By State Sen. Greg Goggans
A few weeks ago, we completed a very successful session of the Georgia General Assembly. More than 250 bills were passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate then sent to the governor for his signature. The governor has 40 days after the session ends to sign bills into law, or to veto them. Any bill he chooses not to sign and not to veto becomes law on May 24. As that date approaches, the governor is signing more and more significant legislation.
Last week, the governor signed two significant bills. One relaxes some of the requirements for local government, so they can negotiate with private companies to build much needed wells, reservoirs and water treatment plants. He also signed a bill to help significantly curb the devastating problem of human sex trafficking in Georgia. These bills are excellent examples of how government can work to make Georgia a better place to live.
It is no secret that Georgia is in the midst of a water war with our neighboring states. The federal courts have intervened and it is scary to think what might happen. We simply do not have the resources right now to meet the water needs of our growing state.
To recruit industry to Georgia, those businesses need access to water. This is especially true of manufacturers that make technical products – the production process for everything from circuit boards to contact lenses needs water. We need to revive our once-booming construction industry. How can we build homes for Georgians, if those new neighborhoods do not have access to water? And, unfortunately, even without the need for new industry and new homes, Georgia is in danger of losing precious water resources used by each one of us on a daily basis. We all need plenty of clean water to wash our clothes, to bathe, to drink and to keep us healthy.
Senate Bill 122, signed by the governor on May 2, helps cut some of the red tape so local governments can contract with private companies to build reservoirs, to drill wells and to construct water treatment facilities. Any attempt to increase the water supply in Georgia is needed desperately right now. This public/private partnership concept will put us on that path.
In another bill, a bipartisan effort by lawmakers will help put an end to one of the most vicious crimes imaginable; a crime that threatens our most vulnerable residents and our best resources for the future – our children.
Throughout the state, thousands of children are living in the unimaginable nightmare of forced prostitution and sex trafficking. Child exploitation and prostitution has become a catastrophe of unthinkable proportions in the state of Georgia – and every citizen must be aware. Each month, 7,200 men pay for sex acts with minors. On a regular Thursday or Friday night in Atlanta alone, an adolescent is raped every 54 seconds. Fortunately, the Georgia General Assembly worked together to pass House Bill 200, which will enforce harsher punishments on adults who force minors into such horrific acts.
Currently, trafficking an adult for prostitution is punishable by a minimum of one year behind bars. Our new law will increase that to a minimum of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000. Again, that is for trafficking adults. If the individual is a minor, the prison sentence would increase to as much as 50 years.
Perhaps, someday, we can end child exploitation and child prostitution in Georgia; end it in the nation; and end it in the world. I look forward to that day. In the meantime, I hope the children we save by putting these predators behind bars will find a new life filled with happiness, hope and ambition.
Both of these laws passed nearly unanimously through both the House of Representatives and the Senate. It is laws like these that make me proud to be your senator.
If you would like additional information regarding a specific piece of legislation, you may access the Georgia General Assembly website at http://www.legis.ga.gov/
Please remember to contact me in my office on the issues that are affecting you and your area. I am here to represent you and it is an honor for me to work on your behalf. As always, I’d like to thank members of the Senate staff, who contribute regularly to my column.
COLUMN
For Immediate Release:
May 9, 2011
For Information Contact:
Natalie Strong, Director
Thomas Krause, Manager of Communications Strategies
tom.krause@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028