Deal signs bill to fight human trafficking: Governor modernizes Georgia legal code, including updated Rules of Evidence

Gov. Nathan Deal today signed three bills pertaining to legal issues at the State Bar of Georgia and signed two bills advocated by the Women’s Caucus at My Sister’s House, an Atlanta facility that offers overnight shelter and residential discipleship programs for homeless women and women with children.

Bill signing at State Bar:

HB 24 modernizes the Rules of Evidence
Current Rules of Evidence are nearly 150 years old
Brings OCGA in line with Federal Rules of Evidence pertaining to hearsay
Georgia becomes the 45th state to modernize

HB 238 revamps the Georgia Public Defenders Standards Council
Agency has been plagued with issues
Gives more autonomy to Director
Reconstitutes the Council

HB 415 provides for a statewide jury pool
Since the 1960s, Georgia has used forced balancing to ensure demographic groups within counties are proportionally represented in the jury pool.
Ends forced balancing and implements a series of procedures and rules to compile a statewide, inclusive juror source list. It calls for the Council of Superior Court Clerks to establish and maintain a statewide master jury list and requires the Department of Driver Services and the Secretary of State to provide certain information to the Council of Superior Court Clerks.
The council will screen driver license records, vital records and voter registration records to create a more inclusive source list of eligible jurors. The database will be cleaned of duplicates, bad addresses and the names of felons and deceased people. Then the Council of Superior Court Clerks will certify and distribute an inclusive list to each individual county’s Board of Jury Commissioners.

Bill Signing at My Sister’s House:

“Human trafficking is a repugnant crime that is growing like a cancer in our society,” Deal said. “Signing this bill into law, I join my fellow Georgians in declaring moral outrage and vowing to fight human trafficking here in our state. These criminals rob their victims of freedom and human dignity, and they destroy lives. With this bill now a law, we will find these criminals and we will punish them harshly.”

HB 200 addresses human trafficking
Strengthens the punishment against traffickers by increasing the minimum imprisonment for any person who commits the offense of trafficking a person for labor or sexual servitude and subjects the convicted to a fine.
Increases the punishment for any person who commits the offense of trafficking a person for labor or sexual servitude against a person who is under the age of 18 years
Protects those that fall victim to predators whom act on their state of desperation by providing that a person shall NOT be guilty of a sexual crime if the conduct upon which the alleged criminal liability is based was committed under coercion or deception while the accused was being trafficked for sexual servitude

HB 503 provides for the Georgia Crime Victims Emergency Fund to cover the costs of medical exams of alleged victims of rape
Ensures that victims will have these exams paid for and that the responsibility will not fall on local law enforcement that have budget constraints

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Red Cross Lending a Hand to Flood Victims Unable to Go Home

/PRNewswire/ -- The American Red Cross sheltered more than 420 people in Georgia and Tennessee overnight, a signal that even though flood waters are slowly receding, many are still unable to return to their homes.

The Red Cross has more than 200 volunteers and staff and 18 Emergency Response Vehicles (ERVs) in the area with more on standby. Clean up and comfort kits are being distributed and almost 2,000 meals have been served to those affected by the flooding. Officials say early estimates show as many as 3,000 homes may be affected with damages estimated at $250 million.

Red Cross is partnering with Southern Baptist Convention, which has one mobile kitchen in operation and another on alert if needed. Other partners include Samaritan's Purse, Georgia Association of Food Banks, Church of Latter Day Saints, Church World Service, and NECHAMA.

"Our focus is on making people as comfortable as possible, feeding them and taking care of their immediate needs," said Joe Becker, Red Cross Disaster Services senior vice president. "We have the workers, equipment and supplies here on the ground to do that with more on standby if needed."

As the waters recede, the Red Cross issues these steps people should take to remain safe as they return to their neighborhoods:

-- Return home only when officials have declared the area safe.
-- Before entering your home, look outside for loose power lines, damaged
gas lines, foundation cracks or other damage.
-- Parts of your home may be collapsed or damaged. Approach entrances
carefully. See if porch roofs and overhangs have all their supports.
-- Watch out for wild animals, especially poisonous snakes that may have
come into your home with the floodwater.
-- If you smell natural or propane gas or hear a hissing noise, leave
immediately and call the fire department.
-- If power lines are down outside your home, do not step in puddles or
standing water.
-- Keep children and pets away from hazardous sites and floodwater.
-- Materials such as cleaning products, paint, batteries, contaminated
fuel and damaged fuel containers are hazardous. Check with local
authorities for assistance with disposal to avoid risk.
-- During cleanup, wear protective clothing, including rubber gloves and
rubber boots.
-- Make sure your food and water are safe. Discard items that have come
in contact with floodwater, including canned goods, water bottles,
plastic utensils and baby bottle nipples. When in doubt, throw it out!
-- Do not use water that could be contaminated to wash dishes, brush
teeth, prepare food, wash hands, make ice or make baby formula.
-- Contact your local or state public health department for specific
recommendations for boiling or treating water in your area after a
disaster as water may be contaminated.

Help people affected by disasters like the current floods by donating to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. On those rare occasions when donations exceed Red Cross expenses for a specific disaster, contributions are used to prepare for and serve victims of other disasters. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for disasters and provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance to victims of all disasters. Call 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767) or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting redcross.org.

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Red Cross Sheltering Those Hit by Floods in Southeast

/PRNewswire/ -- As rising flood waters cover the Southeast, hundreds have looked to the American Red Cross for shelter as officials estimate the number of people needing help could rise dramatically.

Overnight more than 220 people took refuge in Red Cross shelters in Georgia, North Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee. Georgia has been hit the hardest, particularly around the city of Atlanta where as much as a foot of rain fell Monday. According to news reports, the flooding has claimed at least eight lives. Governor Sonny Purdue has declared a state of emergency in 17 counties and authorities are urging people to stay home if possible.

Red Cross is providing a safe place to stay, food to eat, and a shoulder to lean on for those affected by the flooding which has prompted evacuations, washed out bridges, caused landslides, and closed highways across the area.

"These flood waters can come up very rapidly. People should be prepared to evacuate at a moment's notice," said Joe Becker, Senior Vice President Red Cross Disaster Services, "We have shelters open which offer a safe haven for those who have been forced out of their homes."

Preliminary estimates from emergency management officials indicate that as many as 1,000 people could potentially need sheltering.

Red Cross offers the following steps people should take to be ready and stay safe:

-- Be prepared to evacuate at a moment's notice.
-- Stay away from floodwaters. If you come upon a flowing stream where
water is above your ankles, stop, turn around and go another way. Six
inches of swiftly moving water can sweep you off of your feet.
-- If you come upon a flooded road while driving, turn around and go
another way. If you are caught on a flooded road and waters are rising
rapidly around you, get out of the car quickly and move to higher
ground. Most cars can be swept away by less than two feet of moving
water.
-- Listen to area radio and television stations and a NOAA Weather Radio
for possible flood warnings and reports of flooding in progress or
other critical information from the National Weather Service (NWS).
-- When a flood or flash flood warning is issued for your area, head for
higher ground and stay there.

For more information on what to do if flood waters threaten, visit Red Cross preparedness information on www.redcross.org.

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Mayor Shirley Franklin to Attend Welcome Party for Georgia's Largest Pet Rescue Mission This Friday, August 21

/PRNewswire/ -- This Friday, August 21, marks the largest pet rescue mission in the state's history as The M.O.M.S. RESCUE of Lindenwold, NJ and Animal Rescue Flights (ARF) launch "Georgia Puppy Caravan." Georgia's own David York is helping to oversee nearly 200 cars, vans, RVs and airplanes, which will transport pet supplies from around the country, and in turn take back hundreds of dogs and cats from overburdened Georgia shelters to loving homes in the Northeast.

Highlights include a "Landing Party" at DeKalb Peachtree Airport (PDK) at 3 p.m. and a "Welcome Celebration" at Foundry at Puritan Mill at 7 p.m., attended by Mayor Shirley Franklin, which will include the highly anticipated premiere of National Geographic Channel's series "Rescue Ink."

WHAT: "Georgia Puppy Caravan," the largest pet rescue mission in the
state's history, spearheaded by The M.O.M.S. RESCUE of
Lindenwold, NJ and Animal Rescue Flights (ARF) along with David
York, Fulton County Animal Services Executive Director and owner
of Barking Hound Village.

EVENTS: "Landing Party" at PDK where seven airplanes will converge
bringing needed pet supplies to Georgia.

WHEN: Landing Party Friday, August 21 at 3 p.m. at DeKalb Peachtree
Airport

Mayor to speak at the "Welcome Celebration," featuring the premiere of the highly anticipated first episode of the new National Geographic Channel series "Rescue Ink," based on the work of Rescue Ink, a group of New York-based tattooed, motorcycle-riding tough guys, the series will follow the pet rescue efforts of these unlikely heroes who save helpless, abandoned and abused animals.

WHERE: Welcome Party, Friday, August 21 at 7 p.m. at Foundry at Puritan
Mill

HOW: Originating in New Jersey, the caravan of up to 200 cars, vans,
RVs and airplanes will travel down I-95, stopping in cities along
the way to pick up large donations of pet food and other much
needed supplies currently being collected for Georgia area
shelters. They will then depart Atlanta carrying hundreds of
shelter animals who have already been adopted by caring families
in other states.

GOAL: To completely empty Georgia shelters through ongoing education
and increased spaying and neutering efforts.

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Gas Chambers Still an Option in Several Georgia Counties

Georgia Voters for Animal Welfare is trying to reintroduce to our state lawmakers last year's bill (House Bill 1060) to shut down the remaining carbon monoxide gas chambers used to kill homeless dogs, cats, puppies and kittens in Georgia shelters. The law, if passed, would make lethal injection the only approved method of killing homeless pets.

See, at bottom, a list of the Georgia counties and cities still using gas chambers.

We need to act quickly and effectively to garner support among our state legislators. A peaceful demonstration on the front lawn/stairs of the State Capitol is one way to draw attention to our bill and to the barely-known issue of gas chambers.

DETAILS OF THE DEMONSTRATION

Date: Thursday, February 26th (rain or shine!)
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Location: State Capitol (the gold dome) main entrance on Washington Street downtown Atlanta
Directions: Exit 248A off I-75/85. Take MLK toward the gold dome, cross over Washington Street and through the next light to parking garage on right
Bring: posters saying "Ban Gas Chambers" or whatever you'd like to say, so long as you do not use profanity or say anything that will get us thrown out. No sticks/stakes, just poster board or foam core, hand-held.

Our goal is 100 people. That should be easy! We have 100x that many animal advocates in Georgia! We need to show our state lawmakers that the humane treatment of homeless pets is a high priority for many Georgia voters. Please don't use work as an excuse to not attend. We all work, but we all take a day off now and then. What better use of a personal day, a vacation day or a sick day will you ever have than this? Make your plans today and ask your boss for the day off. What does it say to the animals and to our legislators if this issue isn't worth one day off work to many, if not all of, Georgia's animal advocates? One day off to possibly end the torture of gas chambers. How can you say no? Please don't. Please be part of this important movement!

The State of Tennessee banned gas chambers a few years ago because a shelter worker died of co2 poisoning. The State of Virginia passed a ban on its gas chambers last year. "Davie's Bill" is pending in North Carolina at this moment. But Grace's Bill hasn't even been introduced to Georgia's General Assembly yet. We need your help to make it happen!

To learn more about gas chambers, visit the website of Animal Law Coalition:

http://www.animallawcoalition.com/gas-chambers

Here's what Animal Control Officer, Linda Cordry, in Liberty County had to say about the gas chamber she used before her local elected officials made the humane decision to switch to lethal injection:

"The gas chamber is simply a torture device for both animal and human alike. I hate that thing with a passion. It is NOT a humane way to put animals to sleep. It is not humane for those of us that have to witness its use! To hear the piteous cries that come from within that monstrous machine is unnerving at best. At least with lethal injections, you get to hold and wish these animals a safe journey to the bridge. You get to apologize for all the horrors they've had to endure at human hands. After all it is OUR fault they were born, not theirs. I wish I could make everyone understand the pain and sorrow I live with for having done my job (being made to use the gas chamber for so long). I still have nightmares about all the innocents lost over the years."

Whether or not you can attend the demonstration, PLEASE CALL OR WRITE TO YOUR STATE SENATOR AND HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE TO EXPRESS YOUR SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED BAN ON GAS CHAMBERS! Here's how to find out who are your Senator and Representative and how to contact them:

http://www.congress.org/congressorg /dbq/officials/?lvl=L

Input your zip code. Then click on 'State' elected officials. Then input your full address. Then you'll see, under Sonny Perdue's name, the names of your Senator and House Representative. Then go to this website to get their contact information, bios, etc.:

http://www.legis.state.ga.us/

List of Counties and Cities still using gas chambers (to the best of our knowledge... there may be others):

Ashburn, GA
Barnesville, GA
Bulloch County
Butts County
Cordele, GA
Cuthbert, GA
Vienna, GA
Haralson County
Lanier County
Lowndes County
Macon, GA (City Council voted June 2008 to stop using its chamber July 1, 2009)
Mitchell County
Pulaski County
Spalding County
Sumter County
Warner Robins, GA

Thank you for reading and for joining the cause to spare our homeless pets prolonged and painful death by suffocation.



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