Dear ACLU of Georgia Supporter,
I am sorry to send two action alerts in one day, however, we just found out that the Juvenile Justice Reform bill, HB 641, is stuck in Rules Committee and it must get out of that committee within the next few hours to remain alive this session. This bipartisan supported bill is stuck in Senate Rules and needs your help to get moving. It passed the House unanimously as well as the Senate committee where it was heard. It deserves to be heard on the floor where the Senators can vote on it!
HB 641 is a comprehensive revision of the Georgia Code's juvenile court provisions, which govern the state's response to children and their families in case of abuse, neglect, violations of the law by children, and other circumstances requiring court intervention. The Act reorganizes the code for ease of understanding and application, modernizes substantive provisions to reflect advances in research and practice, and brings Georgia into full compliance with federal laws applicable to juvenile court proceedings. It includes a new set of provisions designed to help children in foster care learn necessary skills for independence as adults. It also creates a new approach for intervening with children who are currently considered "unruly." This includes children who have committed an act that would not be against the law but for the fact that they are children, such as skipping school, running away from home, and violating curfew.
The children of Georgia need you! We encourage you to contact your legislators as well as Governor Nathan Deal.
Message for Governor:
I urge you to support the Senate's hearing of HB 641 (the Child Protection and Public Safety Act) and to sign the bill when it comes to your desk.
As a former juvenile court judge, you are uniquely aware of the importance of overhauling the juvenile code. Juvenile justice reform is and should be just as important to the State of Georgia as both criminal justice reform for adults and tax reform. HB 641, which was passed unanimously by the full House and the Senate Judiciary Committee, is the culmination of significant bipartisan work in the legislature - along with more than 6 years of effort by countless stakeholders concerned with the wellbeing of children. Thank you.
Call 404-656-1776 and EMAIL Governor Deal. (Select "Legislation - State" in Category drop down on webpage.)
Message for Senate:
Please work with your colleagues in the Senate to ensure that HB 641 (the Child Protection and Public Safety Act) is passed out of Rules and then please support its passage by the full Senate.
Juvenile justice reform is and should be just as important to the State of Georgia as both criminal justice reform for adults and tax reform. HB 641, which was passed unanimously by the full House and the Senate Judiciary Committee, is the culmination of significant bipartisan work in the legislature - along with more than 6 years of effort by countless stakeholders concerned with the wellbeing of children. Thank you.
Find your SENATOR and find contact info for entire SENATE here.
Message for House:
Thank you very much for your support of HB 641 (the Child Protection and Public Safety Act). We need to call on you one more time for your help in persuading the Governor and your colleagues in the Senate to pass the bill out of Senate Rules, vote it out of the Senate, and get it to the Governor's desk for his signature.
Juvenile justice reform is and should be just as important to the State of Georgia as both criminal justice reform for adults and tax reform. HB 641, which was passed unanimously by the full House and the Senate Judiciary Committee, is the culmination of significant bipartisan work in the legislature - along with more than 6 years of effort by countless stakeholders concerned with the wellbeing of children. Thank you.
Find your REPRESENTATIVE and find contact info for entire HOUSE here.
Thank you so much for standing up for Georgia's children!
Sincerely,
Chad Brock
Lobbyist
ACLU of Georgia
1900 The Exchange, Suite 425
Atlanta, GA 30339
Phone: 770-303-8111; Fax: 770-303-0060
cbrock@acluga.org
www.acluga.org
