Indigent Defense (7)

Date of Last Recorded Action: 4/25/2024

HB 0001 NeutralGeorgia Uniform Civil Forfeiture Procedure Act Wendell Willard
2/7/2014 House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute Judy --
Auditing/Budget Civil Procedure Clerk of Court Criminal Procedure Debra Nesbit
District Attorneys Forfeitures, Fees, and Fine Add Ons General County Government Health and Human Services Indigent Defense
Law Enforcement Public Safety and Courts Revenue & Finance Revenue and Finance Sheriff
Superior Court
This legislation is a restructuring of the Civil Forfeiture Procedure Act which impacts drug forfeitures and seizures.  This statute is one of law enforcement's most effective tools in bringing down criminal enterprises. The district attorney, through a judicial process, can seize cars, cash and property of drug dealers and other criminals.  Many county commissioners refer to this forfeited property as drug fund money. The funds and property are used for law enforcement training, equipment and investigative expenses. The revised HB 1 standardizes the reporting requirements for law enforcement, and creates a new process for district attorney forfeiture funds.
HB 0127 SupportRedirected Fees - Having Fees Appropriated for Designated Purposes Powell, Jay 171st
3/5/2013 Senate - Senate Read and Referred App APPROP -
Appropriations Clerk of Court District Attorneys Forfeitures, Fees, and Fine Add Ons General County Government
Indigent Defense Law Enforcement Nat. Res. & the Environment Public Safety and Courts Revenue & Finance
Solicitors Solid Waste Todd Edwards Training
This legislation, one of ACCG's top priorities, seeks to halt the now-common state practice of redirecting fees from their designated purposes to the state's general fund for other uses.  If fees for the Solid Waste Trust Fund, Hazardous Waste Trust Fund, Indigent Defense, Peace Officers and Prosecutors Training Fund and teen driver's education are not appropriated for their intended use, the fees will be reduced or eliminated, proportionate to the amount that is redirected. 
 
While the Senate once again halted this legislation, HB 276 did pass both chambers, applying the above fee-reduction mechanism to the Hazardous and Solid Waste Trust Funds.    
 
Click here for ACCG's HB 127 Press Release
 
Click here for ACCG's sectional summary of HB 127
 
Click here for ACCG's implementation timeline for HB 127        
HB 0349 NeutralAdult Criminal Justice Reform Clean Up Bill Golick, Rich 40th
7/1/2013 House - Effective Date JudyNC JUDYNC -
Clerk of Court Correctional Institutions/Jail Criminal Procedure Debra Nesbit District Attorneys
Indigent Defense Juveniles Law Enforcement Magistrate Court Probate Court
Public Safety and Courts Sheriff Solicitors
This legislation creates the Council on Criminal Justice Reform to continue to assess the impact of the Criminal Justice Reform Act. This legislation also provides for judges to deviate from mandatory minimums by following a procedure as outlined in the legislation, and revises the process for removal of arrest records.
HB 0793 OpposeLocals Cannot Accept Any Federal Funds Without State Permission Scot Turner
1/24/2014 House Second Readers GAff --
911 Agriculture Air Quality Appropriations Auditing/Budget
District Attorneys Econ. Dev. & Transportation Economic Development Elections Emergency Management/Preparedness
Farm Fire Services General County Government Health and Human Services Indigent Defense
Indigent Health Care Juveniles Land Conservation Law Enforcement Nat. Res. & the Environment
Procurement Public Safety and Courts Public Works Revenue & Finance Sewer/Septage
Shaun Adams Sheriff Solicitors Solid Waste Stormwater
Traffic Enforcement Training Transportation Transportation Funding Trauma Care System
Water Quality Water Quantity
This legislation prohibits counties from receiving any federal funds, whether direct dollars, loans or grants, unless the Generally Assembly has "expressly and specifically" approved the acceptance. 
HB 0842 NeutralWaiver for Filing Fees for the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals for Incarcerated Individuals Wendell Willard
7/1/2014 Effective Date Judy JUDY -
Civil Procedure Clerk of Court Criminal Procedure Debra Nesbit Indigent Defense
Public Safety and Courts
This legislation allows inmates to file appeals in either civil or criminal cases to the Georgia Court of Appeals or Supreme Court without paying the $80 or $300 fee, even if the inmate is not indigent.
HR 1087 SupportTrust Funds - Allow General Assembly to Create and Abolish/Redirect Andrew Welch
1/23/2014 House Second Readers W&M --
Appropriations Econ. Dev. & Transportation Forfeitures, Fees, and Fine Add Ons General County Government Health and Human Services
Indigent Defense Nat. Res. & the Environment Public Safety and Courts Revenue & Finance Solid Waste
Todd Edwards Training

This resolution, if ratified by Georgia voters, would allow the General Assembly, by a two-thirds vote, to establish trust funds that have truly dedicated fees (e.g. Hazardous Waste and Solid Waste Trust Funds). The fees could be diverted in a declared financial emergency and majority vote of the General Assembly, or if the General Assembly votes (two-thirds) to do so.        
SB 0345 EvaluatingProvides for a Court Technology Fee to be Collected on Criminal and Civil Cases - Repeals Existing Court Technology Fees Jesse Stone
2/4/2014 Senate Read and Referred -JUDY -
Clerk of Court Code Enforcement Constables/Marshals Debra Nesbit District Attorneys
Econ. Dev. & Transportation Forfeitures, Fees, and Fine Add Ons General County Government Indigent Defense Juveniles
Law Enforcement Local Legislation Magistrate Court Probate Court Public Safety and Courts
Revenue & Finance Sheriff Solicitors State Court Superior Court
Traffic Enforcement

This legislation creates a court technology fee to be assessed on criminal fines, ordinance violations and civil filings with the passage of a local resolution. The chief judge will control the fund and appoint members of the technology fund board. This legislation also repeals any local technology fee in place on July 1, 2014.
Green background on status indicates a bill has been acted on the last recorded legislative day.



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