HB621: HB621 Georgia Bureau of Investigation; provide for members of the General Assembly to request assistance

25 LC 56 0305 House Bill 621 By: Representatives Baker of the 64th, Henderson of the 113th, Cummings of the 39th, Glaize of the 67th, McClain of the 109th, and others A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Article 1 of Chapter 3 of Title 35 of the Official Cod e of Georgia Annotated,1 relating to general provisions regarding the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, so as to provide2 for members of the General Assembly to request assistance from the Georgia Bureau of3 Investigation; to provide for related matters; to repeal confli cting laws; and for other4 purposes.5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:6 SECTION 1.7 Article 1 of Chapter 3 of Title 35 of the Official Code of Geor gia Annotated, relating to8 general provisions regarding the Georgia Bureau of Investigatio n, is amended by revising9 Code Section 35-3-8.1, relating to power of bureau to assist other law enforcement agencies10 and jurisdiction in terrorism cases, as follows:11 "35-3-8.1.12 (a) Upon request of a member of the General Assembly, the governing authority or chief13 law enforcement officer of any municipality, the sheriff of any county, the chief of the14 county police force of any county having a population of more than 100,000 according to15 the United States decennial census of 1970 or any future such c ensus, a judge of the16 H. B. 621 - 1 - 25 LC 56 0305 superior court of any county of this state, or the Governor, th e director, in unusual17 circumstances, may, and in the case of a request by the Governor, shall, direct the bureau18 to render assistance in any criminal case, in the prevention or detection of violations of law,19 or in the detection or apprehension of persons violating the criminal laws of this state, any20 other state, or the United States.21 (b) The bureau shall be authorized to work independently, work concurrently with other22 law enforcement agencies, and request the assistance of other l aw enforcement agencies23 when, in the sole discretion of the director, such independent work, concurrent work, or24 request for assistance would not compromise the successful completion of cases involving25 the identification, investigation, arrest, and prosecution of a n individual or groups of26 individuals for violation of laws concerning domestic, cyber, b iological, chemical, and27 nuclear terrorism."28 SECTION 2.29 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.30 H. B. 621 - 2 -