This bill proposes changes to state laws regarding revenue, taxation, and government. It aims to ensure that minority business enterprises, women-owned businesses, and veteran-owned businesses have fair representation and opportunities when it comes to state contracts for construction, services, equipment, and goods. The bill also includes provisions for related matters, specifies an effective date, repeals conflicting laws, and serves other purposes.

Safer Hospitals Act

This bill aims to amend existing laws regarding assault and battery against individuals and introduce stricter penalties for aggravated assault and aggravated battery specifically targeting emergency health workers and healthcare workers on hospital campuses. The bill also includes a definition of these offenses and makes amendments to the health-related title. It provides a short title, specifies an effective date and applicability, repeals conflicting laws, and addresses other related matters.

This bill proposes amending Chapter 1 of Title 37 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, which deals with the governance and regulation of mental health. The amendment aims to establish a grant program within the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities to offer behavioral health services specifically for military service members, veterans, and their families. The bill includes definitions, qualification requirements for the program, provisions for adopting rules and regulations, and addresses other related matters. It also repeals conflicting laws.

The amendment seeks to double this exemption to $8,000.00. The bill also includes provisions to ensure compliance with the constitution, sets requirements for a referendum, specifies effective dates and automatic repeal, mandates legal action if the requirements are not met, repeals conflicting laws, and addresses other purposes.

This bill proposes an additional property tax exemption of $2,000.00 for public service employees living in the Gwinnett County school district. The exemption applies to educational purposes and includes definitions, conditions, and procedures. It ensures compliance with constitutional requirements, requires a referendum, sets effective dates, and provides remedies for non-compliance. It also repeals conflicting laws and addresses other purposes.

Second Chance Workforce Act

This bill amends Title 17 of the O.C.G.A., relating to criminal procedure, to provide for issuance of certificates by a court for purposes of demonstrating rehabilitation and good moral character; to amend Code Section 24-4-419 of the O.C.G.A., relating to admissibility of criminal history record information of an employee or former employee; to amend Chapter 5 of Title 40 of the O.C.G.A., relating to drivers' licenses; to amend Code Section 44-5-150 of the O.C.G.A., relating to search and notification for information identifying anatomical gift donor status; to amend Code Section 51-1-54 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to presumption of due care in hiring of person pardoned or who has obtained a Program and Treatment Completion Certificate; to provide a short title; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

This bill amends Chapter 14 of Title 34 of the O.C.G.A., relating to the State Workforce Development Board, to require the State Workforce Development Board to develop, approve, and annually publish a High-demand Career List identifying those careers most critical to the state's current and future workforce needs; to amend Title 20 of the O.C.G.A., relating to education, to provide for conforming changes; to require the Office of Student Achievement to work in consultation with the State Workforce Development Board to audit and report on the effectiveness of employment, wage attainment, and retention of students in programs that align with the High-demand Career List; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

This bill amends Chapter 5 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to crimes against the person, to provide for protections for utility workers; to provide for a definition; to provide for enhanced penalties for simple assault, aggravated assault, simple battery, and aggravated battery committed upon utility workers in certain circumstances; to provide for a short title; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.