This legislation allows victim assistance personnel to be present in the courtroom while a minor is testifying about a sex offense.

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.  

In traffic cases where a fine is imposed that includes costs, courts may charge an additional $5 fee, known as the electronic citation fee, if the "governing authority of the court" has adopted a resolution imposing the fee. The fee must be placed in the Electronic Citation Fund. Each year, the court clerk must provide an annual report and accounting of the fund to the Georgia Superior Court Clerks Cooperative Authority and to each governing authority that approved the resolution imposing the electronic citation fee. The resolution sunsets at the end of each fiscal year and governing authority must adopt a resolution on an annual basis to impose the fee. The Sunset was changed from 5 years from 2019 to 2023.

This legislation creates the crime of cargo theft, which includes stealing a trailer or other equipment deployed or used by a law enforcement agency.  This bill amends the powers and duties of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to include the indentification and investigation of these crimes in conjunction with local law enforcement.
 

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 allows victims and witnesses under 18 years of age to testify outside of the physical presence of the defendant in certain situations. 

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 makes it a crime for anyone to file a false lien against any person, not just a public official. It also provide immunity to the court clerk that accepts such documents for filing.