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Barton Child Law and Policy Center Newsletter
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Dear Child Advocates, this update contains:
Georgia Capitol Update
Bills of Interest to Child Advocates
Next Georgia Child Welfare Legal Academy, Thursday, April 26
Follow Us on Twitter!
Georgia Capitol Update

Last week the General Assembly was in session for four legislative days.  Highlights of the week of March 19-23 include:

  • The House Non-Civil Judiciary Committee favorably recommended SB 366, relating to contraband in juvenile detention facilities, on Monday, March 19, and it passed the full House on Tuesday, March 20, 2012.       
  • The Senate Judiciary Committee favorably recommended HB 272, relating to rehearings of proceedings presided over by associate juvenile court judges, on Monday, March 19,  and it passed the full Senate on Thursday, March 22,2012.
  • The Senate passed HB 711, relating to spousal privilege in criminal domestic violence and child abuse cases, on Wednesday, March 21, 2012.     
  •  SB 31, relating to attorney-client privilege in delinquency and criminal cases involving children, was revived by the House Judiciary Committee.  An evidentiary provision relating to the calculation of damages in civil law suits was tacked onto the bill, which was then favorably recommended by the Committee on Wednesday, March 21, 2012. 
  • The Special Joint Committee on Criminal Justice Reform favorably recommended HB 1176, which includes sections on mandatory child abuse reporting and the time limits for prosecuting sex crimes against children, on Tuesday, March 20, and it passed the House on Thursday, March 22, 2012.     

This week the General Assembly will be in session for three legislative days, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.  Some highlights of particular interest to child advocates include:

  • This Monday, March 26, 2012 is the last day for bills to be scheduled for debate on the Senate Floor.  Please see our action alert from earlier today for how you can help the Child Protection and Public Safety, HB 641, to have a vote in the full Senate.  
  • Sine Die, the last day of the legislative session, will be this Thursday, March 29, 2012.  Because this is the second year of the biennial session, any legislation that does not pass by that date would need to be  reintroduced in a subsequent session. 

Please note that information on meetings and legislative schedule is current as of Monday, March 26, 2012.  Hearing times change frequently during the session, so you may want to check the Georgia General Assembly or other organizations' web sites for the any changes. 

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Bills of Interest to Child Advocates   

  

Note: this list now only includes bills that crossed over and, therefore, may still pass this year.

  

HB 272 was introduced by Representative Tom Weldon (R-Ringgold) on February 17, 2011.  This bill would amend O.C.G.A. 15-11-21 to eliminate the option for cases heard before an associate judge in juvenile court to be reheard before a full juvenile court judge. HB 272 passed the House on March 14, 2011, and received a favorable recommendation from the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday, March 24, 2011 but never received a vote in the full Senate.  It received a favorable recommendation from the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday, March 19, 2012 and passed the full Senate on Wednesday, March 22, 2012.          

  

HB 641, the Child Protection and Public Safety Act, was introduced by Representative Wendell Willard (R-Sandy Springs) on April 12, 2011.  This bill is a comprehensive revision of O.C.G.A. Title 15, Chapter 11, Georgia's juvenile code. It 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.  HB 641 unanimously passed the House on Wednesday, February 29, 2012, and received a favorable recommendation from the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, March 22, 2012. It now awaits consideration by the full Senate.  

 

HB 711 was introduced by Representative Edward Lindsey (R-Atlanta) on January 11, 2012.  This bill would amend O.C.G.A. 24-5-503 to expand the circumstances in which a person can be forced to testify against his or her spouse.  Specifically, in cases where one spouse is accused of a crime against a child, the testifying spouse could be compelled to give any evidence relevant to the case. Additionally, if a spouse is accused of a crime against the other spouse, such as domestic violence, the victim spouse could be compelled to give testimony.  The bill would also create a new privilege, protecting communications between a victim and an advocate at a family violence, sexual assault, or rape crisis program.  HB 711 passed the House on Tuesday, February 7, 2012. It received a favorable recommendation from the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday, March 12, 2012, and passed the full Senate on Tuesday, March 21, 2012.         

  

HB 861 was introduced by Representative Michael Harden (R-Toccoa) on February 1, 2012.  This bill would add a new code section, O.C.G.A. 49-4-3.1, to require drug testing of applicants prior to the receipt of public benefits and random drug testing of existing benefit recipients.  Those who test positive once would be denied benefits but could reapply without a waiting period.  Anyone who failed a second test would be ineligible to reapply for 2 years.  Anyone failing a third test would be ineligible indefinitely.  The cost of the drug tests is to be deducted from the first year's benefits. A child's benefits are not supposed to be affected by a parent's positive test. Instead, an alternate payee is to be appointed.  HB 861 passed the House on Wednesday, March 7, 2012, and received a favorable recommendation from the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on Wednesday, March 22, 2012.  It now awaits consideration by the full Senate.       

 

HB 1176 was introduced by Representative Rich Golick (R-Smyrna) on February 27, 2012.  This bill encompasses a wide range of reforms recommended by the 2011 Special Council on Criminal Justice Reform for Georgians. Though the focus of the legislation is on reform of adult criminal proceedings, there are a number of provisions of interest to child advocates.  HB 1176 would amend O.C.G.A. 19-7-5 to expand the professionals required to report child abuse to include clergy members and would add definitions to clarify that coaches and university personnel are required to report.  It would also amend O.C.G.A. 17-3-2.1 to eliminate the statute of limitations on sexual crimes against children.  HB 1176 has been assigned to the Special Joint Committee on Georgia Criminal Justice Reform, which favorably recommended the bill on Tuesday, March 20.  It passed the House on Thursday, March 22, 2012, and now awaits consideration by the Senate.   

   

HR 1151 was introduced by Representative Buzz Brockway (R-Lawrenceville) on January 24, 2012.  This resolution would create a joint study commission on human trafficking.  The study commission would be tasked with reviewing and making recommendations for a comprehensive system of services for child victims of commercial sexual exploitation. HR 1151 passed the House on Tuesday, February 7, 2012.  It received a favorable recommendation from the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on Tuesday, March 13, 2012 and now awaits consideration by the full Senate.  

 

SB 31 was introduced by Senator Jason Carter (D-Decatur) on January 31, 2011.  This bill would expand the attorney-client privilege under O.C.G.A. 24-9-21 to cover parents' participation in private conversations with defense attorneys representing their children in delinquent or criminal cases. The bill states that only the child, not the parent, can waive the privilege.  SB 31 was passed by the Senate on February 23, 2011. It received a favorable recommendation from the House Civil Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, March 21, 2012, and now awaits consideration by the full House.   

 

SB 292 was introduced by Senator John Albers (R-Roswell) on January 11, 2012. This bill would add a new code section, O.C.G.A.  49-4-193, to require applicants for public assistance to submit to a drug test. Applicants who test positive for drugs would be ineligible for TANF until their next opportunity to reapply and retest.  For a first positive test, reapplication can be made after 1 month, for the second after 3 months, and for the third after 1 year.  A child's benefits are not supposed to be affected by a parent's positive test. Instead, an alternate payee is to be appointed.   SB 292 passed the Senate on Wednesday, March 7, 2012, and received a favorable recommendation from the House Civil Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, March 21, 2012. It now awaits consideration by the full House.    

  

SB 312 was introduced by Senator William Ligon (R-Brunswick) on January 23, 2012.   This bill would add a new code section, O.C.G.A. 49-4-20, to require recipients of food stamps to participate in personal growth activities, including working toward a GED, and enrolling in technical school, adult literacy classes, or self-development classes.  People under age 16 or over age 59, those with developmental disabilities, those unable to work due to a permanent or temporary disability, those caring for a child under 6 or an incapacitated parent, and primary caregivers for children under 12 would be exempt from the requirements of this bill.   It would not take effect until funding is appropriated. SB 312 passed the Senate on Wednesday, March 7, 2012, and received a favorable recommendation from the House Civil Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, March 21, 2012.  It now awaits consideration by the full House.       


SB 316 was introduced by Senator Charlie Bethel (R-Dalton) on January 24, 2012.  This bill would amend O.C.G.A. 17-3-1, and 17-3-2.1 to extend the statute of limitations for criminal prosecutions stemming from the sexual abuse of a child.  Specifically, a sexual crime committed against child under the age of 16 could be prosecuted until 10 years after the victim's 18th birthday. SB 316 passed the Senate on February 23, 2012, and has been assigned to the House Civil Judiciary Committee.   

 

SB 355 was introduced by Senator Renee Unterman (R-Buford) on January 30, 2012.  This bill would amend O.C.G.A. 19-7-5 relating to the legal requirement to report child abuse.  Those professionals who are currently required to report would continue to have to report to DFCS within 24 hours. Any other adult who witnessed child neglect, sexual abuse or sexual exploitation or received reliable information from a witness of child neglect, sexual abuse or sexual exploitation would be required to report to law enforcement within 72 hours. The bill provides a limited exception to protect clergy-parishioner confidentiality.  It also includes definitions of the terms "child service organization personnel," "clergy," and "school." SB 355 received a favorable recommendation from the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday, February 27, 2012, and passed the Senate on Monday, March 5, 2012.   It has been assigned to the House Civil Judiciary Committee. 

 

SB 366 was introduced by Senator Johnny Grant (R-Milledgeville) on February 1, 2012.  This bill would amend O.C.G.A. 49-4A-11 and add new code section 49-4A-15 to expand the list of items considered to be contraband in juvenile detention centers.  The bill would prohibit bringing telecommunications devices and other contraband past the guard line of a Department of Juvenile Justice facility, and would also prohibit anyone from giving any item to a child in such facility without permission.  SB 366 passed the Senate on February 16, 2012, received a favorable recommendation from the House Non-Civil Judiciary Committee on Monday, March 19, 2012, and passed the full House on Tuesday, March 20, 2012. Because the House made amendments, the bill now returns to the Senate for agreement to the revisions.    

 

   

Next Georgia Child Welfare Legal Academy, Thursday, April 26, 2012   

   

Are All of Our Foster Care Providers Part of Team Permanency: Lessons Learned from the Cold Case Project   

 

The April session of the GA Child Welfare Legal Academy is scheduled for Thursday, April 26, 2012, from 12:30 until 2:45 p.m. in room 575 of Gambrell Hall at Emory University School of Law.  

 

A number of children in Georgia's long term foster care have stayed in congregate care for years. Congregate care is necessary at times, but should we be concerned when children stay for months, years? What are the problems with long term congregate care? What happens at 18? How can things be done differently? Come join a discussion where a panel will discuss this issue. A few cases will also be profiled. Our Visiting Scholars in Practice include: 

 

Kate Cantrell, Director of Georgia and Alabama Programs, Youth Villages 

Ursula Davis, System of Care Unit Director, Division of Family and Children Services

Heather Rowles, Executive Director at Multi-Agency Alliance for Children
Ashley Willcott, Special Assistant Attorney General, Cold Case Project

Dianne Yearby, Director, Office of Provider Management, Division of Family and Children Services

 

Seating is limited. On-line registration is strongly encouraged at http://www.regonline.com/congregatecare. The nonrefundable registration fee for all participants is $10 and includes materials, 3-hour parking in the hospital visitor parking deck, and light refreshments.

 

CLE credit: 2.0 regular CLE credits will be offered for this program for an additional fee of $10.00 payable by cash or check (preferred) at the door. Please make checks payable to Emory University.

 

    

Follow us on Twitter

 

The Barton Center is twittering information relevant to child advocacy at the Capitol.  Follow us  at @bartoncenter at twitter.com to get up-to-the-minute information on topics such as:

  • Times, dates, and locations of advocacy meetings and legislative hearings;
  • Status of juvenile court-related legislation;
  • Action alerts for important pro-child initiatives; and
  • News and research on best practices for children's law.

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