2020 - End Mass Incarceration Ga Ntwk

Advocacy Information & Opportunities - 2020

STPP Day at the Capitol Cancelled Due to COVID-19 Protocol

A Message from Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities:

Dear Advocates:

Due to growing concerns of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and to keep our advocates' health and safety at the top of our minds, we have made the difficult decision to cancel our final Advocacy Day on March 18, 2020.

This day will not be rescheduled due to logistical and calendar restraints.

Update on Certain Legislation

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the General Assembly suspended the regular legislative session, Friday, March 13, immediately after Crossover Day. This is an update on certain bills as of that time:

HB 318/HB 441 (Sponsor: Rep. Roger Bruce) – Creates a "safe care" program within the Juvenile Code that young people can voluntarily enter into for access to drug treatment professionals, social programs, and local and state government agencies. STATUS: No action taken on these bills by the House Juvenile Justice Committee.

HB 438 (Sponsor: Rep. Mandi Ballinger) - Eliminates the use of restraints on children while in court with exceptions. STATUS: No action taken on this bill by the House Juvenile Justice Committee.

HB 440 (Sponsor: Rep. Mandi Ballinger) – Allows 17-year-olds to have criminal cases resolved in juvenile court. STATUS: Several hearings were held by the House Juvenile Justice Committee, and the bill was passed favorably out of committee. However, the House Rules Committee did not place HB 440 on the House floor for a vote prior to the end of Crossover Day.

HB 528 (Sponsor: Rep. Mandi Ballinger) – Restricts records for individuals convicted of certain misdemeanors with exceptions. STATUS: No action taken on this bill by the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee.

HB 702 (Sponsor: Rep. Brett Harrell) – Prohibits capital punishment in the state and commutes capital sentences to life without parole. STATUS: No action taken on this bill by the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee.

HB 714 (Sponsor: Rep. Bee Nguyen) – Restricts the use of solitary confinement for punishment and for vulnerable persons including those with serious mental illness, children, and the people over the age of 65. STATUS: No action taken on this bill by the House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee.

HB 760 (Sponsor: Rep. Sharon Cooper) - Allows peace officers to transport any person to a physician or psychologist if that person is accused of committing a criminal offense in certain circumstances. STATUS: No action taken on this bill by the House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee.

HB 994 (Sponsor: Rep. Bert Reeves) - Attempts to prosecute more children as adults, expands the definition of gang activity and imposes devastating consequences upon conviction for certain gang and sex offenses. STATUS: This bill passed favorably out of the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee; passed favorably out of the House before the end of Crossover Day. No action was taken on this bill by the Senate.

SB 402 (Sponsor: Sen. Randy Robertson) – Would eliminate the ability for courts to issue signature bonds and eliminate the ability for judges to issue recognizance bonds for pretrial release or diversion to any person charged with a bail restricted offense. STATUS: This bill was passed favorably out of the Senate Public Safety Committee; and passed out of the Senate before the end of Crossover Day. House passed and sent to Governor for signature.

SB 414 (Sponsor: Sen. Harold Jones) - Excludes 74 offenses, including drug possession, from the list of crimes that disqualify a person from voting in Georgia. STATUS: No action taken on this bill by the Senate Judiciary Committee.