HB919
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(1) Duncan, Geoff 26th
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HC:
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Feb/26/2016 - Senate Read and Referred
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Rep. Geoff Duncan (R-Cumming), provides that the Department of Public Health would need to approve and maintain a list of rural health care organizations in the State. A "rural health care organization" is defined as an organization certified by the Department of Public Health that is in a rural county; participates in both Medicaid and Medicare programs; provides health care services to indigent patients; and receives at least 25 percent of its gross net revenue from treating indigent patients. A new Code Section O.C.G.A. § 48-7-29.20 would be created to allow for an income tax credit in support of a rural health care organization. For a single individual, this tax credit would be either 90 percent of the amount expended, or $2,500 per tax year, whichever is less. In the case of a married couple, the credit would be either 90 percent of the amount expended, or $5,000 per tax year, whichever is less. A corporation would be allowed a credit not to exceed 90 percent of the actual amount expended or 75 percent of the corporation's income tax liability, whichever is less. This tax credit, though, could not exceed the taxpayer's income liability.
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HB920
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(1) Kelley, Trey 16th
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HC:
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Mar/22/2016 - House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub
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Rep. Trey Kelley (R-Cedartown), amends Article 1 of Chapter 7 of Title 31 by adding a new Code Section at O.C.G.A. § 31-7-3.3 so as to restrict civil actions against passive investors in nursing homes and intermediate care homes. Under this legislation, a claim against either of these types of homes that alleges direct or vicarious liability for the personal injury or death of one or more residents shall not be brought or maintained against a passive investor. Instead, the claim would be brought against the licensee or management or consulting company. This bill also requires, at O.C.G.A. § 31-7-3.4 that, in order to obtain a permit to operate a nursing home or intermediate care home, such home shall carry accident, casualty, liability, and property insurance coverage or establish a self-insurance trust for claims arising out of the personal injury or death of one or more residents of such home.
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HB934
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(1) Kirby, Tom 114th
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HC: Human Relations & Aging
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Mar/14/2016 - Senate Read Second Time
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Rep. Tom Kirby (R-Loganville), authorizes, in O. C.G.A. § 49-1-8, the Department of Human Services to provide a separate link or portal on its website to provide kinship caregivers (e.g., grandparent, aunt, uncle, great aunt, great uncle, cousin, sibling, or close family friend of a child who "has assumed responsibility for raising such child in an informal, noncustodial, or guardianship capacity upon the parents of such child losing or abdicating the ability to care for or provide basic necessities for such child") with information and access necessary to apply for public assistance benefits for children in their care (under the ages of 18).
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HB981
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(1) Harrell, Brett 106th
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HC:
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Feb/26/2016 - Senate Read and Referred
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Rep. Jay Powell (R-Camilla), amends O.C.G.A. § 48-5-41, to provide that for-profit corporations that participate in the indirect ownership of a home for the mentally disabled for primarily financial purposes, shall not operate to disqualify such home for a property tax exemption.
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HB1013
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(1) Efstration, Chuck 104th
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HC:
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Feb/17/2016 - House Second Readers
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Rep. Chuck Efstration (R-Dacula), addresses elementary and secondary education and proposes substantive revisions to the "Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Program" in Article 33 of Chapter 2 of Title 20. It would move the oversight of this program from the Department of Education to the Office of Student Achievement.
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HB1068
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(1) Kaiser, Margaret 59th
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HC: Health & Human Services
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Feb/24/2016 - House Second Readers
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Rep. Margaret Kaiser (D-Atlanta), seeks to provide a duty for medical professionals to counsel in Chapter 9C of Title 31. It will be known as the "Postpartum Depression Act" and requires that physicians, certified midwives, and other licensed health care professionals providing prenatal and postnatal care to mothers to counsel and provide information regarding postpartum depression, postpartum psychosis, and the subsequent impact on maternal and child health to all mothers who deliver in hospitals and birthing centers prior to their discharge. This information will include at least a fact sheet with symptoms and what the subsequent impact will be (maternal attachment bonding and potential for neonatal and self-harm when left untreated). It also requires these healthcare professionals to screen new mothers for the symptoms using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale prior to discharge and at the first postnatal follow up visit. If the mother's score indicates a possible pregnancy-related mood disturbance, the healthcare professionals are to provide resources on counseling and psychiatric treatment providers; refer the mothers to appropriate counseling and psychiatric treatment providers; or refer them to appropriate emergency psychiatric evaluation and treatment. It requires this screening, and any referrals, to be documented in the patient records for a period of no less than three years. It further permits treatment for postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis to be "taken into consideration as a mitigating factor in a child protection action or child custody petitions absent marked abuse or neglect by the mother at the discretion of the judge." It does not require the mother to receive the treatment or have further psychological evaluation or submit to voluntary inpatient hospitalization.
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HB1077
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(1) Peake, Allen 141st
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HC: Governmental Affairs
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Feb/24/2016 - House Second Readers
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Rep. Alan Peake (R-Macon), seeks a nonbinding state-wide referendum to determine whether the State should establish a strict regulatory structure that would allow for the limited licensure for growing, processing, and dispensing medical cannabis oil in Georgia for citizens with severe illnesses and that are properly registered with the State.
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HB1078
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(1) Kaiser, Margaret 59th
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HC: Education
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Feb/25/2016 - House Second Readers
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Rep. Margaret Kaiser (D-Atlanta), amends O.C.G.A. § 20-4-15 to raise the age of mandatory education from 16 to 17.
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HB1085
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(1) Dempsey, Katie 13th
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HC: Appropriations
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Mar/24/2016 - Senate Passed/Adopted
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Rep. Katie Dempsey (R-Rome), seeks to transfer the oversight of the Division of Aging to the Department of Community Health. It also seeks to create within the Department of Community Health a new unit within the Division of Medicaid which would be known as the Community Care Unit. All of these changes are made in Article 5 of Chapter 6 of Title 49.
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HB1088
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(1) Clark, David 98th
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HC: Judiciary Non-Civil
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Feb/25/2016 - House Second Readers
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Rep. David Clark (R-Buford), amends O.C.G.A. § 31-2A-18 to include 'post-traumatic stress disorder' to the conditions authorized for the use of low THC oil.
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HB1090
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(1) Dawkins-Haigler, Dee 91st
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HC: Education
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Feb/25/2016 - House Second Readers
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Rep. Dee Dawkins-Haigler (D-Lithonia), amends O.C.G.A. § 20-2-314 to provide that the State Board of Education shall incorporate the 'Love Is Not Abuse Curriculum' into current rape prevention and personal safety education programs. Specifically, this curriculum relates to preventing teen dating violence.
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HB1091
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(1) Weldon, Tom 3rd
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HC: Health & Human Services
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Feb/25/2016 - House Second Readers
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Rep. Tom Weldon (R-Ringgold), proposes creation of the State Commission on Narcotic Treatment Programs and seeks to have a moratorium on the issuance of new licenses to narcotic treatment programs in a new Code Section at O.C.G.A. § 26-5-21. The moratorium would be through June 30, 2017. The Commission would be composed of 11 members - three would be members of the House; three would be members of the Senate; and five would be appointed by the Governor including the Commissioners from the Department of Community Health and Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and three additional members representing a cross section of interests of narcotic treatment program owners, pharmacists, and law enforcement. This legislation is similar in nature to that which was proposed by Sen. Jeff Mullis (R-Chickamauga), SB 402.
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HR807
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(1) Stephens, Ron 164th
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HC: Regulated Industries
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Mar/02/2016 - House Withdrawn, Recommitted
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Rep. Ron Stephens (R-Savannah) proposes an amendment to the Constitution, so as to authorize the General Assembly to provide for the local authorization of a limited number of licensed casino resorts within the state and to authorize the operation and regulation of limited casino gambling within the state. New subparagraphs are added to Article I, Section II, Paragraph VIII of the Constitution as follows:
(e) This authorizes the operation and regulation of limited casino gambling at licensed resort facilities located only in counties or municipalities that have approved establishment of such facilities through a public referendum. The General Assembly may define a licensed resort facility, provide for the operation and regulation of such facilities, establish a licensing framework for such facilities, limit the total number of such facilities within this state to up to six, and otherwise provide for any other matters relating to the purposes or provisions of this subparagraph. All other forms of casino gambling shall remain prohibited and the prohibition shall be enforced by penal laws.
(f) This section states that the General Assembly shall not provide for the issuance of more than six casino gambling licenses within the state. These licenses shall be issued to a licensed resort facility located within five distinct geographic licensing regions. Please refer to the link to HR 807 for a complete list of counties included in each licensing region HERE. No more than two licenses may be issued to counties within Region 1 and the second license issued will authorize the licensee to operate no more than an aggregate of 2,000 total gaming positions at any given time. No more than one gaming license may be issued to counties or municipalities within Licensing Region two, three, four, or five.
(g) Proceeds derived from casino gambling will be used for educational programs and educational purposes and for the payment of operating expenses associated with the state's designated regulatory body for casino gambling. These revenues and proceeds shall be specifically identified by the Governor in his or her annual budget as a separate budget category titled "Casino Gaming Proceeds" and the Governor shall make specific recommendations on how the revenue should be appropriated. The General Assembly shall appropriate all revenues and proceeds to educational programs and educational purposes, to the payment of the operational expenses of the state's designated regulatory body for casino gambling, to supporting public treatment of problem gaming issues, and to counties and municipalities hosting licensed resort facilities for casino gambling.
As for educational purposes, the proceeds may be used to fund:
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Tuition grants, scholarships, or loans to enable citizens to attend universities and colleges within this state
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Georgia Voluntary pre-kindergarten; and
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One or more educational shortfall reserves of not more than 5 percent of the net revenues from the previous fiscal year.
The proceeds that fund the operational expenses for the state's regulatory body shall in no way exceed 5 percent of the total revenues and proceeds dedicated within the separate budget category for Casino Gaming Proceeds.
The proceeds that fund the public treatment of problem gaming issues shall not exceed 2 percent of the total proceeds dedicated within the separate budget category. The proceeds that are dedicate to counties and municipalities shall not exceed 4 percent of the total proceeds dedicated within the separate budget category.
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HR1054
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(1) Kendrick, Dar'shun 93rd
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HC: Special Rules
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Jan/22/2016 - House Second Readers
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Rep. Dar'shun Kendrick (D-Lithonia), propoeses to create the House Study Committee on Policing and Mental Health, which would aim to identify strategies and solutions for better policing involving individuals suffering from mental illness.
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HR1199
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(1) Parsons, Don 44th
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HC:
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Feb/02/2016 - House Second Readers
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Rep. Don Parsons (R-Marietta), would add a new paragraph at Article 1 Section I of the Constitution, so as to provide for "Victims' Rights". A 'victim' would be defined as any person against whom a crime was committed or who was directly harmed by the commission of a crime. It also includes any spouse, parent, grandparent, child, sibling, grandchild, or guardian of a person who is deceased, incompetent, a minor, or physically or mentally incapacitated. Each 'victim' would have the following rights:
1) Right to be treated with fairness and respect for victim's safety, dignity, and privacy;
2) Right to receive notice of proceedings involving the criminal conduct;
3) Right to be heard in any proceedings during which a right of the victim is implicated;
4) Right to reasonable protection from the accused;
5) Right to reasonable notice of the release or escape of the accused;
6) Right to refuse an interview, deposition, or other request made by the accused;
7) Right to full and timely restitution;
8) Right to proceedings free from unreasonable delay and a prompt conclusion;
9) Right to confer with the attorney for the government; and
10) Right to be informed of all rights enumerated in this paragraph.
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SB193
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(1) Bethel, Charlie 54th
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SC: Judiciary Non-Civil
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Mar/24/2016 - Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub
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A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 16-5-23.1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to battery, so as to change penalty provisions relating to family violence battery; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Full Analysis to be added.
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SB254
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(1) Jones II, Harold 22nd
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SC: Judiciary Non-Civil
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Jan/12/2016 - Senate Read and Referred
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Sen. Harold Jones II (D-Augusta), amends O.C.G.A. § 16-13-2 to provide that possession of marijuana constitutes a misdemeanor. It further amends Titles 15 and 16 and O.C.G.A. § 17-7-72 and O.C.G.A. § 36-32-6, to conform cross references.
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SB264
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(1) Beach, Brandon 21st
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SC: Regulated Industries and Utilities
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Feb/01/2016 - Senate Read Second Time
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Sen. Brandon Beach (R-Alpharetta), adds a new chapter at O.C.G.A. § 50-39-1, relating to pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing.
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SB268
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(1) James, Donzella 35th
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SC: Public Safety
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Jan/13/2016 - Senate Read and Referred
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Sen. Donzella James (D-Atlanta), amends O.C.G.A. § 40-6-391, and provides that if a parent or guardian of a child passenger is convicted of driving under the influence, the prosecuting attorney shall provide a copy of the traffic citation to the county department of family and children services of the violator's residence to aid in investigation of possible child abuse.
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SB271
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(1) Burke, Dean 11th
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SC: Health and Human Services
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Mar/22/2016 - House Passed/Adopted
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Sen. Dean Burke, MD (R-Bainbridge), relates to the examination and treatment for mental illness in Chapter 3 of Title 37. It amends O.C.G.A. § 37-3-44, concerning the notice to patients/his or her representative upon the patient's admission to an emergency receiving facility so that it makes clear that while currently the law in (a) requires such notice to be made "immediately upon arrival of a patient at an emergency receiving facility" that the change permits such written notice be provided, as an option, "soon thereafter as reasonably possible given the patient's condition or mental state at time of arrival." The legislation further makes changes in O.C.G.A. § 37-3-83(d) adding more language in the law regarding the procedure for continued involuntary hospitalization – so that "if, within 40 days of the expiration of an order for involuntary treatment relating to a patient for whom discharge has been planned, the chief medical officer determines discharge would now be unsafe, the chief medical officer may execute a certificate to be filed with a petition for continued involuntary treatment pursuant to this chapter." There are requirements for such certificate but such does not require a referral to the Committee for Continued Involuntary Treatment Review prior to its filing. The chief medical officer, though, is also required to file a petition for an order authorizing such continued involuntary treatment along with an updated individualized service plan with the Office of State Administrative Hearings and a copy to the patient (and outline what the patient and his/her representative can do in terms of obtaining counsel). It also directs the facility to keep the patient until a ruling is issued if the order has expired. If there is a determination that the patient is no longer mentally ill, then the patient is to be immediately discharged.
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SB276
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(1) Albers, John 56th
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SC: Science and Technology
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Jan/21/2016 - Senate Read and Referred
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A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 34 of Chapter 1 of Title 10 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to identity theft, so as to enact the "Georgia Personal Data Security Act"; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Full analysis to be added.
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SB296
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(1) Jackson, Lester 2nd
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SC: State and Local Governmental Operations
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Jan/27/2016 - Senate Read and Referred
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Sen. Lester Jackson (D-Savannah), proposes to add O.C.G.A. § 45-20-33 to provide three days paid sick leave for State employees on the death of an immediate family member. Immediate family member is broadly defined as spouse, parent, grandparents and great grandparents, children, stepchildren, grandchildren and great grandchildren, guardians of the employee or his or her spouse.
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