Secretary of State Handel Applauds Governor Perdue for Signing HB 1104

Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel and Representative Katie Dempsey joined Governor Sonny Perdue as he signed House Bill 1104, a bill to strengthen Georgia’s Charitable Solicitations Act.

“This legislation provides common sense changes that will help better protect Georgia citizens from fraud, ease administrative burdens on charities, and does more to stop dishonest solicitors from operating in our state,” Secretary Handel said.

House Bill 1104 will increase the transparency of financial arrangements between a charity and its paid solicitor and require paid solicitors to inform the person being solicited that the contract disclosing the financial arrangements between the paid solicitor and the charity is available from the Georgia Secretary of State.

The legislation ensures that the Secretary of State has jurisdiction over charitable solicitors acting on behalf of a charity located in Georgia which is soliciting contributions from outside the state, over solicitation originating in Georgia, and over out-of-state charities soliciting Georgia citizens.

HB 1104 was introduced by Representative Katie Dempsey and passed the House chamber 148-1. Senator Judson Hill of Marietta carried the bill in the Senate. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 49-0.

Karen Handel was sworn in as Secretary of State in January 2007. The Secretary of State's office offers important services to our citizens and our business community. Among the office’s wide-ranging responsibilities, the Secretary of State is charged with conducting efficient and secure elections, the registration of corporations, and the regulation of securities and professional license holders. The office also oversees the Georgia Archives and the Capitol Museum.