February 2021 Newsletter – Extra Addition

Online Link to Your Legislators
A Brief Tutorial

To learn your legislators’ names, (a) access https://www.openstates.org/find_your_legislator/, (a) where appropriate, type your street address, state and zip code for the link to their House and Senate district numbers. (b) Click a number for either your senator’s or representative’s name and (c) click the other number for the other’s name. (e) Then click on each name to access their pictures and contact numbers. You may email them by putting a period between their first and last name, then add @house.ga.gov for representatives or @senate.ga.gov for senators.

For example: Peter.Rabbit@senate.ga.gov; Minnie.Mouse@house.ga.gov.

H.B. 258 Sexual Offenses, Age of Consent introduced February 4th by Representative Steven Sainz would raise the age of consent for sodomy from age 10 to age 16. Current law that allows 10-year-olds to consent to sodomy would not be affected, but this adds to current law a new subsection that states: “(e) when the alleged victim is under age 16, consent of the victim shall not be a defense to a prosecution under this Code section.” Further change is needed, as well.

ACTION – Support. Although age 10 for consent needs to be raised, too, this change is an improvement. Call Judiciary Non-Civil Committee Representatives Burchett, Ch., 404 656-5705; Reeves, V-Ch., 651-7737; Gravley, Sec., 656-5025; Efstration, 656-5125; Ballinger, 656-7153; Boddie, 656-0287; Byrd, 656-0213; Cooper, 656-5069; Kendrick, 656-0109; Lopez, 656-0298; McLaurin, 656-0202 Momtahan 656-0178; Setzler, 656-5143; Smith, 657-1803.

H.B. 276 School Athletes Compete According to Biological Sexual ID Representative Wes Cantrell introduced February 8th applies to athletic teams of local school systems, private schools or institutions of the University System of Georgia to prohibit competition with teams of other such schools that allow biological males to participate in athletics designated for females. Biological sex is determined by reproductive biology and genetics at birth.

H.B. 372 High School Athletes Compete According to Biological Sexual ID introduced February 10th by Representative Rick Jasperse does not affect lower grades, but requires high school athletes who are biological males to participate in sports as males. Students whose biological ID is female would participate in events or activities with biological females only.

ACTION – Support both H.B. 276 & H.B. 372. Call Education Committee Representatives Dubnik, Ch., 656-0213; Erwin, V-Ch., 656-0188; Belton, Sec., 656-3947; Benton, 656-5126; Cantrell, 656-0152; Carter, 656-0220; Cheokas, 463-7853; England, 463-2247; Evans, 656-0109; Glanton, 657-1803; Hill, 656-0325; Howard, 656-6372; Jasperse, 656-7153; Jan Jones, 656-5072; Todd Jones, 463-2246; LaRiccia, 651-7737; Mainor, 656-0126; Nguyen, 656-0314; Nix, 656-5146; Paris, 656-0109; Rich, 656-5087; Setzler, 656-5143; Wade, 656-0188; and Wilson, 656-6372.

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March 2020 Newsletter

Proposed: Major Changes in Current Law

Death Penalty Origin
In the year 2348 BC, when Noah and his family exited the ark just after the flood, God created capital punishment in Genesis 9:61: “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made He man.” Later, other crimes were so designated.

Georgia’s first execution was in 1735 AD2. Since that time, 1,022 executions have occurred in Georgia. That’s the fifth-highest total in the U.S. Treason, aircraft hijacking and murder are death penalty offenses in Georgia. However, murder must be accompanied by aggravating circumstances before the death penalty can be sought. If treason and aircraft hijacking were to be deemed a crime against the state, capital punishment may be an option.

The electric chair was used in Georgia in 1924 and, primarily, until October 5, 2001. After the Supreme Court declared electrocution cruel and unusual punishment, Georgia converted to lethal injection, which remains, currently.
From March 2014 – March 2019, Georgia imposed no death sentence. From 1983 through January 30, 2020, a total of 76 people were executed in Georgia. As of February 3, 2020, 43 men and one woman were/are on death row. The death penalty cannot be imposed without a unanimous jury decision. If a single juror rejects the death penalty, a life sentence is issued.

Clemency power is vested in the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles, whose governor-appointed five members serve with advice and consent of the State Senate.
H.B. 916 Repeal Death Penalty introduced February 19th by Representative Sharon Beasley-Teague would (a) prohibit capital punishment in Georgia and (b) commute the sentence of death to life without parole for inmates currently on death row. Regardless of outrageous or wantonly vile, horrible, or inhuman torture, depravity of mind or aggravated battery to the victim, a death penalty could not be imposed or sought, if H.B. 916 passes as written.

ACTION – Oppose. Contact Judiciary Non-Civil Committee Representatives Efstration, Ch., 404 656-5105; Reeves, V-Ch., 651-7737; Gravley, Sec., 463-8143; Ballinger, 656-7153; Boddie, 656-0109; Cooper, 656-5069; Dickerson, 656-0314; Fleming, 656-5125; Kendrick, 656-0109; McLaurin, 656-0202; Momtahan, 656-0177; Sainz, 656-0177; Setzler, 656-7857; Silcox, 656-3949;Trammell, 656-5058.

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October 2019 Newsletter

DANGER! Equality Act, Half-way through Congress

Do you want gambling unleashed on Georgia?

“All that glitters is not gold. Why do they have to have so much law enforcement? Because this is absolutely one of the most dangerous industries that you can have in your state.”
– Mike Griffin, Georgia Baptist Mission Board, October 16, 2019

On October 15, 16 and 17, the newly appointed Special Committee on Economic Growth held full-day hearings about legalizing all gambling in Georgia, as proposed in the following bills:
H.R. 3781 All Forms of Betting, Bingo, Raffles, and Gambling Shall be Permitted, authored by Representative Ron Stephens and three co-sponsors, was introduced February 27th. Briefly, it went into a House committee, but is now in the Special Committee on Economic Growth. H.R. 378 amends the Lottery section of Article I, Section II, Paragraph VIII (a) of The Constitution of the State of Georgia and adds new paragraphs to create the Georgia Gaming Commission and define its duties. The Commission would decide which forms of for-profit1 bingo games, raffles by for-profit organizations, betting and gambling to legalize, then, regulate the ones they authorize. Of over 30 speakers from inside and outside Georgia, at least 27 – casino owners, gaming proponents, out-of-state legislators and officials, contractors and builders – want casinos and horseracing here, while three2 explained gambling’s dangers.

As a proposed constitutional amendment, a two-thirds vote is required for passage in both House and Senate. If they pass it, the following would be a question on the November 2020 ballot. If a simple majority votes YES, commercialized gambling would be legalized.

“Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to provide for the legalization of all forms of betting, bingo games, raffles, and gambling as permitted by the Georgia Gaming Commission and to provide for the establishment of such commission in order to regulate such activities?”

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March 23, 2018 Radio Commentary

H.B. 118 Offers Kids an Addiction

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, March 23, 2018 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Since next Tuesday and Thursday are the last two days of the session, several critical bills need your immediate attention. If the following four bills aren’t favorably reported out of the Rules Committee and onto the floor for a vote, they will die, along with many others.

H.B. 118, the Fantasy Contest Act of 2017 was carried into this session to create beginner gambling for kids. The bill requires “fantasy contest operators [to] develop fantasy contests that are limited to [18-year-old] beginners … and [prevent] non-beginner players from participating.” If this passes, and kids use their iPhones to gamble on Fantasy Sports, it would be almost impossible to deny access to kids under 18.

Two years ago, the Georgia Attorney General’s office notified the Lottery Commission that “fantasy sports constitutes illegal gambling and are not allowed under Georgia law.” Also, fantasy sports expert Arnie Wexler called daily Fantasy Sports online gambling, that can be as addictive as crack cocaine. The question is: How many legislators are willing to allow the lure of big bucks to expose teenagers to addictive behavior. H.B. 118 passed the House and is in the Senate Rules Committee. Continue reading