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The Georgia 2003 Legislation Update
by Angela Riccetti

Juvenile Justice related bills signed by Governor and passed into law:

SB 222

• Creates Cobb County Commission on Children and Youth.

HB 832

• Creates Clayton County Commission on Children and Youth.

HB 470

• Provides that status offenders under the age of 18 are subject to the jurisdiction of juvenile court.

SB 116

• Provides for regulation of discovery and inspection in juvenile delinquency cases--conditions, limitations, and procedures, disclosure of evidence and reciprocal discovery, exceptions, continuing duties to disclose, production of statements of witnesses, and court orders with respect to failure to comply.

Juvenile Justice related bills that did not become law during legislative session:

HB 670

• Amends Code Section 5-7-1 relating to orders, decisions, and judgments that are subject to appeal, so as to delete a provision for orders transferring specific violent offense cases from a superior court to a juvenile court;
• Amends Chapter 11 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to juvenile proceedings, so as to provide that the juvenile court has original concurrent jurisdiction over certain acts committed by children under 17 years of age;
• Amends Chapter 10 of Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to sentence and punishment;
• Amends Title 42 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to penal institutions;
• Amends Code Section 49-4A-9 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to sentence of youthful offenders.

HR 563

• Resolution urging early mental health screening for all children and adolescents in order to identify illness and prevent suicide among youth.

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