| HB 0238 |
Support | Restructuring of the Georgia Public Defender Standards Council |
Golick,Rich 34th |
|---|
|
5/3/2011 |
House Date Signed by Governor |
JudyNC |
JUDY |
- |
|
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|
HB 238 restructures the statewide public defender system by clarifying the roles and responsibilities of the Georgia Public Defender Standards Council (GPDSC) and the Director of the Agency. The legislation also reduces the size and responsibilities of the local supervision panels and has the local circuit public defender reporting to the Director of GPDSC. Reconstitutes the Council from a 15 member to a 9 member Council. The Governor has five appointments, three of which must be county commissioners, the Lt. Governor and Speaker each have two appointments.
|
| HB 0265 |
Support | Creation of Special Council on Criminal Justice Reform for Georgians - Creation of Joint Committee |
Neal,Jay 1st |
|---|
|
4/22/2011 |
House Date Signed by Governor |
JudyNC |
JUDY |
- |
|
|
| This bill creates the 2011 Special Council on Criminal Justice Reform for Georgians to study Georgia's criminal justice and correction system to enhance public safety, reduce victimization, hold offenders more accountable, enhance probation and parole supervision and better manage a growing prison population. The Council would create a report of its findings and recommend legislation no later than January 9, 2012. The Council's recommendations would then be considered by a Special Joint Committee on Georgia Criminal Justice Reform. The joint committee would cause legislation to be introduced incorporating the recommendations without significant changes. |
| HB 0648 |
Support | Dedication of Indigent Defense Fees |
Golick,Rich 34th |
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|
3/7/2012 |
Senate Read and Referred |
JudyNC |
APPROP |
- |
|
|
| This legislation dedicates the fees collected from various court cases both criminal and civil to fund the Georgia Public Defender System. This is the companion bill to HR 977 which provides the constitutional authority to dedicate these fees. |
| HB 0811 |
Support | Prevent the Redirection of Dedicated Fees |
Powell,Jay 171st |
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3/29/2012 |
Senate Conference Committee Appointed |
GAff |
APPROP |
- |
|
|
| House Bill 811, introduced by Rep. Jay Powell, co-signed by more than 60 House members, and having passed the House by 151-5, would have prevented the redirection of dedicated fees for the Solid Waste Trust Fund, Hazardous Waste Trust Fund, Peace Officer and Prosecutors Training Fund, and Joshua's Law (drivers education training). If dedicated fees were not appropriated for these statutorily-intended purposes, then the fees would be reduced or eliminated, proportionate to the amount that is redirected. To minimize impact on the state budget, the new appropriation requirements would have been phased in.
The Senate Appropriations Committee added a provision that the fee reduction trigger will not kick in until the state's [rainy day] Revenue Shortfall Reserve is at least 7 percent of previous year's state budget, which would be about $1.1 billion currently. The problem is that the Reserve has exceeded this amount only once since 1988.
In conference committee, the Senate insisted upon language that ensured fee reductions would rarely, if ever, kick in. Accordingly, House conferees refused to go along with language they felt defeated the entire purpose of the legislation and have pledged to reintroduce the bill next session.
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| HB 0940 |
Neutral | Modifies Payment Requirements for Indigent Defense Conflict Cases |
Pak,B.J. 102nd |
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3/26/2012 |
Senate Read Second Time |
JudyNC |
JUDY |
- |
|
|
| When counsel is appointed to represent an indigent defendant in a capital case due to a conflict of interest, HB 940 would bar the Georgia Public Defender Standards Council from paying any state funds to the defendant's counsel unless an invoice for the counsel's services is first approved in writing by the judge to whom the case is assigned. |
| HR 0250 |
N/A | District attorneys; invest in public safety and prevention, not death penalty; urge |
Benfield,Stephanie 85th |
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2/15/2011 |
House Second Readers |
JudyNC |
- | - |
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| HR 251 urges district attorneys to stop prosecuting cases seeking the death penalty. The resolution asks them to invest their time and resources in solving homicides, providing effective public safety programs and focusing on violence prevention. |
| HR 0977 |
Support | Dedication of Indigent Defense Fees by Constitutional Amendment |
Golick,Rich 34th |
|---|
|
3/7/2012 |
Senate Read and Referred |
JudyNC |
APPROP |
- |
|
|
| This resolution provides for a constitutional amendment to dedicate existing fees and assessment for funding legal services for the indigent. HB 648 is the companion bill. |
| SB 0031 |
Neutral | Evidence; extend the attorney-client privilege to third persons under certain circumstances |
Carter,Jason 42nd |
|---|
|
3/22/2012 |
House Committee Favorably Reported |
Judy |
JUDY |
- |
|
|
| SB 31 adds a definition to "client" for purposes of the attorney-client privilege. "Client" specifically includes someone who is represented by a court appointed attorney or a public defender. |
| SR 0155 |
N/A | Georgia's District Attorneys; urged to invest in resources in solving homicides, providing public safety program instead of seeking death penalty |
Fort,Vincent 39th |
|---|
|
2/15/2011 |
Senate Read and Referred |
- | JUDY |
- |
|
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| HR 251 urges district attorneys to stop prosecuting cases seeking the death penalty. The resolution asks them to invest their time and resources in solving homicides, providing effective public safety programs and focusing on violence prevention. |
