| 1 | 1 | | 25 LC 60 0157 |
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| 2 | 2 | | House Bill 920 |
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| 3 | 3 | | By: Representatives Roberts of the 52 |
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| 4 | 4 | | nd |
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| 5 | 5 | | , Park of the 107 |
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| 6 | 6 | | th |
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| 7 | 7 | | , Jones of the 143 |
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| 8 | 8 | | rd |
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| 9 | 9 | | , Heffner of the |
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| 10 | 10 | | 130 |
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| 11 | 11 | | th |
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| 12 | 12 | | , Myles of the 126 |
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| 13 | 13 | | th |
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| 14 | 14 | | , and others |
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| 15 | 15 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 16 | 16 | | AN ACT |
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| 17 | 17 | | To amend Chapter 8 of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to |
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| 18 | 18 | | 1 |
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| 19 | 19 | | employment and training of peace officers, so as to prohibit individuals who have been2 |
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| 20 | 20 | | members of hate groups from serving in law enforcement and the organized militia under3 |
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| 21 | 21 | | certain circumstances; to provide for definitions; to provide for enforcement and screening;4 |
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| 22 | 22 | | to provide for appeals; to provide for public reporting; to provide for related matters; to5 |
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| 23 | 23 | | provide for a short title; to provide for legislative findings; to repeal conflicting laws; and for6 |
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| 24 | 24 | | other purposes.7 |
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| 25 | 25 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:8 |
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| 26 | 26 | | SECTION 1.9 |
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| 27 | 27 | | This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Hate-Free Heroes Act."10 |
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| 28 | 28 | | SECTION 2.11 |
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| 29 | 29 | | The General Assembly finds that:12 |
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| 30 | 30 | | (1) Public safety officials play a critical role in maintaining trust, security, and fairness in13 |
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| 31 | 31 | | diverse communities;14 |
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| 32 | 32 | | H. B. 920 |
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| 33 | 33 | | - 1 - 25 LC 60 0157 |
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| 34 | 34 | | (2) Membership in hate groups undermines the principles of equality, dignity, and respect |
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| 35 | 35 | | 15 |
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| 36 | 36 | | required for such roles; and16 |
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| 37 | 37 | | (3) Prohibiting recent members of hate groups from serving in public safety positions17 |
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| 38 | 38 | | strengthens community trust and upholds democratic values.18 |
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| 39 | 39 | | SECTION 3.19 |
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| 40 | 40 | | Chapter 8 of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to employment and20 |
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| 41 | 41 | | training of peace officers, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:21 |
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| 42 | 42 | | "35-8-8.1. |
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| 43 | 43 | | 22 |
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| 44 | 44 | | (a) As used in this Code section, the term:23 |
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| 45 | 45 | | (1) 'Hate group' means an organization that promotes or engages in hatred, violence, or24 |
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| 46 | 46 | | discrimination against individuals based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual25 |
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| 47 | 47 | | orientation, or other protected characteristics.26 |
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| 48 | 48 | | (2) 'State militia role' means any member of the organized militia as defined in Code27 |
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| 49 | 49 | | Section 38-2-2.28 |
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| 50 | 50 | | (3) 'Voluntary associate' means, with respect to a hate group's activities, active29 |
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| 51 | 51 | | participation, formal affiliation, financial support, or public endorsement.30 |
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| 52 | 52 | | (b)(1) Any person who has been a voluntary associate of a hate group within the past ten31 |
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| 53 | 53 | | years is prohibited from serving as a peace officer or in a state militia role.32 |
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| 54 | 54 | | (2) Any person currently serving as a peace officer or in a state militia role who is found33 |
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| 55 | 55 | | to have been a hate group member within the past ten years shall be subject to immediate34 |
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| 56 | 56 | | investigation and potential removal from his or her position.35 |
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| 57 | 57 | | (c) In addition to the requirements set forth in Code Section 35-8-8, all applicants for36 |
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| 58 | 58 | | peace officer roles and state militia roles shall undergo comprehensive background checks,37 |
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| 59 | 59 | | including screening for whether such applicants have been voluntary associates of a hate38 |
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| 60 | 60 | | group. The council shall oversee compliance of such screening requirements, establish and39 |
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| 61 | 61 | | maintain a list of identified hate groups, and update screening protocols as necessary.40 |
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| 62 | 62 | | H. B. 920 |
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| 63 | 63 | | - 2 - 25 LC 60 0157 |
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| 64 | 64 | | (d)(1) An individual may appeal a finding of hate group affiliation by providing evidence41 |
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| 65 | 65 | | to the council demonstrating:42 |
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| 66 | 66 | | (A) His or her departure from the group and disavowal of its principles; and43 |
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| 67 | 67 | | (B) Actions taken to counteract or rectify harm caused by his or her past affiliation.44 |
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| 68 | 68 | | (2) The council shall have the discretion to approve appeals on a case-by-case basis.45 |
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| 69 | 69 | | (e) Annual reports detailing the enforcement of this Code section shall be published by the46 |
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| 70 | 70 | | council, including:47 |
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| 71 | 71 | | (1) The number of individuals denied peace officer roles and state militia roles based on48 |
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| 72 | 72 | | hate group affiliation;49 |
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| 73 | 73 | | (2) Appeals filed and outcomes of such cases; and50 |
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| 74 | 74 | | (3) Updates to the list of identified hate groups."51 |
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| 75 | 75 | | SECTION 4.52 |
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| 76 | 76 | | All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.53 |
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| 77 | 77 | | H. B. 920 |
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| 78 | 78 | | - 3 - |
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