General Assembly set to have busy day

The General Assembly is back in session today, Tuesday — March 15. Here’s what’s on tap in the way of events, bills up for floor debate and committees scheduled to meet.

Events

1 p.m.-5 p.m. — Clean Water action rally and press conference, Georgia Water Coalition — Capitol rotunda

8 a.m.-4 p.m. SHBP-sponsored biometric screening, Georgia Department of Community Health — Sloppy Floyd Building balcony

8 a.m.-1 p.m. Diversity Day, Georgia Equality — Capitol south wing

9 a.m.-4 p.m. Georgia College of Emergency Physicians, Legislative Week, GCEP — Capitol south wing

noon-1 p.m. East Jackson Jazz Band and Chorus — Capitol north wing

On the House floor

SB 206, dealing with water liens

SB 335, dealing with retirement and permissible investments in commingled funds and collective investment funds

SB 336, permitting governing bodies of municipal corporations to enact retirement plans by resolution in addition to ordinance

SR 730, encouraging implementation of the Coastal Georgia Greenway

SB 193, changing the penalties for family violence battery

SB 263, dealing with disability in the line of duty for certified police officers

SB 269, requiring local governments to provide certification of compliance with code as a condition of funding

SB 331, dealing with parental rights of babies born out of certain offenses

SB 364, dealing with annual teacher, principal, and assistant principal evaluations

SB 402, providing a moratorium on the issuance of new licenses to narcotic treatment programs

SR 558, allowing excise taxes on the sale of fireworks to fund trauma care

SR 954 dealing with easements for public works in 16 counties

Up in the Senate

• HB 54, providing tuition grants to children of officers killed in line of duty who attend University System institutions and meet certain requirements

• HB 219, exempting certain private-ly owned swimming pools from inspection and licensing requirements

• HB 588, dealing with possession of substances containing ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine and restrictions on the sale of products containing pseudoephedrine

• HB 649 enact the Georgia Lactation Consultant Practice Act

• HB 727, a revised version of restrictions on fireworks use

• HB 739, declaring state approved instructional materials and content is optional in certain schools

• HB 775 dealing with the sale and dispensing of spectacles

• HB 777, allowing school bus drivers to use a cell phone in a similar manner as a two-way radio

• HB 811, changing various codes dealing with banking and finance

• HB 815, dealing with inspection and regulation of certain avian meat products and facilities

• HB 884, dealing with Insurance and company action level event to include a health organization with certain total adjusted capital levels

• HB 951, granting a sales tax break on SuperBowltickets

• HB 979, increasing the punishment for assault and battery on hospital emergency department and medical services personnel'

• HB 1036, temporarily blocking eminent domain for petroleum pipeline construction

House committee meetings

9 a.m. Rules Committee, Room 341 Capitol

2 p.m. Regulated Industries Committee, Room 506 CLOB — SB 319, dealing with the definition of professional counselor; SB 369, limiting the hours when fireworks can be used; and SB 388, dealing with stickers on bona fide amusement machines

2 p.m. Governmental Affairs Committee, Room 515 CLOB — SB 199, dealing with allowable activities near polling places; and SB 323, dealing with public disclosure of documents related to economic development projects

3 p.m. Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee, will meet Tuesday, Room 406 CLOB — SB 270, authorizing qualified retired law enforcement officers to carry handgun anywhere within this state; SB 332, clarifying the judges and justices who are exempt from various weapons laws; SB 320 dealing with drivers' licenses and revise exemptions afforded to nonresidents issued to them in in home state/country; SB 279, adding two members to the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council; SB 404, addressing off-duty use of motor vehicles by certain law enforcement officers; and SB 416, establishing Georgia Information Sharing and Analysis Center

4 p.m. Ways & Means Committee, Room 506 CLOB — SB 258, dealing with ad valorem taxes and the assessed value of a property; SB 379, dealing with sales taxes imposed in fire districts

Senate committee meetings

12:30 p.m. or upon adjournment Rules Committee, Room 450 Capitol

1 p.m. Government Oversight Committee, Room 125 Capitol

1 p.m. Ethics Committee, Room 307 CLOB

2 p.m. State & Local Governmental Operations, Room 125 Capitol

2 p.m. Judiciary Committee, Room 307 CLOB

3 p.m. Finance Committee, Mezzanine

3 p.m. Natural Resources &The Environment, Room 450 Capitol – HB 483, designating the shoal bass the official state native riverine sport fish

4 p.m. Transportation Committee, Room 450 Capitol

4 p.m. Judiciary Committee (Non-Civil) Room 307 CLOB

Here’s the schedule through Sine Die, March 24.

The General Assembly is in: