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The Importance of Judiciary

ATLANTA (January 26, 2012) – As chairman of the Senate Judiciary committee, I am tasked with overseeing testimony regarding bills that affect civil and criminal judicial proceedings, government information and constitutional amendments. I take my role very seriously, and find it important to consider legislation that clarifies existing judicial laws without imposing on individual liberties.

One of the bills I am sponsoring this session passed out of the Judiciary committee this week and is now eligible for a Senate vote. SB 136 gives condominium unit owners the right to file a petition in superior court to grant control of the homeowners association to the unit owners. These types of associations contribute immensely to keeping the resale value of the units high—which is more important now than ever before with the state of the housing market. Condo owners will be able to take control of their own association when those originally charged with the task fail to do so within a 30 day time period.

In chamber news, the Senate passed HB 46, the Uniform Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act, which allows subpoenas from other states to be served more efficiently in Georgia. Under this Act, any party who wishes to issue an out-of-state subpoena in Georgia must submit it to the superior court of the recipient’s county.

Additionally, Georgia Superior Court Chief Justice Carol Hunstein presented the annual State of the Judiciary address to the House of Representatives and the Senate this week, giving attention to our state’s need for criminal justice reform. In order to make this happen, we need the three branches of government—executive, legislative and judicial—to work seamlessly together in order to find effective solutions.

It is necessary for our state to move nonviolent offenders out from behind bars and focus on true rehabilitation rather than just carrying out sentences. By revising our current probation and supervision process into one that removes low-risk offenders who have met all obligations, we will be able to shift our resources towards higher risk offenders. The ultimate goal is to transform these individuals into active, contributing members of society. Georgia needs to act on solutions that acknowledge positive progression with low-risk prisoners without compromising public safety in order to control costs.

I’d also like to touch on the legislative priorities announced by the Senate Majority Caucus last week. These priorities represent the importance of responsible spending, putting Georgians back to work and providing students with a quality education—all of which will ultimately put Georgia on the road to economic recovery.

In 2012, the Senate Majority Caucus is concentrating on legislation that embodies the following principles:

  • Limited government, demonstrated through fiscal restraint and government efficiency
  • Zero-based budgeting to further eliminate government waste and reduce expenditures
  • Comprehensive tax reform that spurs economic development and positions Georgia as a competitive place for business
  • 21st century education reform, including innovative funding for charter schools and ensuring important school roles are properly funded
  • Protecting our children by extending the statute of limitations to provide victims with additional time to report childhood abuse

My staff and I post photos and general news on my Facebook and Twitter accounts frequently, so be sure to follow these pages for the latest Gold Dome updates:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FriendsofSenatorBillHamrick

Twitter: www.twitter.com/SenatorHamrick

As always, it is a pleasure to serve the people of the 30th District. Please feel free to contact my office at any time with your questions and concerns. I look forward to hearing from you.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 26, 2012

Natalie Dale, Director
Jennifer Yarber, Deputy Director
jennifer.yarber@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028