Gun owners with concealed carry permits will be able to take their firearms onto college campuses starting Saturday as many of the state’s new laws take effect that day. Other new laws going into effect cover things like sanctuary campuses, changing how the state tracks opioid overdoses and one that requires certain employers to allow workers to use paid sick leave to care for sick relatives.
Allowing guns on public college campuses was likely the most debated and most controversial of the new laws. Gov. Nathan Deal vetoed a similar bill last year, but he approved this year’s version which had mostly minor changes.
Advocates on both sides of the gun bill lobbied hard on the issue. Both sides argued the bill would make campus locations either more or less safe for students and others. The new law covers only public colleges, and certain areas– like child care centers, professors’ offices and certain hearings – are not covered. One area that is covered, and with great controversy, is tailgate parties before athletic events.
While guns are now welcome on public college campuses, Georgia lawmakers wanted to make it clear that illegal immigrants aren’t welcome at the state’s private colleges. The new law strips any state funding from colleges that declare themselves a sanctuary campus.
Several Georgia colleges have welcomed illegal immigrants, but none have taken the step to declare themselves a sanctuary. The state, through this law, intends to discourage any that would consider it.
Another new law requires a state database of certain prescription drugs to be updated more regularly. This is to make it harder for drug addicts to fill multiple prescriptions in a short time for opioids. This law is to be phased in, with all provisions in place by Jan. 1, 2018.
Georgia’s new Family Care Act requires most employers with at least 25 employees to allow workers to use paid sick leave to care for family members. The law does not require companies to offer paid sick leave.
