06 SB381/CA/3
Senate
Bill 381
By:
Senators Harp of the 29th and Mullis of the 53rd
AS
PASSED SENATE
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Article 1 of Chapter 3 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, relating to state and other flags, so as to provide state flags to
honor Georgia public safety officers who are killed in the line of duty or who
died following extended service to the public of this state; to provide for
related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal
conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Article
1 of Chapter 3 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to state and other flags, is amended by inserting immediately following Code
Section 50-3-11 a new Code section to read as
follows:
"50-3-12.
"50-3-12.
(a)
The purpose of this Code section is to recognize and honor those brave men and
women who have dedicated their lives to the public safety of the citizens of
this state and, in devoted service thereto, contributed to the safety,
security, and individual freedom of the citizens of the State of Georgia. To
carry out this purpose, the Secretary of State shall, if requested, from funds
made available for such purpose, furnish, without cost, a state flag to honor
the service of a deceased qualifying public safety officer, which state flag may
be displayed in the funeral service of the deceased public safety officer and
thereafter given to the
officeŕs
estate.
(b)
For purposes of this Code section, a 'qualifying public safety officer' is a
peace officer, as defined in Code Section 35-8-2, or firefighter, emergency
medical technician, or emergency rescue specialist, as each is defined in Code
Section 45-9-81, or member of the Georgia National Guard. In addition,
'qualifying public safety officer' is an officer killed in the line of duty or
an officer who has served as a qualifying public safety officer for a period of
not less than ten years. A person committing or convicted of a felony or crime
of moral turpitude or whose certification or license to practice as a public
safety officer is revoked or terminated shall not be considered a 'qualifying
public safety officer.'
(c)
The Secretary of State is authorized to administer the recognition program set
forth in this Code section and to provide rules and regulations and enter into
contracts necessary for the administration of the provisions and the purposes
set forth in the Code
section."
SECTION
2.
This
Act shall become effective on July 1, 2006, and shall apply to the death of a
qualifying public safety officer occurring on or after that date.
SECTION
3.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.