Rep. Bill Hitchens

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 4 of Title 38 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Department of Veterans Service, so as to authorize incorporation of a nonprofit corporation as a public foundation; to provide requirements for the same; to provide for the purpose and governance of such public foundation; to provide for annual reports; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 25-4-9 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to basic firefighter training courses and transfer of certification, so as to provide that military firefighter training may be accepted as required basic training; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 40 of the O.C.G.A., relating to motor vehicles and traffic, so as to prohibit actions which distract a driver while operating a motor vehicle; to provide for the proper and safe use of wireless telecommunications devices while driving; to provide for definitions; to provide for violations; to provide for punishments; to provide for the assessment of points upon conviction; to provide for additional fines to be collected by the Department of Driver Services; to provide for applicability; to provide for punishments for homicide by vehicle and for serious bodily injury by vehicle when driver was operating such motor vehicle while using a wireless telecommunications device; to correct cross-references; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 40-8-91 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to marking and equipment of law enforcement vehicles and motorist allowed to continue to safe location before stopping for law enforcement officer vehicles, so as to provide that a motor vehicle used by any employee of the Georgia State Patrol for the enforcement of traffic laws may be a solid color; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 13 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to specific, business, and occupation taxes, so as to provide an exemption from penalties and interest in the event of military service in a combat zone; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 45-20-110, relating to definitions for drug testing for state employment, so as to allow for testing for all forms of opioids; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Subpart 1 of Part 6 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to employment of certificated professional personnel in elementary and secondary education, so as to give a short title to a Code section relating to qualification for certain certificates for military spouses; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 20-3-374 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to service cancelable loan fund and authorized types of service cancelable educational loans financed by state funds and issued by the Georgia Student Finance Authority, so as to include graduate degree programs; to require application for additional educational assistance programs; to implement a two-year service requirement; to correct references; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 8 of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to employment and training of peace officers, so as to revise the quorum for transaction of business by the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council; to clarify that certain investigators employed by the council may retain their weapon and badge upon retirement; to repeal the requirement that peace officers who do not perform satisfactorily on the job related academy entrance examination be ineligible to retake the examination for a period of 30 days; to repeal requirements for the training and certification of police chaplains; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to create the Savannah State Farmers Market Authority; to define certain terms; to provide for a board of trustees, appointment of members, and meetings; to provide for powers, duties, and purpose; to authorize the issuance of revenue bonds of the authority and to authorize the collection for the payment of such revenue bonds; to make the revenue bonds of the authority exempt from taxation; to fix and provide the venue and jurisdiction of actions relating to any provisions of this Act; to provide for the validation of bonds; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.