negotiating regarding bids, being awarded a contract, or working on a public works project.

New Legislation

HB 1704 – Reps. Shaw, Channell, and Parham have co-authored this amendment to O.C.G.A. § 31-5A-4 to require an annual report on the fiscal condition of the State's program on health services for individuals pursuant to Title XIX of the Social Security Act to be prepared by the Dept. of Community Health.  The report would include: The amount by provider of any funds received by the department or the Indigent Care Trust Fund and used to claim federal financial participation pursuant to Title XIX of the Social Security Act; (2) The amount of any related provider payment; and (3) The amount of funds retained by the department for federal matching purposes.  Before the implementation of any managed care or capitated payment system for persons eligible for health services pursuant to Title XIX of the Social Security Act, the Commissioner must provide a report to the Chairs of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees which is to include:

(1) An estimate of the number of individuals subject to mandatory enrollment in health maintenance organizations or provider sponsor health care corporations; (2) An estimate of the costs of services to these individuals in the most recent state fiscal year to which the department has data; (3) An estimate of the per member per month costs of providing services to these individuals on a managed care basis; and (4) An estimate of the savings to be achieved through implementation of a managed care program.  The commissioner shall also provide assurances in the report that such managed care plans will not reduce access to health care services by medical beneficiaries.  The department shall not require enrollment of Medicaid individuals in health maintenance organizations, provider sponsor health care corporations, or any capitated arrangement for provision of health services as a condition of eligibility without legislative approval of both the House of Representatives and Senate. 

This legislation was referred to the House Health and Human Services Committee.

HB 1706 – Rep. Channell has written this proposal to Title 43 to revise provisions relating to the "Georgia Volunteers in Health Care Specialties Act."  It adds that this Act shall also apply to these healthcare practitioners in addition to current law which covers chiropractors, registered nurses, and podiatrists to also include physician's assistant, licensed practical nurse, or certified nurse midwife.  Currently, special licenses are provided to these volunteers.  This amendment proposes that these special licensees get limited liability in O.C.G.A. § 43-1-28(d):

The special licensee shall be permitted to practice the health care specialty only in the non-compensated employ of public agencies or institutions, not for profit agencies, not for profit institutions, nonprofit corporations, or not for profit associations which provide health care specialty services only to indigent patients in areas which are underserved by that specialty or critical need population areas of the state, as determined by the board which licenses that specialty, or in the non-compensated employ of a state-established health care program whose purpose is to provide health care services free of charge to indigent residents by utilizing health care practitioners who volunteer their services in exchange for limited liability.

Further, the bill adds a new subparagraph (2) to (h) in the same Code Section:

The liability of persons practicing a health care specialty under and in compliance with a special license issued under this Code section and the liability of their employers for such practice in a state-established health care program whose purpose is to provide health care services free of charge to indigent residents by utilizing health care practitioners who volunteer their services shall be limited in accordance with the provisions of such program as provided by law.

Similar provisions are also added in O.C.G.A. § 43-11-52 for volunteers in dentistry and O.C.G.A. § 43-34-45.1 for volunteers in medicine.  This bill was assigned to the House Industrial Relations Committee.

HB 1709 – Reps. Channell, Parrish, Shaw, Orrock, and Parham have co-authored this bill amending Article 1 of Chapter 7 of Title 31 to provide that nursing homes annually offer an influenza virus vaccine to all Medicare and Medicaid eligible patients and private pay patients in their facilities.  Rules and regulations will be required to administer this annual offering.  The vaccine would be provided contingent on its availability.  This bill was sent to the House Health and Human Services Committee.

HB 1710 – Reps. Stephens, Birdsong, Sims, and Elrod have proposed amending O.C.G.A. § 48-5-311(I) to provide for additional appeal procedures with respect to taxpayers who are absent due to military service.  It allows the filing requirements set forth in O.C.G.A. § 48-5-311(e)(2)(A) to be tolled for a period of 90 days.  During that time, the individual, or an immediate family member or a friend may notify the tax receiver or the tax commissioner of the individual's absence due to military service and submit written notice or representation for the limited purpose of the appeal.  This legislation was referred to the House Ways and Means Committee.

HB 1711 – Rep. Childers and others have dropped this bill amending Chapter 1 of Title 51 to provide for limiting liability of free health clinics.  These are similar to bills authored by Rep. Dodson on this subject.

HB 1713 – Rep. Roberts and others have co-written this change to amend Title 7 in an effort to add a new Chapter 9 in the banking and finance law to be entitled "Deferred Presentment Services Act."  This proposes to regulate persons who provide deferred presentment services.  It defines this term as: a transaction whereby the lender, for a service fee, does the following:
(A) Accepts a check from the consumer; (B) Agrees to hold the check for a period of time prior to negotiation or deposit of the check; and (C) Pays to the person, credits to the person's account, or pays to another party on the person's behalf the amount of the check, less service fees, permitted under subsection (d) of Code Section 7-9-10.  The bill outlines the process for application for persons engaged in this business which would not be transferable or assignable once it is obtained.  There are reporting requirements outlined in the bill for the licensee.  Persons who are licensed under this chapter will be required to comply with state and federal laws regarding cash transactions and cash transaction reporting.  Among other provisions in the bill, it also contains consumer protections as well penalties for any violations.

HB 1714 – Reps. Royal, Richardson and others have co-authored this bill proposing comprehensive revisions relating to Title 48 and Title 36 regarding funding to local governments for service delivery costs through certain sales and use taxation.  There are changes in land use classification which increase service delivery and infrastructure costs to local government.  It also proposes creating "special districts" and special district sales and use taxes.  The bill adds in O.C.G.A. § 48-8-110.1 that per the authority granted in the State's Constitution in Article IX, Section II, Paragraph VI, there are created within the State 159 special districts.  The geographical boundary of each county shall correspond with and shall be conterminous with the geographical boundary of the 159 special districts.  Further, the bill states in subparagraph (b) of this same Code Section "when the imposition of a special district sales and use tax is authorized according to the procedures provided in this part within a special district, the governing authority of any county in this state may, subject to the requirement of referendum approval and the other requirements of this part, impose within the special district a special sales and use tax for a limited period of time which tax shall be known as the county special purpose local option sales tax."  Prior to imposing the tax by way of referendum, governing authorities may enter into an intergovernmental agreement with any or all of the qualified municipalities within the special district.  To participate, the county must deliver or mail a written notice to the mayor or chief elected official in each qualified municipality located within the special district.  The Title 36 amendments contain a number of revisions to land use and rezoning issues between counties and municipalities especially in areas where there are areas contiguous to municipal boundaries.  This has been assigned to the House Ways and Means Committee.

HB 1720 – Rep. Westmoreland and others have introduced this amendment to Article 6 of Chapter 8 of Title 31 to provide for reimbursement for ambulance services for Medicaid recipients as an authorized expenditure from the Indigent Care Trust Fund.  It specifically proposes to amend O.C.G.A. § 31-8-154 to allow the Dept. of Community Health to "cover insufficiencies in funding for reimbursement of ambulance services provided to a recipient of medical assistance in accordance with Code Section 49-4-158."  This bill was referred to the House Appropriations Committee.

HB 1723 – Rep. Hill and others have proposed amending Chapter 2 of Title 20 in an effort to require that boards of education in each county school system, independent school system and consolidated school system must develop and implement a program for the prevention of child abuse, child neglect, and child abduction.  It must do so in conjunction with participation with parents, guardians, teachers, law enforcement officers and agencies, and the Department of Human Resources along with licensed day care providers and others.  The training is outlined for school-age children's parents and school staff, the licensed day care providers and the children.

HB 1737 – Rep. Ralston has authored this amendment to Chapter 7 of Title 33 to provide for an exception to the category of property insurance for warranty service agreements for major appliances, utility systems, and roofing.  It also proposes to provide for surety bonds under certain circumstances and provides for identification of an insurer or surety insurer.  There are also cancellation procedures and the requirement that warranty agreements are not insurance and there are disclaimer provisions for that as well.   O.C.G.A. § 33-7-6(b)(3)(E) is added:

Any contract, agreement, or instrument whereby any person assumes the risk of and the expense or portion of such expense for the breakdown, service, repair, or replacement due to normal wear and tear, structural or inherent defect to the major appliances, utility systems, and roofing system of any one-family or two-family residential building structure in exchange for a separately stated consideration and does not otherwise provide direct or consequential coverage under a property contract as provided in this subsection and such contract, agreement, or instrument is guaranteed by a surety bond executed by a corporate surety insurer authorized to offer surety insurance in this state in favor of and approved by the Commissioner in an amount of not less than $100,000.00.

HB 1739 – This is another bill by Reps. Boggs and Bordeaux which proposes amendments to Article 5 of Chapter 12 of Title 15 relating to trial juries and the number of peremptory challenges which will be allowed.  These changes will apply in criminal matters; there are also changes for challenges for cause in civil cases.

HB 1740 – Reps. Martin and Burkhalter have co-authored this change in O.C.G.A. § 50-14-1 to provide that certain associations of school districts in Georgia are subject to the open meetings statute.  It adds that any association that has a membership body composed primarily of school districts of this state, that has as its objective the encouragement of participation in athletics and fine arts through regional and state competition, and that derives a substantial portion of its operating budget from payments from such school districts to the term "agency".

HB 1742 – Rep. Jenkins has authored this change to O.C.G.A. § 50-14-3 to provide for an exception for meetings of local boards of education when members are discussing discipline issues as related to specific students or specific incidents from the State's open and public meetings laws.

HB 1744 – Reps. Graves and Royal have co-authored this legislation proposing to provide for a state sales and use tax exemption with respect to certain sales to or by non-profit organizations which are engaged primarily in providing child services.  This would be added in O.C.G.A. § 48-8-3(41).  Currently, such exemption is allowed for sales of tangible personal property and services to orphans' homes located in this state and operated as non-profit corporations.  Thus, this exemption is broadened.

HR 1470 – Rep. Jamieson and others have co-authored their version of SR 595.  It proposes to amend Article I of the Constitution by adding a new Section IV to read as follows:

Paragraph I. Marriage. Marriage in this state shall consist only the union of a man and a woman.

This Resolution was referred to the House Rules Committee.

HR 1471 – The House and Senate adopted this Resolution to work on a schedule for March 4 – March 15.  Day 30 will be on March 9; Day 31 will be on March 12; and Day 32 will be on March 15 as the schedule currently stands. 

HR 1474 – Rep. Skipper and others have authored this Resolution proposing the creation of the House Trauma Network Study Committee to look at trauma injuries which are the leading cause of death of Georgians ages one to forty-five.  In Georgia, trauma injuries result in 4,500 deaths and 75,000 hospitalizations, 1 million emergency room visits and over 2 million physician visits on an annual basis in Georgia.  Three years ago, Georgia had 19 trauma centers; today, it has 14.  This House Study will be composed of seven members appointed by the Speaker.  It will meet for no more than five days and report back on December 31, 2004 any of findings and recommendations with suggestions for proposed legislation.

HR 1510 – Rep. Sheldon and others have proposed this Resolution urging the Congress of the United States to amend Section 1917(b)(1)(C) of the federal Social Security Act by deleting May 14, 1993 as the deadline for approval by sates of long-term care partnership plans and to afford states the ability to give their citizens the same rights to participate in those types of plans.

HR 1519 – Rep. Noel and others have offered this Resolution commending the Georgia Enterprises for Products and Services and the Georgia State Use Council and to recognize March 12, 2004 as the State Use Program's Works Wonders Day.  This program was launched in 1979 to promote vocational education, training, and rehabilitation through special contracts for Georgia workers with disabilities, and they have paved the way for the development of business initiatives to provide employment opportunities.

HR 1529 – Reps. Stanley-Turner, Henson, Beasley-Teague, Childers, Cooper and others have authored this Resolution to create a House Cervical Cancer Study Committee to look at this disease which is often undetected until an advanced stage.  This Committee will be comprised of five members appointed by the Speaker of the House.  The Committee will meet five times and must report back on December 31, 2004 of any findings and/or suggestions for proposed legislation.

SB 607 – Sen. Tanksley has written this amendment to alter Chapter 11 of Title 51 to allow public safety employees to bring a civil action for injuries received under certain circumstances.  This change in O.C.G.A. § 51-11-2.1(b) will allow a public safety employee or his or her family member to file a civil action for personal injuries received by the public safety employee in a motor vehicle accident caused by the negligent operation of a motor vehicle by a third party when the public safety employee is injured in the line of duty.

SR 864 – Sens. Squires and Smith have co-authored this Resolution urging the House of Representatives to introduce and pass a revenue bill to provide tax benefits to companies that provide certain health benefits to their employees.  This is an effort to encourage companies who do not currently offer healthcare benefits to employees to provide such benefits to not only employees but also employees' dependants. This Resolution proposes a statutory plan which would include that in exchange for providing such insurance benefits a company would be granted a tax exclusion for state tax purposes for the benefits provided up to $3,000.00 per employee.

SR 868 – Sens. Cagle, Hudgens, Cheeks, and Thomas have co-authored this Resolution honoring crisis pregnancy centers in Georgia and the dedicated individuals who support them.  The Resolution notes that these centers provide critical and compassionate services and counseling to women with unplanned pregnancies.  The centers utilize 24-hour hotlines, confidential pregnancy testing, counseling services, education on various pregnancy issues, medical and hospital assistance and referral, and other services.

SR 870 – Sen. Shafer and others have dropped this Resolution commending the American Red Cross and proclaiming March 2004 as American Red Cross Month.

SR 871 – Sen. Adelman has authored this proposal creating the Joint Study Committee on the Health Effects of Pesticides on Children and Safe and Effective Alternatives to Pesticides.  This would be composed of ten members.  The Senate Committee on Assignments would appoint five Senators; the Speaker of the House would appoint an additional five Representatives.  This Committee would meet three days and report back any findings and/or suggestions or recommendations for legislation on or before December 31, 2004.

Committee News

          Conferees met over the weekend to hammer out details on HB 1180, the FY 2004 Supplemental Budget.  As of late Sunday, the main health issue was substituting for the pharmacy cuts to the generic dispensing fees and high discounts through supplemental drug rebates and some general language on increased savings through use of generic prescription drugs.  An average wholesale price minus 11% will appear to hold in the Department of Community Health Budget as the House recommended, lowering the Senate's and Governor's proposed 12% discount.

          The Senate Health and Human Services Committee reported out on March 4 a substitute to SB 458, which proposes to change the job descriptions for physicians' assistants.  This adds a new "job description" definition for physicians' assistants in O.C.G.A. § 43-34-102(4.1):

"Job description" means a document, signed by the primary supervising physician and the physician's assistant whom the primary supervising physician is supervising, which consists of guidelines mutually developed by the primary supervising physician and the physician's assistant to be consistent with the primary supervising physician's scope of practice; and which document describes the professional background, scope of practice, and specialty of the primary supervising physician; the qualifications, including related experience of the physician's assistant; a general description of how the physician's assistant will be utilized in the practice; and how the physician's assistant will be supervised. A job description shall not be required to contain every activity the primary supervising physician deems the physician's assistant qualified to perform but shall confine the activities of the physician's assistant to those in the scope of practice of the primary supervising physician.

This substitute also addresses care provided by a physician's assistant, licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized to practice in any other state or federal jurisdiction, and whose license, certification, or authorization is in good standing who voluntarily and gratuitously and other than in the ordinary course of the physician's assistant's employment or practice responds to a need for medical care created by a state of emergency or disaster may render such that the physician's assistant is able to provide without supervision or with such supervision from a physician as is available.  There are also provisions to allow a PA to enter into a temporary practice agreement exempt from any filing fees with the Board under certain conditions (such as services are being provided primarily to financially disadvantaged patients; services are free or a charge based on a patient's ability to pay; etc.).

          Last week, the House Ways and Means Committee reported out a Substitute on HB 984.  This bill amends Article 2 of Chapter 7 of Title 48 and changes provisions regarding the designation of counties as less developed areas for the purposes of certain income tax credits.  One change made is that it adds a new subsection (c) to O.C.G.A. § 48-7-40.1 for additional tax credits in less developed areas so that the Commissioner of the Dept. of Community Affairs will be authorized to include in the designation any area comprised of one or more census tracts adjacent to a federal military installation where pervasive poverty is evidenced by a 15% poverty rate as reflected in the most recent decennial census.  The bill also allows designation of tax credits for manufacturing and telecommunications facilities or any of these entities' support facilities.  It also amends O.C.G.A. § 48-7-40.17 concerning tax credits for entities which establish or relocate their headquarters and create full-time jobs.

          The Healthcare Facilities Subcommittee of House Health and Human Services met to take up Rep. Shaw's proposal, HB 1704.  This would require the Dept. of Community Health to make an annual report on the status of the Medicaid program to the General Assembly.  The bill also addresses what the Dept. of Community Health must do prior to enacting any managed care options.  This bill passed out of Subcommittee without changes.

          Rep. Lester Jackson chaired the Healthcare Professions Subcommittee of the House Health and Human Services Committee this afternoon.  It passed out HB 1533, by Rep. Austin Scott.  The bill proposes to add a new Code Section to 31-7-11.1 so that "no hospital or hospital authority shall charge an uninsured patient an amount greater than the average rate charged by the hospital for the specific service or services rendered under all managed care plan contracts entered into by such hospital."  A number of hospital lobbyists rose in opposition to this proposal.  There apparently is confusion in members' minds concerning what are "charges" and what are "costs."  Additionally, there is confusion over how hospitals contract with insurers (Medicare, Medicaid, private insurers,) on setting rates for services performed.  Charges for services remain the same; different payers reimburse at different rates for those charges.  This caused discussion about how hospitals are reimbursed by the Indigent Care Trust Fund (again there is confusion that all hospitals participate in such Fund when they do not).  Rep. Scott claimed that the cost-to-charge ratio is approximately 45% for all insurers while the Indigent Care Trust Fund charge ratio is 65% (or $.65 paid on each dollar submitted/billed).  Many on the Subcommittee failed to also understand that there are two types of "uninsured" – those who cannot get insurance (such as for a pre-existing condition) and those who elect not to purchase insurance even though they have the financial means to pay for insurance. 

          This Subcommittee also passed out Rep. Manning's Resolution, HR 1307, which addresses the waiting lists for persons to get services through the Departments of Human Resources and Community Health.

          The Senate Finance Committee was to hold a meeting this afternoon.  Due to a conflict with the Senate Education Committee, the Chair, Sen. Casey Cagle, canceled the meeting and stated that he would re-schedule the meeting for possibly Thursday.  There were seven bills on the Committee's agenda including a number of sales tax initiatives and vendor contracting bill.

          The House Ways and Means Committee also met this afternoon.  It passed out HB 1714, a significant rewrite of the SPLOST authorizing legislation.  The bill was a compromise between Georgia Municipal Association of County Commissioners of Georgia about how to divide SPLOST proceeds between cities and counties.  The Committee also approved a provisional "infrastructure bank" to permit a draw down and match of federal highway funds in certain circumstances.  (HB 1744.) 

          The House Special Judiciary Committee met this afternoon also.  Rep. Curtis Jenkins, the Chair of this Committee, held HB 1505 which amends the current law regarding dispossessory proceedings.  It could possibly be heard at the next Committee meeting.

If you have any questions regarding this Report, please contact Stanley S. Jones, Jr., Jeffrey C. Baxter, or Helen Sloat.

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