SECRETARY OF THE SENATE'S OFFICE
353 State Capitol
Atlanta, Georgia 30334
(404) 656-5040
(404) 656-5043 FAX
Paragraph III of Section III. of Article III. of the Georgia Constitution signifies
the Secretary of the Senate as an official officer of the Georgia State
Senate. The Office of the Secretary of the Senate was created in 1789 and has proudly served the citizens of
Georgia along with the Georgia State Senate for over 200 years.
The official duties of the Secretary of the Senate are fully detailed in the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated and the Rules of the Georgia State Senate. The Secretary of the Senate is elected by a
vote of the Senators for a two-year term concurrent with the members of the
body. The Secretary serves as the official administrative officer and unofficial parliamentarian of the Senate.
The Office of the Secretary of the Senate serves as custodian for all bills, resolutions, substitutes, amendments,
records, papers and official documents filed with the Senate. In addition, the Secretary of the Senate’s
Office:
- Keeps an accurate record of daily proceedings in
Senate Chamber;
- Tallies and records all votes on motions and
legislation;
- Manages distribution of materials in Senate Chamber;
- Operates the sound recognition system in Senate
Chamber;
- Compiles the chamber seating chart;
- Produces the “Order of Business” for each legislative
day;
- Prints all copies of legislation for distribution;
- Indexes all legislation for reference purposes;
- Produces daily calendars for legislation;
- Proofreads, edits and perfects Senate versions of
legislation;
- Proofreads and finalizes Senate committee meeting
books;
- Enrolls and engrosses Senate legislation
- Prepares all applicable legislation for state
archives;
- Compiles, edits and produces the Senate Journal for
publication;
- Manages database for tracking legislation;
- Assists in editing and production of Senate Rules;
- Schedules Senate committee meetings;
- Provides parking, badges, security access and
supplies for Senate staff.
PUBLICATIONS
The Secretary of the Senate’s
Office provides information to the general public, special interest groups,
staff members and legislators alike by producing a myriad of documents which
are vital to the daily operation of the Senate. These
documents include:
- Senate Proposed First Readers – A report which
provides a comprehensive list of all bills and resolutions dropped in the
hopper the previous day and are available for first reading and referral
to committee.
- Senate First Readers – A report which provides
a brief summary of all bills and resolutions read the first time and
referred to committee.
- Senate Daily Status – A report which shows the
actions taken by the Senate on all bills and resolutions during the
legislative day.
- Senate General Calendar – Calendar which lists
bills or resolutions which have been reported out of their committee of
origin, have been read the second time, and are available to be acted upon
by the Senate.
- Senate Local Calendar – Calendar which provides
a brief summary of all local legislation available for passage by the
Senate on a particular legislative day.
- Senate Rules Calendar – Calendar set by the
Committee on Rules and published daily during the last 35 days of the
Session, lists bills and resolutions to be read the third time and acted upon
by the Senate.
- The Composite Status – A cumulative report
which shows the bill number, title, committee referral and actions on
Senate and House legislation in both chambers.
- Senate Journal – The comprehensive official
record of the Senate. Records the
election of officers, committee assignments, action taken on legislation,
motions made by Senators, communications received from Senators and the
Governor and all Senate votes.
- Legislative Picture Book/White Book – A
reference book containing information on all committee assignments,
congressional districts, counties, and contact information for
legislators.
- How a Bill Becomes a Law – A
guide for tracking a bill through the legislative process of the Georgia General Assembly. Also contains the order of business when the Senate is in session.
HOW TO OBTAIN INFORMATION
Copies of legislation and
applicable votes can be found online at http://www.legis.ga.gov,
or in Room 353 State Capitol.
Requests for information can be
initiated by telephone, e-mail, or written correspondence.
STAFF AND POLICY RESPONSIBILITIES
Bob Ewing, Secretary of the Senate; Official administrative officer and unofficial parliamentarian of the Senate. Responsible for the oversight and management of the office of the Secretary of the Senate and the Georgia State Senate; responsible for oversight of all data and subsequent publications produced by the Secretary of the Senate's office; assists with Senate Rules updates and production; member of the Senate Administrative Affairs Committee and the Legislative Services Committee.
Bob.Ewing@senate.ga.gov
Jeffrey Foley, Deputy Secretary of the Senate. Responsible for preparing Order of Business for Senate proceedings; processing Special Action in the Senate chamber; processing of bid for the publication of the Senate Journal and paper orders; managing payroll for full-time and session Senate employees; coordinating and issuing parking for Senators; scheduling Senate weekly standing committee meetings; creating committee meeting master list and conflict charts; preparing index for Senate Rules book and overseeing Journal proofing.
Jeffrey.Foley@senate.ga.gov
Deannie Robinson, Journal Clerk. Responsible for management, creation, development and oversight of published Senate Journal; ordering and distribution of all Senate badges, stationery, and business cards; notary public.
Deannie.Robinson@senate.ga.gov
Michelle Simmons, Enrolling Clerk. Responsible for the processing of all Senate bills and resolutions; perfecting Senate legislation by integrating all amendments and substitutes; verifying release of legislation to Internet; hiring, training, and supervising proofreading and enrolling/engrossing staff; perfection of "pretty resolutions"; transcribing Senate proceedings and processing of legislation in the Senate chamber; managing archiving of term documents; managing Senate portion of the legislative picture book; proofing and finalizing committee minute books and performing committee meeting analysis; management and development of Senate webpage.
Michelle.Simmons@senate.ga.gov
Cheree Harper, Index Clerk. Responsible for initial entry of Senate captions; creating and managing subject indexing of Senate legislation for research purposes; creating Senate Journal alphabetical and numerical indices; creating Senate Messages; management of Senate database; posting Standing and interim study committees and meeting notices to the Internet; creating and ordering Senate composite picture; coordinating postage allotment for Senate. Personal assistant to the Secretary of the Senate.
Cheree.Harper@senate.ga.gov
Jessie Thompson, Printshop Manager. Responsible for the printing of all Senate documents including legislation,
stationary, envelopes and newsletters; immediate supervisor for session staff filing duties; responsible for ordering, stocking, and distribution of Senate supplies.
Jessie.Thompson@senate.ga.gov
Amy Krieg, Calendar Clerk. Responsible for creation and management of all Senate Calendars and first readers; hiring, training and supervising file room staff; access cardkey coordinator for Senate staff and session employees; management of Senate legislative service.
Amy.Krieg@senate.ga.gov
Megan Tackett, Bill Status Clerk. Responsible for operating Senate legislative voting system; recording of Senate legislative action in chamber on board sheet; managing and creating Senate second readers, daily status, and composite status; issuing parking for Senate staff and session employees; managing Senate flower fund.
Megan.Tackett@senate.ga.gov
