This legislation allows the county commissioners and/or animal control officer to order euthanization of a dog that has seriously injured a human or presents a danger to humans without going through the superior court if the dog's owner has relinquished custody of the dog. Whether a dog presents a danger to humans is in the discretion of the commissioners or the animal control officer.

This is omnibus gun carry legislation that lifts several current prohibitions on where concealed firearms may be carried.  It authorizes the carrying of weapons, by those with permits, in bars, churches and, importantly, in county government buildings that do not have security guards. ACCG is opposed to this provision in the bill. Please contact your Senators immediately to let them know any concerns you have.  

This legislation allows the discharge of a firearm within 50 yards of a public road (provided the discharge is shielded from the view of a traveler) if the discharge occurs at an indoor or outdoor shooting range; a facility used for firearm or hunting safety courses sponsored by a unit of government, nonprofit corporation, or commercial enterprise; or the business location of any person, firm, retail dealer, wholesale dealer, pawnbroker, or corporation licensed as a firearm dealer.  

This legislation authorizes counties, in consultation with the Probate judge, to provide free gun carry licenses to military personnel who are serving in good standing for at least the last three years and military veterans who were honorably discharged to obtain a weapons carry permit free of charge. The county would not be able to waive the GBI's fee (currently $44).

This legislation requires law enforcement agencies to adopt written policies that set forth the manner in which officers shall negotiate encounters with animals that become aggressive. This legislation was amended in committee to remove unfunded mandate for training and the temporary suspension of law enforcment officers who did not complete training.

This legislation clarifies the General Assembly's intent regarding the use and provision of probation services by courts for misdemeanor and ordinance violations. It clarifies the ability of judges to toll warrants of probationers who abscond during their probationary period without meeting the conditions of their sentence.

This is the omnibus gun carry bill of 2014. It was enhanced in the Senate Judiciary Non-Civil Committee to successfully address ACCG's three objections to the original bill. Specifically the substitute:

- allows local governments to determine whether or not guns are allowed in their government buildings, regardless of whether metal detectors or security screening is provided; 

- removes the provision prohibiting law enforcement from detaining persons illegally carrying guns without licenses; and

-removes the "private right of action" provision allowing any special interest group or individual (whether or not aggrieved) to sue counties and county officials statewide.

ACCG urges you to encourage your legislators to adopt the Senate version of HB 875 or adopt no version at all. 

This legislation allows counties to contract with the Georgia Department of Public Safety to jointly regulate taxicabs and limousine services. It also gives the state the authority to regulate transportation referral. Taxicab and limousine owners would be required to pay $1,000 per vehicle per year to the Department of Revenue in lieu of sales tax on the fares. If the business is based in the unincorporated area, the county would receive 43 percent of this fee.

This legislation would require fines from arrests and citations issued by the uniformed division of the Department of Public Safety to be paid to the state. Under current law, only the fines from tickets and arrests by the Georgia State Patrol on I-285 are paid into the state treasury.

Additionally, this legislation requires counties that participate in a checkpoint as part of a joint operation for license and safety checks to evenly split the fines collected as a result of the checkpoint.

 This legislation creates the House Study Committee on For Hire Transportation Services and DUI Recidivism and Driver's License Suspensions and Reinstatements.   The Study Committee must file a report by December 1, 2014.

This legislation requires the local fire marshal, building official or code enforcement officer to provide written notification and an opportunity to correct a violation of the state minimum fire safety standards before denying a permit, refusing to issue a certificate of occupancy or issuing a stop work order.