This bill restores county and city ability to regulate the use of bicycles on sidewalks. State law was amended two years ago to prohibit the riding of bicycles on sidewalks by anyone over the age of 12.

HB 203 requires the Peace Officer Standards and Training Council to provide notice of any investigation of a peace officer that may result in disciplinary action to the head of the employing law enforcement agency, the district attorney and the solicitor of the judicial circuit where the peace officer is employed.

HB 247 allows applicants for initial licensure to request that a criminal history records check be conducted by a state or local law enforcement agency or by a private vendor approved by the department  This bill was amended in the Rules Committee to provide authority to the Firefighters Standards and Training Council to refuse to grant a certificate or to discipline a certified firefighter upon the determination that the applicant or firefighter has been convicted of a felony offense.  This bill also requires a criminal background check on potential guardians prior to appointment by the probate court to serve as a guardian by court order.  This bill was signed by the Governor on April 16, 2012.

HB 266 would allow constables for the magistrate court to carry loaded weapons.

This bill would allow advanced practice registered nurses to the list of health care professionals that can examine those seeking to be a peace officer to make sure that the candidate is free from physical, emotional or mental conditions that would adversely affect the peace officer in performing his or her duties.

Under current law, only individuals with a carry license are allowed to use or carry a handgun in a park, historic site or recreational area.  HB 679 would expand this to allow anyone who is not prohibited by law from possessing a weapon to carry and use a handgun in any park, historic site or recreational area. 

This bill would make it a felony for a driver to fail to stop when given a visual or audible signal from a law enforcement officer.

This bill makes it a felony for a driver to fail to bring their vehicle to a stop once given a visual or audible signal from a law enforcement officer to do so.  This legislation also provides for forfeiture of the vehicle upon conviction.

This bill requires that peace officers cooperate with investigations by the Peace Officers Standards and Training Council. It also requires that employers provide employment related information (i.e., written information in an employer's records or personnel files relating to the behavior or performance of the applicant, candidate or peace officer) to another law enforcement agency when they are conducting an investigation to hire, certify or renew the certification of a peace officer. The information that the employer is required to disclose includes performance evaluations, disciplinary actions and eligibility for rehire. The law enforcement agency seeking the employment related information must include a copy of a signed and notarized statement from the applicant, candidate or peace officer releasing and holding the employer harmless for disclosing complete and accurate information to the law enforcement agency.

This bill creates a new Fire Safety Commissioner and Department of Fire Safety for Georgia through consolidation of other departments and agencies. The Safety Fire Division of the Department of Insurance, the Georgia Firefighter Standards Council and the Georgia Fire Academy would be abolished. One member of the new Fire Safety Advisory Board will be a member of ACCG.

** Please contact Debra Nesbit at dnesbit@accg.org to provide feedback**