Legislative Report #3 of the 2006 Session of the Georgia General Assembly

During the 3rd week of the 2006 Session of the Georgia General Assembly, the House passed out the amended FY06 budget.  The House also passed out HB 1059 which provides for harsher penalties for individuals convicted of aggravated sex offenses.  These measures are now in the Senate for consideration. 

SB 503 and SR 793 were introduced this week.  SB 503 contains all of the Standards Council’s legislative items except for the 90% of the district attorney’s state salary provision.  SR 793 is the resolution for the Removal of a Circuit Public Defender Standard.  SB 503 and SR 793 have been assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Sen. Preston Smith. 

HB 391 which authorizes the circuit public defenders to enter the Judicial Retirement System is still in the House Rules Committee, chaired by Rep. Earl Ehrhart (Cobb County).  A companion bill will soon be introduced that will clarify the type of plan that HB 391 authorizes for the circuit public defenders.

New criminal justice bills that have been introduced this week are as follows:

House Bills

HB 1163: This bill allows for a hearing to send a SB 440 case from superior court to juvenile court.  
HB 1171: This bill provides for a specific date of surrender of a driver's license for the computation of license suspensions/revocations.
HB 1185: This bill increases the punishments for people convicted of burglary and theft.
HB 1193: This bill prohibits the owning of vehicles containing false or secret compartments.
HB 1220: This bill adds a $10 fee to fines for traffic offenses (HB 1221 does the same).
HB 1225: This bill provides for a new Interstate Compact on Juveniles.
HB 1234: This bill changes code provisions relating to the possession of firearms in publicly owned buildings and at public gatherings.
HB 1235: This bill creates a procedure where members of a jury may submit questions to be asked to a witness.
HB 1239: This bill provides for annual education in junior high schools about changes to criminal law in Georgia and how it can impact them.

HR 1228: This bill provides for a constitutional amendment to impose a $10 fee to all criminal and traffic fines.

Senate Bills
SB 477: This bill requires counties to give authorization to the Department of Corrections before it can build or lease a new facility within that county.
SB 478: This bill increases the penalties for committing a sex offense against a mentally challenged person.
SB 485: This bill provides that certain persons convicted of speeding violations will be required to display a habitual speeder bumper sticker.
SB 488: This bill provides that the Dept. of Family and Children Services will be notified of any person convicted of DUI with a minor in the vehicle.
SB 490: This bill requires people convicted of their second DUI to display a habitual drunk driver bumper sticker.
SB 491: This bill provides that a person's fifth offense of DUI will be a felony.
SB 502: This bill provides for a comprehensive revision and reform of the laws relating to operating motor vehicles under the influence of drugs, alcohol etc.
SB 503: This bill imposes the application fee as a condition of probation if it is not paid upfront or waived by the court; failure to pay the fee will not result in the denial of representation; failure to pay the fee will not be the sole basis for revocation; this bill also staggers the terms of the council members; and provides for certain technical changes.

SR 700: This bill continues the Juvenile Law Commission.
SR 793: This bill provides for the ratification of the Standards Council’s standard on the Removal of a Circuit Public Defender.

Click here to see a full list of new criminal justice bills that have been introduced in this session so far.