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Rep. Ben Harbin Introduces Legislation to Increase Transparency for Bond Revenue

ATLANTA – State Representative Ben Harbin (R-Evans) announced today the introduction of House Bill 951, legislation that would ensure that proceeds earned from the sale of general obligation bonds are spent only for their specifically designated purpose.

“The purpose of this bill is to ensure that the taxpayers have oversight of these funds,” said Rep. Harbin. “When the General Assembly approved bonds, we, along with our constituents, expect the funds from those bonds to be spent for a very specific purpose. HB 951 provides a more transparent state government by ensuring that bond revenue is spent only for the exact purpose for which it was approved.”

Currently agencies may redirect bond funds from one project to another to meet the agency’s needs. These transfers are only allowed with the approval of the Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission as well as the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget. However approval from the General Assembly, which appropriates these funds, is currently not required.

HB 951 increases transparency and accountability for these general obligation bond proceeds by requiring that the funds shall not be redirected without approval from the General Assembly.

For more information on HB 951, please click here.

Representative Ben Harbin represents the citizens of District 118, which includes portions of Columbia County. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 1994, and currently serves on the Appropriations, Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications, Insurance, Intragovernmental Coordination, and Ways & Means committees.

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Rep. Randall Appointed to Special Joint Committee on Georgia Criminal Justice Reform

ATLANTA – State Representative Nikki Randall (D–Macon) was recently appointed to the Special Joint Committee on Georgia Criminal Justice Reform by Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge). The 18 member bi-partisan committee will draft and introduce legislation to reform Georgia’s criminal justice system.

“I am honored that Speaker Ralston chose me to serve on this very important committee,” said Rep. Randall. “This committee has an opportunity to work on legislation that will save taxpayers’ dollars and make our criminal justice system more effective.”

The Special Joint Committee on Georgia Criminal Justice Reform was created by House Bill 265, legislation passed during the 2011 legislative session. Recognizing that there had been many years since the last systematic study of Georgia’s correctional system and criminal justice structure, HB 265 also created the 2011 Special Council on Criminal Justice Reform to conduct a thorough study of the state’s criminal justice structure and make recommendations for legislation to the special joint committee.

The 2011 special council released its report last year, which found that non-violent drug and property offenders represent almost 60 percent of prison admissions. With each prisoner costing the state $49 a day, the council recommended cost effective alternatives like community treatment and probation supervision for low-risk, non-violent, first offenders. The council also found that other states, such as Texas, have saved money and seen a decrease in their crime rate, by making similar changes to their state criminal justice program.

Rep. Randall and the other members of the Special Joint Committee on Georgia Criminal Justice Reform will examine the council’s report and use it to create and introduce legislation during the current legislative session.

Rep. Randall is one of three representatives appointed to the committee by Speaker Ralston. The joint committee also includes three state senators appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, House Speaker Pro Tempore Jan Jones, Senate President Pro Tempore Tommie Williams, majority and minority leaders from both the House and Senate, and chairpersons from the House Committee on Judiciary, House Committee on Judiciary Non-Civil, Senate Judiciary Committee, Senate Public Safety Committee, Senate State Institutions and Property Committee and the House Committee on State Institutions and Property.

For more information on HB 265, please click here.

Representative Nikki Randall represents the citizens of District 138, which includes portions of Bibb County. She was elected into the House of Representatives in 1999, and currently serves on the Health & Human Services, Information & Audits, and Judiciary Non-Civil committees. She also serves on the Special Joint Committee on Georgia Criminal Justice Reform.

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Guest Editorial: Child Abuse Reporting Statutes: Time for Review

The Penn State institutional failure to report and address child sexual abuse on its campus is heartbreaking for both the victims and their families, as well as for those many individuals who have advocated for decades for improved systems to protect children from intentional injuries inflicted by adults. Closer to home, in Georgia in recent weeks, a four-year old Downs Syndrome child was stabbed to death by her psychotic mother, and afterword neighbors told news reporters that there was something “not right” about the mother’s behavior.

Are the child abuse reporting statutes too weak in either Pennsylvania or Georgia? If every person were required to report child abuse, instead of only certain professionals “mandated’ to reporter, would it make a difference for so many children who suffer daily from abuse?

Child abuse reporting statutes have been enacted in all 50 states over the last 50 years, following the medical recognition of the “battered child syndrome” in 1963. Mandated reporters in all states include professionals who presumably have the expertise to recognize abuse in children. This list of professionals includes teachers, doctors, and nurses. From currently collected data, 29 percent of investigated child abuse reports come from non-mandated reporters; 57 percent of the mandated reports were substantiated, and 45 percent were substantiated after investigation from non-mandated reporters. Is this difference in rate of substantiation great enough to prove that the assumed expertise of mandated reporters is better than that of the untrained neighbor who sees and hears a daily family struggle? If many substantiated reported cases are now made from non-mandated reporters can we assume that more reports of real child abuse would be made if everyone were required to report? Would children be safer?

I have introduced House Bill 948 this week in the General Assembly to fill what I believe are current gaps in Georgia’s child abuse reporting statute. This proposed legislation adds “Clergy” as a mandated child abuse reporter and provides a narrow exception for clergy-parishioner confidences. Twenty-six other states include clergy as mandated reporters. Additionally, “Coach” is added as a mandated reporter under the definition of child service organization personnel who are required to report abuse. Some argue that coaches are already mandated reporters under “school administrator” or “child serving organization,” but the clarifying language in HB 948 makes in indisputable that Georgia’s statute includes non-school based coaches and colleges where thousands of children participate in summer and special athletic programs.

Eighteen states do require everyone to report child abuse, and not just mandated professionals, and I am open to a discussion about this possible addition to the child abuse reporting statute. More importantly, however, and separate from government and politics, we should re-examine our own personal and moral duties to protect the children in our families, schools, little league ball clubs, and neighborhoods from abuse. Let us continue the debate of child abuse prevention regardless of what improvements the Georgia General Assembly may make to our child abuse reporting statutes.

Representative Mary Margaret Oliver represents the citizens of District 83, which includes portions of DeKalb County. She was elected into the House of Representatives in 2002, plus five years previous service. She currently serves on the Appropriations, Governmental Affairs, Judiciary, and Science and Technology committees.

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Rep. Harden Receives Leadership Assignments

ATLANTA – State Representative Michael Harden (R-Toccoa) recently received leadership assignments as a Deputy Whip and the Vice Chairman of the Banks & Banking Committee.

“I am honored that Majority Whip Edward Lindsey and Speaker David Ralston considered me for these positions,” said Rep. Harden. “I look forward to fulfilling my responsibilities in these assignments, the new opportunities they will provide, and the new ways that they will allow me to better represent the people of northeast Georgia.”

In his new position as Vice Chairman of the Banks & Banking Committee, Rep. Harden will help lead thorough reviews of all proposed legislation that would affect financial institutions, real property finance, and corporate securities law in Georgia.

As a member of the majority whip team, Representative Harden will play a critical role in monitoring legislation as it moves through both chambers of the General Assembly. The position will also require Rep. Harden to help members of the majority caucus to better understand the details of bills and resolutions.

Representative Harden will also continue to serve as a member of the Transportation, Regulated Industries, Motor Vehicles, Higher Education, and Agriculture & Consumer Affairs committees.

Representative Michael Harden represents the citizens of District 28, which includes Banks County, and portions of Franklin and Stephens Counties. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 2008, and currently serves as the Vice Chairman of the Banks & Banking Committee. Representative Harden also serves on the Agriculture & Consumer Affairs, Higher Education, Motor Vehicles, Regulated Industries, and Transportation committees.

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Rep. Oliver Introduces Legislation to Expand Georgia’s Mandatory Reporting Requirements for Child Abuse

ATLANTA – State Representative Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Decatur) today introduced HB 948, legislation that would expand Georgia’s child abuse laws by adding coaches and members of the clergy to the list of individuals required to report suspected child abuse.

“In light of recent national events, I think now is a good time to review our state laws regarding child abuse reporting,” said Rep. Oliver. “Reporting child abuse must work to prevent further abuse. Those who work directly with children or are in a position of trust have an obligation to take action if they suspect abuse.”

Under Georgia’s mandatory reporting requirements certain individuals are required by state law to report suspected child abuse to the person in charge of the organization for which they work. This legal obligation to act currently applies to medical personnel, psychologists, social workers, counselors, law enforcement personnel, child service organization personnel and school teachers, administrators and guidance counselors. HB 948 expands this list to include coaches and clergy.

The proposed legislation would clarify the meaning of “child service organization personnel” under existing law by adding language that specifically defines the term to mean any person employed by or volunteering at a business or organization that provides care, treatment, education, training, supervision, coaching, counseling, recreational programs, or shelter to children. While some coaches may already be included under the term “school administrator,” this addition would make it clear that non-school based coaches and coaches at colleges that offer summer and special athletic programs are also expected to report suspected child abuse.

HB 948 would also expand mandatory reporting requirements to include clergy for the first time in Georgia, which 26 other states already include as mandated reporters. As defined by the legislation, “clergy” would include anyone acting as a Christian or Jewish minister or similar function, regardless of the particular title used by the individual, church or religion. The bill would also include a narrow exception for clergy parishioner confidences that are required to be kept confidential under church doctrine or practice, such as those disclosed during the Roman Catholic Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. However, this limited exception is narrowly tailored so that clergy would be required to report suspected abuse once the clergy receives information from any source outside of the protected mode of communication.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, over 3 million reports of child abuse are made each year in the United States. If you know or suspect a child is being abused, please report it by calling the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-CHILD.

Representative Mary Margaret Oliver represents the citizens of District 83, which includes portions of DeKalb County. She was elected into the House of Representatives in 2002, plus five years previous service. She currently serves on the Appropriations, Governmental Affairs, Judiciary, and Science and Technology committees.

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