06 LC 35
0166S
The
House Committee on Public Safety offers the following substitute to SB
381:
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, sheriff, 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 five 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)
It shall be the duty of any state or local agency with knowledge of the death of
a qualifying public safety officer who is an employee of such agency or who
retired from such agency to notify the Secretary of
Statés
office for the purpose of providing a state flag to the
deceased́s
estate. Any advocacy group representing the deceased or the
deceased́s
department may also contact the Secretary of State on behalf of a deceased
qualifying public safety officer.
(d)
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 upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law without such approval and shall apply to the death of a qualifying of public safety officer occurring on or after January 1, 2006.
This Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law without such approval and shall apply to the death of a qualifying of public safety officer occurring on or after January 1, 2006.
SECTION
3.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.