Senate Public Safety Committee, March 16, 2026 Video: https://vimeo.com/1174120280 (a timestamp t plays at https://vimeo.com/1174120280#t=s) Page: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-03-16/senate-public-safety This is a machine transcript of the General Assembly's video, made by a speech-recognition model. It is not an official record and can mishear words, names, and numbers. Speakers are not identified. The video is the record: every timestamp links to the moment it plays. [0:05:54] Pretty, uh, robust agenda here today. But to begin, we will start with, uh, giving thanks. And, uh, without any alert, uh, or prior notice, I'll ask Senator Payne to, uh, do that for us. [0:06:07] Certainly, Mr. Chairman. Prepare everybody to pray. Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you, Lord, for this day. We thank you for every opportunity you give to us to serve you. Lord, we thank you for the air that fills our lungs and for that only comes with purpose that we would serve you in all the things that we do. Lord, we just ask you to lead us and guide us with the matters before us today, that at the end of the day we will- everything we do will s- serve your will. For it's in Jesus' name we pray, amen. [0:06:31] Amen. Thank you, Senator Payne. All right, folks, a couple things. We've got sign-up sheets up front here. Uh, they are marked for each bill. Please fill them in in its entirety if you would like to be heard today. Uh, we're gonna assign a few bills to subcommittee. Uh, the following bills will go to Senator Robertson's Subcommittee on First Responders, House Bill 1465, House Bill 1201, and House Bill 967. Uh, and he will, uh, work to schedule a subcommittee hearing for that, so be on the lookout for that. [0:07:03] Thank you, Chairman Robertson, for your great work and that effort. We may- Set your alarm early. I'm sorry? Set your alarm early. Set your alarm very early. He has noted su- he has started as early as 6:00 AM, so. Thank you for your confidence, Mr. Chairman. I, uh, always. Okay, so today we've got three bills on the calendar. I want to just set some expectations with everyone. Uh, House Bill, uh, 1191, uh, and House Bill 1409 will be a hearing only, uh, because we're making some last-minute changes. Not that they- we are, uh, saying anything is necessarily wrong with those bills, but there's been some necessary additions by some parties, and we wanna get them right, but we are gonna use the, today's time to hear those bills. [0:07:45] Uh, they will be, uh, planned to come back up on our Wednesday meeting, uh, at which sub time, uh, hopefully they will be a non-issue and easy to vote out, but we'll be taking testimony on it today. If there are substantial changes, which I don't believe there will be, we will consider that, but it'll probably be very quick and easy. Uh, speaking of schedules, we will have a Public Safety Committee meeting on Wednesday. We will also have two more next week, so the final two meetings after that next week will be Monday and Wednesday also. There's a total of three more meetings for those that are keeping track and the millions of people who are watching at home right now. [0:08:20] With that in mind, we're going to bring up, uh, my delegation mate and friend, Representative Brad Thomas. If you'd come, uh, up to the podium so all the people can see you back home, um, please, uh, present, uh, or you can come sit down. That's fine, too. [0:08:34] I can, whatever's easiest for you, Mr. Chairman. What do you prefer? [0:08:37] You know what? I, I would yield to my friend. Go right ahead. [0:08:38] Thank you. All right. [0:08:42] All right. Just make sure we're all operating off the same LC number. We've got LC 462005S. [0:08:48] Uh, y- you can use it in pink or white. [0:08:50] In any, yeah. [0:08:50] Whatever color you choose. [0:08:50] So, uh, we'll have to, uh, uh, ask everybody's, uh, deference, uh, that things are copied in pink today because we had, uh, an issue with the copy machine- ... and we had to use somebody else's. [0:09:01] All right, well, ag- again, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Committee. Today, uh, th- I'm here to present to you House Bill 668. Uh, this bill does three things. It modernizes the code. It replaces the outdated, inconsistent terminology of guide dog and assistance dog with a single term, service dog. Um, uh, that's now gonna be across the Georgia's Criminal Code, Disability Rights Code, and, and believe it or not, some traffic laws as well. Um, and that's now brings Georgia into alignment with the FDA, uh, federal ADA standards. [0:09:31] It creates a tiered criminal fi- structure specific to harming service animals. Again, that brings us up to code for the US standard. And then, uh, finally, uh, and one of the things I'm most deter- first, fraud, 'cause I, nothing makes me more a- aggravated than to see an individual who, uh, has got a $20 vest for, uh, off Amazon and is representing a service animal to be, or an animal to be something that it's not. Um, I know that's a very general explanation, uh, Mr. Chairman, but I'd be happy to take questions. [0:10:03] Thank you, Representative Thomas. Appreciate your great work on this bill. I know you've worked with a lot of interested parties as well to get this to where it's at. Uh, before we, uh, get some testimony- [0:10:14] Yes, sir [0:10:14] ... are there questions from the committee members to the bill's author? Got a question from Senator Robertson. [0:10:21] Yes. Thank you, Representative Thomas. In, in, in your own words, could you tell me what the difference between a service dog and an emotional support dog is? [0:10:30] Uh, service dog is covered in this bill. Emotional service dog is not. [0:10:34] Emotional support dog is not. [0:10:34] Oh, emotional support dog is not. [0:10:36] Okay. [0:10:36] That's correct. [0:10:36] 'Cause those are the ones you were talking about that buy the vests on Amazon and- [0:10:40] Well, uh, uh, I mean, really, uh, when I first started, if, if you don't mind me giving you a little history on the bill- [0:10:46] Please [0:10:46] ... one of my biggest concerns were I don't want a, a emotional support iguana being picked up in this. [0:10:51] Mm-hmm. [0:10:51] That's not gonna be okay with me, uh, nor a cat or, or any other thing. These are about animals that provide a service to people, including, um, including PTSD support. Um, and I have several members here that, some people that like to speak, who have, um, issues outside of just kinda what the standard seeing eye dog that everybody kind of pictures. But the, in this case, this is not covered, uh, any emotional support animals. [0:11:18] Okay. [0:11:18] And I would agree with you. [0:11:20] And do these dogs, Mr. Chair, if you don't mind- [0:11:22] Please [0:11:22] ... do these dogs go through some kinda special training or cert- certain certification to be identified as the dog you're trying to identify in this bill? [0:11:30] Uh, as in I'm not an expert on that, but I have two experts that can come- [0:11:33] Okay [0:11:33] ... if you, if you d- please so kinda maybe save that question for them. [0:11:36] Sure. And, and those experts will, w- their testimony will, will support your definition of a service dog? [0:11:43] Uh, I believe so. They, they helped me. [0:11:44] Thank you. [0:11:46] Other questions for the bill's author? I've got a question from Senator Wicks. Uh- Oh, I think she got you first. I'm sorry. That's okay. [0:11:54] Um, thank you for bringing this bill to this committee, but I want to carry out with, um, um, Senator Robertson in reference to the definition of s- service dog and emotional support dog. Is there like documentation that defines the difference? Or who is the SME that determines what a service, um, service or a support animal, um, the definition of that? Uh, like somebody that's in the military like myself, um, that has the, um, the proper documentation for PTSD, uh, how would I, you know, define, or how would I get that classification of having a suppor- a service support animal or a, a emotional support animal? [0:12:41] Uh, Madam Senator, I'd, I'd just ask you to refer to lines 137 through 143 where it specifically details out the definition of a service dog. [0:12:52] 137 th- um- [0:12:54] Yes, ma'am. [0:12:56] Right, but my question, where would I get the documentation from? Like, who determines it? Does it a doctor determine that, or do, would I make the determination? That's the question I'm asking. [0:13:05] Uh, the, the... If you, if, if I may, and I hate to defer questions, but I think it would be better for you to get it from an expert, um, who we have several here today that, that can testify to answer your question- [0:13:16] I've got a few mouths that were- [0:13:16] ... experts [0:13:17] ... shaking heads at me, so we'll, uh, we'll hold that for just a moment. [0:13:20] Okay. [0:13:20] Uh, Senator Williams. [0:13:21] Uh, thank you. Thank you for bringing this. The only thing I wanted to comment, so I have a gentleman that works for me, and his grandson was diabetic. And so we all did fundraisers and raised money for that child to get a dog, and that dog stayed with him and could tell when that child was about to go into a diabetic coma. [0:13:43] Mm. [0:13:44] And it was so, uh, I mean, it, um, it's life-saving, it's life-changing. But thank you for doing this, and I'm s- I'm firmly a believer in this. Thank you. [0:13:53] Uh, uh, and thank you, uh, Mr. Senator. I will tell you that I have learned more about service animals than I knew, and, uh, they provide a lot more than what, I think, again, the seeing eye dog idea of, of, you know, maybe 30 years ago. They're, they're, they make a substantial difference to people's quality of life. So, um, and the people they do touch really get it, so thank, thank you for that. [0:14:16] Yeah. Thank you. [0:14:18] All right, any further questions for the bill's author? Let's, uh, hear some testimony here. Let's bring Brandy up first. [0:14:26] Why don't you go to that podium if you don't mind? [0:14:33] Hi, how are you? [0:14:33] Who do you got... Who's with you there, Brandy? [0:14:35] Uh, this is Aslea. She is a diabetic alert dog. [0:14:38] Ah. [0:14:40] Um, so- [0:14:41] Diabetic alert dog. [0:14:42] Yeah, she's a diabetic alert dog. So if my blood sugar goes high or low, I tend to just not feel it, and she can recognize the smell when my blood sugar is changing. She's done it twice since we've been in here. [0:14:52] Hmm. [0:14:54] Um, so we came to support this bill. Um, our friend Nicole over here wrote it for us, and she, she has called us in periodically to just kind of advocate for it because I'm a service dog trainer. I have been training service dogs for 15 or 16 years now. I know. My dog has a lot of opinions- ... 'cause my blood sugar's been crazy today. I'm sorry about her. [0:15:15] She's great. Don't worry about it. [0:15:16] But, um, yeah. So the way that the Georgia law is written right now, my dog and her dog both are not actually legally covered, and neither is the diabetic alert dog that you had mentioned before because it doesn't cover anything outside of the physical disabilities like the seeing eye dogs, the deaf dogs, and stuff like that. So when my dog personally was only eight months old, because there's also not any protection for service dogs in training, um, somebody mentioned, I think it was you, had mentioned at the beginning you don't want people buying the $30 vests off Amazon and taking their dogs places. [0:15:51] And somebody had mentioned, "Well, isn't that what they do with ESAs?" No, actually they're doing that with service dogs, too. So that's what my dog went through. We were in Walmart. Somebody had bought a service dog vest for their dog off of Amazon, and it, we rounded the corner. It was right there. There was no time to do anything, and it just latched onto my dog's face. And it took years of training to get her over that to where she was not reactive every time she saw another dog, 'cause she got this mentality of like, "I see another dog, I gotta get it before it gets me." [0:16:24] Hmm. [0:16:25] And I was very fortunate in that she was able to get over it because so many service dogs don't ever get over things like that. And then the handler loses their independence. [0:16:35] Thank you. Appreciate that testimony. Got a question from Senator Rick Williams. [0:16:39] Thank, thank you, and that, that's great. But your diabetic dog, will she pick up on other people around you that they're in trouble, their blood sugar? [0:16:51] Yeah. [0:16:51] Or will the dog only do that for you? [0:16:54] Most diabetic alert dogs will. They'll alert other people. Mine's a little different. She knows when someone else's blood sugar's off, she just doesn't really care. [0:17:05] All right. Quick question from Senator Robertson. [0:17:08] Thank you, ma'am. I appreciate you and, and your, your partner coming in here today. Um, now you said you train service dogs? [0:17:16] Yes, sir. That's correct. [0:17:16] Okay. Could you tell me where you received your training at and, and what it encompasses as far as your certification in training these animals? [0:17:24] Okay. Um, sure. I started, I got my first service dog when I was 16. She was donated by a trainer out in Oklahoma who unfortunately passed away during COVID, but she is where I got my start. She noticed I had a really good knack with the animals, so she kind of took me under her wing, started teaching me. And then from there, there's been three or four other trainers I have trained under since then, and I have also gone on to get certifications through International Association of Behavior Consultants as well as CCPDT Canine Council, Certification Council Yeah. [0:18:01] The, um, the, the tricky thing with dog trainers is that federally, legally, there's not really any real process we have to go through. It's one of the very few industries where you actually have to have years of experience before you're allowed to get certified. So for my certifications, I had to prove I had so many years of experience, so many hours working with people before I was allowed to even take the tests. [0:18:25] Okay. Now, these tests, are they national certifications or state certifications? [0:18:29] National. [0:18:30] Okay. And this, and this certification is recognized here in the state of Georgia? [0:18:34] Mm-hmm. [0:18:34] Okay. Thank you. [0:18:36] Thank you. All right. Oh, we got one more question from Senator Wicks. [0:18:40] I do. [0:18:40] Thank you. [0:18:41] So I just, I just have a question. So after your, the, the, the dog is certified, is there documentation that comes with the certification? Um, and the reason why I'm just asking these additional questions, because you're absolutely right, there are people that do buy the $30, uh, vest and, you know, when they go into Walmart and these, these different establishments and they have these vests on, some of these establishments do not allow them in, and so that is the, the concern that, um, that has arised. [0:19:18] So after the dog is trained to be a service ... So I'm just, you know, just trying to get the distinction of h- uh, is there a documentation that says that the dog is trained as a service dog or if the dog is trained as an emotional support dog? [0:19:34] That is a really good question. Um, so federally, at a federal level, under the Americans with Disabilities Act, there is no certification process whatsoever. So federally, their employees can ask, "Is it a service dog required because of a disability, and what work or tasks is it trained to perform?" There are some states that have voluntary registries. Georgia is not one. And then there's also, a lot of people will train their own service dogs, so they're obviously not gonna have any certifications, but some programs will give a certification that comes with the dog. [0:20:06] So it just depends on the situation. [0:20:10] All right. Thank you for your testimony, Nicole. Why don't you come on down and, uh, let's, uh, make it easiest for you as possible. We can get a microphone over to you if that's a little easier. [0:20:22] Yeah. Take. [0:20:24] There you go. [0:20:26] Come on. [0:20:29] Come here. I know it's hard for you. [0:20:33] And, and who do you have with you today? [0:20:34] Uh, I have Karma with her, with me today. [0:20:37] Great. [0:20:37] Down. There you go. And Karma is a Belgian Malinois. Uh, she is for a neurological condition that I have, so. Um, I did write something to say, if that is okay. [0:20:52] Certainly. [0:20:53] Thank you. Um, Chairman and members of the committee, my name is Nicole. I'm a disability rights advocate, and a part-time wheelchair user, and a service dog handler. For individuals with disabilities, a service dog is not simply a companion animal. A service dog is medical equipment that allows us to safely navigate the world with independence and stability. My service dog was trained to assist with mobility, balance, and safety in environments where I rely on her support m- more confidently through public spaces. [0:21:28] S- um, I'm gonna previous- talk about a service dog that initiated this conversation with Brad and I. Her name is Mara Jade. Several years ago, Mara Jade was attacked by a dog that was being falsely represented as a service animal in a large public event in Atlanta. The dog was not under control. The situation placed both me and my service dog at risk. When a service dog is attacked or interfered with a, with the consequences ... Sorry. Interfered with, the consequences are far greater than many people realize. [0:22:00] It can mean the loss of working partner that a disabled person relies on every single day for safety, independence, and access to public life. HB 668 strengthens protections for service dog handlers and clarifies rights for responsible trainers and owner-trainers who are preparing the next generation of working service dogs. Because of my personal experiences and impacts incidents like this can have on disabled individuals, I hope that this legislation may one day be known, um, we're gonna omit that because I don't think we have time to get through all that. [0:22:35] Um, sorry. Um, I wanna thank the bill sponsors and the prosecuting attorney council in Georgia for their work on legislation, and I ask for your support with HB 668. And I wanted to touch on owner training, because I did train my own service dog. Um, the federal law allows disabled individuals to train their own service animals, um, and the state had no blueprint on what that would look like, and HB 668 gives the clarifications and standard of what owner training looks like in the state of Georgia, um, so that we can train our own. [0:23:16] Thank you, Nicole. Questions? All right. Seeing none, thank you so much. [0:23:21] Thank you. [0:23:21] Uh, next up, uh, Brian with GACTL. [0:23:26] Brian. [0:23:31] Thank you. [0:23:32] Th- thank you so much for your time. Brian Hines, I'm attorney with GACTL, uh, Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. First, I just wanna say it's always been a pleasure to work with Representative Thomas. Uh, I've had, uh, the pleasure of do- doing that with the AI legislation, as well as you, Senator Albers. Um, so we actually talked just before, uh, 'cause I had missed this when this was in the House. Otherwise, I would've gotten this to him sooner, but I think we're in agreement. We would just like to make one small tweak. Uh, well, actually, a set of tweaks, but they're all fairly in line with that. And the reason being is we support what Representative Thomas is doing. I wanna pro- uh, protect the service dogs as well. [0:24:03] Um, they're amazing animals. So as it's written right now in certain parts, uh, for example, on lines 39 to 40, just to give you an... There's three sets, but that's a good one to start with. It says essentially somebody knows that th- there's this, uh, that it is a service dog or reasonably should have known, but then it says, "And intentionally commits an act that," and then it lists out like the different resulting things that essentially would be criminalized. Our suggestion would be just to essentially tie the, the bad, the intentionalness to the bad conduct, so somebody's intending to do the bad thing rather than just intending to do an act that results in a bad thing. [0:24:39] And the reason being is 'cause I think that encompasses a lot more behavior. Like, so for example, let's say somebody shoots up a firework. Let's say unfortunately the dog has some resulting condition that results in that. Well, they didn't intend to actually do that bad conduct, they just shot up a firework. So I think that's something we're trying to avoid. So the way that I would suggest personally would be just sort of strike commits an act that, and that would be on the following lines. Uh, between lines 39 to 40, lines 53 to 54, and on line, and on line... [0:25:12] I think it's line f- hold on. There's a- [0:25:14] 70. [0:25:14] Thank you. I appreciate it. I was trying to write this quickly. And in the i- also, also on line 55, I would add a few words in there just to make sure this tracks gram- grammatically. So right now it says, "Causes or is likely to cause physical harm, pain, et cetera." I would say, "Causes," and add a comma before the or. So it'd be c- causes, comma, or, and I would add in the words, "Commits an act that," and then, then I would sort of read it as causes, comma, or is likely, or, sorry, causes or commits an act that is likely to cause, and then put a comma there as well. [0:25:46] So either it's causes the physical harm or commits an act that is likely to. And I think that would really just narrow in the scope a little bit, get it to author's intention, and also hopefully not envelop a innocent conduct that's, you know, isn't, there is no negative intent there. So I, I appreciate you all for thinking about that. [0:26:03] Questions for, uh, Brian? Brian, I'm gonna ask you if you would, uh, to come o- no. I'm gonna look at the bill's author. Are, are, are you amenable to some or any of those changes? [0:26:15] To, to some of them. And we'll- [0:26:16] To some of them? Okay [0:26:17] ... we're gonna let PAC come speak next. [0:26:18] Okay. All right, great. [0:26:20] Sure. [0:26:20] Uh, just stay on hold because we may want to, uh- [0:26:22] Yes, sir [0:26:23] ... bring you over to the legislative council. Thank you. [0:26:24] I appreciate you all. [0:26:25] All right. And last, but certainly not least, uh, the champion of everything, uh, that has to do with animals in the state of Georgia, Ms. Jessica Rock. [0:26:32] Everything that has four legs. [0:26:36] Um, good afternoon committee members, um, and Chairman Albers. Thanks for having me as always. Um, this issue is just something that's near and dear to my heart, has been ever since, um, I believe Fox News even inter- interviewed me about people that are passing off service dogs about 10 years ago. Um, it's constantly been a problem, constantly been a problem where service dogs are no longer allowed to, um, assist the person that they're supposed to be assisting because of things that happen out there in the public. And so, um, we are certainly in favor of this bill, have helped, uh, Representative Thomas, who I greatly appreciate bringing this bill. [0:27:13] We worked on it a little bit last year, didn't get it to where we wanted it to go. Have worked on it some more this year. Um, Gatlin and I did speak outside in the hall before this. My understanding was, just for some clarity, that they wanted to change the first part of this, the misdemeanor part of the code section, about, um, intentionally commits an act versus, um, intentionally frightens, harasses, et cetera. I have a little bit of a concern about changing that wording necessarily for the felony part of the code section, um, because I think it changes, uh, what could be considered prohibited conduct, um, if you cause the death of or you injure a dog in a manner that materially, materially affects its ability to perform as a service dog. [0:28:01] So we, we might need to huddle up about that one more time, but I think we can probably get to a agreement. [0:28:08] All right. Questions for Jessica? Senator Robertson. [0:28:13] Ms. Rock, how are you today? [0:28:14] I'm good. How are you? [0:28:15] I'm gonna preface this by saying you and I are really good friends and we've worked on a lot of animal legislation together. But, um, in Georgia, how do we identify a qualified service dog? [0:28:29] Um, identifying markings on the animal, like a service animal- [0:28:33] A vest [0:28:33] ... collar or vest, yes [0:28:34] ... or something like that. [0:28:35] Yes. [0:28:35] Right. Right. That anybody can fairly purchase, right? [0:28:37] Right. [0:28:38] So if we're in a situation in a, uh, a Walmart, let's say, haven't been in one of those since 1999, but I hear they're, they're really crowded. And, um, we have the situation where two people walk around the corner and the dog on the other side grabs the dog as we heard before, um, how do we know which dog is qualified to be there? [0:29:00] Well, we'd have to refer back to the language in the statute that defines what a service animal is, and so you'd still have to, that would still have to be a part of- [0:29:08] Well, uh, that, that's my question. [0:29:10] Yes. [0:29:10] What, what association or do we recognize as the association that certifies service dogs? [0:29:17] Well, what's unfortunate is that we don't have a particular organization that necessarily certifies. There's not like one sort of standard, um, in terms of the certification. [0:29:28] Right. Um, 'cause I know individuals that have emotional support dogs- [0:29:32] Correct [0:29:33] ... that they have trained by whatever YouTube or whatever- [0:29:38] Right [0:29:38] ... or just, these are very... I mean, we have a dog at home that when you say sit, she sits. When you say lay down, she lays down. She does everything we tell her to do. I don't know how she does it, but she does it. Um, she follows directions. [0:29:54] Yeah. [0:29:54] And so I'm just, I'm just wondering, how do, are we, how are we determining what is a service dog and what is not a service dog, other than vests and collars? [0:30:05] Well, you're, uh, uh, in terms of this particular statute, we would still actually have to prove that the dog is a service dog. So, and we would have to prove that by- [0:30:13] Who's we? The prosecutor? [0:30:15] As prosecutor, yeah. [0:30:16] Right. [0:30:16] We still have to prove it's a, it's a service dog. A, a legitimate service dog. That, um, we would need some sort of testimony about that dog's training, what the dog is trained to do, what sort of task it's trained to perform for that particular person, and how that, whether or not that training is actually, um, effective and that the dog actually does perform those tasks. [0:30:36] So as the burden, as it should be, would rest on the state to prove- [0:30:39] Absolutely [0:30:39] ... that was actually a service dog. [0:30:41] Absolutely. [0:30:41] Right. Thank you. [0:30:44] Other questions for Jessica? [0:30:48] Oh, my. [0:30:49] No. [0:30:49] Okay. [0:30:49] I'm done. [0:30:50] Thank you very much. I was gonna- [0:30:51] Thank you [0:30:51] ... ask for a moment if, uh, you would meet with, uh, Brian and the bill's author and huddle for just a moment after- [0:30:58] Yeah [0:30:58] ... we finish a question. We'll take a pause on your bill. We'll hear another one, and we'll come back, and we'll see where you're at. [0:31:02] Thank you, Chairman. [0:31:03] All right. I think you have a final question, though, from Senator Beard. [0:31:05] Number eight. [0:31:07] Yes. Go ahead. [0:31:08] Mr. Chairman, I want you to look on page eight, lines 184, 186, 187. Very familiar with this section. I actually wrote this part of the bill- ... back in 2006 or 2008 for those in training for the dogs. Uh- [0:31:23] Uh-huh [0:31:23] ... on these three sections, just to be consistent, on 184, 186, 187, we say service animal, but everywhere else through the code section, we're saying service dog. Should that be amended? [0:31:34] I would very much accept that as a friendly amendment. Thank you. We'll call that a Scruggs here. [0:31:39] I expect a friendly amendment here on Wednesday when I'm in front of your committee. Okay. [0:31:44] All right. [0:31:44] Just wanted to double-check, but just for consistency. [0:31:47] All right. So, uh, we're gonna pause on this bill while the bill's author and some interested parties huddle together with legislative counsel, who are here, if you wouldn't mind. Uh, and we're gonna come back to you in just a minute, and I'd like to ask, uh, for, uh, let's see, HB 1191 come out. Now, this is a freshman representative. Is that true? All right. Tru- [0:32:09] Second session. [0:32:09] Second session? Okay. Well I guess you're, you're, you're a quasi-freshman still then. [0:32:14] First time in a Senate Committee though. [0:32:16] First time. [0:32:16] Yes, sir. [0:32:16] Representative, uh, O'Steen. Did I say that right? [0:32:19] Yes, sir. [0:32:20] Okay, make sure I got it right. Okay. Everybody, if you'll please take a look at, uh, her House Bill 1191. Now, you all, uh, wanted a, a last-minute change of the committee, uh, sub, just to let you know. Uh, that I, I had a quick conversation with Senator Payne as well, that we don't accept a committee sub at the last minute without us coordinating and working through legislative counsel with you. However, I think you're adding something very minor to this bill, so there could be a friendly amendment. [0:32:44] Sure. [0:32:44] And if that happens, maybe we'll just pass it out today hopefully. [0:32:46] That sounds great. [0:32:46] All right? Okay. [0:32:47] Thank you so much, Chairman. [0:32:47] All right. Present your bill to us, please. We got LC443483s. [0:32:55] Yes, and I have the wrong- [0:32:57] You have the new one probably- [0:32:58] I think- [0:32:58] ... not the old one. [0:32:59] I think I have the, I think I have the old one. [0:33:00] All right. [0:33:00] But it's essentially the same. [0:33:01] We can probably get you a copy. Hang on a minute. [0:33:02] Thank you so much, Chairman. [0:33:03] Oh, look at that. [0:33:04] Thank you so much, Rand. Thank you so much. Yes. The only difference in that, uh, in the, in the first one, the first draft and the last draft, was, uh, the moving, the, the date. We moved the date. [0:33:17] Why don't you tell us about the bill first? [0:33:18] Sure. [0:33:19] Thank you. [0:33:20] So let me give you just a little background, and I'll make this pretty quick. I am not in the military, but I am very grateful for those, especially my friends in here that, who have been, and I have, um, done Veterans Day services in my hometown for years. And so when I got elected, all the veterans knew that I would do whatever I could to move the needle for them. So this year, the first day of session, somebody from my hometown, uh, was waiting on me at 7:00. [0:33:52] And he brought this idea to me. He received an Airman's Medal, and it is not listed as one of the medals that the state of Georgia recognizes to, to get a specialty plate. And so, um, I told him that I would go up to bat for him. So here I am. And in addition to that, um, I'm pretty sure that the Speaker had a, a submariner that was in his office that wanted to add something. So what this bill does is just adds four medals to our veterans tags, and it is the Navy Corps Medal, Marine Corps Medal, Airman's Medal, and Coast Guard Medal. [0:34:29] That's the bill. [0:34:29] Fantastic. And I believe there was one more addition that you were interested in making. Can you tell us what that was? [0:34:34] It is the Combat Infantry Badge. [0:34:38] Combat. [0:34:38] I know nothing about that. That came from Representative Jacqueline Ford. Um, she, somebody was waiting on her and asking her the same thing. And I know that we do have a plethora of, of tags. But how I s- [0:34:53] For clarity on tags. [0:34:54] Oh, hang on a second. Hang on a second. I'll recognize, uh, the good senator and veteran, Chuck Payne. [0:35:00] Well, just to, for clarity, I was just gonna add, you know, the comb- Combat Infantry Badge is, you know, the best of all those badges that we've just- [0:35:07] Mm [0:35:07] ... listed, so I just wanted you to know that. [0:35:08] Senator, do you have one of those badges? Do you have one of those badges, Senator Payne? [0:35:13] Yes, sir. [0:35:14] Oh. No interest like self-interest. Okay. [0:35:18] All right. Questions, uh, from the committee members to the bill's author? Seeing none, uh, we will do a motion and a second, then we'll go for an amendment. Is there a motion? I see one do pass from Senator Wicks. Got a second from Senator Williams. Is there an amendment? [0:35:34] Yes, Mr. Chairman. I would, uh, like to add Combat Infantry Badge on j- line 38. [0:35:42] And reorder. All right. [0:35:44] And reorder. [0:35:45] I've got a motion from Senator Payne. Is there a second, senator, from Senator Wicks? Any further discussion on the amendment? Seeing none, all those in favor, please say aye. [0:35:52] Aye. [0:35:52] All opposed? Passed unanimously. We have a new, uh, sub, as amended by the committee. I'm gonna call the question. All those in favor, please say aye. [0:36:00] Aye. [0:36:00] All opposed, please say no. Passes unanimously. Congratulations, you're off to the Senate Rules Committee. [0:36:05] Thank you so much. [0:36:05] Best of luck to you. [0:36:06] Thank you. [0:36:06] Well done. [0:36:07] Thank you. [0:36:07] I know your, uh, community's gonna be very proud of what you did. [0:36:10] Thank you. [0:36:10] Congratulations, Representative. All right. I'm looking back at our friends. Looks like they're still working on our other bill. So we're gonna then go to Representative Camp. If you'd come on down, we're gonna talk about House Bill 1409. Uh, as mentioned to everyone earlier, uh, there's been a couple of tweaks and changes on that. Uh, so we're going to, uh, have a hearing today in hopes to have everything cleared up before that. And oh, and it looks like I missed someone. I apologize. [0:36:41] Uh, oh, no, actually Angie signed up for her own bill. I guess she already did it, so disregard. Mr. Leader, we'll have to work on, uh, your freshmen, uh, for signing up for their own bill, I guess. You know? [0:36:51] Doing a great job, looks like. [0:36:53] I- [0:36:53] Great committee, Mr. Chairman. [0:36:54] Through, through your excellent tutelage, I know, no doubt, so. All right. Representative Camp, first off, I wanna thank you for bringing this very, very important bill forward, and the work you've been working on with, uh, several different interested parties, as well as our state agencies. And we'll turn it over to you for your bill, which is, make sure we're working from the same, uh, bill number right now, it should be LC48-1828S. [0:37:13] That is what I have. [0:37:14] All right. Let's go ahead. [0:37:15] All right. Thank you so much, Mr. Chairman and committee members. Uh, this bill gives a couple of updates. Number one, it, it adds, um, two new mandated reporters to the list, and these include firefighters and also animal control. Um, reason being, oftentimes, uh, animal control or a firefighter might be the first on the scene to actually see abuse or neglect. So we wanted to definitely include them. Um, so that was one aspect. [0:37:46] The other is updating how mandated reporters report suspected abuse and neglect. And so this bill creates, um, a way for a secure web-based platform, um, so mandated reporters can go in this area and submit reports. Um, and in doing so, the report will allow, hopefully allow DFCS to actually be able to understand more fully what's happening. Um, right now you can, you can send an email, you can call in, or you can do the form that's on the website. [0:38:21] This will be an, an upgrade, um, based on what I've learned so that there is, um, clear, documented, timestamped report, and also it would be, um, a more secure and compliant standard, um, moving forward. And with that, I'm open for any questions. [0:38:39] All right. Questions for the bill's author. I got Senator Robertson, the vice chairman. [0:38:44] Good afternoon- [0:38:45] Good afternoon [0:38:45] ... Representative Camp. My good friend up to this point. [0:38:50] Well, I s- I hope we're good friends after this. [0:38:52] I think we might be. Um, on line 112, you talk about the secure web-based platform. [0:38:57] Yes. [0:38:57] Does this currently exist? [0:38:59] Um, I believe that it does exist in the world. I do believe there are some state a- some county agencies that are currently using one. Uh, my understanding is this is, will have to go out for an RFP, so it will be bid out. [0:39:12] So this, would this legislation be pending the creation and funding of this particular digital platform? [0:39:20] Well, there is funding, my understanding, in the supplemental budget. Um, I think $3 million was allocated for- [0:39:25] Say that number again. [0:39:26] 3 million. [0:39:28] Okay. I think that it may have been a little higher- [0:39:30] It- [0:39:30] ... is the number I'm thinking about, if I'm thinking about the same allocation, but- [0:39:34] Well, I think 15 million- [0:39:35] Yeah [0:39:35] ... was, was on there at some point. [0:39:38] Well, f- I think 15 million floating between the GBI and, and DHS, I think is the thing. So I just wanna make sure we're not, uh, duplicating our, our attempts to solve this problem, 'cause I think it's a problem that does need to be solved. [0:39:52] Yes. [0:39:52] Um, and what you're saying is once this secure web-based platform is up and running, then the individuals that you're adding onto it, the, um, animal control officer and the firefighter, along with all the others who are required to report, will be able to go onto the website and report, and therefore we'd be able to track when the report was made all the way up to, uh, what actions were taken by the agency in dealing with the alleged misconduct. [0:40:26] Is, would that be right? [0:40:27] That is correct. [0:40:28] Okay. Thank you. [0:40:30] Great question. And, uh, question from myself. Um, I have, uh, being a fireman for 30 some odd years, seen this unfortunately as well, and I'm really glad that you've added this. What would the training look like, uh, for firefighters to be able to recognize and know where to go to do this? [0:40:47] My understanding is it would be the same training for all mandated reporters. Um, there is standardized training through the department, um, to go and to understand, um, when to recognize, and then there is a mandatory training to be able to get access to the website. [0:41:02] So all of us in the first responder community have to, uh, have continuing education credits in order to maintain our certifications, whether it be POST, a police officer, firefighter certifications, EMT, paramedic, uh, 911, et cetera. Uh, do you know if the department is working with those groups to get that integrated into those continuing education credits? [0:41:20] I do n- I know in other aspects, it very likely so, but c- now you have to have training to do so. Um, that is something that we probably need to work with, uh, the firefighters to make sure that it's a, a course that's offered online and that you can get continuing education for. [0:41:37] I think it's a great idea. I, I know looking at some of our friends behind you, and I think an offline conversation with, uh, Director Wigginton from GPSC, but then also the POST Council and Firefighter Standards and Training, uh, would be a good place for us to, uh, make sure we're dotting those I's and crossing those T's. [0:41:51] Most assuredly. [0:41:52] All right. Other questions for the bill's author? Senator Bearden. [0:41:55] Not really a question, but I believe it was a pilot program in multiple counties in the state this was being ran on. [0:42:00] Yes. [0:42:00] If I'm not mistaken, I believe two of those counties were in my district, and they were very impressed with the system, the timeliness and making sure that the reports got to where they needed to be at the proper time. So appreciate you bringing this forward. [0:42:14] Well, thank you. I know, um, one of my sheriffs has recently adopted, and he's very impressed as well. [0:42:22] All right, other questions? Seeing none. Uh, we've got a couple folks to come talk. Uh, first I've got, uh, is that Tripp Richardson? Come on down, Tripp. I know who you are, I just, uh, had a hard time reading your name. [0:42:38] Uh, thank you, Chair and members of the committee. My name is Tripp Richardson with Frontline Policy, and we're here in support of HB, uh, 1409. I'll keep it brief. This legislati- this legislation strengthens Georgia's child protection laws and adds individuals that often come into contact with our children under mandatory r- reporting requirements of child abuse, and im- improves the system on how suspected child abuse is reported. Protecting vulnerable children must remain a priority, and HB 1409 strengthens the tools available to do just that. [0:43:10] We respectfully ask for your favorable consideration, and thank you. [0:43:14] Thank you. Questions for Tripp? Seeing none. Okay. Uh, and then, uh, somebody who's no stranger, our very own Regina Quick, who did not fill out the entire form, Regina. [0:43:24] Oh. [0:43:24] Goodness gracious. Normally we wouldn't let people, uh, testify, but because of your, uh, prior service to the Senate, we're gonna let this one slide and let you fill it in later. [0:43:34] Well, I appreciate that, Mr. Chairman, and it's partly because I'm not permitted to speak anything except to the bill, and that's never an option that anybody gives me. I gotta be for or against. So, um, I'm gonna speak to the bill. And first of all, I, I believe I heard, uh, Chair Camp, uh, say that it, we're working from LC 481828S. And so tho- that version has, uh, um, almost all of the tweaks, I think, that the department requested that she make. [0:44:08] Um, I, I wanted to just take this opportunity first and thank her for her work on this mandatory reporter statute. It, um, it is not a model of clarity in many places, and it's, it's quite an undertaking. But I, I want to also just address what it also does, uh, just, just so that everybody knows what the bill would do if passed. In changing the mandatory reporter list in the child welfare arena, uh, you are also changing the mandatory reporter list in our other division, the Division of Aging Services. [0:44:45] Because it, there's a statutory cross-reference in Title 30 that just incorporates... There's some, there's some additional ones in the aging context, but it incorporates this statute. So that's one thing that the bill, uh, would do. Um, uh, also, we do currently have a mandatory reporter portal. In your folders, I had program put together for you sort of how it works now, uh, for all the reporters so that you would have that and be able to see how it works at this moment. [0:45:19] Um, but the, um, as I say, in this version, the tw- suggested tweaks have been made, and, uh, appreciate the work on the bill and the cooperation from the bill sponsor and the chair in trying to get some of that, um, input. [0:45:36] All right. We've got a quick question for you, Regina. Uh, Senator Robertson. [0:45:40] Yeah. Um, how are you, Ms. Quick? Great to see you as always. [0:45:42] It's, it's good to see you, Senator. [0:45:44] Um, couple of real quick things. First of all, DFCS still uses fax machines? [0:45:48] Well, um, y'all might imagine I had that same question when I asked program to put this together and started looking at other possible... When somebody said they were modernizing the, uh, mandatory reporter statute, in a sense, that's the first place I looked. But we do get fax reports primarily from hospitals, and the governmental affairs team checked on that and did the numbers with the CICC folks, and it's, uh, about 2,400 reports a year by fax. [0:46:17] Okay. Thank you. And, um, would this, what we're talking about now, this portal, would it take the place of what you're currently doing? [0:46:26] It would, and that's part of what would have to be built. And the other aspect that would be built would be the interface, if you will. I know I'm probably not using these technical terms correctly, but the interface that permits the interoperability with these third-party secure, um, platforms. These other external, um, platforms that law enforcement's using, would have to build that interface in so that it could come into the system. [0:46:54] Thank you. I appreciate that. [0:46:56] All right. [0:46:57] Other questions for Regina? Seeing none. Thank you as always. Great to see you. [0:47:02] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. [0:47:02] I know we had some last-minute things going back and forth, so I'm gonna ask, uh, Representative Camp if we can make sure we have do- dotted all our I's and crossed our T's. I know we've got a, an email going back and forth with legislative council and the interested parties, and the goal will be this will be first on our agenda for Wednesday. Uh, and there will be no more testimony, because this is gonna be just kind of tiny little tweaks at this point. All right? [0:47:23] We gonna fax the committee- [0:47:24] Uh, yes. Actually, we're gonna send via teletype. [0:47:26] Okay. [0:47:27] Uh, for the bill. Trying to really modernize the, the process. Thank you so much. [0:47:31] Thank you so much. [0:47:32] All right. Representative Thomas, would you come back down and we can, uh, see where we got to on House Bill 668, please? [0:47:39] Wonderful. Uh, thank you again, Mr. Chairman. And, uh, again, I, I apologize that we had this come in. It came in a little late to me. I just got the text message about it, like, a minute before we walked into committee. Um, Senator Bearden, I, I'd be happy with your changing lines 184, 186, 187 to, uh, from animal to dog, and actually gonna raise you, um, line 206 as well. [0:48:06] Okay. So just wanna make sure we hear what you're saying. Lines 184, 186, 187, 206, we change animal to dog. Is that right? [0:48:13] Uh, that is correct, Mr. Chairman. [0:48:14] All right. Continue on, sir. [0:48:15] Also, line 206. Uh, I got this cool little app that just- [0:48:19] Okay [0:48:19] ... looked for the an- word animal, and it found one more. [0:48:22] Okay. [0:48:22] And it's on line 206. [0:48:24] All right. [0:48:24] We could change that to dogs as well. [0:48:28] Um, otherwise, I believe legislative council has the, uh, the rest of the amended language. [0:48:33] You have the other ones? Okay. Yeah, why don't you come down to the microphone down over there, if you wouldn't mind? [0:48:43] Our, uh, esteemed legislative council, Megan, thank you so much. [0:48:46] Yeah, you bet. [0:48:47] All right. And why don't you, uh, if you would, inform the committee of the other language that was discussed. [0:48:55] Okay. On line 39 and 40, striking commits an act that. [0:49:06] Okay. [0:49:10] On line 53 and 54, striking the language, commits an act that. [0:49:19] On line 55, replacing- ... causes or is likely to cause with... Hold on. [0:49:35] Causes, comma, or commits an act that is likely to cause, comma. [0:49:40] Okay. [0:49:45] And then the other changes are replacing the animal with dog, which I can go through if you want. But- [0:49:49] Yeah, that's 184, 186, 187, 206. [0:49:52] Yes. [0:49:53] Okay. All right. Uh, questions for the bill's author before we go through the process? Seeing none. All right, I need a motion and a second before we begin amendments. Is there a motion to pass this bill? I've got a motion from Senator Payne. Is there a second from Senator Williams? Uh, now, for an amendment, um, who would like to make an amendment, uh, on lines 184, 186, 187, 206, uh, sorry, 206 to replace animal with dog? I will. All right, I've got one from Senator Wicks. I got a second from, uh, Senator Payne. [0:50:24] Uh, any further discussion on the amendment? Seeing none, all those in favor, please say aye. [0:50:27] Aye. [0:50:28] All opposed? The amendment passes. Uh, second amendment. Who would like to make an amendment then on lines 39 to 40, and then again on 53 and 54, that we're gonna change to c- uh, we're gonna strike to a commit that acts that? [0:50:42] I'll do it. [0:50:43] Is that right? Sorry, which ones? Uh, 39 to 40 and 53 to 54, we're removing. Correct. Okay. Uh, that's, uh, Senator Rick Williams. I have a second? [0:50:55] Yes. [0:50:55] Senator, Senator Dickerson. Uh, all in favor, please say aye. [0:50:59] Aye. [0:51:00] All right. And then finally, that passed unanimously. Uh, on line 55, uh, the amendment as scribed by our legislative council- ... so I don't get it wrong. Senator Williams again. Uh, Senator Payne for the second. Uh, any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor, please say aye. [0:51:16] Aye. [0:51:17] All opposed? Passed unanimously. Okay, we now have a new, uh, committee sub, uh, as amended by the committee. [0:51:23] Question. [0:51:24] Uh, we've got a question from Senator Bearden. [0:51:26] So on line 70, we're still keeping commits an act that? [0:51:33] I thought, I thought we changed that. [0:51:34] I thought it was only on two lines. That was it. Was it- [0:51:36] We, we changed it on 39 and 40- [0:51:38] 39, 40 [0:51:38] ... and 53 and 54. [0:51:40] We kept it on line 70, and I'd like Pat from up here. [0:51:43] Yeah, we agreed to keep it. [0:51:44] There was an agreement on that particular issue. [0:51:46] Okay, we're, yeah, we're gonna keep it there. [0:51:48] Okay, I just made sure we're- [0:51:48] Yeah [0:51:48] ... being consistent. [0:51:49] Thank you for, uh, focusing on that. [0:51:51] Mr. Consistency over here. [0:51:52] Any other further discussion on following the question? [0:51:56] I think your wife would- [0:51:56] Seeing none, all those in favor, please say aye. [0:51:58] Aye. [0:51:58] All opposed, please say no. Passed unanimously. Uh, best of luck in the Senate Rules Committee, representative and Chairman Thomas. [0:52:04] Thank, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, committee. [0:52:06] All right. [0:52:06] I appreciate you- [0:52:06] Ladies and gentlemen [0:52:07] ... doing that. [0:52:07] Again, we're, uh, we've got a fair amount of bills. We've got some in subcommittee, and we've got work to do. Uh, we'll be back again on Wednesday. And, uh, let me repeat to the committee members, if there's something specific that you are passionate about for or against, please see us offline. Thank you. This meeting is hereby adjourned. [0:52:23] I'm very passionate.