Last week brought the conclusion of week 10 of our current legislative session. Much of the last week was focused on further securing child safety measures within our state. Below is a quick update of how we are working to protect our Georgia children. In addition to voting on legislation this week, we also took time to commemorate the life and legacy of the late House Speaker David Ralston on what would have been his birthday. This Update: House Action |
Week TenPublic Safety In recent years the practice of “swatting” has become more common. Swatting refers to an unlawful or “made up” request for emergency service assistance when there is no reasonable ground for a request to be made. These scenarios often lead to forced entry with the intent to harm the individual being targeted. To curtail this trend we successfully passed Senate Bill 421 which outlines punishable offenses for swatting. The bill also delves further into offenses related to gang activity, such as shooting a firearm towards another vehicle or building with the intent to injure someone or cause damage to someone’s property. Stipulations of the bill are as follows:
We continued our efforts to protect Georgia’s children with the passage of Senate Bill 335, the Safeguarding Adopted Children from Sexual Violence Act. This bill expands the crime of incest to include adoption relationships. Georgia code currently defines incest to those who are blood related or by marriage and the expansion of this definition to include adoptive family members will ensure that those committing these crimes are held accountable to the full extent of the law. We continue the fight against Human Trafficking through Senate Bill 370. This bill would expand education and create increased awareness on human trafficking. SB 370 works to expand current law of human trafficking hotline sign postings to add convenience stores, body art studios, manufacturing facilities and medical offices. Furthermore, the bill would require each board member of the Georgia Board of Massage Therapy to complete at least 30 minutes of training each year on human trafficking awareness. This bill ultimately brings more education and awareness to Georgia citizens. Child Welfare Sadly, the process for which adoptive and foster children are placed in homes across state lines is burdensome and lengthy for all involved. To streamline these efforts, we passed Senate Bill 483, which would enter Georgia into the updated version of the Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children Act (ICPC). This bill will help to ensure that children are placed in safe homes in a more timely manner. This bill places Georgia into an agreement under the updated version of the compact. Notably, the compact would not go into effect until 35 states have enacted similar legislation. The purpose of this revised compact would be to streamline communication between states in regard to the placement of adopted and foster children across state lines. Improvements to the ICPC are as follows:
Children between 14-17 would receive free state identification cards under the newly passed Senate Bill 387. This bill would enable children within the Department of Family and Childrens Services (DFCS) to apply for an identification card without requiring a parent, guardian, or adult to sign or verify the application. We are hopeful that providing this opportunity to children enrolled within DFCS, will assist them in obtaining jobs and thus allow and easier integration into our workforce.
Remembering Speaker Ralston Also taking place last week was that of honoring our last Speaker of the House, David Ralston. Speaker Jon Burns and other leaders unveiled a portrait in Speaker Ralston’s honor, which will be displayed outside of Capitol House Chamber. Accompanied by his family and esteemed guests, we held a ceremony on the House floor to honor Speaker Ralston’s enduring legacy and impact on our state. We also gave passage to the following Senate bills during week 10:
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If you have questions or concerns please feel free to reach out to us directly. As always, thank you for allowing me the honor of serving as your voice under the Gold Dome. May God bless you and keep you, may He continue to bless the great state of Georgia. Respectfully, Stan Gunter Representative of Georgia’s 8th District |