sr431_Committee_sub_LC_22_5907S_4.html
05 LC 22 5907S

The Senate Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee offered the following
substitute to SR 431:

A RESOLUTION

Creating the Senate Study Committee on Security for State and County Buildings; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, Superior Court Judge Rowland Barnes, a court reporter, and a deputy sheriff were murdered and another deputy was shot at the Fulton County courthouse in downtown Atlanta on March 11, 2005; and

WHEREAS, the husband and mother of a judge in another city were recently murdered; and

WHEREAS, these deaths and injuries are only part of an apparent increase in violence against public officials; and

WHEREAS, new technology may be available to increase security at buildings that are open to the public; and

WHEREAS, it is imperative that the government provide adequate security to protect members of the public and public officials conducting official business at state and county buildings.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that there is created the Senate Study Committee on Security for State and County Buildings to be composed of seven members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Assignments. The Senate Committee on Assignments shall designate a member of the committee as chairperson of the committee. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs, issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any actions or legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate. The committee shall seek the advice and opinions of public building security experts and state and local officials. The committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution. The members of the committee shall receive the allowances authorized for legislative members of interim legislative committees but shall receive the same for not more than three days unless additional days are authorized. The funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from the funds appropriated to the Senate. In the event the committee makes a report of its findings and recommendations, with suggestions for proposed legislation, if any, such report shall be made on or before December 31, 2005. The committee shall stand abolished on December 31, 2005.