A House Study Committee has been created to study gang youth and violence prevention.
The committee was established with the passage of House Resolution 585 in the final days of the 2019 session of the Georgia General Assembly. It was introduced by State Representative Carl Gilliard (D- Garden City) and will be charged with examining the rising rate of gang violence in Georgia and determining legislative recommendations to combat this issue.
“In the state of Georgia, there over 71,000 identified gangs across our state,” said Rep. Gilliard. “The focus of this committee will be to examine the resources that the state uses from wraparound services in schools, after school programs and other resources related to prevention of youth gangs. I was happy to see the passage of this important legislation that will address this very serious issue in our state.”
According to the Resolution, the committee would consist of six House members appointed by the speaker of the House and six non-legislative members as follows: the commissioner of juvenile justice; the commissioner of human services; the state school superintendent; and three persons who are representatives of social service organizations providing programs for youth. The Speaker will designate the committee chair.
According to the resolution, “the committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action of legislation that the committee deems necessary or appropriate.”
The committee can also make recommendations that do not require action by legislators.
The committee will stand until December 1, 2019.
