Georgia's 2012 Legislative Session Ended at Midnight

Georgia's abortion bill was  of this year's legislative session, which ended at midnight. Rep. Doug McKillip's HB 954 was passed, although not in its original form. It was still, however, enough to cause a stir among Democrats during its last minute vote.

In its compromised version, the bill allows a woman and her doctor to terminate a pregnancy after 20 weeks if the pregnancy is "medically futile," according to a story in the Atlanta Journal Constitution. This condition occurs when there are chromosomal or congenital defects.

During the machinations of the legislature yesterday, the male president of the Georgia Right to Life, Dan Becker, and John Walraven, the head of the Perinatal Infertility Coalition, had a physical confrontation, an AJC story noted.

Though there was lots of high emotion, there was still other legislation that was passed during this last day of the 2012 Session. District 106 Brett Harrell gave explanation of some of the other bills that he felt were significant in passing during the 2011 and 2012 sessions. 

HB 200, Anti-Human Trafficking "is a cooperative effort of the legislature, Attorney General, and Georgia Commission on Family Violence to address a terrible scourge in our state and especially metro area."

HB 326, HOPE "Scholarship preserves at 90% the tuition program for students maintaining a 3.0 GPA and establishes the new Zell Miller Scholarship at 100% tuition for exceptional students earning a 3.7 GPA." 

HB 87, Illegal Immigration Reform "requires employers to use the E-Verfiy system for new hires, provides law enforcement tools and assurances needed to combat illegal immigration, and preserves human dignity." 

SB 36, Pill Mills - "provides a Georgia drug registry to attack the exploding problem of prescription drug abuse." 

SB 10, Sunday Sales "permits local jurisdictions to hold a referendum on whether or not package sales of alcohol are allowed within their community."

HB 47, Insurance Across State Lines "permits Georgia residents to purchase certain accident and health policies offered in other states."

HR 1162, Constitutional Amendment "to permit the state to fund certain Charter Schools."

HB 386, Georgia Jobs and Tax Reform Plan "that cuts taxes and provides private sector job creation support."

HB 641, the Child Protection and Safety Act "that updates our Juvenile Justice Code."

Our thanks to Representative Brett Harrell for his quick summary.