Georgia 2023-2024 Regular Session

Georgia Senate Bill SB552 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	24 LC 50 0776
2	2	Senate Bill 552
3	3	By: Senators Halpern of the 39th, Esteves of the 6th, Jones of the 10th, Anderson of the 43rd
4	4	and Merritt of the 9th
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	To amend Chapter 1 of Title 28 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
8	8	1
9	9	general provisions for the General Assembly, so as to require the Office of Legislative2
10	10	Counsel to prepare demographic notes for certain proposed legislation that outline the3
11	11	potential effects of such legislation on disparities within the state; to provide for procedures4
12	12	and limitations regarding such notes; to require the legislative counsel to establish and report5
13	13	additional procedures; to require cooperation by state departments, agencies, and institutions;6
14	14	to authorize the use of funds for training; to provide for legislative findings and declarations;7
15	15	to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for8
16	16	other purposes.9
17	17	BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:10
18	18	SECTION 1.11
19	19	Chapter 1 of Title 28 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general12
20	20	provisions for the General Assembly, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as13
21	21	follows:14
22	22	"28-1-18.
23	23	15
24	24	(a) The General Assembly finds and declares that:16
25	25	S. B. 552
26	26	- 1 - 24 LC 50 0776
27	27	(1) The health, safety, and productivity of all communities in this state, including17
28	28	historically marginalized communities, are of the utmost importance;18
29	29	(2) All citizens of this state are harmed by unintended disparities created by legislation;19
30	30	and20
31	31	(3) The use of demographic notes will provide members of the General Assembly with21
32	32	demographic data and other information to assist in proactively identifying possible22
33	33	disparate impacts on historically marginalized communities, allowing for better informed23
34	34	and more intentional decisions with regard to legislative proposals.24
35	35	(b) For purposes of this Code section, the term:25
36	36	(1) 'Demographic note' means a note that uses available data to outline the potential26
37	37	effects of a legislative proposal on disparities within the state and states whether the27
38	38	measure is likely to increase or decrease such disparities, to the extent the data are28
39	39	available.29
40	40	(2) 'Disparities' means differences in economic, employment, health, education, or public30
41	41	safety outcomes between the state population as a whole and subgroups of the state31
42	42	population defined by socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual32
43	43	orientation, disability, geography, veteran status, or any other relevant characteristic for33
44	44	which data are available.34
45	45	(c) Commencing with the 2025 regular session of the General Assembly and during each35
46	46	regular session thereafter, the Office of Legislative Counsel shall prepare demographic36
47	47	notes for bills as specified in this Code section.37
48	48	(d) The Speaker of the House of Representatives, the minority leader of the House of38
49	49	Representatives, the President of the Senate, and the minority leader of the Senate may39
50	50	each request the preparation of demographic notes for up to five bills, or more at the40
51	51	discretion of the legislative counsel, per legislative session.41
52	52	(e) Prior to preparing a demographic note, an Office of Legislative Counsel attorney shall42
53	53	meet with the leadership member provided for in subsection (d) of this Code section who43
54	54	S. B. 552
55	55	- 2 - 24 LC 50 0776
56	56	is requesting the demographic note and with the sponsor of the bill to discuss whether a44
57	57	demographic note can be practically completed for that bill. If a demographic note cannot45
58	58	be practically completed for a bill, such leadership member may, within the limits specified46
59	59	in subsection (d) of this Code section, request a demographic note for a different bill that47
60	60	can be practically completed.48
61	61	(f) No later than December 1, 2024, the legislative counsel shall develop procedures for49
62	62	requesting, preparing, completing, and updating demographic notes. Such procedures shall50
63	63	be reported in a letter to the Legislative Services Committee.51
64	64	(g) Each state department, agency, and institution shall cooperate with and provide52
65	65	information for a demographic note for a bill in the manner requested by the Office of53
66	66	Legislative Counsel.54
67	67	(h) Such state department, agency, or institution shall meet the deadline established by the55
68	68	Office of Legislative Counsel for providing information in response to a request made56
69	69	pursuant to subsection (g) of this Code section or shall specify the need for additional time57
70	70	to provide the information. If additional time is required to provide such information, the58
71	71	Office of Legislative Counsel shall set a new and reasonable deadline for providing the59
72	72	information.60
73	73	(i) The legislative counsel may seek, accept, and expend gifts, grants, or donations from61
74	74	private or public sources for the purpose of paying for training relating to demographic62
75	75	notes for the Office of Legislative Counsel."63
76	76	SECTION 2.64
77	77	All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.65
78	78	S. B. 552
79	79	- 3 -