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