The House Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security offers the following
substitute to HB 1080:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 6A of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, so as to establish a grant program to provide financial
support to certain law enforcement agencies and courts; to provide for purposes and authority
of the grant program; to provide for construction; to provide for sources of funding; to
provide for administration of such program by the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council;
to establish criteria and procedures for such grants; to provide for reports; to provide for
access to records; to provide for definitions; to provide for a short title; to provide legislative
findings and declarations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for
other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Georgia Public Safety Support Grant
Program Act."
SECTION 2.
The General Assembly finds and declares that:
(1) Enhancing public safety, supporting local law enforcement agencies and courts,
increasing judicial efficiency, and improving training, technology, and interoperability, are
essential governmental purposes; and
(2) It is therefore necessary and proper to establish a grant program, governed by this Code
section, to accept and expend private and public funds for authorized public purposes in
a manner consistent with the Constitution of Georgia.
SECTION 3.
Chapter 6A of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to Criminal
Justice Coordinating Council, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:
<ins>"35-6A-18.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) 'Court' means all trial courts within the state including, but not limited to, superior,
juvenile, state, magistrate, probate, municipal, and special courts, whether called mayor's
courts, recorder's courts, police courts, civil courts, traffic courts, or miscellaneous courts
or any other trial court created in the state under any other name.
(2) 'Grant program' means the public safety support grant program established under this
Code section.
(3) 'Local law enforcement agency' means county and city police departments and
sheriff's offices.
(b)(1) The council shall establish a grant program for the provision of funds to support
and enhance public safety and the administration of justice in this state. The purposes of
such program shall include and the program shall be authorized to, subject to funding:
(A) Assist with the purchase, lease, and maintenance of equipment, technology, and
infrastructure for local law enforcement agencies and courts;
</ins>
<ins>(B) Provide funding for the hiring, training, certification, education, and professional
development of local law enforcement officers, court personnel, and related public
employees;
(C) Support interoperable systems, data-sharing platforms, and operational
coordination among local law enforcement agencies and courts;
(D) Support programs and services that measurably support and enhance public safety,
judicial efficiency, and the effective administration of justice; and
(E) Carry out any other activity expressly authorized by the laws of this state that
provides a direct and substantial public benefit.
(2) Nothing in this Code section shall be construed to replace any other source of funding
for local law enforcement agencies and courts.
(c) For the purposes of this Code section, the council may accept gifts, grants, donations,
devises, or contributions of money or property from private individuals, corporations,
nonprofit organizations, or foundations, provided that:
(1) Such contributions are voluntary; and
(2) No contributor to the grant program receives any special privilege, consideration, or
benefit not available to the public generally.
(d)(1) The council shall establish and administer:
(A) Eligibility and selection criteria for grant applicants, which shall include, but are
not limited to, identification of the public purpose served and measured deliverables or
performance standards;
(B) Grant application procedures;
(C) Guidelines relating to grant amounts;
(D) Procedures for evaluating grant applications; and
(E) Procedures for monitoring and reporting on the use of any grant awarded under the
grant program and ensuring compliance with any conditions of any such grant.
(2) Grant funds shall not be used to:
</ins>
<ins>(A) Make direct cash payments to individuals;
(B) Provide a donation, gratuity, or extra compensation prohibited by the Constitution
of Georgia;
(C) Provide for lobbying or political activities;
(D) Influence legislation or elections;
(E) Provide benefits to any private party without adequate consideration and public
benefit; or
(F) Forgive obligations or provide retroactive compensation.
(e) The council shall submit an annual report to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and
Speaker of the House of Representatives that includes, relative to the grant program:
(1) All contributions received;
(2) All expenditures made; and
(3) Public benefits achieved.
(f) The grant program shall be subject to record requests from members of the public under
Article 4 of Chapter 18 of Title 50, relating to inspection of public records."
</ins> SECTION 4.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.