Daily Update for Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Legislative Day 38

Senate Session

SB 545 - Turner County; create a board of elections and registration; provide for powers and duties; definitions; composition

SB 545 creates the board of elections for Turner County

SB 545 PASSED out of the Senate by a vote of 44-0

SB 548 - Lee County; provide the chief Magistrate shall appoint the clerk of the Magistrate Court 

SB 548 allows the chief magistrate of Lee County shall have the authority to appoint a person other than the clerk of the superior court to serve as clerk of the Magistrate Court of Lee County.

SB 548 PASSED out of the Senate by a vote of 44-0

HB 1400 - Sasser, Town of; Terrell County; provide new charter 

HB 1400 establishes a new charter for the Town of Sasser in Terrell County. It provides for a municipal court and the judge or judges thereof and other matters relative to those judges.

HB 1400 PASSED out of the Senate by a vote of 44-0

HB 1458 - Habersham County, State Court; judge and solicitor be full-time; provide

HB 1458 is an act creating and establishing the State Court of Habersham County and establishing the judge’s positions as a full time position.  

HB 1458 PASSED out of the Senate by a vote of 44-0

HB 207 - Off-road vehicles; operating restrictions; change certain provisions

HB 207 amends Chapter 7 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to off-road vehicles. It restricts the use of all terrain vehicles within navigatible waters, except for public or private crossings

HB 207 PASSED out of the Senate by a vote of 45-1. 

HB 329 - Probated or suspended sentences; maximum period of revocation; change provisions  

HB 329 allows for a crime committed in another state and is a misdemeanor in that state, be treated as a felony in Georgia for probation revocations, if the act would constitute a felony had it been committed in this state. The effective date to the bill was change to July 1, 2010.

HB 329 PASSED out of the Senate by Committee Substitute by a vote of 44-5. 

HB 571 - Sexual offenders; classification; change and enact provisions

HB 571 updates and changes provisions of the law relating to the classification of sexual offenders. It amends Code Section 5-6-35 of the O.C.G.A., relating to appeals requiring an application for appeal, so as to make the Code section applicable to appeals from decisions of superior courts reviewing a decision of the Sexual Offender Registration Review Board. HB 571 also amends Article 1 of Chapter 10 of Title 17 of the O.C.G.A., relating to procedures for sentencing in criminal cases, so as to provide that, with respect to sexual offenses committed after a certain date in this state, classification shall be by the sentencing court rather than the Sexual Offender Registration Review Board. The bill changes provisions relative to the process of classification by the Sexual Offender Registration Review Board and review of the classifications.

Language from SB 439 has been added to the committee substitute to HB 571. SB 439 provides for gender neutrality with regard to the offense of incest involving sexual intercourse or sodomy. It allows for male to male and female to female intercourse or sodomy to be considered incest.

Language from HB 897 has also been added to the committee substitute to HB 571. HB 897 amends Chapter 6 of Title 16 of the O.C.G.A, relating to sexual offenses by clarifying the circumstances that qualify as sexual assault against persons in custody, and persons subject to the authority of a supervisor or disciplinary person. This bill establishes that consent of the victim shall not be a defense to a prosecution. A person convicted of sexual assault shall be punished by imprisonment between 1 and 25 years and/or a fine.  If a person commits sexual assault against a child under the age of 16, then he/she shall receive a prison sentence between 25 and 50 years. If at the time of the offense the victim of the offense is at least 14 years old but less then 16 years old and the actor is 18 years old or younger, but no more then four years older then the victim, the person shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

HB 571 PASSED out of the Senate by a vote of 45-0. 

HB 948 - General appropriations; State Fiscal Year July 1, 2010 - June 30, 2011 

            HB 948 is the 2011 Budget. To view the House and Senate differences please click here.

HB 948 PASSED out of the Senate by a vote of 49-2 and was immediately transmitted to the House. The Senate insisted on its position to HB 948 and assigned a conference committee. Sen. Jack Hill (R-Statesboro), Sen. Tommie Williams (R-Baxley) and Sen. Chip Rogers

HB 1019 - State government; replacement permits, licenses, and identification cards; provisions

This bill mandates that, in the event of a disaster, each state agency shall offer replacement permits, licenses, certificates, or identification cards at no cost to any resident who lost such documents in the disaster. Individuals must submit an application within 60 days of the declaration of a federal disaster.

HB 1019 PASSED out of Senate by a vote of 45-0. 

HB 1040 - Georgia Registered Professional Nurse Practice Act; certain health activities not require license; provisions

HB 1040 amends Code Section 43-26-12 of the O.C.G.A, relating to exceptions to the operation of the "Georgia Registered Professional Nurse Practice Act". It provides that the performance of health maintenance activities by a designated caregiver to a proxy caregiver under certain condition shall not require licensure as a registered professional nurse.

An attending physician, advanced practice registered nurse or physician assistant whose orders provide for the provision of health maintenance activities to a disabled person shall not be vicariously liable for a proxy caregiver’s negligent performance. The attending physician, advanced practice registered nurse or physician assistant can be held liable if the proxy caregiver is their employee and the proxy caregiver’s qualifications do not meet the applicable standard of care to perform their health maintenance activities.

HB 1040 PASSED as AMENDED out of Senate by a vote of 49-0. 

HB 1104 - Juvenile proceedings; graduated sanctions and secure detention for probation violators; provisions 

HB 1104 amends Code Section 15-11-66 of the O.C.G.A, relating to dispositions for delinquent children by extending the effective date for increasing maximum dates or services that may be court ordered from July 1, 2011 to July 1, 2013.

Language from SB 423 was added to the committee substitute to HB 1104. SB 423 creates a new statue defining the offense of smash and grab burglary, the intentional and without authority entering of a retail establishment with the intent to commit theft, in addition to causing more than $500 of damage without the owner’s consent. Smash and grab burglary will be a felony punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison and/or a $100,000 fine. A second or subsequent conviction will carry a prison term of five to twenty years and/or the fine. It also adds language from SB 400 to the committee substitute that clarifies provisions relating to juveniles receiving credit for time served and extends the sunset date for secure confinement from July 1, 2011 to July 1, 2012.

The crime of contributing to the delinquency of a minor in Code Section 16-12-1 is amended to included knowingly and willfully hiring, soliciting, conspiring with, encouraging, etc. and minor to commit burglary of retail property, including retail property fencing, it if would be a felony if committee by an adult. A first offense conviction will carry a prison sentence of one to ten years.

Code Section 15-11-63, relating to the commission of a designated felony act of burglary by a child 15 years or older, will not apply to smash and grab burglary.

Amendment 1: Striking lines 4-6 and inserting “juvenile offenders; to add; striking lines 24-112 and redesignating sections 4-9 as section 3-8. Amendment Adopted

HB 1104 Committee Substitute PASSED as AMENDED out of Senate by a vote of 40-0. 

HB 1118 - Child Support Recovery Act; IV-D agency support orders; change provisions

HB 1118 amends Article 1 of Chapter 11 of Title 19 of the O.C.G.A, relating to the Child Support Recovery Act.  HB 1118 changes provisions relating to review procedures for IV-D agency support orders and clarifies terms regarding IV-D agency obligors and obligees who provide or receive accident and sickness insurance for children. It also mandates that all active TANF cases be reviewed every 36 months.

HB 1118 PASSED out of Senate by a vote of 36-1. 

HB 1140 - Alcovy, Atlanta, and Brunswick judicial circuits; dates of terms; change 

HB 1140 amends an Act to provide for additional judges for the superior courts of the Alcovy, Atlanta, and Brunswick judicial circuits, approved May 12, 2008, so as to change the dates of the terms of office of the initial appointees. The new judgeships shall be appointed by the Governor for a term beginning July 1, 2010, and expiring December 31, 2012.

HB 1140 PASSED out of Senate by a vote of 40-1. 

HB 1387 - Official Code of Georgia Annotated; correct errors and omissions

HB 1387 corrects typographical, stylistic, capitalization, punctuation, and other errors and omissions in the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.

            HB1387 PASSED out of Senate by a vote of 47-0. 

HB 277 - The Georgia 2020 Transportation Act; enact 

HB 277 amends Chapter 8 of Title 48 of the O.C.G.A. This bill provides for an up to 1 percent sales tax to be used to fund transportation projects in special transportation districts within the state. It provides for the tax to be levied by the participating counties.  The governing authority or authorities of the county or counties within the district may enter into an intergovernmental agreement with each other and with one or more qualified municipalities within the district containing a combined total of no less than 50 percent of the aggregate municipal population located within the district. Following the commencement of negotiation, if the parties necessary to an agreement fail to reach an agreement within 60 days, the parties shall submit the dispute to nonbinding arbitration, mediation, or other means of resolving conflicts in a manner which reflects a good faith effort to resolve the dispute. The petition shall be assigned to a judge who is not a judge in the circuit in which the county is located. The judge selected may also be a senior judge who resides in another circuit. The judge's decision on the allocation of the levy proceeds shall adopt the best and final offer of one of the parties but shall also include findings of fact. The judge shall enter a final order containing a distribution certificate and transmit a copy of it to the commissioner of revenue. Appeal shall be by application and the decision of the judge shall be altered only for the judge's disregard of the law, for partiality of the judge, or for corruption, fraud, or misconduct by the judge or a party.

The Senate Agreed to the Conference Committee Report to HB 277

HB 1133 - Pretrial intervention and diversion programs; administration fees; increase

This bill allows prosecuting attorneys to delegate supervision of cases in Pretrial Intervention and Diversion Programs to a public or private probation department. Prosecuting attorneys are now able to charge an administrative fee of up to $1000.

HB 1133 was TABLED by the Senate 

HB 1002 - Crimes and offenses; crimes against judges and court personnel; increase punishment

HB 1002 increases the punishment for certain crimes committed upon crimes against officers of the court. It defines “officers of the court” to include judges, attorneys, clerks of court, deputy clerks of court, court reporters, and probation officers. The maximum prison sentence for intimidation of officers of the court is increased from 5 years to 20 years. A person who commits aggravated assault upon an officer of the court shall be punished by imprisonment between 5 and 20 years. A person convicted of intimidating or injuring a grand or petit juror or court officer, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $5,000.00 or by imprisonment for not more than five 20 years, or both. A person convicted of disseminating information relating to terroristic acts shall be punished by imprisonment for 1 to 10 years or by a fine of at least $100,000.00 or both.

Amendment1: adds court interpreters to list of court personnel. Amendment Adopted

HB 1002 PASSED as AMENDED out of Senate by a vote of 46-0. 

HB 540 - Elections; remove references to ballot cards; provisions

HB 540 amends Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the O.C.G.A relating to primaries and elections. The bill eliminates the use of the term ballot card; establishes voting locations as polling places; requires certification and training for all chief registrars and clerks; enables inactive voters to be reestablished as an active and registered voter by signing a petition, irrespective of the petition’s validity. The provision also permits the grand jury to appoint two registrars to serve a two-year term of office until qualified successors are appointed. It also extends the delivery date for the list of electors for the municipality from 21 to 30 days to ensure an accurate list is provided for the election. It also affords more security and confidentiality to a challenged ballot by placing ballot in a sealed envelope in a secure ballot box. It only requires one write- in qualified candidate to hold an official election or an official election is not needed if the candidate is unopposed. HB 540 eliminates DRE training for voter’s county- wide unless requested; eliminates requirement of a reason for absentee ballots. The bill permits candidates to vote or transact business only with the board of registrars at the polling place and for no other purposes should the candidate enter the polling place.

The Senate INSISTED on the Senate Substitute to HB 540. 

HR 178 - Enforcement of contracts; restrict competition; provisions – CA. 

This resolution amends the Georgia Constitution allowing the General Assembly to authorize judicial enforcement of contracts restricting or regulating competitive activities. The General Assembly may grant the courts power to limit restrictive covenants contained in contracts.

The Senate INSISTED on its position to HR 178. A conference committee was assigned: Seth Harp (R – Midland), Bill Hamrick (R – Carrollton), Bill Cowsert (R – Athens).

SB 17 - Election; increase filing fees/fines for campaign, financial, and lobbyist disclosure reports that are filed late

SB 17 increase filing fees and fines for campaign disclosure reports, financial disclosure statements, and lobbyist disclosure reports that are filed late. A filing fee of $50.00 shall be imposed for each financial disclosure statement that is filed late. In addition, a filing fee of $100.00 shall be imposed on the fifteenth day after the due date if the statement has still not been filed. A fine of $250.00 shall be imposed on the forty-fifth day after the due date for the statement if not filed by due date. The fine shall be paid from the personal funds of the person required to file the statement and no other funds from any source may be used to pay the fine.

Annual lobbyist registration or renewal has been decreased from $200.00 to $50.00. Each copy of a lobbyist identification card issued has been increased from $5.00 to $20.00. A filing fee of $50.00 shall be imposed for each report that is filed late. In addition, a filing fee of $100.00 shall be imposed on the fifteenth day after the due date if the report has still not been filed. A fine of $250.00 shall be imposed on the forty-fifth day after the due date for the report if the report has not been filed by the due date. When a fine is imposed, it must be paid from the personal funds of the lobbyist and no other funds from any source may be used to pay the fine.

The Senate AGREED to the House Amendment as Amended by the Senate to SB 17.

House Session

SB 447 - State; preference to in-state materialmen, contractors, builders, when preference does not impair quality and cost considerations

SB 447 was amended in the House and now contains language from HB 1164, which amends Code Section 13-10-91 of the O.C.G.A. concerning employment eligibility. Employers are now required to keep the affidavits signed by their employees for 5 years. The requirements of the old code section now apply to all employees, contractors, and subcontractors employed by a state contractor. Any person convicted of knowingly making a false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement in an employee work eligibility affidavit, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $1,000.00 or imprisonment for one to five years, or both.

Amendment 1: add the language from HB 1164. Amendment adopted.

SB 447 was PASSED as AMENDED out of the House by a vote of 152-4. 

SB 17 - Election; increase filing fees/fines for campaign, financial, and lobbyist disclosure reports that are filed late  

SB 17 increase filing fees and fines for campaign disclosure reports, financial disclosure statements, and lobbyist disclosure reports that are filed late. A filing fee of $50.00 shall be imposed for each financial disclosure statement that is filed late. In addition, a filing fee of $100.00 shall be imposed on the fifteenth day after the due date if the statement has still not been filed. A fine of $250.00 shall be imposed on the forty-fifth day after the due date for the statement if not filed by due date. The fine shall be paid from the personal funds of the person required to file the statement and no other funds from any source may be used to pay the fine.

Annual lobbyist registration or renewal has been decreased from $200.00 to $50.00. Each copy of a lobbyist identification card issued has been increased from $5.00 to $20.00. A filing fee of $50.00 shall be imposed for each report that is filed late. In addition, a filing fee of $100.00 shall be imposed on the fifteenth day after the due date if the report has still not been filed. A fine of $250.00 shall be imposed on the forty-fifth day after the due date for the report if the report has not been filed by the due date. When a fine is imposed, it must be paid from the personal funds of the lobbyist and no other funds from any source may be used to pay the fine.

SB 17 PASSED out of the House by Committee Substitute by a vote of 168-2. The House AGREED with the Senate amendment to the House amendment to SB 17.

SB 136 - Penal Institutions; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Rapid Removal of Eligible Parolees Accepted for Transfer; participate

SB 136 requires the Department of Corrections and the State Board of Pardons and Paroles to participate in the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Rapid Removal of Eligible Parolees Accepted for Transfer (REPAT) Program or similar federal deportation program. It allows for immediate deportation of illegal immigrants who have already been deported and came back into the State. An alien prisoner who is granted parole and is subject to deportation must be conditioned upon the deportation of the prisoner pursuant to a final removal order. There is a further condition which requires the prisoner to abide by the deportation order and all immigration laws of the United States.

SB 136 was PASSED out of the House by a vote of 145-0. 

SB 310 - Insurance; pharmacy benefits managers; regulation and licensure

SB 310 provides for regulation and licensure of pharmacy benefits managers by the Commissioner of Insurance. Pharmacy benefits managers shall maintain a bond in the amount of $100,000.00 executed by a corporate surety insurer.

The substitute to this bill changes the effective date to 2011.

SB 310 was PASSED out of the House by a vote of 146-3. 

SB 389 - State Auditor; website of Dept. of Audits and Accounts; applicable to public information; operation, maintenance; provisions

SB 389 amends code section 50-6-32. More government agencies, including the offices of the judicial branch, are now required to submit their accounting information to the Department of Audits and Accounts every fiscal year. This information includes: a list of all obligations entered into over $50,000 and a list of each person who received payments of over $20,000.

SB 389 was PASSED out of the House by a vote of 157-0. 

SB 1 - Zero-Base Budgeting Act; provide for the application

SB 1 adds a new code section, 45-12-75.1, to the "Budget Act". The new code section requires that the Governor in preparing his or her budget report, and budget units in preparing their budget estimates under Code Section 45-12-78 (which includes the judicial branch agencies), make use of zero-base budgeting. The requirements shall apply with respect to the budget report presented to the General Assembly in January of 2011 and each year thereafter.

In any given year the Governor's budget report shall include zero-base budgeting for no more than one-third nor less than one-quarter of all the programs in the most recently passed General Appropriations Act. The Office of Planning and Budget will determine which programs will submit zero-base budget recommendations in each year. No program shall use zero-base budgeting more often than once every four years. In the years in which zero-base budgeting applies, each budget unit must include in its budget estimate an analysis summarizing past and proposed spending plans by program and revenue source. The information presented must include (1) A statement of the budget unit's departmental and program purposes, effectiveness, efficiency, equity measures and program size indicators; (2) At least three alternative funding levels for each program and revenue source with effectiveness, efficiency, and equity measures and program size indicators detailed for each alternative funding level; and (3) A priority listing encompassing all alternative funding levels for all programs.

SB 1 was PASSED out of the House by a vote of 151-0. 

SB 488 - Georgia Foreign Money Judgments Recognition Act; not recognize foreign judgments in defamation actions

SB 488 amends Article 5 of Chapter 12 of Title 9 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the "Georgia Foreign Money Judgments Recognition Act," so as to not recognize foreign judgments in defamation actions unless such jurisdiction's laws provide sufficiently similar constitutional protections as provided by courts in this state.

SB 488 also amends Code Section 9-3-99, relating to tolling of limitations for tort actions while criminal prosecution is pending. 'Crime’ is defined for that Code section as: a felony; a violation of Article 15 of Chapter 6 of Title 40; or a misdemeanor violation that results in a person’s death or serious bodily harm.

SB 488 was PASSED by COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE out of the House by a vote of 168-2. 

HR 178 - Enforcement of contracts; restrict competition; provisions – CA. 

This resolution amends the Georgia Constitution allowing the General Assembly to authorize judicial enforcement of contracts restricting or regulating competitive activities. The General Assembly may grant the courts power to limit restrictive covenants contained in contracts.

The House DISAGREED with the Senate substitute to HR 178. A conference committee was assigned: Wendell Willard (R – Sandy Springs), Mike Coan (R – Lawrenceville), Kevin Levitas (D – Atlanta).

HB 540 - Elections; remove references to ballot cards; provisions. 

HB 540 amends Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the O.C.G.A relating to primaries and elections. The bill eliminates the use of the term ballot card; establishes voting locations as polling places; requires certification and training for all chief registrars and clerks; enables inactive voters to be reestablished as an active and registered voter by signing a petition, irrespective of the petition’s validity. The provision also permits the grand jury to appoint two registrars to serve a two-year term of office until qualified successors are appointed. It also extends the delivery date for the list of electors for the municipality from 21 to 30 days to ensure an accurate list is provided for the election. It also affords more security and confidentiality to a challenged ballot by placing ballot in a sealed envelope in a secure ballot box. It only requires one write- in qualified candidate to hold an official election or an official election is not needed if the candidate is unopposed. HB 540 eliminates DRE training for voter’s county- wide unless requested; eliminates requirement of a reason for absentee ballots. The bill permits candidates to vote or transact business only with the board of registrars at the polling place and for no other purposes should the candidate enter the polling place.

The House DISAGREED with the Senate substitute to HB 540. 

HB 948 - General appropriations; State Fiscal Year July 1, 2010 - June 30, 2011

HB 948 is the 2011 Budget.

The House DISAGREED with the Senate substitute to HB 948. A conference committee was assigned: Rep. Ben Harbin (R – Evans), Rep. Jan Jones (R – Alpharetta), Rep. Jerry Keen (R – St. Simons).

HB 16 - Electronic tracking device; location of person without consent; prohibit

HB 16 prohibits the electronic tracking of the location or movement of another person without the tracked person's consent. This bill also provides for exceptions. Any person found in violation, shall upon conviction be guilty of a misdemeanor. An amendment was made, by committee substitute, which adds a provision for a judge to grant a search warrant in order for a tracking device to be installed. A Senate floor amendment was adopted inserting language that would require and allow an detective to place a tracking device if there is pending civil litigation, if there is confidentiality, use for discover, to be shared with the client and court, and be directed by court order. Once the litigation is over, it will be destroyed. Also, a Senate floor amendment was adopted which pertains to transferring the authority for Bingo to the GBI rather than the Revenue Department.

The House ADOPTED the Conference Committee Report to HB 16.

HB 567 - Crime Victims' Bill of Rights; rights of crime victims; change certain provisions

HB 567 expands provisions relative to victims' participation in the court system in juvenile and state courts. The bill permits a victim to address the juvenile court and present any information in regards to the impact of the allegedly delinquent act upon the victim. Also the victim has the right to be present and be heard at the dispositional hearing. HB 567 provides the victims with the right to a reasonable and timely notice of scheduled court date, a timely notice of escaped or arrested accused, the right to confer with the prosecuting attorney related to the victim, and the right to restitution provided by the law. A judge of any court of competent jurisdiction shall, in sentencing an offender, make a finding as to the amount of restitution due any victim, and order an offender to make full restitution to the victim. The code also allows the victim the right to deny or accept an interview by the accused.

Within 15 days after the receipt of the sentence information from the clerk of the court, the commissioner shall assign the convicted person to a correctional institution designated by the commissioner.

The House AGREED to the Senate substitute to HB 567. 

HB 883 - Sanitary Activity for Food-Processing Enterprises (SAFE) Act; enact

HB 883 requires that a food processing plant that fails to comply with safety plans set forth by the Commissioner of Agriculture be fined a $5,000.00 civil penalty. For a second or subsequent violation within five years, the food processing plant shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature. Any person who knowingly committees a violation which results in the introduction into commerce of finished foods or finished food ingredients, as manufactured at a food processing plant containing a substance that would cause a manufactured food bearing or containing the same to be adulterated shall be guilty of a felony, punishable by not less than one nor more than 20 years in prison and a fine not to exceed $20,000.00.

The House AGREED to the Senate substitute to HB 883.

HB 1021 - Dangerous drugs; Salvia divinorum A; include

This bill amends 16-13-71, adding salvia divinorum A to the list of dangerous drugs. Possessing salvia divinorum A for purely aesthetic, landscaping purposes is allowed.

The House AGREED to the Senate substitute to HB 1021.

SB 310 - Insurance; pharmacy benefits managers; regulation and licensure

This bill provides for regulation and licensure of pharmacy benefits managers by the Commissioner of Insurance. Pharmacy benefits managers shall maintain a bond in the amount of $100,000.00 executed by a corporate surety insurer.

The House AGREED to the Senate substitute to SB 310.

HB 396 - Drivers' licenses; driving record; uniform traffic citations; provisions

HB 396 amends provisions of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated relating to drivers and drivers' licenses. This bill clarifies language pertaining to the Department of Driver Services by allowing federal background check on regulated drivers and increase in driver’s license fee to $5 per year the license is valid. It adds back language that requires DDS to pay the counties $.40 for each report transmitted electronically in a timely manner, which was taken out of the original bill. The bill is asking for Pickup trucks to fall under the GA seatbelt law, with an exemption for agricultural vehicles. Sections 8 and 9 were deleted reestablished certified mail. Changed DL fee back to $4 a year, but now with our international community a DL is only allowed with the length of the green card (per year). Amendment Section 24 is the printing of the manuals, so that they may outsource that and save money. This also says that one should pay court fees upon funding.

The House DISAGREED with the Senate substitute to HB 396. A conference committee was assigned: Rep. Tom Rice (R - Norcross), Rep. Tim Bearden (R – Villa Rica), Rep. Jay Powell (R - Camilla).

House Judiciary Civil 

SB 529 - Crimes and Offenses; specify certain acts that constitute criminal abortion  

SB 529 amends Title 16 of the O.C.G.A relating to crimes and offenses that constitute criminal abortions. The bill prohibits abortions that are solely based on gender, race or if an individual is coerced into an abortion. Any woman upon whom an abortion is performed illegally may recover, in a civil action from the person who engaged in the violation, all damages available to her under Georgia law for any torts. Any woman upon whom an abortion is performed shall not be held criminally responsible or civilly liable as a result of an illegally performed abortion.

SB 529 received a DO PASS from the House Judiciary Civil Committee.