HB 0048 |
Neutral | Redefine Ad Valorem Tax Exemptions for Veterans |
Coleman, Brooks 97th |
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|
7/1/2015 |
Effective Date |
MotV |
PUB SAF |
- |
|
|
| This legislation expands the statewide homestead exemption for 100% disabled veterans by including veterans that may be less than 100% disabled but are compensated by the Veterans Administration at the 100% level due to the individual's unemployability because of their disability. This change will also apply to the exemption from vehicle ad valorem tax for a disabled veterans and the vehicle exemption is expanded to include an unmarried surviving spouse or minor child in the event of the death of the disabled veteran. According to the tax commissioner's association, this bill should have little to no fiscal impact on the county governments. |
HB 0093 |
Neutral | Requirement That All Law Enforcement Destroy Captured License Plate Data After One Year |
Pezold, John 133rd |
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3/22/2016 |
Senate Tabled |
PS&HS |
PUB SAF |
- |
|
|
| This legislation requires law enforcement agencies to destroy all data captured by automatic license plate readers after one year. This bill also makes it clear that license plate reader data is not subject to open records disclosure. |
HB 0110 |
Support | Fireworks - Legalizing Those Not Prohibited by Federal Law |
Roberts, Jay 155th |
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|
7/1/2015 |
Effective Date |
RegI |
PUB SAF |
- |
|
|
| This legislation authorizes the sale of fireworks in Georgia which are not prohibited by federal law to anyone age 18 or older. Fireworks are subject to a 5 percent excise tax (in addition to other state and local sales taxes) which goes to the state. Fireworks may be used between 10 a.m. and 12 Midnight, with hours extended to 2:00 a.m. on Jan. 1, July 3-4, and Dec. 31. Local governments may authorize extended times on other dates via special use permits (the fee for which may not exceed $100). While there is no "opt-out" provision for counties wishing to prohibit fireworks sales or usage, counties may regulate the sale of fireworks from temporary locations as well as require a permit or license for these sales. Permanent retail locations are licensed by the state. Local fire departments will license "temporary" sale locations for a $500 fee which goes to the local governing authority, but must be spent on public safety purposes. The state fire marshal enforces this law, with local fire departments referring cases for enforcement. County zoning or other land use practices are not impacted by this law. Local sales taxes will apply to firework sales. |
HB 0114 |
Negotiating | Department of Driver Services Clean Up Bill |
Tanner, Kevin 9th |
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|
1/11/2016 |
Senate Recommitted |
PS&HS |
PUB SAF |
- |
|
|
| This legislation is the Department of Driver Services (DDS) annual housekeeping bill. One provision of this legislation eliminates the requirement that DDS notify licensed drivers by certified mail of suspension for failure to appear for a hearing on a traffic offense. The bill was amended in the rules committee prior to going to the floor to include a requirement that the court send a notice certified return receipt mail to those who fail to appear for court and give an opportunity for an additional hearing before notifying DDS. The proposed requirement could be a significant cost for local courts. The current version of the bill has stripped out the certified return receipt mail requirement for counties. |
HB 0147 |
Neutral | Two Year Vehicle Registration |
Powell, Alan 32nd |
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7/1/2015 |
Effective Date |
MotV |
PUB SAF |
- |
|
|
| This legislation allows an initial two year registration for certain motor vehicles. The registration fee for new passenger cars for which the purchaser has paid state and local title ad valorem taxes is $40. This change should should provide a slight reduction in administrative burden in the county tax commissioner's office. |
HB 0206 |
Neutral | Garbage Trucks - Pass With Care or Else |
Harrell, Brett 106th |
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7/1/2015 |
Effective Date |
PS&HS |
PUB SAF |
- |
|
|
| This legislation requires drivers, when approaching and then passing a garbage truck, to either move over to a lane not adjacent to the truck or reduce their speed to 10 mph less than the posted speed limit or 25 mph, whichever is more, and be prepared to stop. Violators can be fined up to $250. |
HB 0228 |
Support | Clean Up Legislation Regarding Sheriff's Fees, General Fund |
Jones, Jeff 167th |
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|
3/11/2016 |
Senate Read Second Time |
Judy |
PUB SAF |
- |
|
|
| The current substitute to this bill (LC 29 6844S) provides that when the sheriff is paid only on a salary basis, all fees collected by the sheriff must be paid to the treasurer or fiscal officer of the county within 30 days. |
HB 0278 |
Watch | Transfer Public Employee Hazardous Chemical Protection and Right to Know Act to Safety Fire Commissioner |
Clark, David 98th |
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1/1/2016 |
Effective Date |
PS&HS |
PUB SAF |
- |
|
|
| This legislation transfers responsibility for the Public Employee Hazardous Chemical Protection and Right to Know Act from the Department of Labor to the Safety Fire Commissioner. |
HB 0310 |
Support | Consolidation of all Parole, Probation and Misdemeanor Probation Supervision Into the Department of Community Supervision |
Powell, Alan 32nd |
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|
7/1/2015 |
Effective Date |
JudyNC |
PUB SAF |
- |
|
|
| This legislation creates the Board of Community Supervision to oversee the newly created Department of Community Supervision (DCS) and the Governor's Office of Transition, Support, and Reentry. All offender supervision activities will transfer from the Board of Pardons and Parole and the Department of Corrections to the new DCS. This legislation also transfers the County and Municipal Probation Advisory Council, the agency tasked with registration and oversight of private misdemeanor probation providers and governmental misdemeanor probation providers to DCS. The bill also includes requirements for increased transparency and financial reporting by the misdemeanor probation providers to the counties of fine collections, which was an ACCG priority. A county commissioner or manager is included as a mandatory board member for the new department. The Board will adopt rules and regulations governing the management and treatment of probationers and parolees, and the operation of misdemeanor probation supervision. Probation and Parole Offices will combine, some counties currently provide space to these entities, and these offices collect fine revenue from probationers to be processed and sent back to local governments. Misdemeanor probation providers (county and private) will be required to submit an annual report to the county commission that contains the amount of fines and fees collected and the nature of such fees, including probation supervision fees, rehabilitation programming fees, electronic monitoring fees, drug and alcohol detection device fees, substance abuse or mental health evaluation or treatment fees, and drug testing fees; the number of community service hours performed by probationer under supervision; and, a listing of any other service for which a probationer is required to pay to attend. |
HB 0492 |
Neutral | Guns - Clarity on Provisions of Georgia's Weapons Carry Law |
Jasperse, Rick 11th |
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|
7/1/2015 |
Effective Date |
PS&HS |
PUB SAF |
- |
|
|
| This legislation is intended to provide clarity on several provisions of Georgia's weapons carry law, including: the prohibition on carrying of weapons near polling places only applies when locations are being used as polling places; what constitutes a renewal license (if license has 90 or fewer days remaining or has expired within the last 30 days, regardless of county of issuance) and how to address fingerprinting on renewals; proof of serving in the Armed Forces for those between the ages of 18 and 21 who seek a license; how judges report the revocation of licenses and check for license verification; and authorizing counties to prohibit unpaid volunteers from carrying weapons during volunteer functions. |
HB 0727 |
Support | Fireworks - Revisions |
Battles, Paul 15th |
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|
4/26/2016 |
House Date Signed by Governor |
RegI |
PUB SAF |
- |
|
|
| This legislation now authorizes the use of fireworks on any day of the year between 10:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. (with the exceptions below). Local governments may adopt ordinances allowing or regulating their usage from 9:00 p.m. until midnight. On July 3, July 4 and Dec. 31, fireworks may be used statewide from 10:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m., and on Jan. 1 fireworks may be used statewide from midnight to 1:00 a.m. and from 10:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. For a more detailed summary of the legislation, please click here. |
HB 0767 |
Support | Utility Vehicles - Must Pass with Caution |
Powell, Alan 32nd |
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|
7/1/2016 |
Effective Date |
MotV |
PUB SAF |
- |
|
|
| This legislation requires drivers to slow down and change lanes, if possible, when a utility service vehicle (including those of a county) has flashing lights on or traffic cones placed around the truck. If a lane change is not possible, one must slow down. |
HB 0970 |
Neutral | Change in Definition of Firefighter to Include Recruits |
Lumsden, Eddie 12th |
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3/10/2016 |
Senate Read Second Time |
PS&HS |
PUB SAF |
- |
|
|
| This legislation includes "recruits" (i.e., prospective firefighters who have not been certified or registered by the Firefighters Standards and Training Council) in the definition of "firefighter." HB 970 also gives the Firefighters Standards and Training Council the authority to establish minimum standards for hiring and training contract firefighters, as well as other firefighting service professionals as they deem necessary. The language from this bill was added to HB 727 which passed both chambers. |
HB 1064 |
Watch | Revision of Off Duty Use of Deparment of Public Safety Vehicles |
Hitchens, Bill 161st |
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3/11/2016 |
Senate Read Second Time |
PS&HS |
PUB SAF |
- |
|
|
| This legislation restricts the use of Department of Public Safety vehicles by off duty officers.
|
SB 0006 |
Watch | Georgia Road Safety and Driver's License Integrity Act |
McKoon, Joshua 29th |
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3/7/2016 |
House Second Readers |
PS&HS |
PUB SAF |
- |
|
|
| This legislation allows law enforcement officers to impound vehicles driven by those without a driver's license. The vehicle cannot be released to the owner or the owner's spouse, child or parent for at least sixty days. Within 72 hours, the law enforcement agency must notify the owner. The owner may request a hearing to determine the validity of the impoundment in superior court, which must be held within five days of the owner's request. If the law enforcement agency fails to notify the owner, then the vehicle will be available for immediate release and the county will be responsible for the storage fees. |
SB 0046 |
Negotiating | Mandatory Audio/Video Recording Devices for all Law Enforcement |
Fort, Vincent 39th |
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|
1/26/2015 |
Senate Read and Referred |
- | PUB SAF |
- |
|
|
| This legislation requires law enforcement officers that respond to emerency calls or perform traffic stops to wear audio and video recording devices while they are on duty. Only the portions of recordings involving an encounter (i.e., a stop, detention or investigation of another person) are public records subject to disclosure. Recordings must be maintained for 90 days except that recordings involving an arrest, detention, use of force or for which a complaint has been lodged must be maintained for three years. Counties that fail to implement the recording devices by January 1, 2017, are subject to losing state funding and state administrated federal funding. The legislation provides for grant funding to help small and underfunded law enforcement agencies to comply with this law. |
SB 0070 |
Neutral | Armed Security Guards - Must Have Criminal Background Checks |
Hill, Judson 32nd |
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|
2/2/2015 |
Senate Read and Referred |
- | PUB SAF |
- |
|
|
| This legislation requires a finger print based criminal background check be performed on individuals before becoming an armed security guard. |
SB 0072 |
Neutral | Changes Provisions Regarding Incest, Harrassing Communications and Crimes Against Police Dogs In Performance of Official Duties |
Mullis, Jeff 53rd |
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|
7/1/2015 |
Effective Date |
JudyNC |
PUB SAF |
- |
|
|
| This legislation was amended to include language from H.B 534 which defines relationships between relatives that constitute incest and H.B. 578 changes making harrassing telephone calls to a crime to make harassing, threatening or harassing telephone calls or electronic communications. The crime may be prosecuted either in the county where the communication is sent or received. This legislation will have no direct fiscal impact on counties. |
SB 0073 |
Support | Guns - Law Enforcement Authorized to Detain Folks to Check for Weapons Carry License |
Henson, Steve 41st |
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|
2/2/2015 |
Senate Read and Referred |
- | PUB SAF |
- |
|
|
| Last year's omnibus gun legislation, HB 60, prohibits law enforcement from detaining individuals for the purpose of determining whether they are legally authorized to carry their weapon. This legislation allows law enforcement to do so. |
SB 0134 |
Neutral | Change in Reporting Requirements for Law Enforcement Agencies Using Radar |
Stone, Jesse 23rd |
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|
7/1/2015 |
Effective Date |
JudyNC |
PUB SAF |
- |
|
|
| This legislation requires law enforcement agencies to include the fine revenue received from speeding tickets over 20 miles per hour above the speed limit when calculating total speeding fine revenue for the department. Currently the total revenue from speeding fines under 17 miles per hour cannot be more than 40 percent of the overall budget, this legislation changes that ratio to 35 percent. This bill requires counties and municipalities to include in a separate section all speeding fine revenue in the annual report submitted to the Department of Community Affairs |
SB 0263 |
Neutral | P.O.S.T. Certified Officers May Keep Weapon Upon Retirement Upon Resolution of Governing Authority |
Thompson, Bruce 14th |
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|
7/1/2016 |
Effective Date |
PS&HS |
PUB SAF |
- |
|
|
| This legislation allows commissioners to adopt policies allowing their sworn peace officers to retain their weapons and badge upon retirement. |
SB 0279 |
Neutral | Commissioners of Department of Juvenile Justice and Department of Natural Resources Serve as P.O.S.T. Council Members |
Harper, Tyler 7th |
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|
7/1/2016 |
Effective Date |
PS&HS |
PUB SAF |
- |
|
|
| This legislation adds the Juvenile Justice Commissioner and Department of Natural Resources Commissioner as voting members of the Peace Officer Standards and Training Council. |
SB 0304 |
Neutral | Pursuing Justice for Rape Victims Act |
Parent, Elena 42nd |
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|
7/1/2016 |
Effective Date |
JudyNC |
PUB SAF |
- |
|
|
| This legislation attempts to address the backlog of sexual assault evidence that can be used to identify rapists, commonly referred to as "rape kits." The current version of SB 304 requires medical professionals, who collected evidence for rape kits prior to July 1, 2016, to notify law enforcement by July 15, 2016. Law enforcement must collect the rape kits by July 31, 2016. The evidence must be submitted tot he GBI by August 31, 2016. Law enforcement must also create a list of evidence from these forensic medical examination in their possession on August 1, 2016 and submit it to the GBI by August 15, 2016. To prevent a future or continuing backlog, SB 304 requires medical professionals to notify law enforcement when they have conducted a medical examination that produced evidence for a rape kit. Law enforcement has 96 hours to obtain the rape kit from the medical professional. Within 30 days of collecting the rape kit, law enforcement must submit it to the GBI Division of Forensic Sciences. |
SB 0350 |
Support | Fireworks: Dedicating the State's 5-Percent Excise Tax |
Mullis, Jeff 53rd |
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|
1/1/2017 |
Effective Date |
W&M |
PUB SAF |
- |
|
|
| SB 350 dedicates the proceeds of the 5-percent state excise tax on fireworks as follows: 1) 55 percent goes to the Georgia Trauma Care Network Commission; 2) 40 percent goes to the Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council to be used for grants to aid local fire departments with equipment and training; and 3) 5 percent goes to local government 911 systems, to be dispersed proportionally as are, and along with, prepaid cell phone proceeds. The bill is contingent upon voter approval of a companion constitutional amendment, SR 558, that would truly dedicate this state money. |
SB 0369 |
Neutral | MARTA and TSPLOST Reforms ( formerly Fireworks - Reforms ) |
Mullis, Jeff 53rd |
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|
4/26/2016 |
Senate Date Signed by Governor |
RegI |
PUB SAF |
- |
|
|
| The current House substitute to this bill, LC 34 4943S, is a MAJOR revision of the MARTA tax and TSPLOST. The bill no longer contains any provisions regarding fireworks, although the summary for that version appears at the end of this new summary. The new transportation funding version of this bill does many things, including: 1) The City of Atlanta ONLY is allowed to levy an ADDITIONAL MARTA tax up to .50%, that will run concurrently with the existing 1% MARTA tax, if approved in a referendum. 2) The current single county TSPLOST is now available ONLY to counties which are not "metropolitan county special districts". In other words, this TSPLOST is available to all counties EXCEPT Fulton. This TSPLOST continues to not count towards the 2% local sales tax cap. 3) 159 special districts are created and a new TSPLOST at the rate of up to .75% is allowed for each special district that constitutes a "metropolitan county special district" defined as a county in which the 1% MARTA tax is currently levied AND in which 80% or more of the geographic area is made up of qualified municipalities (meaning a qualified municipality for SPLOST purposes). So the reality is this TSPLOST is for Fulton County ONLY. This new TSPLOST will not count towards the 2% local sales tax cap. 4) 159 special districts are created and yet another new TSPLOST at the rate of up to .75% is allowed for each special district that constitutes a "metropolitan municipality special district" defined as a city in which the 1% MARTA tax is currently levied AND in which 15% or more of the geographic area is made up of a metropolitan county special district. The second condition is meaningless since the City of Atlanta is the ONLY city allowed to levy the MARTA tax under the MARTA local constitutional amendment. So the reality is this TSPLOST is for Atlanta ONLY. This new TSPLOST will not count towards the 2% local sales tax cap. THE FOLLOWING NO LONGER PERTAINS TO THE BILL: Prior to the House substitute, this legislation did not allow local governments to determine the hours of fireworks usage, which ACCG continues to advocate. However, the bill makes several significant and beneficial changes to Georgia's fireworks law, including limiting the usage of fireworks from between 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., extended to 11:59 p.m. on January 1, July 3, July 4 and December 31, and until 1 a.m. on New Year's Day. Local governments may extend these hours at their discretion. Areas prohibited from usage are extended, and local governments determine whether to permit usage on their public property. There are various changes to the licensing of fireworks vendors, and local governments are clearly authorized to enforce state fireworks laws. |