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Sen. Bo Hatchett Praises Governor Kemp for Public Safety Grant Awards to Stephens County

ATLANTA (June 9, 2023) | This week, Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that he has made preliminary grant awards totaling more than $83.5 million for 118 qualified projects that improve community-level public safety measures and address law enforcement staffing challenges that arose during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The program funds will be allotted to supplement local law enforcement staffing, support violent crime reduction or community violence intervention programming, and invest in technology and equipment to address and respond to the rise in community violence across the state.

“I’d like to thank the Governor for directing this funding to the first responders of Stephens County,” said Sen. Bo Hatchett (R – Cornelia). “State leadership will continue to support our Law Enforcement, and I look forward to seeing these funds utilized for the safety of families in the 50th State Senate District. These direct resources to our officers help ensure they have the tools and personnel to continue to serve and protect.”

Funds awarded to the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office include $1,185,156.50 to provide more deputies on the streets and more jailers with hopes of reducing the strain currently on staff.

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Sen. Bo Hatchett serves as a Governor’s Administration Floor Leader. He represents the 50th Senate District which includes Banks, Franklin, Habersham, Rabun, Stephens and Towns County and portions of Hall, Jackson, and White counties. He can be reached by phone at 404.463.5257 or by email at bo.hatchett@senate.ga.gov.

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Sen. Bo Hatchett Praises Governor Kemp for Public Safety Grant Awards to Commerce Police Department

ATLANTA (June 9, 2023) | This week, Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that he has made preliminary grant awards totaling more than $83.5 million for 118 qualified projects that improve community-level public safety measures and address law enforcement staffing challenges that arose during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The program funds will be allotted to supplement local law enforcement staffing, support violent crime reduction or community violence intervention programming, and invest in technology and equipment to address and respond to the rise in community violence across the state.

“I appreciate Governor Kemp and his staff for awarding Commerce’s first responders with this grant funding,” said Sen. Bo Hatchett (R – Cornelia). “The Commerce Police Department is extremely deserving of this grant and I look forward to seeing these key initiatives implemented in the coming months.”

Funds awarded to the Commerce Police Department include $79,310 to implement 21st century intelligence-led policing strategies for crime reduction and enhance quality of life in the community of Commerce.

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Sen. Bo Hatchett serves as a Governor’s Administration Floor Leader. He represents the 50th Senate District which includes Banks, Franklin, Habersham, Rabun, Stephens and Towns County and portions of Hall, Jackson, and White counties. He can be reached by phone at 404.463.5257 or by email at bo.hatchett@senate.ga.gov.

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Sen. Bo Hatchett Appointed to Chair Senate Study Committee on Rural Medical Personnel Recruitment

ATLANTA (June 1, 2023) | This week, Senator Bo Hatchett (R – Cornelia) was appointed by Lt. Governor Burt Jones to serve as  Chairman of the Senate Study Committee on Rural Medical Personnel Recruitment.

“Healthcare facilities across Georgia face numerous challenges when it comes to healthcare professional recruitment, especially in rural areas. A shortage of properly trained medical staff is dangerous for rural communities that are often hours away from large hospitals,” said Sen. Hatchett. “As a Senator from rural Georgia, I have seen firsthand the negative impacts that a lack of healthcare personnel can have on the health and wellness of families located outside of metro areas in our state. I appreciate Lt. Governor Jones for his diligence in creating this study committee and look forward to working with my Senate colleagues as we find creative solutions for the rural healthcare sector in the coming months.”

This five-member Senate Study Committee was established through the passage of Senate Resolution 371, which was sponsored by Sen. Hatchett during the 2023 Georgia Legislative Session. Currently, rural hospitals face a multitude of challenges when delivering services to their patients primarily due to economic factors and a lack of available health care professionals. This Study Committee will aim to raise awareness of the obstacles faced by rural hospitals to recruit an adequate work force and retain their surgical personnel.

The committees will be tasked with holding meetings across the state, with dates and locations to be announced at a later time.

More information on the 2023 Senate Study Committees can be found here.

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Sen. Bo Hatchett serves as a Governor’s Administration Floor Leader. He represents the 50th Senate District which includes Banks, Franklin, Habersham, Rabun, Stephens and Towns County and portions of Hall, Jackson, and White counties. He can be reached by phone at 404.463.5257 or by email at bo.hatchett@senate.ga.gov.

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Sen. Bo Hatchett Introduces Legislation to Ban Purchases of Unauthorized Recyclable Materials

ATLANTA (February 8, 2023) |Senate Floor Leader Senator Bo Hatchett (R – Cornelia) introduced Senate Bill 60, which would make it illegal to purchase or sell detached catalytic converters, used utility wire, or used copper that originates from an unlicensed business. This bill requires an individual or business to be a secondary materials recycler in order to possess a used or detached converter if it is not their own.

Continue reading “Sen. Bo Hatchett Introduces Legislation to Ban Purchases of Unauthorized Recyclable Materials”
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Sen. Bo Hatchett Introduces Legislation to Enhance Gang Sentencing

ATLANTA (January 31, 2023) | Yesterday, Governor Brian P. Kemp’s Floor Leader Sen. Bo Hatchett (R – Cornelia) introduced Senate Bill 44, the “Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act,” which would combat gang violence across Georgia by defining recruitment of minors as a felony and introduce mandatory minimum sentences for all gang-related offenses.

“There is no place for gangs in Georgia, and passage of this vital legislation is a top priority,” said Senate Floor Leader Bo Hatchett. “Enhancing gang sentencing across the board will ensure tough prison sentences for more gang offenders while offering a strong incentive for those accused of gang activity to cooperate with prosecutors.”

Senate Bill 44 would strengthen the sentencing for all gang-related offenses by imposing mandatory minimum sentences but would specifically target the recruitment of minors by instating even stricter mandatory minimums for those whose gang-related offenses involve a minor or otherwise vulnerable individual.

Senate Bill 44 has been assigned to the Senate Committee on Judiciary. You can read the full text of SB 44 here.

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Sen. Bo Hatchett serves as a Governor’s Administration Floor Leader. He represents the 50th Senate District which includes Banks, Franklin, Habersham, Rabun, Stephens and Towns County and portions of Hall, Jackson, and White counties. He can be reached by phone at 404.463.5257 or by email at bo.hatchett@senate.ga.gov.