On Monday, House Bill 242-- Georgia’s comprehensive juvenile reform and statute rewrite legislation -- was approved by the state’s General Assembly.
Last week, HB 242 passed a Senate vote; earlier this week, the House unanimously approved the Senate’s changes to the bill, passing the legislation by a 167-0 tally.
From its introduction to the House up until its latest General Assembly approval, HB 242 has passed through every full legislative and committee vote with unanimous approval from Georgia’s legislators.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Wendell Willard (R-Sandy Springs) and Sen. Charlie Bethel, a Republican representing Georgia’s 54th district, now heads to the desk of Gov. Nathan Deal -- an early proponent of the legislation -- who is expected to sign the bill into law.
HB 242 would include more funding for community-based programs, prohibit the jailing of young people for status offenses and separate designated felonies into two different classes of offense, based upon the severity of the crime.
If signed, the changes would take effect beginning Jan. 1, 2014.
Photo by Ken Lund, cropped | Flickr