Senate Public Safety Committee, March 18, 2026

Transcript

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1. 0:07:00

   I'm gonna call this meeting to the Senate Public Safety Committee to order. Thank you for being here at this late hour, as our session day went long. We're gonna begin with a quick invocation from our very own senator and chairman, Russ Goodman.

2. 0:07:12

   Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Y'all pray with me, please. Heavenly Father, we just thank you for today. Lord, we thank you for the blessing of being Americans, Lord. We, we all won a genetic lottery when we were born American citizens, Lord. And, and we're just so thankful that, that we have the opportunity to come here, Lord, and, and discuss the issues of the day. And Lord, we just thank you that, that we have that opportunity. And we a- we ask that you give us wisdom and discernment as we go about doing the people's business. And again, Lord, thank you for all your many blessings. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

3. 0:07:40

   Amen.

4. 0:07:40

   Amen. Thank you. All right, we've got several bills on the calendar. The first one we're gonna hear is the one we took testimony on on Monday, uh, with Representative Camp. That's House Bill 1409. And you have a substitute that is in your folder. Uh, why don't you go to the podium, if you don't mind, right now, uh, just so all the people, uh, at home can see you on TV, Representative Camp. We do have sign-up sheets up front here. Uh, if you are signing up to speak on a bill, please remember it is a little bit late in the day. If you have multiple people, uh, that are all going to be saying the same things, it's great if you pick a spokesperson or two.

5. 0:08:14

   And make sure you fill in all the different lines if you wanna speak, 'cause we need to capture that for the meeting notes. All right, I'm gonna turn it over to you, Representative Camp.

6. 0:08:22

   I'll send most of these emails.

7. 0:08:23

   Thank you so much, Mr. Chairman. And this bill, again, um, HB 1409, and I am working from LC48-1834S.

8. 0:08:34

   That is correct.

9. 0:08:34

   Awesome. All right. So once again, this is a system that's going to hopefully strengthen and modernize, based on the information we have, the child abu- child abuse reporting system in our state. Um, we did make some changes from the sub we had the other day, and, um, we can go over those explicitly if you'd like. Um, one is on page 15, um, from the previous bill. We had some information in there that related back to, um, 45 CFR, and, uh, that was removed by legislative council, and we did a few little clarifications.

10. 0:09:13

    But for the most part, the bill is pretty much the same.

11. 0:09:17

    Very good. Uh, there was obviously some emails back and forth that you and I were on with the department.

12. 0:09:22

    Mm-hmm.

13. 0:09:22

    Um, why don't you give us a quick explanation of that back and forth and what your input is, uh, based on the, that feedback.

14. 0:09:29

    Um, well, we've discussed a couple of different issues, um, with the department. One issue that was mentioned was the, the 45, um, CFR and, relating to the financing. Um, another thing that was mentioned in the hall just a moment ago related back to the use of an or instead of an and on regarding meeting some criteria. Um, but outside of that, um, those have been primarily the discussion so far. They, they are opposed to this bill.

15. 0:09:58

    Okay. So my understanding is right now you all have been working in good faith to this point. You've gotten, I believe, to be a fairly comprehensive bill. You're down to just a couple of issues, though. Uh, with that in mind, uh, I think it's appropriate to let the committee take what action they need to. And if you feel like you need to continue that process, either on the Senate floor or agreeing as amended back to the House in, in the effort of keeping your bill moving and alive, which I think it's important, uh, we've already taken testimony on this bill on Monday, so I will leave it up to the will of the committee.

16. 0:10:29

    I have a motion due passed from, uh, Senator Kim Jackson. Is there a second? I have a Senator, Senator, uh, Rick Williams as second. Uh, any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor, please say aye.

17. 0:10:38

    Aye.

18. 0:10:39

    All opposed, please say no. Passed unanimously. Best of luck in the Senate Rules Committee, who is carrying your bill?

19. 0:10:45

    Uh, that's a great question. Can I let you know shortly?

20. 0:10:50

    You can let us know, b- if you would, in the next hour.

21. 0:10:53

    I will.

22. 0:10:53

    Thank you.

23. 0:10:53

    Thank you so much.

24. 0:10:54

    All right, very good. Okay, moving on. Next bill, we're gonna have House Bill 283, uh, Representative Neill. Oh, I'm sorry. Hang on. Uh, yeah, come on. You're, you're gonna be very quick. You're gonna be next, uh, senator, or representative.

25. 0:11:11

    Hey.

26. 0:11:11

    Uh, would you go to the podium if you don't mind, sweetie? Thank you. We're trying to get more people on camera. It's a better view.

27. 0:11:15

    Okay. All right.

28. 0:11:35

    Thank you.

29. 0:11:36

    Where is 283? All right. Okay, go ahead.

30. 0:11:41

    Thank you to the chair. Thank you to the committee. Uh, once again, I bring back, um, House Bill 283, the Traffic Signature Bill. Um, they had, this bill has moved out of this committee before. Um, and once again, this bill was originally di- designed to do a few things, um, reduce negative encounters between law enforcement and citizens, save taxpayer dollars, free up law enforcement, um, for more high-priority calls, and ensure that everyone goes home safe at the end of the night. Um, so I guess in lieu of time, um, and to, to spare you, um, a whole speech, um, all this bill, uh, does is codifies into law the ability for law enforcement to write "refuse to sign" in instances where an encounter with a citizen who does not agree with a charge, and allows officers to take the safer route if they feel it appropriate, that will make them feel safe and get home at the end of the night.

31. 0:12:32

    Um, this is a bipartisan bill with bipartisan co-sponsors, and it's also supported by the Georgia Chiefs, that you should have a letter in your file from them, uh, GMA, ACCG, Georgia Department of Public Safety, and the City of Chattahoochee Hills. Um, and with that, um, I yield for any questions.

32. 0:12:50

    All right. Uh, first off, I wanna say thank you to, uh, Representative Neal. You have worked just very, very hard over the last couple years, and I know you, you, you missed it in the goal line in getting over and on Signe Die, and, uh, I appreciate the great work you've done. Uh, in addition to her language, uh, we did add something that's important, uh, which is to extend out, uh, the ability to use a dri- digital driver's license, uh, if you are driving your car and pulled over, to the year 2032. That was set to be July 1st of 2027, so a year and a few months from now.

33. 0:13:20

    Uh, that was a great idea. It was just way ahead of its time. We found out that this could cost up to $1,000 per police officer to do that. Uh, and that includes either handheld devices, uh, and other type equipment. So while we think it, the technology's certainly going that way, we could not put that burden on our, our police departments or sheriff's departments or state police, et cetera. I've had a lot of conversations with all our, uh, our, our great finest who serve in our state. Uh, so that is why you'll see that as the first section of, uh, Representative Neal's bill.

34. 0:13:53

    Uh, we wanna get this passed over and back over to the House so she can get it agreed pretty quick.

35. 0:13:57

    Yes. Yes.

36. 0:13:58

    Um, I know I've got representatives here from the sheriffs and I'm hearing from the police chiefs, um, that are in favor of this, so nod your head if you agree. Okay. Questions from the committee to the bill's author.

37. 0:14:08

    At the appropriate time.

38. 0:14:09

    I think it's appr- Oh, hang on. We got a question from, uh, Senator Bearden.

39. 0:14:13

    So this right here, it says, "Officer shall write 'refuse to sign' on the citation." Does that take any other options away from the police officer if they so do it, so do it?

40. 0:14:22

    N- no. So it, uh, once they do refuse to sign, they fall into, um, another process where they have to come to court, um, and, like, they, they can't... They don't have any other option. They have to come to court to, um, to speak to the, the ticket. They don't have an option after they get the refuse to sign written on the ticket.

41. 0:14:43

    But if a, so if they refuse to sign, the officer only has one option under this bill, and that's to write refuse to sign on the bill.

42. 0:14:50

    Right. Right. Because the problem we were having, I'm not sure if you were here for this discussion, the problem we're having is, um, there's some agencies that, um, have this unspoken rule of, "Hey, you don't have to..." They just put refuse to sign.

43. 0:15:02

    Mm-hmm.

44. 0:15:02

    But other agencies, um, that don't have any type of policies, they found a lot of officers were getting in fights and all these things, and they want to reduce, um, the back and forth and the negativity, um, and the abrasiveness they were having on simple travels, traffic stops. Um, and that's why we, uh, shifted to codifying this into law.

45. 0:15:21

    So as you said, because I've have written refuse to sign on a citation before, and that was my discretion. So-

46. 0:15:30

    It's your, it's still your discretion.

47. 0:15:34

    On 23 it says, "Officer shall write."

48. 0:15:36

    Well, well, from the perspective of... So in the past, what has happened is officers felt like they could not do it at all. Does that, does that make sense? And so we're letting them know this is a-

49. 0:15:48

    This is a preferred option

50. 0:15:50

    ... this is a preferred option instead of you having to fight with a citizen over a, a s- a simple traffic ticket.

51. 0:15:56

    We got some people coming. All right. Question from Senator Robertson, the vice chair.

52. 0:16:00

    Okay. You're, you're saying that it, it codifies the officer has the discretion. So does the officer still have the discretion to take the person into custody if they refuse to sign?

53. 0:16:09

    No.

54. 0:16:10

    So the officer doesn't have the discretion anymore?

55. 0:16:12

    Pardon me. That's correct.

56. 0:16:13

    Okay. So, and are you saying we're taking away the right of a citizen to go to recorder's court and post bond and have the case bound over to state court?

57. 0:16:25

    N- no. So you still have to, um, you still have to respond to the ticket of the date and be present on the date that is a- assigned to you on the-

58. 0:16:36

    That, that's right. But the date would be the first hearing date-

59. 0:16:39

    Right

60. 0:16:39

    ... where right now, a citizen, if they choose not to go to the first hearing date, they can go and post a bond. In most cases it's not a cash bond, it's a copy of their driver's license, and they can have the case bound over to, to state court and, and reach out and, and make arrangements, discussions, or whatever with the solicitor general's office if they choose not to go to court in state court.

61. 0:16:58

    No. You have to... But, but if they, if you get refuse to sign on your ticket right now, you have to go to court. You don't have the option to-

62. 0:17:04

    S- so we are taking away the option or the right of a citizen to go and waive their first hearing by posting bond and having their case immediately bound over to state court now?

63. 0:17:18

    I'm trying to make sure I'm, I'm understanding the way you phrased the question.

64. 0:17:20

    I know. It's been a minute, and I appreciate that.

65. 0:17:21

    No, no. It's fine.

66. 0:17:22

    Let me, I'll, I'll lay this out real clear. If, if I'm stopped in Columbus, Georgia, and I'm-

67. 0:17:25

    Yes

68. 0:17:25

    ... given a citation-

69. 0:17:26

    Yes

70. 0:17:27

    ... I can go down to recorder's court, show them a copy of my driver's license.

71. 0:17:30

    Mm-hmm.

72. 0:17:31

    They will scan a copy of my driver's license.

73. 0:17:33

    Mm-hmm.

74. 0:17:33

    They will attach it as a bond. My case will be bound over to state court. Therefore, I avoid the first court hearing, and I will receive a notice from the solicitor general's office saying when my court date will be so that I could show up and address it in state court. Normally, that is a couple of months out, which gives me the time to reach out to a prosecutor within the solicitor general's office and negotiate, should I please or should they be willing, to a lesser than what would normally be a fine or whatever, and make an explanation. But if I'm reading this correctly, um, if I refuse to sign a citation, then I do not have that option and I have to go to that first hearing, which, um, I don't have the option of having it bound over.

75. 0:18:20

    So if you do refuse to sign, you still have to go to... You, you can't pay, like, a, you can't pay early.

76. 0:18:29

    No, I'm not talking about-

77. 0:18:29

    You can't do any of those things

78. 0:18:30

    ... I'm not talking about paying it, uh, early.

79. 0:18:31

    Right.

80. 0:18:31

    I'm talking about having it bound over.

81. 0:18:35

    I haven't contemplated that.

82. 0:18:36

    Yeah.

83. 0:18:36

    This, I think this is the first time I've gotten that particular question.

84. 0:18:38

    Yeah. Uh, okay.

85. 0:18:38

    I, I think, as we're reading through this, just to make sure everybody's seeing this, on line 18 we struck shall and replaced with may sign. So in the past, I think getting back to Senator Bearden's comment and the, the feedback we got from, uh, our officers, uh, and both sheriffs and, and chiefs of police, was shall, they had to sign. And people were concerned. Now, obviously, uh, when Senator Bearden was on the street, he may have done that, uh, and may have felt he had the latitude to do it. Some had felt they did not.

86. 0:19:06

    Yes.

87. 0:19:06

    I think that's the reason why we're getting to the point that, um, in order to keep people safer, people felt more comfortable having a little latitude in here. Uh, and it, by the way, this has been supported by, by those bodies. So, okay. Other questions for the bill's author?

88. 0:19:26

    All right, seeing none. What is the will of the committee?

89. 0:19:29

    Motion to pass.

90. 0:19:30

    A motion to pass from Senator Jackson. I've got a second from Senator Wicks. Uh, we have a proposed amendment, uh, from Senator Bearden. You are recognized.

91. 0:19:40

    On line 23, strike the word shall and replace it with may.

92. 0:19:46

    I think that'd be a friendly amendment, uh, representative. All right, so we're gonna call this the Bearden amendment. On line 23, he is, uh, asking to strike the word shall and replace it with may. Is there a second on his amendment?

93. 0:20:00

    Second.

94. 0:20:00

    Got a second, uh, on the amendment. Uh, any further discussion on the Bearden amendment?

95. 0:20:05

    I just-

96. 0:20:06

    All right, we have further discussion from Senator Jackson.

97. 0:20:08

    Senator- Yes. Can you say what the implications are of making this change? Yeah, I'm working through that right now too.

98. 0:20:15

    Yeah.

99. 0:20:15

    Me, right.

100. 0:20:15

     You don't, you don't give the officer the discretion.

101. 0:20:17

     Yeah.

102. 0:20:17

     And if it's, uh, worry about it, they may not be able to do it. Instead of putting shall, we're gonna put may in there, and they can do it if their SOP wants to do that.

103. 0:20:30

     But if they don't do it-

104. 0:20:33

     Yeah. Yeah, I think I know where you're going here. Okay, hang on a second. Let, let's talk through this, fellas. It-- Let's begin the beginning of that sentence. If the person refused to sign the citation, it shall constitute reasonable cause to believe that the person will not appear at trial, and the officer may or shall write refuse to assign ticket. So we're already saying they're not gonna sign the ticket. If they're not gonna sign the ticket, then you wanna leave it blank?

105. 0:21:00

     Yeah, they need to write something. The, the discretion is-- May, may I be recognized, Mr. Chairman?

106. 0:21:04

     Yeah. Yeah, the, the discretion's in the top.

107. 0:21:06

     And the discretion is the next sentence, if I'm recognized, Mr. Chairman.

108. 0:21:08

     Yes, please.

109. 0:21:09

     The officer may bring the person before a judicial order. So there's still just, there's still opportunity there for the officer to make, make a choice.

110. 0:21:24

     They have to write something. The officer may bring the person before a judicial officer, a traffic to postpone. Yeah. I don't know.

111. 0:21:44

     Let me, uh, recognize Senator Williams.

112. 0:21:47

     Taking that shall out and putting may in, the way I read it like it is, is this documentation-

113. 0:21:57

     Right

114. 0:21:58

     ... is merely all that is, is documentation by the officer that the person refused to sign.

115. 0:22:05

     Correct. I think you're right. Yeah.

116. 0:22:06

     Mm-hmm.

117. 0:22:08

     That's the way I read it, too.

118. 0:22:09

     I, I believe that's correct. Senator Bearden, do you want to, uh-

119. 0:22:15

     Okay. Well, we'll just pull the amendment and, uh, we'll withdraw it.

120. 0:22:18

     All right. We're gonna withdraw that amendment. Okay. We are back to the question, are there any, uh, further amendments on LC 630157S?

121. 0:22:30

     He's spoken to the point. Can I ask a question?

122. 0:22:33

     Uh, we can have a discussion right now. Yeah.

123. 0:22:36

     So reading what you're saying, Mr. Chair, if I'm reading that line on 24 that says, "The officer may bring the person before a judicial officer for traffic violations bureau to postpone, as is otherwise provided by law," then they can still be taken into custody. Is that correct?

124. 0:22:50

     They can do either.

125. 0:22:53

     That's still okay.

126. 0:22:55

     Yep.

127. 0:22:57

     That's still.

128. 0:22:58

     This really documents discretion, is basically what I see it as.

129. 0:23:00

     So I think-

130. 0:23:01

     Well-

131. 0:23:01

     Uh, if I can, uh, whenever at the appropriate time, I can comment.

132. 0:23:04

     Uh, is it-

133. 0:23:04

     Go ahead.

134. 0:23:05

     We're, we're, we're in the, the part of it where you're not allowed to talk. I'm sorry.

135. 0:23:07

     No, go ahead. No, go ahead.

136. 0:23:07

     This is a committee discussion.

137. 0:23:09

     So, yeah. I think that whole... I, I think that should be struck. Should it? Oh, I don't think so.

138. 0:23:16

     No, I think you should leave that. Yeah.

139. 0:23:20

     I think it's right. All right. I'm looking at my, uh, my friend, Michael, the sheriff. All right, uh, seeing no, uh, further discussion, uh, all those in favor, please say aye. Aye. All opposed, please say no. No. All right, I've got two noes. Please document accordingly. All right. Thank you very much. And, uh, who's carrying this wonderful bill for you? I think it's me.

140. 0:23:39

     It's you.

141. 0:23:39

     Okay. All right. All right, next up, we're gonna go out of order and bring up, uh, House Bill 1283. Representative Panitch, uh, I wanna, as you're coming up to the podium, please, uh, wanna thank you for your great work on this bill. You're always very thoughtful, uh, and work together with great people when you bring legislation forth.

142. 0:23:59

     Thank you. I appreciate that. Uh, members of the committee, uh, this is 1283, the Family Justice Center Act. Please forgive my voice. This bill is both a victim safety bill and a law enforcement safety bill. Uh, what's happening in Georgia, according to the com- Georgia Commission on Family Violence, 42,184 reported incidents of family violence in our state in 2024, a 12% increase from the year before. 70% of those victims were women, uh, which translates to an estimated 129,000 adults and nearly 18,000 children were victims of family violence from, this is from 2023, and the FBI has named Atlanta one of 14 cities in the country with the highest rates of child trafficking.

143. 0:24:45

     Family justice centers help that. They bring law enforcement, prosecutors, victim advocates, social services, counseling, legal aid, and community organizations together under one roof, one location, one intake, if they choose. The survivor tells her story once, and help comes to her. She doesn't have to go from one office to another office to another office over different days, each day missing a day from work, maybe lose her job, and each time, and maybe not have childcare, each time creating a barrier for her to leave her abuser.

144. 0:25:20

     In Georgia, we already have three, but they are- they have been put together piecemeal, and this would establish a statewide framework. Macon and Waycross, who you'll hear from, are already proving what family justice centers can mean for the state. In Waycross, the Family Justice Center serves six counties: Bacon, Brantley, Charlton, Coffee, Pierce, and Ware. And in Macon, the center primarily serves Macon-Bibb and is prepared to assist victims from seven other counties: Bibb... I'm sorry, Crawford, Houston, Monroe, Peach, Jones, and Twiggs.

145. 0:25:51

     Um, they're strengthening entire regions, and the results that we're seeing from other places that- where the family justice centers are, are enacted, in San Diego, where the first family justice center opened, domestic violence homicides dropped by 90%.

146. 0:26:08

     Wow.

147. 0:26:09

     In Brooklyn, in- intimate partner homicides fell 43%. Guilford County, North Carolina, has reported consistent reduction. Domestic violence incidents also represent the highest number of fatal calls for police officers, 29% of officer line-of-duty deaths. When survivors have a safe place to go before the n- next 911 call, when abuse is stopped sooner through coordinated intervention, it saves lives of the survivors and of the officers. Before you, you have letters from the Ware Department of Family and Children Services, Waycross Sheriff, Waycross Police Chief, North Georgia Elder Abuse Task Force, Small and Rural Law Enforcement, uh, Association, Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, Waycross Family Justice Center, Mayor of Waycross, and the Animal Welfare Institute.

148. 0:26:59

     And there are letters from Ms. Warren's third grade class at Teasley Elementary in Cobb County. They're gonna be watching this as part of a lesson about how laws are made. The children from Ms. Warren's third grade class have been eagerly observing this legislative session, especially HB 1283. These are cards, which I will hand, you can just pass them around to take a look, as a heartfelt thank you from the class for working so hard for our community.

149. 0:27:30

     They are learning about the legislative process and are excited to watch the upcoming proceedings. And with that, I have- I'm- I'm open for questions.

150. 0:27:41

     Thank you for that great overview explanation. Uh, questions from the committee members to the bill's author. Question from Senator Robertson, our vice chairman.

151. 0:27:52

     Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, ma'am. Um, I can tell you, um, I know the, um, the chair of the Governor's Commission on Family Violence really likes this legislation. My question is, is there a cost to this consolidation of services, which I, I do appreciate the fact that we need to consolidate these services?

152. 0:28:14

     Thank you for the question, and I should have addressed that in my remarks. No, uh, it does not. It's not a mandate. It doesn't create new state agency. It does not impose unfunded mandates on local governments. It gives communities, if they want to, to do better for survivors with the legal framework to do it right. This will be under the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, and most of these agencies, either nonprofits or other agencies, have grants that are given from the federal government or the state government.

153. 0:28:46

     So we're not asking for any funding.

154. 0:28:48

     And a final question, if you don't mind, Mr. Chair, would you say this offers, uh, much needed continuity throughout the state addressing the multiple issues that impact these victims?

155. 0:28:58

     Yes. Thank you.

156. 0:28:59

     Thank you.

157. 0:29:01

     Other questions for the bill's author? Senator Bearden.

158. 0:29:05

     So, so currently, is this gonna be funded basically through the Victims Assistance Grant program?

159. 0:29:10

     Well, victim... Yes, or multiple programs that-

160. 0:29:12

     The Local Victims Assistance Program?

161. 0:29:14

     Yeah.

162. 0:29:15

     Um, and the reason why I ask that-

163. 0:29:17

     No, I'm sorry. I'm hearing, um, seeing nos from, uh, some of my speakers. Well, some of them are nonprofits that don't get grants.

164. 0:29:26

     That's right.

165. 0:29:27

     Okay. Sorry. I'm just gonna... I have a- I have witnesses who are- who can testify to that.

166. 0:29:33

     Because currently right now, if I'm not mistaken, 5% of, of, uh, the cases, the money goes to help fund the local victims program, correct? Assistance program?

167. 0:29:46

     I'm seeing shaking heads no.

168. 0:29:50

     Yeah, you're talking about the DV money?

169. 0:29:52

     Yeah.

170. 0:29:52

     Yeah. I think what you're talking goes to the council, they give it to the DA's office.

171. 0:29:56

     And then it goes to the local v- victims... And, and the reason why I'm asking these questions, 'cause about 20 years ago, we did have a commission that was created, and was never... It was created by law for oversight for these victim assistance programs. And my committee, along with, uh, my vice chairman, uh, Chairman Robertson on this, when we looked at it, there was a lot of offices around the state where they had more money than that 5% in reserves that they could have that's just supposed to go to victims, and that's what we're working on right now.

172. 0:30:28

     So we wanna make sure the money that's gonna be coming in and how that money's coming in is going back to the victims. Because it, depending on how this is done, you may have an answer for what we're looking at, but I just wanna make sure to what monies are coming in to fund this.

173. 0:30:44

     There are no monies in the bill that are dedicated for this.

174. 0:30:52

     This sets up the framework and the foundation-

175. 0:30:54

     Yes

176. 0:30:54

     ... for them to do that using existing dollars, right?

177. 0:30:56

     Yes.

178. 0:30:57

     Okay. Okay. Other questions, Senator?

179. 0:31:00

     No, I yield that now.

180. 0:31:02

     All right. Other questions for the bill's author? Uh, we got a few people signed up to speak. Uh, but, uh, if you're gonna play this, uh, video from Ms. Warren's class, we wanna thank you. Uh, I, I have the honor of representing part of Cobb County. We've got your wonderful notes here. So if you're seeing this on video, we're very proud of you. Thank you for being a part of this process. Well done.

181. 0:31:25

     All right, Representative, if you want to, uh, stand by for a moment, we're gonna bring up a few people. Uh, gonna be- begin with, uh, Dr., uh, Greg Young. Is that right, Captain? Come on up to the podium if you would, sir. I hope I didn't butcher your name.

182. 0:31:39

     No sir, you didn't.

183. 0:31:40

     All right. Thank you for your service, Captain.

184. 0:31:43

     Thank you. Uh, Chairman Albers and members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today. Uh, my name is Dr. Gregory Young, Senior. I do serve as a captain over criminal investigations for the Waycross Police Department. I've been with the department for 20 years, and I have the privilege of serving as the, one of the direct supervisors for the detective who's assigned to our local Waycross FJC. Um, to here, today I'm here to speak on support for the Family Justice Center model and the importance of legislated, legislation such as House Bill 1283, which recognizes and validates the role a Family Justice Centers can play in Georgia's response to domestic violence, sexual assault, and other crimes.

185. 0:32:30

     In Waycross, our FJC has worked to bring together a wide range of partners that you've heard earlier. At our center, victims are able to connect directly with partners such as law enforcement, domestic violence advocates, behavioral health professionals, legal services, public health reps. And having these partners working together in one location dramatically improves how we respond to victims and how efficiently cases move through the system. From a law enforcement perspective, the benefits are significant.

186. 0:33:01

     When our officers respond to domestic violence situations, victims often need immediate safety planning, legal guidance, counseling, and help navigating through these complex systems. Traditionally, victims would have to go to, from agency to agency, and here they have it all in, under one roof.

187. 0:33:22

     With partners located together, victims can speak with advocates, begin the process, obtain temporary protective orders, connect with prosecutors, receive referrals. The coordinated response benefits victims, but it also benefits law enforcement in the prosecution of the case. When agencies collaborate in real time, information sharing improves, investigations move more efficiently, and victims are far more likely to stay engaged in this process, which strengthens the case. Another key benefit in navigation is many victims enter the system are very overwhelmed.

188. 0:33:56

     The ability to walk into one center and be guided through the services available in the community, from legal assistance to counseling to safety planning, creates such a stronger support network. I would encourage the policymakers and community leaders to visit our center to experience firsthand how these services look. While that concept of the FJC is relatively new in Georgia, it is not new in the United States. Across the country, there are 153 FJCs in 43 states.

189. 0:34:27

     These centers have demonstrated tremendous success in improving victim safety, increasing accountability for offenders, and strengthening collaboration. In Waycross, within our first year, we have s- seeking services through our center has increased by more than 300% compared to our initial projections. That increase reflects not only the need that exists in our community but also the trust victims place in the system. We are proud to work, we're proud of the work being done in Waycross and grateful for the opportunity to be among the first communities in Georgia to successfully implement a full-service Family Justice Center.

190. 0:35:07

     House Bill 1283 represents an important step forward in our state. It helps establish the framework that recognizes Family Justice Centers, encourages collaboration, and ensures these centers can grow. Chairman Albers and members of the committee, thank you for your leadership on issues affecting victims and public safety. We appreciate the opportunity to share our experience. Also, thank you, Senator Russ Goodman, who was also there with the opening of our Waycross center.

191. 0:35:39

     I'd also like to acknowledge, um, Director Michelle Girkman, who's our dir- uh, director over our Waycross Family Justice Center. Thank you.

192. 0:35:50

     Thank you for that great testimony. Appreciate it, Captain. All right, uh, next, uh, David Davis.

193. 0:36:03

     That's a good name.

194. 0:36:08

     Good evening, Mr. Chairman and committee.

195. 0:36:10

     Thank you.

196. 0:36:10

     I'm, I'm Sheriff David Davis from Bibb County.

197. 0:36:12

     Thank you, sir.

198. 0:36:12

     Down in Macon Bibb. And, uh, we were one of the first, along with Waycross, to have a Family Justice Center, and so we have been, uh, there with the forefront and have seen what a good thing that these justice centers can do because it does away with a system where a victim of domestic violence or sexual abuse or something like that has to go to four or five different places at four or five different pla- four or five different locations to four or five different entities all over town.

199. 0:36:43

     This brings it all into one place where they can go and get the help that they need and, uh, get the services that need from both law enforcement, victims' assistance, DFCS, all of those, uh, helping agencies because as we all know, uh, with, uh, with transportation costs and things like that, that is a burden to a number of individuals who may be victims of, of, of, of domestic violence or things like that to make them have to travel from one place to another to get services that are basically a human right and basically owed to everyone who is a victim of this type of crime.

200. 0:37:23

     But when we speak specifically to this bill, uh, I'm gonna, I'm gonna sort of speak like we do in middle Georgia. Uh, this is common sense. Something y'all might not hear too much, but this is common sense legislation, uh, for, um, for law enforcement, for victims, and everything. And it also speaks to records because you have so many different entities in there. You have DFACS, you have the DA's offices, you have, uh, different entities, and each one of those entities is governed in some form or fashion by different parts of the Open Records Law.

201. 0:38:01

     Well, this sort of codifies, codifies two things. It codifies the legislature's r- support for family justice centers, but it also codifies who gets to keep what records. It sort of, if you wanna use it, uh, in the vernacular, you get to, you get to dance with who brung you. If you're a law enforcement agency, and you have those records, and you created those records, then they fall under the Open Records Act of law enforcement. The DA's office, the very same, uh, DFACS, all of that.

202. 0:38:33

     So it sort of codifies all of that so that we have some clear direction so that as we open up more of these throughout Georgia, uh, everybody'll be on the same page. So, uh, I strongly support, I speak for other sheriffs and law enforcement, uh, the captain here from Waycross and others in strong support of this measure, and hope you all will see likewise also.

203. 0:38:53

     Sheriff Davis, thanks for your, uh, your plain good talk.

204. 0:38:55

     Yeah.

205. 0:38:56

     And, uh, thank you for the service of you and everyone who you lead.

206. 0:38:59

     Thank you.

207. 0:38:59

     Appreciate it. Thank you. Okay, and last but certainly not least, uh, last name is Borman. I'm gonna miss your first name, and you may wanna put in a doctor the way you, the way you've written it there.

208. 0:39:11

     Good evening. Uh, my name is Jamie Borman.

209. 0:39:13

     Oh.

210. 0:39:13

     I'm the, uh, secretary for the Georgia Commission on Family Violence, and I think you guys heard that the chair of the Georgia Commission on Family Violence, um, likes this bill. But I wanted to affirm the support of the Georgia Commission on Family Violence. I believe all of you received a letter from, uh, Director April Ross, and so I just wanted to be here to affirm that support.

211. 0:39:32

     Fantastic. Thank you so much for your testimony. All right, uh, Representative Panitch, why don't you come back up here? Uh, we heard some great testimony and, uh, heard about this bill. Are there questions from the committee members?

212. 0:39:43

     At the appropriate time.

213. 0:39:44

     All right, I think it's the appropriate time. I'll recognize Senator Jackson again.

214. 0:39:48

     Mr. Chairman, thank you. It's my honor to, um, make a motion move do pass on House Bill 1283 LC 481779S.

215. 0:39:58

     I've got a motion do pass. Do I have a second?

216. 0:40:00

     Second.

217. 0:40:00

     I've got a second from Senator Goodman. Is there any further discussion from the committee members? Seeing none, all those in favor, favor, please say aye.

218. 0:40:06

     Aye.

219. 0:40:07

     Aye.

220. 0:40:08

     Anybody has a fever, please say no. All right. Great job, and I believe, uh, Senator Robertson, the whip is gonna carry that for you?

221. 0:40:15

     Yes.

222. 0:40:15

     Okay, that's great.

223. 0:40:16

     I can do that.

224. 0:40:16

     Thank you. Excellent work, and thank you all for being here today. We greatly appreciate your time. All right, we're gonna get back to House Bill 494. Representative MacLean, are you here?

225. 0:40:31

     He's fine.

226. 0:40:32

     Uh-oh.

227. 0:40:32

     We can answer something this time.

228. 0:40:34

     There's a lot we could do with this bill. The bill's author is not here. All right. In deference to, uh, Representative MacLean, who's, uh, served with great, uh, honor, uh, in the House of Representatives, we passed this bill out last year. Uh, it, uh, actually got pulled out of rules but unfortunately did not make it, uh, on, uh, on sine die. And what this did is it increases the amount of coverage for a moped that is getting into an accident to make sure that, uh, it doesn't end up falling on the other person's insurance, uh, because they're not carrying the minimum insurance, uh, as the rest of us do who are riding on our roadways.

229. 0:41:14

     I think it's a pretty straightforward bill. We didn't have any, uh, concerns with it last time. Is there anybody who would like to speak on behalf of the committee for House Bill 494?

230. 0:41:28

     Seeing none, what is the will of the committee?

231. 0:41:30

     Move due pass.

232. 0:41:30

     Got a motion due pass from Senator Williams. I had a second from Senator Halpern. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor, please say aye.

233. 0:41:37

     Aye.

234. 0:41:38

     Aye.

235. 0:41:38

     All opposed, please say no. Passed unanimously. Uh, best of luck to, uh, to Dewey. Uh, and I do not know who's carrying that bill right now. Let's check who was carrying it last year, Will, and we will just give it to that same person. All right. And now, last but certainly not least, Representative Lim, why don't you come on down? We're gonna look at House Bill 1161. We are working off of LC 630158S. And go ahead and, uh, tell us all about your bill.

236. 0:42:10

     Uh, thank you, Mr. Chair and committee. I am here presenting HB 1161. The LC that you just read is a substitute that I did not introduce, but it includes the part of my bill as it passed out of the House, and that's the part that I'm going to address, if that's... That's the part I'm, uh, prepared to address.

237. 0:42:26

     All right. Then we'll have, uh, the good, uh, Representative McDonald-

238. 0:42:29

     McDonald, yes

239. 0:42:29

     ... come up after and talk about his important part.

240. 0:42:31

     Yeah, so and, uh, the, uh, to be clear, the substitute in front of you, I believe the first part of that was the bill that passed originally out of the House, and that's the part that I'm gonna talk about. It was, uh, originally, uh, brought to me by my own police department, Gwinnett County Police, and there's a letter from an officer from GCPD in there. They asked me to champion it, and it is supported by both the chiefs of, uh, police and the Sheriffs Association. What this bill simply does is to clarify explicitly that when a law enforcement officer is attempting to pull a moving vehicle over to make a traffic stop, that that vehicle should move to the right-hand curb of the road, provided that it is safe to do so.

241. 0:43:08

     This principle, I think, is obvious to most of us, so I was quite surprised when, uh, my police department brought it to me, and I found out that it was not, in fact, codified in our law. What is codified, per subsection A of that section, is when there are emergency vehicles and law enforcement vehicles attempting to pass, that you move over to the right. However, that only applies to passing vehicles, and courts here in Georgia have interpreted it precisely that way. I'll cite two cases in the Georgia State Court of Appeals, Jackson v.

242. 0:43:38

     State and Burrell v. State. Uh, per Jackson, "We note that under the plain language of the statute, a person violates this provision when he fails to yield the right-of-way in order to permit an emergency vehicle to pass," that was in italics. To violate the statute, an individual must obstruct the roadway, thereby preventing an emergency vehicle from proceeding upon its route in pursuit of a fleeing suspect or other emergency. The officer's stated purpose was to stop, in that case, the defendant for speeding, and therefore, the provision did not apply. Of course, those are just two cases, but since introducing this bill and before, we've heard from many law enforcement officers enumerating and explaining the problem, people stopping in the middle of the road.

243. 0:44:17

     So they are, in fact, stopping, but doing so at the left or the middle of the road where it is quite unsafe to do so. By harmonizing our law on traffic stops with the existing law on passing emergency or law enforcement vehicles, we create a consistency and a clarity that will, we believe, lead to better and safer practices, as well as just a more uniform application of the law. Because as you can guess, this has created some confusion among law enforcement officers and some unequal applications, understandably so. At the same time, the language, like the language on passing vehicles, leaves room for circumstances where it may not be safe practice.

244. 0:44:51

     So it, it still leaves some room. It's not a black-and-white rule, and we've carved a, a really good, in, in our opinion, balance here. And with that, I'm happy to answer questions on that part of the bill.

245. 0:45:01

     All right. Questions, uh, to the representative about the first part of the bill.

246. 0:45:09

     Seeing none, uh, we're going to, uh, ask you if you can just, uh, step down for a moment 'cause we want to bring you back up at the end.

247. 0:45:15

     Thank you, Mr. Chair.

248. 0:45:16

     All right. Uh, Chairman McDonald, would you mind coming up to the podium and telling us about, uh, section two, please?

249. 0:45:25

     Thank you to my favorite Public Safety chair. Uh, you were, last week, my favorite Public Safety chair, but, uh, Chairman, Chair-

250. 0:45:34

     Flattery will get you everywhere-

251. 0:45:35

     Well, thank you, sir

252. 0:45:36

     ... around here, yes.

253. 0:45:36

     I appreciate that.

254. 0:45:37

     I think it's the

255. 0:45:40

     second floor.

256. 0:45:41

     So, uh, gentlemen, the, the, the bill you just heard is a great bill. This is why, uh, we decided to, uh, use this bill as kind of a vehicle to do it, because, uh, Representative Lan did do a lot of work on his bill, and, and, uh, it is a great bill for the citizens of Georgia. But, uh, today I want to, with, along with, um, HB 1161, I've, I've attached a former bill, 8- 1265, to this. And basically, uh, the bill is, as se- section two reads, it's simple in concept, but it's very powerful on impact.

257. 0:46:15

     It says, "If you flee from the Georgia State Patrol Department of Public Safety, every mile you run equals a mandatory month in jail. One mile, one month, no probation, no plea downs, no exceptions." Members, we're here today because too many innocent Georgians are being injured and killed by criminals who choose to run from law enforcement. High-speed pursuits are no longer rare events. They're becoming routine, and the public is paying the price. Just a few weeks ago, a Savannah, in Savannah, a school teacher lost her life while a fleeing suspect ran a red light and caused a fatal crash.

258. 0:46:51

     The very next vehicle in the intersection was a mother with her children. They were seconds away from being the next headline. The teacher went to work that morning expecting to come home to her family. She didn't. And for what? Because someone was deciding that running from the police was worth the risk. The reality is, most people who flee law enforcement are doing, are not doing it for traffic violations. They're running because they have drugs in the car. They're running because they have outstanding warrants. They're running because they're already criminals, and they think the system is weak.

259. 0:47:23

     And unfortunately, too often they're right. Our current system allows people who endanger the public to be released on OR bonds, only to go right back out and do the same thing again. There's no real deterrent here in Georgia. This bill applies specifically to the Georgia Department of Public Safety, which in this bill includes Georgia State Patrol, the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement, the Georgia Capitol Police. These are the agen- agencies handling the most of the dangerous high-speed pursuits on our highways and interstates. Once an officer determines that a driver's initially fleeing and establishes a pursuit, a 10-80, the mileage is logged, and from that point forward, every mile equals 30 days in jail.

260. 0:48:04

     There's no discretionary clause. This is mandatory. Let me be clear about something important. This bill is not about punishment for punishment's sake. It's about deterrence and public safety. We're trying to change behavior before tragedy happens with this bill. We're telling criminals, "If you run in Georgia, you will sit in jail, period." Not a fine you can ignore, not a slap on the wrist, not a plea bargain. Real time, real consequences. The bill also includes enhanced penalties for aggravated fleeing, excessive speed, causing a crash, hitting another vehicle or pedestrian, driving under the influence, or leaving the s- state of Georgia doing a, during a pursuit.

261. 0:48:46

     In those cases, it becomes a felony with mandatory prison time. Again, no probation, no release, no sentence reductions. Members, we pass laws every day that react to tragedy after it happens. This bill is designed to prevent the tragedy in the first place. Every officer I've spoken to says the same thing. Criminals run because they believe they can a- and can get away with it. It puts fear back in the decision to flee, and sometimes fear to s- fear saves li- lives in Georgia. We as legislators have a responsibility not just to criminals but to the families driving next to them, to the teachers going to work, the children riding in the back seat, and the troopers risking their, their lives to protect us all.

262. 0:49:30

     This bill sends a clear message, strong and unmistakable message. Georgia will not tolerate people turning our highways into racetracks. Georgia will not tolerate criminals gambling with innocent lives, and Georgia will not tolerate fleeing from law enforcement. I'll stand for any questions.

263. 0:49:48

     Thank you, Representative. Uh, I want to share some personal testimony. Uh, I have been out with, uh, our, uh, our finest GSP officers many times, and I've been on several high-speed chases. And several years ago, uh, one of the ones we were on, we pitted a car. Finally got them, uh, to a point of stopping and pulled them out, and the troopers asked them, "Why did you run?" Well, they thought, "Well, we thought you were Atlanta PD, and you're not allowed to chase us." Now, Chief Schehrbaum has done a great job by reinstituting some of that, and they are going less now.

264. 0:50:18

     But I've been on several other chases since then that put so many people's lives in danger. Uh, they're not only just fleeing and leaving, they're putting themselves, the officers, and everybody in the public, uh, in grave harm. Uh, they're doing a lot of physical, emotional, uh, damage, uh, and I appreciate you bringing this part of the bill forward. Uh, there are questions from the committee to the bill's author. I see, uh, oh, you went first. Uh, Senator Jackson, we'll let you up there. Go ahead.

265. 0:50:47

     Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, can you just speak to section three in your bill, lines 122 to 133? I don't believe that you mentioned those in your summarization, so if you could just speak to those.

266. 0:51:04

     It's page six.

267. 0:51:05

     Got it. Which lines again?

268. 0:51:07

     That section. What do you-

269. 0:51:09

     Page six

270. 0:51:09

     ... what are we, what are we striving to do? Are we making it so that people can no longer continue to drive until it is reasonably safe to pull over? 'Cause that's what's been stricken.

271. 0:51:18

     Uh-

272. 0:51:18

     Struck

273. 0:51:18

     ... I think this might be back to, is this representative of the original bill?

274. 0:51:21

     I think that goes back to his original bill.

275. 0:51:23

     Is that what's happening?

276. 0:51:24

     Yes.

277. 0:51:24

     That's why I'm asking for clarification.

278. 0:51:25

     Yeah, that's, that's not part of, um, the legislation that I, that I attached to, uh, this.

279. 0:51:31

     So this might be for the other author.

280. 0:51:33

     Yeah.

281. 0:51:33

     We'll bring him back up when we're done.

282. 0:51:35

     Okay.

283. 0:51:35

     All right.

284. 0:51:35

     Um, then may I ask another question, Mr. Chairman?

285. 0:51:37

     Please.

286. 0:51:38

     Relates to, to your s- portion of the bill. So is it your, is it your understanding that a person, um, will calculate in their mind how many miles they're willing, how many months they're willing to go to jail while they're fleeing? Like, is it your, uh, your understanding that somehow a person that's running from the police is going to be deterred from going more than one mile or two miles because they don't wanna have more than two months in jail? Like, just ta- talk to me about in, in your mind how you think this is-

287. 0:52:06

     Mm-hmm

288. 0:52:06

     ... actually gonna work as a deterrent.

289. 0:52:07

     Well, it's, it's worked with our move over law. If you, if you ride down our roads and highways, because we've enforced it and, and people talk, communication is out there. You see the messaging on social media about, you know, move over laws. Same thing'll happen with these, the- these, the people that are fleeing from law enforcement that are, that are, that are running with drugs in their car or other re- they will talk. They, through, they ha- they all have their own social media outlets that they talk on. I've, I've ridden with the state patrol, like Chairman Albers, and, and you can see, uh, where they're, they're, you know, socially, you know, they're talking and, and with, between each other.

290. 0:52:45

     And, uh, I think, you know, we've gotta do something, and, uh, it's just happening way too, too often. Just as, as the Chairman Albers said, that, uh, that Atlanta's, uh, reinstitu- reinstituted some policies to, to, to chase. Dekalb, uh, about a year ago, um, um, instituted their chase policy back, and it's working. And we just gotta, we've gotta do something because the, our s- our system, whether it's Fulton, Dekalb, or Forsyth, is not the same.

291. 0:53:16

     We've gotta have some parity within our judicial system for these people that are running from law enforcement. We've gotta send a clear message because people are dying on the streets. The young man that died in Five Points about a year and a half ago, running, running f- uh, that somebody was running from law enforcement, and they hit him. And an innocent victim lost his life. And as I said in my statement, these, these criminals are carrying drugs. They have warrants. And we gotta get them off the street somehow.

292. 0:53:39

     Yeah, I mean, so to be clear, I don't support people running from the police.

293. 0:53:43

     Yeah.

294. 0:53:43

     I'm just struggling to understand the relationship between sending someone mandatory for, to jail for a month for every mile, because I'm not a criminal, but if I were a criminal-

295. 0:53:53

     Mm-hmm

296. 0:53:53

     ... I would not be calculating as I'm driving, "Ooh, that's one month in jail. That's two months in jail. That's three months in jail." Like, that I do not believe is how the mind of the criminal works. And so I'm just confused about-

297. 0:54:05

     Yeah

298. 0:54:05

     ... how this is actually gonna function as a deterrent for this type of behavior.

299. 0:54:09

     If I could just add to that. I hear what you're saying. But the criminals talk, though, and they know that if I flee, I'm mandatory going to jail. And I, I think what Representative McDonald has done so eloquently is said, "The more you do it, the more the punishment, and the punishment ought to fit the crime." So I, it, it's amazing how the bad guys talk. And again, not just with the GSB, with GBI and all the work that, that I have been involved with the last 16 years, uh, it's, it's quite unique. But I'm gonna ask, uh, for Senator Robertson, 'cause I think he's gonna bring some unique perspective from his background.

300. 0:54:39

     Yeah, I think, and I understand what you're asking, but the person that shoplifts, there's a certain financial amount that changes a shoplifting from a misdemeanor to a felony. I don't think anybody walks around with a shopping cart and a calculator trying to measure between, um, a misdemeanor and a felony. I think when an individual goes out and they run from law enforcement, they know they're breaking the law. Rarely do they know what the sentence is and what the ramifications are. And so something that's much older than me is something we use is ignorance of the law is no excuse.

301. 0:55:10

     When you out to break the law, you break the law, and you choose to put yourself into the courtroom. So I had this, when, when I first read it, I got to thinking, you know, I hope somebody understands how far they can drive. But then the shoplifting thing rolled into my head. So I, I don't think that that really rolls into what we, what we find in here from my perspective of felony, misdemeanor, and how far you run from the police. I think the ultimate goal is to get them to stop running, to pull over and, and receive whatever citation-

302. 0:55:42

     That's a good, that's a really good, uh, comment

303. 0:55:43

     ... that they're not required now to sign.

304. 0:55:45

     Uh, except for-

305. 0:55:46

     Thank you.

306. 0:55:46

     Ex- except if you were in San Francisco, where, uh, the crazy policy is out of that-

307. 0:55:49

     Yes

308. 0:55:49

     ... and they actually carried around a calculator-

309. 0:55:51

     Yes

310. 0:55:51

     ... because as long as they were under $1,000, they could walk right out of the store and nobody could stop them. Um, and we wonder why they're going downhill.

311. 0:55:58

     Yep.

312. 0:55:59

     All right, uh, other questions from committee members? I got a question from Senator Bearden.

313. 0:56:05

     Thank you for bringing this. It's a great bill. I do have one question. How about for cities and counties deputies?

314. 0:56:13

     That's a great question. When we were designing this bill, we were, I was working, I've been working on this for two years, uh, Senator, and, and, you know, working with the state patrol. So, you know, I was looking at it from a state perspective. The, the organization that trains the most on traffic. You know, as, as former law enforcement yourself and your, uh, counterpart next to you, y'all were trained on multiple facets of law enforcement, traffic, you know, um, um, going to people's homes for burglaries, to, to just general citations that you would go out with warrants.

315. 0:56:45

     Uh, the state patrol, commercial vehicle enforcement, and the Capitol Police, they've, they were highly trained. They go to the same, same training. They're highly trained on traffic. And I had the state patrol just in the beginning, and the colonel asked me to add those other two parts of their agency to this. Um, the command staff was here earlier. They, they had to leave, uh, but they came here in, in support of this bill. Uh, but, you know, it's something we can look at in the future, but I think, you know, this is a first, first blush at this, and hopefully the message, by doing it with the state patrol, the message will, will go statewide that, that everybody will...

316. 0:57:22

     Th- they won't know the difference. That, that if you run from law enforcement, you'll, you'll, you'll spend time in jail.

317. 0:57:28

     Because out on the training center when I was there-

318. 0:57:30

     Mm

319. 0:57:30

     ... I outdrove Lieutenant Mee on a constant basis. My driving was much better than his.

320. 0:57:38

     Uh, the, the, Senator's very passionate about what he speaks.

321. 0:57:41

     So for right now you would not be interested in expanding this to cities?

322. 0:57:47

     I would not. No, sir.

323. 0:57:48

     Okay.

324. 0:57:49

     Um, m- you know, we'd less... I'd like to give it at least a two-year window to look at, and, and hopefully we make an impact. This is a very important piece of legislation.

325. 0:57:56

     100%.

326. 0:57:57

     And, uh, I just, uh, you know, it may not, it's not gonna be popular with everybody, I get that, but I have to step up, and we as a legislature have to step up and make a difference because, you know, it, this, this teacher in Savannah, uh, it, as I said in, in, in my opening statements, the next car was a mom and her kids, and it would've been them.

327. 0:58:15

     Got a question from Senator Williams.

328. 0:58:17

     Thank you for bringing this forward. Did you think about, uh, suspending their driver's license for 10 years or something also to go along with it?

329. 0:58:30

     Uh-

330. 0:58:30

     I mean, that's just a thought. And, but I, I like the bill, and I thank you. But, uh, to, uh, Senator Bearden's point, uh, going down the road and then all of a sudden the Christmas tree lights up behind you, is it state patrol or is it county? A lot of times they can't tell the difference that, 'cause they're lit up with those bright lights, and hopefully it's gonna send a message and they're gonna say, "You know, it's not worth the risk.

331. 0:59:00

     Let me pull over." So I'm hoping it'll work.

332. 0:59:03

     But-

333. 0:59:04

     Thank you

334. 0:59:04

     ... and, and, Mr. Chairman, I, I, I hear what you're saying and the license. I'm not here to... I'm here to, uh, hopefully teach a lesson. I mean, if people do do this, they do it one time, you know, whatever the mileage was, 90, uh, you know, the first time, not, if you won't spend, if you, if you go the 24 miles, you're gonna get two years. That's... If you go 40 miles, you're only gonna get two years for your first offense. I'm not here to punish somebody where they can't have a driver's license and go to a job. This is to, to, to say, "Don't do this."

335. 0:59:32

     Right.

336. 0:59:32

     And if you do it again, the punishment gets worse, the fine gets worse. Uh, you know, I, I, as far as the driver's license thing, you know, third attempt, I wouldn't have a problem if, you know, suspending it for their time in jail or, or a few years after they get out of jail. But I'd like, you know, I like the bill as it's written. We've worked hard-

337. 0:59:48

     I do

338. 0:59:48

     ... to get it to where he is, where we are.

339. 0:59:50

     Yeah, I do.

340. 0:59:50

     Very good.

341. 0:59:51

     I do. Thank you.

342. 0:59:52

     Uh, uh, final question from, uh, Senator Jackson.

343. 0:59:55

     Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I, I'm, I am wondering about, um, speed and the type of chase. So, you know, there's a very famous police chase that-

344. 1:00:05

     Yes

345. 1:00:05

     ... those of us who are of a certain age watched, a white Bronco- ... um, that drove for many, many, many miles, right? Um, but not at a speed or a rate that I think was particularly, um... But I'll, I'll bring it closer to home. I actually have a constituent whose wife is, um, from another country, and was driving, uh, did not realize, it was an unmarked vehicle that was trying to pull her over. It did have lights, but she did not understand just from her newness what was going on, and so she drove several miles before she was ultimately PIT maneuvered to make her stop.

346. 1:00:40

     Um, a judge would hear that case and understand that there were extenuating circumstances in terms of her a- ability to understand all those things. There were mitigating circumstances that would result in, in her not being charged a month for every mile. And, and so I'm just curious if you've given that consideration. Like, she wasn't speeding. She just kept driving s- at the rate of s- of the normal speed, right? Like, are you, are you willing to consider any moderation around this, that there are mitigating circumstances? That if I keep driving at 15 miles an hour for three miles, that maybe you shouldn't charge me and make me sit in jail for three months when, you know, as compared to the person who's driving 90 miles an hour, um, and really seeking to do some real damage.

347. 1:01:23

     Well, I want to answer the, the part about your friend. Uh, the Georgia State Patrol-

348. 1:01:27

     That's my constituent, not-

349. 1:01:28

     Your constituent. Um, the, the Georgia State Patrol does not have unmarked vehicles out here pulling people over. Every vehicle is marked. So that, th- this bill is for the Geo- Georgia public safety. So every vehicle will mark, so it would not affect your constituent.

350. 1:01:43

     That means the colonel's got to get his car marked.

351. 1:01:45

     Uh, I-

352. 1:01:45

     Oh, he does traffic stops.

353. 1:01:46

     Exactly.

354. 1:01:47

     No, he does.

355. 1:01:48

     Uh, oc- occasionally he does, but, uh, I feel pretty good about that one, so, okay. Uh, any further questions to committee members? Seeing none, Representative Lim, why don't you come back up-

356. 1:01:58

     Thank you

357. 1:01:58

     ... if you don't mind-

358. 1:01:59

     Thank you, committee

359. 1:01:59

     ... and we're gonna close you out. Uh, Representative Lim, because we did not talk about section three, which, uh, Senator, uh, Jackson brought up, uh, why don't you just take us through, uh, the final section of the bill where you are striking out subsection E from 40-8-91?

360. 1:02:19

     Excuse me, I did not-

361. 1:02:20

     That's fine

362. 1:02:20

     ... have a copy.

363. 1:02:20

     And then the last page, page six.

364. 1:02:25

     So to, so to Senator Jackson's point, we are taking this language and putting it into the language that is now, uh, lines 25 through 35. That's language that regards, uh, the room to say, "Yes, go to the right if it's safe to do so." Uh, what current law w- that, that we're striking out in section three essentially says, "Use reasonable," use what is reasonable to figure out where to stop, and that's what's led to the confusion. So we're still taking that part of it to, a- again, to have some safety valves because it's not always going to be in 100% of every instance safe to pull over to the right.

365. 1:03:02

     There might not be a curb, for example. But we're still taking that language and putting into lines 25 through 35.

366. 1:03:08

     All right. Got a question from Senator Robertson.

367. 1:03:10

     Yes, and I had some concerns when I first saw that, um, and it was actually gonna be my first question. Uh, my concern about striking this language is if my wife is out driving at 11:30 at night and it's really dark, and the vehicle that goes to pull her over is a slick top, which means there's no lights on the roof, they're all in the grill and everywhere else, and I despise these ghosted vehicles. Uh, the taxpayers should be able to see law enforcement officers out doing their job. We're not trying to sneak up and catch anybody.

368. 1:03:43

     It's what we shouldn't be doing. But do you feel that these strikes impact the ability of my wife, if she's in the right lane, to drive to a well-lit area, say, the convenience store on 315, and while driving there, calling the Harris County Sheriff's Office to ensure that the vehicle behind her is, in fact, a law enforcement vehicle?

369. 1:04:02

     Yeah, so first of all, I want to be clear, I would never ... I would never-

370. 1:04:08

     It is

371. 1:04:08

     ... I would never endanger one of the series of-

372. 1:04:11

     Dir- direct, direct me to that section.

373. 1:04:12

     Yes, it's-

374. 1:04:13

     Line 30

375. 1:04:13

     ... it's in lines, uh, 30, or lines 31 through 35.

376. 1:04:18

     Yeah.

377. 1:04:18

     So we are striking it, but moving it. We're not completely eliminating it.

378. 1:04:22

     I see.

379. 1:04:22

     And it's precisely to ensure that exactly the instance that you just mentioned and similar instances like it-

380. 1:04:29

     Okay

381. 1:04:29

     ... do not happen.

382. 1:04:29

     Here's, here's what I want. I want, I wanna make sure I'm looking at the same thing. "Such motorist shall indicate," would you show me where that is in the new language?

383. 1:04:49

     Line 34.

384. 1:04:49

     33.

385. 1:04:50

     33. 33. It's before.

386. 1:04:56

     That's not in there.

387. 1:04:57

     "Such motorist," and what I'm reading, the part, "Such, such motorist shall indicate to the officer his or her intent to pursue to a safe location by displaying the vehicle's flashing lights or turn signal. In proceeding to a safe location, the motorist shall observe the posted maximum speed limit." Is that... I don't see that in there.

388. 1:05:16

     Uh, lines 33 and 34.

389. 1:05:24

     Is it different language?

390. 1:05:26

     It's, it's not exactly the same, and if the committee feels more comfortable adopting the exact same language as before, but the intention certainly was to import what was already in existing statute.

391. 1:05:38

     So yeah, you're saying stopping and remaining in an unsafe location, where originally it was, um, proceeding to a safe location. So you're saying it, uh, you're saying it backwards, basically and-

392. 1:05:48

     Correct.

393. 1:05:48

     'Cause my, my biggest concern, and again, um, I think Senator Bearden and I are becoming Siamese twins through this public safety stuff, which I think will improve his appearance. But, um, I, uh- ... my concern are individuals impersonating-

394. 1:06:05

     Yes, you did. I did

395. 1:06:05

     ... individuals impersonating law enforcement officers and doing traffic stops is my concern. And so that's just a concern I have, and I think it's something we can talk about as we move through the process if the chairman so chooses to.

396. 1:06:17

     I, I, you know, I think now would be the appropriate time if we feel that we need to make an amendment to clarify that we should do that while we're all together. I'm reading, um, again, the way that they said that in the original one, going back to, to Senator Robertson's point, uh, I'm gonna go to line 29 to begin. You know, "Intent to proceed to a safe location by displaying a vehicle's flashing lights or turn signal. Proceeding to a safe location, motorist shows they're at the posted speed limit." That's, that's where that begins, the back which was struck. Now we're changing it up here to, if you've been on line, um, 32, "However, that when such requirement result in stopping and remaining in an unsafe location," as opposed to going to a safe location, "such operator may display flashing lights, turn signal, observe the maximum speed limit posted, and continue to a reasonably safe location to stop and remain in position." I, I think it does say the same.

397. 1:07:08

     And, and, and look, I'm, I'm gonna be fine with that. The, the-

398. 1:07:11

     Which is weird

399. 1:07:12

     ... it's, it's, it's worded kind of strange because while I am extremely pro-law enforcement, I think we have to be careful because we do know there are bad actors out there. Um, it's the same thing with the, uh, signing of the citation. I think we yield too much to, in law enforcement for safe traffic stops based on erroneous media reports and edited video and all this other stuff on traffic stops. I think we already put officers in dangerous positions by yielding so many things.

400. 1:07:47

     But in these types of situations, I, I think we, um, we attempted to solve this problem a few years ago, some legislation that did not get through, but I'm comfortable if the committee's comfortable that that language articulates what we're concerned about. But-

401. 1:08:02

     All right

402. 1:08:03

     ... I yield to the, the will of the committee.

403. 1:08:06

     Okay. We okay? Anybody?

404. 1:08:10

     I feel great.

405. 1:08:11

     Well, my, my counterpart feels great, so I'm feeling pretty good. I, I, I do believe it's okay. All right, other questions for the bill's author? Seeing none, what is the will of the committee?

406. 1:08:22

     Do pass.

407. 1:08:23

     Got a motion to do pass from Senator Williams. Do I have a second? Second. Second from Senator Dixon. Any further discussion from the committee members? Seeing none, all those in favor, please raise your hand. One, two, three, four, five. All opposed? All right, one opposed. Thank you. And Representative Wimb, who is gonna carry this bill for you in the Senate?

408. 1:08:41

     It was to be Senator Robertson, if he's still okay with that.

409. 1:08:46

     I'll be honest, I'll be honest with you. I'll be honest with you, when you let a, when you, uh, invited a firefighter in to, uh, to amend your bill, knowing how much they have a, you know, an unhealthy affection toward law enforcement officers, I'm, I'm a little concerned about carrying it. But, uh, a- as of right now, I w- I would like to have further conversation on it, so if someone else on the committee would rather carry it, I'm, I'm happy with that.

410. 1:09:11

     Uh, well, in order to get your bill moving forward, I'm gonna ask you one important question, Representative. And if you know the answer, you're gonna be in a good place. You know why God created firefighters?

411. 1:09:23

     I think that it's God created fire.

412. 1:09:25

     No, 'cause the police officers needed heroes.

413. 1:09:31

     It's too bad. You were doing so well on the bill.

414. 1:09:33

     Guess it's, oh well.

415. 1:09:36

     All right.

416. 1:09:37

     My answer was very biblical, though. And again, to be absolutely clear, I would never put one Ms. Teresa Garcia Robertson in danger. And the senator knows this.

417. 1:09:44

     All right. I tell you what, let's huddle up here, uh-

418. 1:09:46

     That's right

419. 1:09:47

     ... to figure out who's gonna carry this bill, make sure we get everything covered. All right, uh, ladies and gentlemen, the committee, I know it's been a long day, but before we go, uh, we are getting down to the last two potential committee meetings we're going to have. Uh, we are definitely gonna have one on Monday of next week. We may or may not have one on Wednesday, based on lots of different factors. Uh, as I mention every meeting, if there's a bill out there that you're particularly, uh, enamored with or against, please come talk to me. There's a couple that I'm spending a lot of time with the bill's authors and some, uh, other parties who are very interested in it, in order to try to perfect those before they come here.

420. 1:10:24

     Uh, but this is, when we get to the end, it's really important we get everything right. So thank you for being here late, and this meeting is hereby adjourned.

421. 1:10:29

     We have a sub maybe. I'll take the public safety-

422. 1:10:32

     Oh, hang on a minute. Uh, I'm gonna recognize, uh, Vice Chairman, uh, the chair of our subcommittee to talk about his, uh, bills and subcommittee.

423. 1:10:39

     We do have a public safety subcommittee that will be, the agenda's out. Has several bills on it, and it will meet at 7:00, yes, excuse me, 7:00 AM, uh, Wednesday morning. And I want to be clear, there's been some question about why I hold these subcommittees so early. It is-

424. 1:10:55

     It's next Wednesday. Next Wednesday.

425. 1:10:56

     It's next Wednesday. Yeah. Uh, I apologize. Um, next Wednesday. Uh, but, um, I've got an insurance subcommittee on Monday at 6:00 AM with multiple House bills on it. And I want to point out the reason I do that is today we had senators having to leave the floor to run to committee to committee to committee to committee. We do not want to put our House friends in that situation, so I try to use the part of the day that is less congested and, and done. But look at the agenda, and if there's any of these public safety bills that you have concerns about, please reach out to the chairman or myself.

426. 1:11:30

     Um, but I will tell you this, you save time by reaching out to the chairman, because he directs me in which way, what he wants on the agenda and what he does not, and I respect his opinion. Thank you.

427. 1:11:40

     Thank you, Senator. Any further, uh, comments? Seeing none, this meeting is hereby adjourned. Thank you.