Highlights
State senators voted Thursday to raise the age from 6 to 8 for when children can stop using car or booster seats.
Senate Bill 88 allows exceptions for children taller than 4 foot 9 inches and weighing more than 40 pounds.
A companion bill has passed the House, and the two chambers must work out differences before putting a final bill on the governor's desk for approval.
Senate
Senate Bill 189: Change the charter for the city of Stockbridge to include additional powers of the mayor and city administrator.
SB 190: Transfer operation of the Georgia Capitol Museum from the secretary of state to the Board of Regents.
SB 191: Enact the Jury Composition Reform Act of 2011, which would create a modernized and uniform system of compiling and maintaining jury lists.
SB 192: Under motor vehicle reparations, change the definition of medical payments coverage to allow coverage to be assigned to a health care provider.
SB 193: Reimburse counties for habeas corpus costs.
SB 194: Allow students at Georgia Military College to be eligible for HOPE scholarship grants.
SB 195: Provide nonpartisan elections for board of education members in Brantley County.
SB 196: Revise the definition of private home care provider to exclude contractual arrangements with independent contractors.
SB 197: Require a comprehensive review of each state employment position and compare salaries with the industry standard for each position.
Senate Resolution 311: Urge the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to consider the safety aspects of allowing El Paso Corp. to transfer liquefied natural gas through Georgia.
SR 312: Endorse efforts to deepen the ports in Savannah and Charleston, S.C.
House
House Bill 438: Allow independent candidates to have an additional qualifying period for elections.
HB 439: Allow an incumbent to qualify for re-election as an independent without petition.
HB 440: Change the definition of animal cruelty to include the failure to provide necessary shelter and ventilation to the animal.
HB 441: Allow the attorney general to employ private counsel.
HB 442: Support continuation of the educational tax for the Hall County, Gainesville and Buford school systems.
HB 443: Allow research and continuing education centers to obtain a permit to use speed detection devices for classes.
HB 444: Compensate Heard County Water Authority members $100 per one meeting each month.
HB 445: Require security deposits when residential rental property has been foreclosed.
HB 446: Allow financial service employees to have immunity from criminal or civil liability when seeking information to guard against fraud for elderly and disabled adults.
HB 447: Enact the Foreclosure Rescue Fraud Prevention Act, which would require foreclosure rescue consultants and firms to be bonded, require foreclosure rescue transactions to follow state consumer protection laws and prohibit unfair foreclosure rescue transactions.
HB 448: Allow the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame Authority to develop criteria and designate educational tourist attractions to honor hall of fame members across Georgia.
HB 449: Under multiple-party accounts, define "person" to include entities registered to provide pre-need services.
HB 450: Allow public housing authorities to collect certain debts.
House Resolution 461: Require the Department of Education and Professional Standards Commission to develop an educator ethics course.
Both chambers also passed various resolutions to recognize special days and people.
Carolyn Crist