ATLANTA—State Representative Chuck Efstration (R–Dacula) wrapped up a successful 2014 legislative session after Governor Deal signed into law three bills that Rep. Efstration sponsored. House Bills 770, 938 and 939 were signed into law on Monday, April 21, 2014 in the Governor’s office in the State Capitol.
“I want to thank Governor Deal for his support and for signing these bills into law,” said Rep. Efstration. “As a freshman legislator, I believe this was a highly successful legislative session, and I look forward to seeing each new law’s positive effect on the lives of citizens in Gwinnett County and all of Georgia.”
HB 770 creates the new criminal offense of home invasion in Georgia. This bill is designed to protect Georgians by isolating the most severe cases of intrusion into the home, a distinction that does not currently exist in the Burglary statute. The felony is punishable by up to life in prison and a maximum fine of $100,000.
“This new criminal offense will save lives by allowing judges to give life sentences when an armed offender breaks into a home to commit a violent offense,” added Rep. Efstration.
House Bills 938 and 939 will make the offices of chief magistrate judge and probate court judge nonpartisan in Gwinnett County.
“Consistent with the standards for judicial ethics, judges should make decisions based upon the law and principles of justice, not principles of partisanship,” said Rep. Efstration. “I’m proud of the bipartisan support for these bills to strip partisan affiliation from the bench and allow Gwinnett voters to elect judges on the same ballot.”
In addition to House Bills 770, 938 and 939, House Bill 999, also sponsored by Rep. Efstration, was signed by Governor Deal on April 10, 2014.
Rep. Efstration was elected in December 2013 and recently finished his first session as a member of the Georgia House of Representatives.
For more information about these bills, please click here.
Representative Chuck Efstration represents the citizens of District 104, which includes portions of Gwinnett County. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2013, and currently serves on the Defense & Veterans Affairs and Insurance committees.
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