SB605: SB605 Prosecuting Attorneys; additional grounds for discipline of a district attorney or solicitor-general or for his or her removal or involuntary retirement from office; provide

26 SB 605/AP Senate Bill 605 By: Senators Cowsert of the 46th, Dolezal of the 27th and Gooch of the 51st AS PASSED A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Article 1 of Chapter 18 of Title 15 of the Official Co de of Georgia Annotated,1 relating to general provisions regarding prosecuting attorneys, so as to provide for additional2 grounds for discipline of a district attorney or solicitor-general or for his or her removal or3 involuntary retirement from office; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to4 provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:6 SECTION 1.7 Article 1 of Chapter 18 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Geo rgia Annotated, relating to8 general provisions regarding prosecuting attorneys, is amended by revising subsection (h)9 of Code Section 15-18-32, relating to Prosecuting Attorneys Qua lifications Commission,10 authority, membership, ex parte communications, governance, dis ciplinary actions,11 confidentiality, and privileged nature, as follows:12 "(h) The following shall be grounds for discipline of a district attorney or solicitor-general13 or for his or her removal or involuntary retirement from office:14 (1) Mental or physical incapacity interfering with the performance of his or her duties15 which is, or is likely to become, permanent;16 S. B. 605 - 1 - 26 SB 605/AP (2) Willful misconduct in office;17 (3) With respect to district attorneys, willful and persistent failure to carry out duties18 pursuant to Code Section 15-18-6;19 (4) With respect to solicitors-general, willful and persistent failure to carry out duties20 pursuant to Code Section 15-18-66;21 (5) Conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude;22 (6) Conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice which brings the office into23 disrepute; or24 (7) Failure to make reasonable efforts to strictly comply with the 'Crime Victims' Bill of25 Rights' set forth in Chapter 17 of Title 17;26 (8) Failure to make reasonable efforts to comply with Article 4 of Chapter 18 of Title 50,27 relating to inspection of public records;28 (9) Knowingly authorizing or making a decision based upon any of the factors outlined29 in paragraph (2) of subsection (i) of this Code section;30 (10) Failure to make reasonable efforts to comply with Chapter 16 of Title 17, relating31 to discovery in criminal procedure;32 (11) Failure to make reasonable efforts to comply with the Georgia Rules of Professional33 Conduct of the State Bar of Georgia; specifically, but not limited to, Rule 3.8 related to34 special responsibilities of a prosecutor; or35 (12) Knowingly authorizing or permitting an assistant district att orney or assistant36 solicitor-general to commit any act constituting grounds for removal under paragraphs (1)37 through (6) (11) of this subsection."38 SECTION 2.39 This Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law40 without such approval and shall apply to all disciplinary proce edings initiated on or after41 such date.42 S. B. 605 - 2 - 26 SB 605/AP SECTION 3.43 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.44 S. B. 605 - 3 -