ABOUT OUR STATE OR ITS VALUES, BECAUSE WHEN THEY DO THAT, THEY LIE ABOUT THE GOOD WORK THAT THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT I SERVE WITH IN THE GEORGIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DO AT A GREAT SACRIFICE, BECAUSE THEY LOVE GEORGIA LIKE I DO.

>> HOUSE SPEAKER BLASTS PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN FOR CRITICIZING GEORGIA'S SB 202, MASSIVE ELECTION LAW PASSING LAST YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "LAWMAKERS" ON THIS LEGISLATIVE DAY TWO.

AS USUAL, THE GEORGIA CHAMBER ANNUAL BREAKFAST GAVE US THE FIRST MAJOR GLIMPSE OF SOME OF THE AGENDA AND WE'LL HAVE DETAILS IN OUR REPORT.

HIGH ON EVERYBODY'S LIST IS REINING IN CRIME STATEWIDE AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT SOME BILLS WE MIGHT EXPECT WITH TWO LAWMAKERS ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.

AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE IN CRIME THAT PROPONENTS SAY ONE OF THE SPONSORS OF THE SENATE BILL IS HERE AND A LAWMAKER WHO REPRESENTS THE AREA AND OPPOSES IT.

FIRST, FOR OUR RUNDOWN OF THE NEWS OF THE DAY, LET'S HEAD TO THE GOLD DOME AND CAPITAL CORRESPONDENT, BRENDA WATERS.

>> MEMBERS OF BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE ARE PRETTY PSYCHED ABOUT GEORGIA'S WIN OVER ALABAMA.

THIS IS HOW THINGS BEGAN IN THE HOUSE.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> IN THE SENATE IT WAS MORE OF THE SAME.

♪♪ >> THEN IT WAS DOWN TO BUSINESS.

SENATE RESOLUTION 363 WAS READ, WHICH WOULD AMEND THE STATE CONSTITUTION IN TERMS OF WHO CAN VOTE.

SOMETHING SECRETARY OF STATE BRAD RAFFENSPERGER MENTIONED TO HIS PRESS CONFERENCE YESTERDAY.

>> NEW YORK CITY, SAN FRANCISCO AND OTHER LIBERAL JURISDICTIONS ARE ALLOWING NON CITIZENS TO VOTE IN ELECTIONS.

IF CRITICS REALLY DON'T WANT NON CITIZENS TO VOTE, THEN THEY SHOULD SUPPORT A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

>> THE HOUSE ADOPTED SENATE RESOLUTION 362, WHICH MERELY SAYS THE GOVERNOR WILL BE NOTIFIED THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS CONVENED.

A COMMITTEE TO DO THAT WAS ALSO APPOINTED.

BUT THE BIG STORY OF THE DAY, WHICH FEATURED THE WHO'S WHO AMONG GEORGIA POLITICIANS, WAS THE ANNUAL EGGS AND ISSUES BREAKFAST.

LAST YEAR THE EVENT WAS VIRTUAL.

THIS YEAR, FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE FOX THEATRE PLAYED HOST TO MORE THAN 2,500 PEOPLE WHO CAME OUT FOR THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE EVENT.

A SONG CLOSE TO EVERY GEORGIAN'S HEART.

♪ GEORGIA THE WHOLE DAY THROUGH ♪ >> FOLLOWED BY PRAYER, BY SENATE MINORITY LEADER GLORIA BUTLER.

>> LORD, WHAT A RELIEF IN THIS THROWAWAY WORLD OF EVER-CHANGING VALUES TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE GOD OF THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW.

>> THE GOAL OF EGGS AND ISSUES IS TO GENERATE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE STATE'S ECONOMY.

BUT SOMETIMES IT DRIFTED INTO POLITICS, AS MAYOR ANDRE DICKENS DID WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT TACKLING CRIME.

>> WE STARTED THE WORK ON DAY ONE, ADDRESSING THE ISSUE OF CRIME IN OUR CITY.

THIS IS A CONCERN OF ALL OF OURS, AND WHILE SOME MAY WANT TO USE THIS TO BREAK US APART, WE KNOW THAT AS A CITY, WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER.

THAT IS WHY WE WILL BE UNVEILING A NEW POLICE PRECINCT IN BUCKHEAD TOMORROW, TOMORROW.

>> U.S.

SENATOR RAPHAEL WARNOCK, COMBINED POLITICS AND THE ECONOMY BY SAYING VOTER SUPPRESSION IS BAD FOR BUSINESS, MAKING REFERENCE TO SENATE BILL 202.

>> THE RIGHT TO VOTE AND ENSURING ACCESS TO THE BALLOT OR EVERY ELIGIBLE VOTER, WORKERS WHO WORK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, RURAL FOLKS.

THIS HELPS LAY THE PATHWAY TO THE POLICIES THAT IMPACT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOUR BUSINESSES, YOUR EMPLOYEES, AND YOUR CUSTOMERS.

RESTRICTING ACCESS TO THE BALLOT IS NOT GOOD FOR GEORGIA, AND IT IS CERTAINLY NOT GOOD FOR GEORGIA BUSINESS.

>> SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE SHOT BACK WITH THIS.

>> YESTERDAY, BOTH THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT CAME TO GEORGIA.

I WAS SURE IT WAS TO CELEBRATE THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

OUR POSITION AS THE NUMBER ONE STATE IN THE NATION IN WHICH TO DO BUSINESS.

OUR POSITION AS THE NUMBER ONE STATE IN THE NATION FOR ELECTION INTEGRITY.

[ APPLAUSE ] OR OUR AMAZING JOB GROWTH.

BOY, WAS I WRONG.

MORE GEORGIANS ARE VOTING NOW THAN EVER BEFORE AND THE PRESIDENT HAS ALREADY EARNED HIS FOUR PINOCCHIO'S FROM THE "WALL STREET JOURNAL" FOR LYING ABOUT OUR BILL.

>> GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP TOLD THE AUDIENCE HE LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE HOUSE ON IDEAS FOR CUTTING INCOME TAXES, AND THIS -- >> LAST FISCAL YEAR, BECAUSE WE KEPT GEORGIA OPEN AND FOLLOWED ALONGSIDE YOU ALL IN THIS ROOM TO KEEP BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITIES AFLOAT, THE STATE COLLECTED A RECORD BUDGET SURPLUS.

I BELIEVE THAT WHEN GOVERNMENT TAKES IN MORE MONEY THAN IT NEEDS, SURPLUS FUNDS SHOULD BE SENT BACK TO THE HARD-WORKING MEN AND WOMEN TO KEEP OUR STATE MOVING, BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT'S YOUR MONEY, NOT THE GOVERNMENT'S.

THAT'S WHY MY AMENDED 2022 BUDGET AUTHORIZES THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE TO PROVIDE $1.6 BILLION IN REFUNDS TO EVERY TAXPAYER IN OUR STATE.

[ APPLAUSE ] UNDER THIS PLAN, EVERY CITIZEN FILING THEIR INCOME TAXES THIS APRIL WILL RECEIVE A REFUND CREDIT RANGING FROM $250 FOR SINGLE FILERS, TO $500 FOR JOINT FILERS.

>> BOTTOM LINE, ACCORDING TO AREA DEVELOPMENT MAGAZINE, FOR THE EIGHTH YEAR IN A ROW, GEORGIA REMAINS THE BEST STATE TO DO BUSINESS.

>> THE STATE OF GEORGIA BUSINESS THIS MORNING IS STRONG AND IT IS RESILIENT, THANKS TO ALL OF YOU.

>> NOW, DONNA, YOU WILL HAVE A ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEW WITH THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE CHAMBER TOMORROW.

THAT'S MY REPORT.

BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, BRENDA.

>>> NOW WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON THE BIGGEST -- ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT THEY'LL TACKLE THIS YEAR, CURBING THE RISING CRIME RATE.

JOINING ME TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE MIGHT SEE THIS SESSION ARE REPUBLICAN SENATOR RANDY ROBERTSON, JUST NORTH OF COLUMBUS, AND DEMOCRATIC SENATOR KIM JACKSON OF STONE MOUNTAIN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING ON "LAWMAKERS" TODAY.

TO GET US STARTED, I WANT US TO LISTEN TO WHAT THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE GEORGIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, CHRIS CLARK, TOLD ME DURING AN INTERVIEW EARLIER TODAY.

>> AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU WANT PEOPLE TO COME TO YOUR CITY CENTERS, TO COME TO YOUR RURAL COMMUNITIES, AND YOU WANT THEM TO FEEL SAFE WHEN THEY'RE THERE.

IF THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT THE PARKING LOTS AND AFTER HOURS, IT'S GOING TO IMPACT YOUR BOTTOM LINE.

>> SO AS YOU HEARD, CRIME IS A CONCERN FOR BUSINESS STATEWIDE, IT'S A PROBLEM THAT STATE LEADERS, CITY LEADERS, INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS ARE ALL CONCERNED ABOUT, BUT IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT IN NOVEMBER FULTON COUNTY D.A.

WILLIS TOLD THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY THAT ATLANTA HAS THE FASTEST RISING MURDER RATE OF ANY MAJOR CITY IN THE COUNTRY DURING COVID.

AND WE KNOW THAT WHEN THE CITY OF ATLANTA HAS ISSUES, IT CAN SPREAD STATEWIDE.

SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A MAJOR PROBLEM.

I WANT TO START WITH YOU, SENATOR ROBERTSON.

I KNOW YOU WERE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR 30 YEARS AND THAT YOU HAVE SOME THOUGHTS ON OVERALL, HOW ARE YOU FEELING.

IS THIS UNPRECEDENTED IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU'RE FEELING ABOUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN TERMS OF CRIME STATEWIDE?

>> I DO THINK IT IS.

IT'S UNPRECEDENTED AND I THINK IF WE WANT TO FIND THE CORE PROBLEM, WHETHER IT BE IN ATLANTA, MIAMI OR NEW YORK, ANYWHERE ELSE, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY HAS BEEN DEMORALIZED AND BASICALLY SLANDERED, PUSHED ASIDE BASED ON A VERY WELL-ORGANIZED FAULT NARRATIVE AROUND OUR COUNTRY.

AND CRIMINALS ARE INTELLIGENT PEOPLE FOR THE MOST PART, AND WHEN THEY KNOW THERE IS A FORCE OUT THERE WHO IS SUPPOSED TO PROTECT THE CITIZENS, YET THAT FORCE HAS BEEN BEATEN UP, PUSHED ASIDE, AND BASICALLY CRIMINALIZED FOR HOW THEY'RE DOING THEIR JOB, THEN THEY REALIZE THE OPPORTUNITY THAT EXISTS.

AND WHEN THAT OPPORTUNITY PRESENTS ITSELF, THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY, AND IF VIOLENCE IS REQUIRED FOR THEM TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT THEY WANT TO ACCOMPLISH, THEY HAVE NO QUALMS AGAINST USING VIOLENCE AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING.

>> WHAT'S YOUR TAKE?

>> WE NEED TO BE CLEAR THIS IS ACTUALLY NOT UNPRECEDENTED AND THE CRIME RATES WE'RE SEEING TODAY STILL DON'T COMPARE TO WHAT WE WERE SEEING IN THE '90s.

WE ARE STILL SAFER TODAY THAN WE WERE IN THE '90s AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO NAME.

AND I ALSO DON'T WANT IT TO GET LOST ON US, THE POLICE HAVE BEEN DEMORALIZED AND A LOT OF NEGATIVE THINGS HAVE BEEN SAID ABOUT POLICE, BUT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN INNOCENT IN IT.

THOSE CRITIQUES CAME BECAUSE WE SAW A POLICE OFFICER KNEELING ON THE NECK OF A BLACK MAN.

THEY GOT A BAD RAP BECAUSE WE SAW VIDEOS OF A MAN BEING GUNNED DOWN IN A VEHICLE WITH HIS KID IN THE BACK SEAT.

SO WHILE I WOULD NEVER SUPPORT THE NOTION THAT WE SHOULD HARM POLICE OFFICERS OR THAT WE SHOULD CAUSE THEIR JOBS TO BE ANY MORE DIFFICULT, I THINK IT IS RIGHT THAT WE CALL POLICE OFFICERS OUT FOR HAVING REALLY BAD BEHAVIOR ACROSS NOT JUST GEORGIA, BUT THE NATION.

SO THAT IS A TRUE NARRATIVE DRIVING SOME OF THAT.

>> I WANT TO GET TO SOLUTIONS, I WANT TO FOCUS ON SOLUTIONS TO WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT.

WE'VE HEARD ALL KINDS OF PROPOSALS.

CRACK DOWN ON GANGS FROM THE GOVERNOR, WE'VE HEARD ABOUT INCREASING SALARIES FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, PUTTING MONEY INTO MENTAL HEALTH.

SENATOR ROBERTSON, WHAT ARE YOU THINKING WE NEED?

>> ACTUALLY, THE SOLUTION IS FAIRLY SIMPLE.

WE NEED TO LET LEADERSHIP IN LAW ENFORCEMENT TELL THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT WORK FOR THEM TO GO OUT AND AGGRESSIVELY ENFORCE ALL TITLE 16 CODES IN GEORGIA, AGGRESSIVELY ENFORCE ALL TITLE 40 CODES IN GEORGIA, AND MAKE SURE THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENTS AND OFFICES OF PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS HAVE WELL-QUALIFIED AND TRAINED INVESTIGATORS TO INVESTIGATE EVERY COMPLAINT MADE AGAINST A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.

AND I THINK WHAT YOU'LL FIND IS THAT CRIME WILL GO DOWN, THOSE OUT THERE COMMITTING THE CRIMES WILL REALIZE THAT THERE IS NO LONGER FREE RANGE FOR THEM TO GO OUT AND DO AS THEY WISH, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME THESE OFFICERS WHO ARE COMPLAINED ON ARE GOING TO BE INVESTIGATED, AND I THINK YOU'LL FIND LESS THAN .5 WILL BE SUBSTANTIATED.

A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ARE MADE BECAUSE OFFICERS ARE DOING THEIR JOB, AND IF AN INDIVIDUAL USES FORCE AGAINST AN OFFICER OR REFUSES TO COOPERATE, THERE ARE CERTAIN STANDARDS OR REQUIREMENTS THAT THE OFFICER MUST DO TO EFFECT AN ARREST OR DETENTION OR WHATEVER IS INVOLVED.

AND THE VIDEOS AND THINGS OF THIS THAT MY PEER MENTIONED IS, YES, THERE WAS A VIDEO OF AN OFFICER WITH HIS KNEE ON SOMEONE'S NECK.

THERE WAS A VIDEO OF AN OFFICER SHOOTING SOMEONE WHILE THEIR CHILD WAS IN THE CAR.

NOW, IF THE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY THAT THE INDIVIDUAL WAS CARRYING OUT, IF THEY DID IT WITH THEIR CHILD IN THE CAR, THEN THE OFFICER HAS TO PLAY THE ROLE THEY'RE HANDED.

BASICALLY THE SOLUTIONS ARE NOT THAT COMPLICATED.

SALARY IS NOT ALWAYS THE ISSUE.

SOMETIMES IT'S JUST BENEFITS AND SUPPORT.

>> SO YOU THINK THAT'S ENOUGH, YOU THINK THAT WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS ENOUGH?

YOU'RE SAYING SALARY WON'T DO IT, SHORING UP MORE ON THE CRACKDOWN ON GANGS, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES?

>> THAT'S ALL PART OF IT.

BUT I'M SAYING THE SIMPLEST APPROACH, WHICH INVOLVES SOME OF THOSE THINGS, ARE EMPOWERING THOSE OFFICERS TO GO BACK OUT AND DO THEIR JOB THE WAY THEY WERE DOING IT PRIOR TO 2020.

WE CAN'T TAKE AN ANOMALY AND DESTROY AN ENTIRE PROFESSION BECAUSE OF AN ANOMALY.

NOW, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, I DON'T THINK ANY OF US DENY THE MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM THAT EXISTS IN THE UNITED STATES TODAY.

WE WERE DISCUSSING BEFORE WE STARTED ABOUT THE ADDICTION WE HAVE TO TECHNOLOGY, CELL PHONES, THINGS OF THIS NATURE.

ALL OF THESE THINGS HAVE A HORRIFIC IMPACT ON THE YOUNG PEOPLE COMING UP TODAY AND THEY'RE DEPENDENT ON IT AND IT'S CAUSING MORE DAMAGE THAN WE REALIZE.

WHAT WE HAVE TO DETERMINE IS WHAT DO WE WANT A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER TO BE?

DO THEY WANT THEM TO BE THE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL?

I'M A CIT INSTRUCTOR.

I WENT TO COLLEGE TO BE A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, NOT A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL.

BUT BECAUSE SOCIETY HAS PUSHED ALL THESE RESPONSIBILITIES INTO THE LAPS OF MEN AND WOMEN OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHO ARE DISPATCHED BY 911, THEY'RE NOT ROLLING UP ON THINGS AND FINDING THEM.

WHAT WE HAVE TO DETERMINE IS WHAT WE WANT LAW ENFORCEMENT TO BE AND LET THEM BE THAT.

>> THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR HAS TALKED ABOUT PUTTING MONEY INTO HAVING MENTAL HEALTH HELP THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH ALL OF THOSE THINGS, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET SENATOR JACKSON IN.

IN TERMS OF SOLUTIONS, YOUR IDEAS?

>> YEAH, SO I JUST WANT TO NAME THAT I GET REALLY NERVOUS WHEN I HEAR ABOUT AGGRESSIVELY PURSUING ANY TYPE OF LAW -- ANY TYPE OF CITIZEN WHEN IT COMES TO POLICING.

WE HAVE BEEN IN THAT PLACE WHERE POLICE HAVE AGGRESSIVELY TRIED TO ADDRESS TITLE 16 ISSUES AND WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE, BY AND LARGE, BECAME OVER-POLICED AND ULTIMATELY NOT ONLY WERE THEY OVER-POLICED, THEY WERE OVER-INCARCERATED AND THAT DESTROYS BLACK AND BROWN FAMILIES.

I KNOW THAT'S ONE OF THE SOLUTIONS THAT WILL BE OFFERED, IS THAT WE WILL ENCOURAGE MORE AGGRESSIVE POLICING AND NO DOUBT WE'LL PROBABLY SEE SOME BILLS THAT WILL OFFER MANDATORY SENTENCES, AND I DON'T THINK THOSE ARE THE SOLUTIONS.

I THINK THE SOLUTIONS REST IN PAIRING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WITH MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WHO CAN HELP IN THAT AREA, I THINK IT ALSO -- I THINK SOME OF THE SOLUTION IS IN MAKING SURE WE HAVE PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE INVOLVED IN SO THAT THEY HAVE AN OPTION THAT'S NOT A GANG.

I THINK THAT THAT -- WHAT WE SEE IS THAT MOST OF THE CRIME THAT'S BEING COMMITTED IS BEING COMMITTED BY YOUNG PEOPLE, PEOPLE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 16 AND 23.

THEY NEED GOOD PLACES TO GO WHERE THEY CAN MAKE MONEY TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES, BECAUSE THAT'S OFTEN WHAT THEY'RE INVOLVED IN, RIGHT?

AND THEY NEED PROGRAMS THAT HELP CREATE A PATHWAY WHERE THEY CAN HAVE SOME SUCCESS.

THAT, TO ME, IS A REAL SOLUTION.

IT'S NOT MORE LAW ENFORCEMENT, BEING MORE AGGRESSIVE.

IT'S REALLY GIVING KIDS -- BECAUSE THEY'RE KIDS, GOOD PLACES TO GO WHERE THEY CAN LEARN AND HAVE A MORE PRODUCTIVE LIFE.

>> I WANT TO GET INTO SOMETHING REALLY QUICKLY.

WE'RE ALWAYS RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

I KNOW YOU'RE A SPONSOR ON THE BUCKHEAD CITY BILL, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> TELL ME WHY.

>> VERY SIMPLE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK IT'S BECAUSE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND BECAUSE I'M A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.

BUT, ACTUALLY, IT'S BECAUSE OF VOTER RIGHTS.

I THINK ANY CITIZEN HAS A RIGHT TO VOTE AND DETERMINE WHERE THEY WANT TO BE.

WE'RE NOT SETTING A PRECEDENT BY THIS.

SANDY SPRINGS DID IT, JOHNS CREEK DID IT.

OTHER PLACES HAVE DONE IT.

AND I HEARD SOMEBODY SAY TODAY WHEN THEY ASKED, WHY NOT LET THE ENTIRE CITY OF ATLANTA VOTE, SOMETHING I'VE HEARD TODAY IS I DON'T RECALL READING ANYTHING ABOUT THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR WHERE WE ALLOWED THE BRITISH TO VOTE.

BUT IF THE CITIZENS OF BUCKHEAD GET TOGETHER AND THEY DECIDE THAT THEY WANT TO EXIT OR CHOOSE, THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

TO ME, WHETHER THERE BECOMES A BUCKHEAD CITY OR DOESN'T BECOME A BUCKHEAD CITY IS NOT THE QUESTION.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SENATE BILL 202, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE.

LET THOSE INVOLVED HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT THEIR MARK ON THE BALLOT AND LET'S SEE.

>> WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT MORE IN OUR NEXT SEGMENT.

I WANT TO GET TO SOMETHING, YOU'RE BOTH ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND ONE OF THE THINGS YOU TALKED TO ME ABOUT, AND THAT IS LAW ENFORCEMENT DEATH BENEFITS FOR THE FAMILIES OF THOSE WHO LOSE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

>> SO WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT SECOND TO COVID, THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH AMONG LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, AND PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS IN GENERAL, AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR, WHEN I'M THINKING ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, I'M ALSO INCLUDING FIREFIGHTERS AND EMTs.

I SERVED AS AN EMT.

THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR THOSE FOLKS IS SUICIDE SECOND TO COVID.

SO WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IN OUR STATE LAWS IS THAT IF AN OFFICER COMMITS SUICIDE, THEIR FAMILY IS NOT ENTITLED THE BENEFITS WE PROVIDE TO ANY OFFICER WHO DIES IN THE LINE OF DUTY AND I WANT TO CHANGE THAT LAW.

WHAT WE KNOW IS BEING A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, AND CERTAINLY SENATOR ROBERTSON CAN AGREE WITH THIS, IT IS MENTALLY TAXING, IT IS A HARD JOB, AND SUICIDE CAN SOMETIMES BE SOMETHING SADLY THAT TAKES PEOPLE OUT.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE FAMILIES ARE CARED FOR BECAUSE THOSE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS HAVE GIVEN SO MUCH TO US THAT I THINK THAT'S THE LEAST WE CAN DO, IS MAKE SURE THOSE FAMILIES ARE BEING TAKEN CARE OF.

>> WE'LL BE FOLLOWING THE BILL.

WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU COME BACK ON BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S SO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT.

COMING UP, WE'LL CONTINUE TALKING ABOUT CRIMES AND OTHER ISSUES RELATED TO THE BUCKHEAD CITY MOVEMENT WITH TWO MEMBERS OF THE SENATE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.

YOU'RE WATCHING "LAWMAKERS" ON PUBLIC GPB.

>> A PROUD PARTNER OF GEORGIA PUBLIC BROADCASTING AND GEORGIA LAWMAKERS.

TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH, WELL-BEING AND PEACE OF MIND OF THOSE WE SERVE.

LEARN MORE TO SEE HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT YOUR EMPLOYEES' PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING.

>> MADE POSSIBLE BY GEORGIA FARM BUREAU WITH 80 YEARS OF HELPING EVERYONE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF CULTURE IN OUR STATE.

FOOD AND FIBER PRODUCTION REPRESENTS OVER $74 BILLION IN OUTPUT OF GEORGIA'S STRONG ECONOMY.

THEY WORK TO REPRESENT PEOPLE AT THE STATE CAPITAL, DURING THE SESSION AND YEAR AROUND.

GEORGIA FARM BUREAU, THE VOICE OF GEORGIA FARMERS.

>> GEORGIA HUMANITIES, CONNECTING PEOPLE ACROSS GEORGIA TO ENCOURAGE CONVERSATION, EDUCATION AND UNDERSTANDING.

FIND OUT MORE THAT WWW.GEORGIAHUMANITY OITS.ORG.

>> WELCOME BACK TO "LAWMAKERS."

WE'RE GOING TO TALK TO ONE OF THE FIRST BILLS TO GET ROLLING UNDER THE DOME, BUCKHEAD CITY HOOD.

JOINING THE SHOW, DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE SHEA ROBERTS OF ATLANTA.

SO WELCOME TO "LAWMAKERS" TO BOTH OF YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> I HAVE YOUR BILL RIGHT HERE.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU.

YOU PRE-FILED IT, SENATE BILL 324, AND YOU DID IT DURING THE SPECIAL SESSION.

ACTUALLY I WAS THERE WHEN YOU FILED IT.

WHY DID YOU WANT TO FILE IT SO EARLY, WHY DID YOU WANT TO GET ROLLING?

>> WE WANTED THE DISCUSSION TO START AND WE KNEW WE WOULD HAVE DOWNTIME IN SPECIAL SESSION TO HAVE A HEARING AND SO WE HAD A HEARING ABOUT CHAIRMAN LEE ANDERSON, WHO GAVE US A HEARING, SO WE COULD START THE DISCUSSION AND GET IT GOING SO WE COULD HIT THE GROUND RUNNING AS SOON AS WE GOT HERE ON DAY ONE.

SO WE'VE GOT NOW, I'VE PUT THE FILE -- I'VE FILED THE BILL, IT IS ON THE WEBSITE AND IT IS READY TO GO.

>> WHAT'S IN HERE?

>> WELL, IT JUST CREATES A NEW CITY OF BUCKHEAD, GIVES THE CITIZENS A RIGHT TO VOTE ON IT, OUTLINES THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR AND HOW THE STRUCTURE WILL BE STRUCTURED.

BUT IT ALLOWS THE CITIZENS BY NOVEMBER OF 2022 TO VOTE ON WHETHER THEY WANT TO HAVE A CITY.

AND LET ME TELL YOU, THE CITY OF BUCKHEAD HAS BEEN DISCUSSED FOR A LONG TIME, BUT I'VE NEVER SEEN THE MOMENTUM, THE ENERGY, AND THE ORGANIZATION AS IT IS NOW.

AND I WILL TELL YOU, I THINK THEY WANT -- YOU KNOW, THEY WANT CONTROL OF THEIR DESTINY ON GARBAGE PICKUP AND POTHOLES AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND ZONING, BUT THE REAL DRIVING FORCE IS CRIME.

THAT'S WHAT'S GOT EVERYBODY MOTIVATED, IS THE CRIME RATE AND WHAT'S HAPPENED IN CRIME IN THE CITY OF BUCKAHEAD AND PEOPLE DON'T FEEL SAFE.

WHEN YOU HAVE HUSBANDS TELLING THEIR WIVES, WE DON'T WANT YOU TO GAS YOUR CAR UP IN BROAD DAYLIGHT BECAUSE WE'RE SCARED FOR YOUR SAFETY, THAT'S A PROBLEM.

WE NEED TO ADDRESS IT.

THAT'S WHAT'S GOT THIS MOVEMENT GOING IN THE DIRECTION IT'S GOING IN, AND I DO BELIEVE THE VOTERS WANT TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE ON IT AND HAVE CONTROL OF THEIR OWN DESTINY.

>> I WANT TO GET TO REPRESENTATIVE ROBERTS.

YOU ACTUALLY REPRESENT BUCKHEAD, PART OF YOUR DISTRICT.

TELL ME HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS BILL.

>> SO THE ENTIRE CITY OF ATLANTA DELEGATION, BOTH SENATE AND HOUSE, ARE OPPOSED TO THIS LEGISLATION, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S GOING TO CREATE MORE PROBLEMS THAN IT'S GOING TO SOLVE.

THE CRIMINALS ARE NOT GOING TO STOP AT THE BORDER OF BUCKHEAD, AND SO THERE ARE SOME REALLY COMPLEX ISSUES WHEN WE TALK -- IT IS UNPRECEDENTED THAT WE'VE NEVER DE-ANNEXED A CITY FROM ANOTHER CITY.

WE'VE CREATED CITIES OUT OF COUNTIES, UNINCORPORATED COUNTIES, BUT WE'VE NEVER PULLED A CITY OUT OF A CITY, AND THERE'S A GOOD REASON FOR THAT, BECAUSE IT'S VERY COMPLEX TO DO.

THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES.

TAX BOND ISSUES ARE HUGE.

RISKING THE ENTIRE STATE'S AAA BOND RATING HAS BEEN EXPRESSED BY THE MOODY'S EXPERT, AND SO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT ALL OF THESE COMPLEX ISSUES AND MAKE SURE THAT IT WILL REALLY SOLVE THE PROBLEMS.

>> I HAVE THE BILL, BUT I UNDERSTAND TODAY YOU FILED A BILL, TOO.

TELL ME WHAT YOUR BILL IS ABOUT.

>> SO JUST AS SENATOR ROBERTSON SAID BEFORE, THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT WE KEEP HEARING IS LET THE PEOPLE VOTE.

SO MY BILL, WHICH I FILED TODAY, IT WILL BE FIRST READ ON FRIDAY, ACTUALLY SAYS THAT WHEN YOU ARE DOING THIS UNPRECEDENTED THING OF PULLING A CITY OUT OF ANOTHER CITY TO CREATE A NEW CITY, THAT THE ENTIRE CITY GETS TO VOTE AND IT REQUIRES A 57.5% VOTE INSTEAD OF JUST 50% PLUS ONE.

AND I,UP WITH THAT NUMBER BECAUSE REPRESENTATIVE TODD JONES BROUGHT THE BILL IN THE HOUSE, UP IN NORTH FULTON COUNTY, NOT IN THE CITY OF ATLANTA.

IN 2017 HE PROPOSED A BILL FOR CITY-HOOD IN HIS AREA AND HE DECIDED IT WARRANTED A HIGHER VOTE COUNT.

AND SO I FIGURE WHAT'S GOOD FOR THE GOOSE IS GOOD FOR THE GANDER, RIGHT?

>> SO YOU FILED THAT TODAY.

>> YES, MA'AM.

>> WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THAT.

AS WE GO FURTHER, I WANT US TO LISTEN TO REMARKS THAT LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JEFF DUNCAN MADE LAST WEEK AND THEN WE'LL TALK ABOUT THEM.

>> THE WEIGHT OF THIS REALLY RESTS IN THE DETAILS, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO EDUCATE KIDS IN THE CITY OF ATLANTA, IS THAT AGREEMENT ALREADY MADE.

THE ANSWER IS NO.

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO HANDLE FISCAL FALLOUT WITH BOND PACKAGES AND WATER TREATMENT FACILITIES.

>> THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT REPRESENTATIVE ROBERTS TALK ABOUT AND THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR TALKS ABOUT THESE DETAILS.

WHAT ABOUT THOSE DETAILS?

>> WHEN WE CREATED THE CITY OF MILTON, JOHNS CREEK AND SANDY SPRINGS, FULTON COUNTY SAID IT WOULD BE DOOM AND GLOOM AND THEY WOULD BE OUT OF BUSINESS AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO CUT STAFF.

THEY'VE GROWN THEIR GOVERNMENT, EVEN THOUGH SANDY SPRINGS, MILTON AND JOHNS CREEK CREATED THEIR OWN GOVERNMENT.

SO I DON'T BUY INTO THE FACT THAT WE CAN'T GET THROUGH ALL THESE DETAILS.

WE CAN ADDRESS THE BOND ISSUES, WE CAN ADDRESS THE SCHOOL ISSUE.

BUT GOING BACK TO THE CRIME ISSUE, I WOULD JUST DISAGREE, RESPECTFULLY, REPRESENTATIVE, IF YOU GO FROM 80 POLICE OFFICERS TO 250 POLICE OFFICERS, YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE A DENT IN CRIME.

THERE'S JUST NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

THE NUMBERS WILL HELP DECREASE THE CRIME.

AND IT WON'T SPREAD ANYWHERE NORTH OR SOUTH OR EAST OR WEST.

SO I THINK THE CRIME IS HAPPENING IN BUCKHEAD, AND IF YOU GO FROM 80 POLICE OFFICERS TO 250, AND THEY'RE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO POLICE AND DO THEIR JOB, YOU WILL SEE A DENT IN CRIME, A DECREASE IN CRIME.

>> SO THE NEW MAYOR OF ATLANTA IS TALKING ABOUT INCREASING IT.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH?

>> I JUST HEARD THAT WHEN I WAS SITTING HERE LISTENING TO "LAWMAKERS."

I DID NOT GO TO EGGS AND ISSUES THIS MORNING SO I DID NOT HEAR HIS COMMENTS.

BUT THAT IS A GOOD START AND I'M GLAD HE'S GOING TO PUT SOME EMPHASIS ON THE BUCKHEAD CRIME ISSUE.

>> YEAH.

YOUR THOUGHTS ON SOME OF THESE DETAILS?

>> WELL, I MEAN, I'M NOT GOING TO SAY THAT THERE IS NOT INCREASED CRIME IN BUCKHEAD, IN ALL OF ATLANTA, IN GEORGIA, ACROSS THIS COUNTRY RIGHT NOW.

THE PANDEMIC HAS EXACERBATED IT.

BUT I DON'T THINK A DIVIDED ATLANTA IS GOING TO SOLVE THOSE PROBLEMS AND I THINK WE NEED TO GIVE MAYOR DICKENS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET HIS TEAM IN.

HE'S BEEN MEETING WITH THE ZONE COMMANDERS AT ALL OF THE POLICE ZONES, INCLUDING ZONE 2 A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO.

HE'S IMPLEMENTING A NEW PRESINKT IN BUCKHEAD TOMORROW AND I THINK THAT PEOPLE ARE GETTING -- THERE'S GOING TO BE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE MORE PROBLEMS THAN SOLVE THEM, AND I THINK WE NEED TO GIVE MAYOR DICKENS AN OPPORTUNITY, BECAUSE I THINK ONE ATLANTA IS BETTER FOR EVERYONE.

>> YOU'RE ON A JOINT DELEGATION, ACTUALLY YOU GUYS HAD A MEETING TODAY -- >> WE DID.

IT WAS THE JOINT HOUSE AND SENATE DELEGATION HELD A HEARING, ESSENTIALLY, ON ZOOM, AND WE INVITED SEVERAL EXPERTS TO COME AND SPEAK.

WE INVITED THE HEAD OF THE CITY-HOOD MOVEMENT, BILL WHITE.

IT WAS NOT A CONVENIENT TIME FOR HIM.

WE OFFERED HIM FOUR OTHER TIMES.

THOSE DIDN'T WORK.

WE'VE REACHED OUT AND ASKED IF THERE'S ANOTHER TIME FOR HIM AND WE HAVE NOT HEARD BACK.

BUT WE HAD SOMEONE FROM THE ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS ON, WE HAD AN ATTORNEY ON TO TALK ABOUT CHARTER ISSUES, SCHOOL CHARTER ISSUES.

WE HAD LOTS OF GOOD EXPERTS ON AND THERE WERE 140 PEOPLE ON THE ZOOMS WHO ARE TUNED IN AND WATCHING.

>> SO YOU REPRESENT THE AREA AND THERE ARE NO OTHER LAWMAKERS WHO REPRESENT THE AREA WHO ARE SUPPORTING THE BILL.

WHY DID YOU WANT TO SUPPORT IT?

>> I GOT APPROACHED BECAUSE SOMEBODY FROM THE FULTON COUNTY DELEGATION DOES HAVE TO CARRY THE BILL.

SO I WAS APPROACHED ABOUT IT ABOUT TEN MONTHS AGO, I SAW THE PASSION OF THESE FOLKS AND HOW THEY WANTED SOME SOLUTIONS TO THEIR PROBLEMS, AND THEN WE HAD TO DO A FEASIBILITY STUDY AND THEN, WHEN I SAW THE RESULTS OF THE STATE FEASIBILITY STUDY, I JUST SAID THAT FISCALLY THIS MAKES SENSE, IT CAN HAPPEN.

AND WE ADDRESSED THE BOND ISSUE IN THE BILL, WE ADDRESSED THE SCHOOL ISSUE IN THE BILL, SO WE CAN TRANSITION AND MAKE THIS A VERY GOOD SEAMLESS TRANSITION IF THE VOTERS GET THE CHANCE TO VOTE AND THEY VOTE FOR IT.

>> AND IT'S MOVING ALONG PRETTY FAST.

DO YOU SEE THAT -- I MEAN, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE TRYING TO GATHER MORE INFORMATION.

DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'LL HAVE ENOUGH TIME FOR INFORMATION GATHERING IN THIS PROCESS?

>> I THINK WE HAVE ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT WE NEED, BUT I THINK THE ISSUES THAT HE SAYS HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED BY THE BILL, I DON'T THINK ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

>> THERE'S SO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT.

WE'VE RUN OUT OF TIME.

THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

I HOPE YOU'LL COME BACK.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT ON "LAWMAKERS."

YOU CAN JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER AT GPB NEWS USING THE #GPB LAWMAKERS.

DON'T FORGET TO TUNE IN TOMORROW FOR POLITICAL REWIND AND JOIN US FOR OUR HOUR-LONG SHOW, AND YOU'LL HEAR BRIAN KEMP'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS AND THE DEMOCRATIC RESPONSE, PLUS MY INTERVIEW WITH THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE GEORGIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.