24 LC 39 4391S
The House Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security offers the following
substitute to SB 37:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Article 1 of Chapter 16 of Title 15, Code Section 40-6-6, and Article 1 of1
Chapter 4 of Title 42 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general2
provisions regarding sheriffs, authorized emergency vehicles and pursuit of fleeing suspects,3
and general provisions relative to jails, respectively, so as to allow sheriffs to receive certain4
additional salaries; to prohibit the use of solid, flashing, or revolving blue lights by law5
enforcement officers outside the jurisdiction of his or her agency; to provide for exceptions;6
to provide jailers with arrest powers; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting7
laws; and for other purposes.8
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:9
SECTION 1.10
Article 1 of Chapter 16 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to11
general provisions regarding sheriffs, is amended by revising Code Section 15-16-20.1,12
relating to additional salary, as follows:13
"15-16-20.1.14
In addition to the minimum salary provided in Code Section 15-16-20, the sheriff of any15
county who performs the duties of a sheriff for a state court, probate court, magistrate16
S. B. 37 (SUB)
- 1 - 24 LC 39 4391S
court, juvenile court, or county recorder's court under any applicable general or local law17
of this state shall receive for his or her services in such court or courts a salary of not less18
than $385.90 per month, to be paid from the funds of the county. A sheriff who serves in19
more than one such court shall receive only one such salary for up to two courts. Such20
salaries shall not be eligible for increase for any state cost-of-living or general performance21
based increases."22
SECTION 2.23
Code Section 40-6-6 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to authorized24
emergency vehicles and pursuit of fleeing suspects, by revising subsection (e) as follows:25
"(e)(1) Except when responding to an emergency call or when in the pursuit of an actual26
or suspected violator of the law, it shall be unlawful for an operator of a law enforcement27
vehicle to use solid, flashing, or revolving blue lights outside the jurisdiction of his or her28
agency.29
(2) It shall be unlawful for any person to operate an authorized emergency vehicle with30
flashing lights other than as authorized by subsection (c) of this Code section."31
SECTION 3.32
Article 1 of Chapter 4 of Title 42 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to33
general provisions relative to jails, is amended by revising Code Section 42-4-1, relating to34
appointment of county and municipal jailers, as follows:35
"42-4-1.36
(a) By virtue of their offices, sheriffs are jailers of the counties and have the authority to37
appoint other jailers, subject to the supervision of the county governing authority, as38
prescribed by law.39
(b) By virtue of their offices, chiefs of police are the jailers of the municipal corporations40
and have the authority to appoint other jailers, subject to the supervision of the municipal41
S. B. 37 (SUB)
- 2 - 24 LC 39 4391S
governing authority, as prescribed by law. Each jailer of a municipal corporation shall42
maintain the records required of sheriffs by subsection (a) of Code Section 42-4-7.43
(c) Jailers who have been certified by the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training44
Council as having successfully completed the course of training required by Chapter 8 of45
Title 35, the 'Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Act,' shall be authorized to46
arrest any person found to be in violation of a criminal law that occurs within the jail or47
within the perimeter guard lines of such jail established pursuant to subsection (j) of Code48
Section 42-4-13. Jailers shall be further authorized to exercise arrest powers upon any49
person for whom a complaint or arrest warrant is pending who surrenders into custody at50
his or her jail."51
SECTION 4.52
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.53
S. B. 37 (SUB)
- 3 -