Last week the General Assembly was in session for 5 legislative days.  Highlights of the week of February 11-15 include:

 
The Welch subcommittee of the House Juvenile Justice Committee heard testimony on HB 21, relating to post-adoption contact agreements, on Monday, February 11, 2013, but have not yet voted.     
The House Judiciary Committee held two hearings on the juvenile justice reform bill, HB 242, on February 13 and 14, 2013.   
The Senate Non-Civil Judiciary Committee favorably recommended a substitute version of SB 69, relating to the confidentiality of complaints made by children in Department of Juvenile Justice facilities, on Wednesday, February 13, 2013.  The revisions eliminate language making the complaints and investigations "state secrets," add provisions allowing a child's representative to access information with the child's consent and requiring the Commissioner to prepare annual public reports summarizing the number and general nature of complaints.    
The Setzler subcommittee of the House Non-Civil Judiciary Committee heard testimony and proposed amendments to HB 156, relating to sexual exploitation of children.  The proposed changes would lower penalties for teens who exchange sexually explicit pictures or text messages, a practice commonly known as "sexting."   

This week the General Assembly will be in session on Tuesday through Friday.  Some scheduled events of particular interest to child advocates include:

• The House of Representatives will consider HB 182, relating to associate juvenile court judges, on Tuesday, February 19, 2013.  
• The Senate Appropriations Committee will vote on the amended FY 2013 budget on Tuesday, February 19, 2013 at 9am in room 341 of the Capitol.  

HB 21 was introduced by Representative Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Decatur) on January 15, 2013. This bill would add a new code section to O.C.G.A. Title 19, Chapter 8 to provide for agreements for ongoing contact between birth relatives and adoptive families. The child would be a party to the agreement, and if 14 years of age or older, would have to consent. In order to be enforceable, the agreement would have to be filed with the court within 30 days of the filing of the adoption petition.  HB 21 will be considered by the House Juvenile Justice Committee on Wednesday, February 20, 2013 at 4pm in room 506 of the Coverdell Legislative Office Building.    

HB 46 was introduced by Representative Billy Mitchell (D-Stone Mountain) on January 15, 2013.  This bill would amend O.C.G.A. Title 20, Chapter 1A to require child protective services records to be checked for all directors and employees of day care centers. Anyone with an unsatisfactory report would not be permitted to work at a day care center. HB 46 has been assigned to the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee.    

HR 2 was introduced by Representative Keisha Waites (D-Atlanta) on January 16, 2013.  This is a resolution to urge Congress to increase penalties for human trafficking, including the commercial sexual exploitation of children. HR 2 has been assigned to the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee.       

SB 58 was introduced by Senator Donzella James (D-Atlanta) on January 17, 2013.  This bill would amend O.C.G.A. 40-6-391 relating to the offense of endangering a child by driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.  It would raise the age range of child passengers endangered by the intoxicated driving from those under 14 to those under 16.  It would also provide for significant penalties of up to 15 years imprisonment, or up to 25 years imprisonment if the child passenger is killed as a result of the offense. SB 58 has been assigned to the Senate Public Safety Committee.   

SB 69 was introduced by Senator Jack Murphy (R-Cumming) on January 29, 2013.  This bill would add a new code section to O.C.G.A. Title 49, Chapter 4A to require complaints by children in juvenile justice facilities to be kept confidential, and may not be disclosed except upon the written request of the complaining child or his or her representative.  If an employee of the Department of Juvenile Justice makes an unauthorized disclosure, the employee would be suspended or fired.  The bill would also require the Commissioner to report at least annually on the number and general nature of complaints received. SB 69 received a favorable recommendation from the Senate Non-Civil Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, February 13, 2013, and now awaits consideration by the full Senate.   

SB 115 was introduced by Senator Lindsey Tippins (R-Marietta) on February 7, 2013.  This bill would amend O.C.G.A. 20-2-133 to require school performance data collected on children in the custody of the Department of Human Services, Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, or the Department of Juvenile Justice, except those in YDCs, to be accounted for in the performance data for the school where the child originally resided.  SB 115 has been assigned to the Senate Education and Youth Committee.         

SR 10 was introduced by Senator Donzella James (D-Atlanta) on January 15, 2013.  This is a resolution to urge Congress to require children to have identification to board domestic flights in order to protect children from being trafficked between states.  SR 10 has been assigned to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.