The 2016 session of the General Assembly is in the books. Legislators were in session for nearly 30 hours the final two days, and even went past the midnight mark on the 40th and final day of the session.
The waiting game now begins to see which bills the Governor will sign, allow to become law or veto. He has until May 3 to act on them.
One of the bills that passed in the final minutes sets a timeline for rape kits to be sent to be turned over for testing. Rep. Scott Holcomb (D-Atlanta) had proposed a bill (HB 827) that required law enforcement officers to pick up the kits from hospitals within 96 hours. His bill sailed through the House early in the session, but it stalled in the Senate by State Sen. Renee Unterman (R-Buford) and appeared to be dead in the waning hours of the session
But support from victim’s right groups and woman advocates group helped revive the bill when the House revived the Pursuing Justice for Rape Victims Act as Senate Bill 304 — which cleared the House just before midnight by a resounding unanimous vote.
The bill did not pass the Senate until the session’s final minutes , which included a few tweaks and language changes. The bill — which got the support of Unterman in the final minutes — went back to the House for a final vote.
State Rep. Allen Peake (R-Macon) was not able to get his bill pushed through that would have expanded the number of people eligible to use a medical marijuana derivative in Georgia. Peake’s bill would have added seven more medical diagnosis to the list, including autism and post traumatic stress disorder. However, the Senate disagreed.
Lawmakers approved a bill that would allow anyone over the age of 18 or enrolled in classes to carry a stun gun or taser on a public college or university campus. This includes high school students who might be enrolled in college classes through Move On When Ready. Bill sponsor Rep. Buzz Brockaway (R-Lawrenceville) said his bill was an alternative to students not wanting to carry a gun on campus.
Legislators did not offer any legislation that would address the Governor’s concerns over the Campus Carry bill. Gov. Nathan Deal had asked lawmakers to consider concerns such as a lack of provisions for day care centers on college campuses and high school students who are dually enrolled in college classes.
Legislators passed HB 727 by Rep. Paul Battles (R-Cartersville) which would set new limits on the hours fireworks can be used, trimming the cut-off times. Under the new bill, it would be illegal to set off fireworks after 1 a.m. on July 4th and New Year’s Day. The law currently has a cutoff time of 2 a.m.
During the rest of the year the cutoff time was changed from midnight to 9 p.m. — however, it does include a provision that local governments could allow a later cutoff time. This bill would also make it illegal for anyone to use fireworks within the right of way of any road, highway or railroad, or within 100 yards of a hospital, nursing home, prison or an electric substation.
