06 AM
35 0019
ADOPTED
Senators
Kemp of the 46th, Hudgens of the 47th, Wiles of the 37th, Harp of the 29th,
Powell of the 23rd and others offered the following amendment:
Amend
the Senate Judiciary Committee substitute to SB 503 (LC 29 2319S) by inserting
after "council;"
on line 8 of page 1
the following:
to
provide that public defenders shall not be authorized to utilize a badge,
shield, or similar item; to change certain provisions relating to public
defenders;
By
inserting between lines 2 and 3 of page 7 the following:
SECTION
5.1.
Said
title is further amended by striking subsection (g) of Code Section 17-12-27,
relating to the appointment of assistant public defenders, salary, and
promotions, and inserting a new subsection (g) to read as follows:
"(g)
All full-time state paid employees of the office of the circuit public defender
shall be state employees in the unclassified service of the State Merit System
of Personnel Administration with all benefits of such appointed state employees
as provided by law.
A circuit
public defender, assistant public defender, or local public defender may be
issued an employee identification card by his or her employing agency; provided,
however, no employer of any such public defender shall issue nor shall any
public defender display, wear, or carry any badge, shield, card, or other item
that is similar to a law enforcement
officeŕs
badge or that could be reasonably construed to indicate that the public defender
is a peace officer or law enforcement
official."