Last week the General Assembly was in session for 4 legislative days.  Highlights of the week of February 18-22 include:

The Welch subcommittee of the House Juvenile Justice Committee favorably recommended HB 21, relating to post-adoption contact agreements, on Wednesday, February 20, 2013. The full Committee heard additional testimony, but has not yet voted.   
The House Judiciary Committee favorably recommended the juvenile justice reform bill, HB 242, on Tuesday, February 19, 2013.    
The House passed HB 182, relating to associate juvenile court judges, on Tuesday, February 19, 2013. 
The Senate passed SB 69, relating to the confidentiality of complaints made by children in Department of Juvenile Justice facilities, on Wednesday, February 20, 2013.     

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 Juvenile Justice Committee will consider  HB 21, relating to post-adoption contact agreements, on Monday, February 25, 2013 at 3pm in room 506 of the Coverdell Legislative Office Building.  

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 Monday, February 25, 2013 at 3pm 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 passed the Senate on Wednesday, February 20, 2013.  It now awaits consideration by the House Juvenile Justice Committee.    

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 make all 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 as a single local education agency for accountability purposes.  SB 115 received a favorable recommendation from the Senate Education and Youth Committee as amended, and now awaits consideration by the full House.        

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.