House Bill 76

Chair's Name: Burke Day

Committee: Public Safety & Homeland Security

House Sponsor: Burke Day

HB 76 will enact the "Georgia Emergency Management Agency Nomenclature Act".  This bill criminalizes the use of GEMA agency titles, center titles, or GEMA symbols without the written permission of GEMA's director. Civil penalties including fines and injunctions are authorized, as well as a civil cause of action for those damaged by the wrongful use of GEMA nomenclature.

The committee substitute received a Do Pass recommendation from the Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee and came to the House Floor under the Open Rule. 

Chairman Day's Opinion of this legislation:

WHAT PROBLEM/OPPORTUNITY DOES THIS LEGISLATION ADDRESS?

This bill seeks to control the use of symbols and names relating to the Georgia Emergency Management Agency. After 9-11 and Katrina, there were individuals who took advantage of the public by representing themselves to be part of emergency management agencies, and then failing to deliver the services they advertised.

House Vote: 161-3

Senate Vote: 42-0