This legislation amends the law prohibiting counties from removing certain monuments from county property. Pursuant to this legislation, counties could relocate monuments honoring or recounting military service when necessary to build or expand buildings, roads and edifices.  If possible, any relocation must be to a site of similar prominence, honor, visibility, availability and access within the county where the monument was originally located. Monuments may not be relocated to a museum, cemetery or mausoleum unless the monument was originally placed in such a location.

Any person or entity "adversely affected" by a violation of this legislation may notify the county, which has 120 to rectify the violation or the person can seek injunctive relief through the courts.  

This legislation allows injunctions and declaratory judgment actions to be brought against the county (i.e., it waives sovereign immunity) when the county causes injury to a person by acting in violation of the Georgia Constitution or state law.  This waiver of sovereign immunity does not allow the person bringing the lawsuit to obtain monetary damages, attorney's fees or litigation costs.  HB 59 does not allow inmates or institutionalized individuals to bring injunctions or declaratory judgment actions against counties.  

This legislation allows prescriptions for auto injectible epinephrine ("epi pens") to be written to recreation camps, youth sport leagues, amusement parks, sports arenas and places of employment.  These "entities" must designate an employer or employees to receive training to administer the epi pens in case of emergency.

This legislation, similar to SB 272, would allow for the creation of townships via local legislation with land use, zoning, subdivision, building permit and code enforcement powers, if the voters first approve a statewide referendum approving a constitutional amendment. Companion resolutions, HR 1051 and SR 724, if passed, will call for the statewide referendum to amend the constitution allowing townships to have zoning powers. Townships could levy up to a .5 mill property tax, annex and transition to cityhood. Though counties would have no say in the above decisions, counties must continue to provide all services and infrastructure to the area as they would any unincorporated area. Counties would have an opportunity to comment on township decisions, but nothing is binding or mediated.

This legislation, similar to HB 785, would allow for the creation of townships via local legislation with land use, zoning, subdivision, building permit and code enforcement powers, if Georgia voters first approve a statewide referendum approving a constitutional amendment. Companion resolutions, SR 724 and HR 1051, if passed, will call for the statewide referendum to amend the constitution allowing townships to have zoning powers. Townships could levy up to a .5 mill property tax, annex and transition to cityhood. Though counties would have no say in the above decisions, counties must continue to provide all services and infrastructure to the area as they would any unincorporated area. Counties would have an opportunity to comment on township decisions, but nothing is binding or mediated.