♪♪ >>> SHE CHALLENGED ME ONE DAY AND SAYS WHY CAN'T Y'ALL DO SOMETHING WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT THE NEXT ELECTION?

AND, WELL, BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY WE'RE BUILT, I GUESS, IS TO WORRY ABOUT THE NEXT ELECTION.

THAT WAS A GOOD QUESTION.

IT WAS AN HONEST QUESTION, AND IT WAS A QUESTION THAT I PUT TO MYSELF AND I PUT TO OTHERS.

>> THE HOUSE SPEAKER TALKS ABOUT WHEN HIS WIFE CONVINCED HIM IT WAS TIME TO OVERHAUL THE STATE'S MENTAL HEALTH DELIVERY SYSTEM.

WELCOME TO "LAWMAKERS" ON DAY 30 OF THE GEORGIA LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

I'M DONNA LOWRY IN ATLANTA.

WE'LL HAVE MUCH MORE FROM THE SPEAKER.

I DID AN INTERVIEW WITH HIM ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES.

IN ADDITION TO MENTAL HEALTH, HE TALKS ABOUT EDUCATION, PUBLIC SAFETY, MEDICAL CANNABIS AND MORE.

LATER IN THE SHOW, TWO LAWMAKERS JOIN US IN THE STUDIO.

THEY WANT TO HELP VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND KEEP BETTER TABS ON SEX OFFENDERS WHO ARE ON PROBATION.

BUT NOW IT'S TIME TO HEAD TO THE CAPITOL AND BRENDA WATERS HAS THE DAY'S NEWS.

THE ACTION HAS SLOWED DOWN A BIT SINCE CROSSOVER DAY ON TUESDAY, HASN'T IT?

>> Reporter: IT CERTAINLY HAS, DONNA.

IT WAS EXTREMELY QUIET IN THE HOUSE TODAY, WHICH PROMPTED A LITTLE PLAYFUL CHIDING FROM THE SENATE.

>> THE HOUSE IS NEGLECTING THEIR DUTY, AGAIN.

WE HAVE DONE 18 HOUSE BILLS OVER HERE, 18!

YOU KNOW HOW MANY THEY'VE DONE OF OURS?

ONE.

AND THAT'S RIGHT, AREN'T YOU OUTRAGED?

YES, ME TOO.

THE ONE THEY DID, THEY RIPPED OUT THEIR BILL AND SENT IT OVER.

SO I AM FURIOUS.

I AM OUTRAGED ABOUT THIS.

SO AS YOUR HOUSE MEMBER, WHEN IS THE HOUSE GOING TO PICK UP SENATE BILLS, WHICH ARE THE BETTER BILL ANY WAY?

>> THE SENATE TOOK UP HB-304, WHICH SHOULD PROVIDE GEORGIANS SOME RELIEF AT THE GAS PUMP.

>> THE PROPOSAL IN THE BILL BEFORE YOU TODAY IS TO SUSPEND THE GEORGIA TAX ON FUEL THROUGH MAY 31st OF THIS YEAR, 2022.

THE CURRENT TAX IS 29.1 CENTS ON GASOLINE, 32.6 ON DIESEL.

0.1 ON AVIATION, AND 29.1 ON SPECIAL FUELS.

OUR LAST MONTH WAS ABOUT $157 MILLION COLLECTED.

THIS WILL BE FOR A LITTLE OVER TWO MONTHS, SO YOU CAN DO THE MATH.

IT'S BETWEEN $300, $400 MILLION THAT WILL BE REPLACED WITH UNSPECIFIED FUND BALANCE.

>> MY CONCERN IS WHETHER OR NOT THE RELIEF IS GOING TO GET TO THE CONSUMERS, BECAUSE WITH RESPECT TO THE BILL, IT JUST SUSPENDS THE GAS TAX, BUT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MAKE SURE THAT THE MANUFACTURER OR THE COMPANIES ARE PASSING THAT ONTO THE CONSUMERS.

DO YOU HAVE ANY INSIGHT ON THAT?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT THEY HAVE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT WATCHING VERY CAREFULLY FOR THAT.

NOW, THIS IS TAXED AT THE WHOLESALE LEVEL, THE SAME WE PRESENTED THE OTHER DAY FOR OUR SCRAP TIRES AS AN EXAMPLE.

IT'S THE SAME MARKETPLACE FACILITATOR AND OTHERS DO.

SO WHAT'S IN THE PUMP RIGHT NOW MAY TAKE A FEW DAYS.

>> WHILE THERE WAS NO OPPOSITION TO HB-304 ON THE FLOOR, DISCUSSION ABOUT THE BILL QUICKLY BECAME ABOUT FEDERAL ENERGY POLICY.

>> WE ARE NOW SEEING WHAT HAPPENS WHEN RADICALS ARE IN CHARGE OF ENERGY POLICY IN THE UNITED STATES.

WE ARE SEEING INFLATION UNLIKE THAT WHICH WE HAVE SEEN FOR THE LAST -- SINCE 40 YEARS AGO.

NATURAL GAS IS UP 25%, ELECTRICITY IS UP 10%.

ON TOP OF THE GAS PRICES THAT WE HAVE SEEN.

>> IT IS NOT THE GOVERNMENT THAT IS BANNING THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY FROM DRILLING MORE, AN EXPERT ANALYSIS TOLD CNN, IT'S PRESSURE FROM THEIR SHAREHOLDERS.

>> WE COULD DO A LOT BETTER IF WE WOULD ENCOURAGE THIS CURRENT ADMINISTRATION TO CHANGE COURSE AND GO BACK TO AN ENERGY INDEPENDENT MODEL SO WE'LL NO LONGER BE PUT IN THIS POSITION TO DEPEND ON COUNTRIES THAT DO NOT LIKE US, THAT DO NOT LIKE OUR WAY OF LIFE, AND THEY'RE JEALOUS OF OUR WAY OF LIFE, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW AND PROFIT OFF US BEING DIVISIVE HERE AT HOME.

>> FOLKS, THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL ARGUMENT.

THIS IS SIMPLE SUPPLY AND DEMAND.

THIS IS SIMPLE ECONOMICS.

I CAN TELL YOU, THAT THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION DID THE EXACT SAME THING.

>> Reporter: THE SENATE PASSED THE BILL UNANIMOUSLY.

ANOTHER BILL THAT PASSED IN THE SENATE IS HB-1147.

IT PASSED IN THE HOUSE ON LEGISLATIVE DAY 17.

IT DEALS WITH WILDLIFE.

>> IT OPENS UP THE POSSIBILITY FOR TRAPPING AND HUNTING OF RACCOONS AND POSSUMS YEAR ROUND FOR THAT DETERMINATION ON WHEN THAT WOULD HAPPEN BY THE DNR BOARD.

AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, THE DNR BOARD, WE SET THE BOOK ENDS ON HUNTING SEASONS IN OUR STATE, AND THE DNR BOARD DETERMINES WHAT THOSE SEASONS ARE WITHIN THOSE BOOK ENDS.

THIS IS JUST OPENING UP THAT BOOK END TO A 12-MONTH PERIOD.

>> Reporter: THE BILL PASSED 44-10.

DONNA, YOU MAY HAVE HEARD I SAID POSSUM INSTEAD OF OPOSSUM.

THAT'S THE WAY YOU SAY IT HERE IN THE GREAT STATE OF GEORGIA.

>>> NOW TO MY INTERVIEW WITH THE HOUSE SPEAKER, WHO HAS SERVED AS GEORGIA'S 73rd HOUSE SPEAKER FOR 12 YEARS.

THIS YEAR HE TACKLED OVERHAULING GEORGIA'S MENTAL HEALTH, WHICH IS NEAR THE BOTTOM IN THE NATION.

I STARTED OUR CONVERSATION BY ASKING HIM WHY HE CHOSE TO TALK ABOUT THIS ISSUE THIS YEAR.

>> I HAVE DEALT WITH MANY PEOPLE OVER THE YEARS WHO REACH OUT TO ME AS A LEGISLATOR AND TRYING TO FIND OUT WHERE THEY CAN GET HELP FOR A FAMILY MEMBER OR FOR A FRIEND.

AND HAVING TO TELL PEOPLE THAT WE SIMPLY HAVE VERY FEW OPTIONS IN GEORGIA, VERY FEW AVAILABILITY, VERY LITTLE AVAILABILITY TO PEOPLE AT ONE OF THE LOWEST POINTS OF THEIR LIFE, IT'S TOUGH.

AND IT JUST GOT TO BE FRUSTRATING TO ME, AND INCREASINGLY FRUSTRATING.

AND THEN I LOOK AROUND AT THE REPORTING THAT'S BEEN DONE ABOUT THE SPIKE IN TEENAGE SUICIDE LAST YEAR.

AND THAT -- THAT'S HEARTBREAKING AND TRAGIC.

LAW ENFORCEMENT, YOU KNOW, IS BEING JUST OVERWHELMED WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS HERE IN THE STATE.

YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD SHERIFFS TELL ME, INCLUDING MY OWN SHERIFF, THAT OVER HALF THE CALLS, WELL MORE THAN HALF OF THE CALLS HIS DEPARTMENT FIELDS ARE REALLY NOT VIOLATIONS OF THE LAW, BUT ARE MENTAL HEALTH IN NATURE.

SO IT WAS JUST A COMBINATION OF THINGS.

>> YOU TALKED ABOUT YOUR WIFE, CHEREE QUITE A BIT.

YOU CALLED HER INSPIRING AND MOTIVATING.

TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW SHE MOTIVATES YOU.

>> SHE ASKED THE QUESTIONS THAT I WOULD RATHER NOT BE ASKED.

VERY, VERY ASTUTE LADY, WITH A HEART, JUST A BEAUTIFUL HEART.

AND SHE ABSORBS PEOPLE'S PAIN SO MUCH.

WE TALKED ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH FOR A LONG, LONG TIME, SHE AND I.

SO SHE CHALLENGED ME ONE DAY AND SAYS, YOU KNOW, WHY CAN'T Y'ALL DO SOMETHING WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT THE NEXT ELECTION?

AND, WELL, BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY WE'RE BUILT, I GUESS, IS TO WORRY ABOUT THE NEXT ELECTION.

BUT THAT WAS A GOOD QUESTION AND AN HONEST QUESTION, AND IT WAS A QUESTION I PUT TO MYSELF AND I PUT TO OTHERS.

>> SOMETIMES IT TAKES PEOPLE CLOSE TO US TO TELL US, TO MAKE US DO CERTAIN THINGS.

BEFORE THE SESSION, YOU ALSO MENTIONED PUBLIC SAFETY AS A PRIORITY.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT SOMEWHAT HAS BEEN DONE SO FAR THIS SESSION ON PUBLIC SAFETY?

>> I'M HAPPY WITH WHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR.

I THINK THAT MUCH OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY WORK HAS BEEN DONE IN THE BUDGET, AND WE HAVE ALLOCATED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO THE STATE PATROL, FOR EXAMPLE, TO BEEF UP THEIR PATROLS HERE IN THE CITY OF ATLANTA.

AND I'VE SEEN THE STATISTICS FROM THE WEEKENDS THAT THEY ARE -- THEY HAVE A STRONG PRESENCE HERE.

THEY ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

THE GEORGIA STATE PATROL IS TRULY A GAME CHANGER ON THE INCREASE IN CRIME HERE.

SO WE HAVE PUT SOME MORE RESOURCES THERE.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE RECOGNIZING THE WORK AND WORTH OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY BY GIVING PAY INCREASES TO THEM AS WELL AS OTHER STATE EMPLOYEES.

SO I THINK THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING THERE IS GOING TO PAY DIVIDENDS AND IS GOING TO BE VERY BENEFICIAL FOR ALL OF GEORGIANS.

>> YOU HAD CONCERN OVER PEOPLE WHO DON'T ACCEPT THEIR RESULTS OF THE 2020 ELECTIONS.

YOU SAID YOU WANTED THE GBI TO BE INVOLVED IN THE INVESTIGATIONS OVER ELECTIONS WHEN THERE'S SOME QUESTIONS.

THAT'S PART OF IT HB-1464, AND IT WAS THE LAST BILL TO PASS ON CROSSOVER DAY.

DO YOU THINK THE ELEMENTS OF THAT BILL WILL GET YOU TO THE POINT WHERE YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO SAY WE NOW TRUST ELECTIONS IN THIS STATE?

>> I HOPE SO.

I THINK THAT, PLUS TIME, WILL HELP.

YOU KNOW, I HAVE A STRONG VIEW THAT PART OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE LACK OF ACCEPTANCE AND THE LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN THE 2020 ELECTION BY A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WAS DUE TO THE FACT THAT EVERYTHING WAS KIND OF MOVING IN SLOW MOTION THERE FOR A WEEK OR TWO OR MORE, YOU KNOW, FULTON COUNTY WAS TAKING A LONG TIME TO COUNT THEIR BALLOTS.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S KIND OF SPAWNING ALL THESE STORIES THAT WE READ AND -- ABOUT MOVING SUITCASES OF BALLOTS AROUND DOWN THERE AT THE COURTHOUSE OR THE VOTE COUNTING CENTER.

SO THE LONGER YOU DO NOT HAVE A RESOLUTION, THEN SOMETHING IS GOING TO FILL THAT VOID.

IN THIS CASE, IT WAS SUSPICION IT STARTED FILLING UP THAT VOID.

IF WE HAD HAD THE -- IF WE HAD HAD THIS BILL IN PLACE, SO WE CAN EMPOWER THE GBI TO GO IN AND CONDUCT PROMPT, THOROUGH, PROFESSIONAL, INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATIONS, I DON'T KNOW WHO COULD OPPOSE THAT.

THEY'RE NOT INVOLVED IN THE ELECTION.

THEY ONLY GET INVOLVED IF THERE ARE PROBLEMS AFTERWARDS.

BUT HAVING THEM GET INVOLVED I THINK WOULD HAVE MADE A HUGE, HUGE DIFFERENCE.

I MEAN, THEY'RE THE TOP LAW ENFORCEMENT INVESTIGATIVE UNIT IN THE STATE AND THEY DO AMAZING WORK.

I MEAN, THEY DID A GREAT JOB ON BRINGING THE NOW KILLERS OF AHMAUD ARBERY TO JUSTICE.

PEOPLE FORGET, THAT WAS THE GBI THAT DID THAT.

SO I TRUST THEM ON THIS ISSUE.

I THINK THIS CAN -- THIS CAN GO A LONG WAY TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE OPEN TO LISTENING TO THE FACTS.

THIS CAN GO A LONG WAY TO ALLAYING THEIR CONCERNS.

>> CRITICAL RACE THEORY, TRANSGENDER GIRLS IN SPORTS AND TEACHING OF DIVISIVE CONCEPTS, HOW IMPORTANT WERE THOSE BILLS TO YOU COMING INTO THIS SESSION?

>> WELL, THE CRITICAL RACE THEORY AND THE DIVISIVE CONCEPTS, I THINK ACTUALLY STEM FROM A LARGER SORT OF CONCERN THAT THERE ARE MANY PARENTS IN GEORGIA, RIGHTLY OR WRONGLY, WHO FEEL THAT THEY ARE BEING EXCLUDED FROM THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS IN PUBLIC EDUCATION.

AND THAT THEY HAVE NO ABILITY TO BE INFORMED ABOUT WHAT THEIR KIDS ARE STUDYING OR BEING TAUGHT.

I THINK THEY JUST WANT SOME INFORMATION, MAYBE A VOICE AT THE TABLE.

THESE ARE THEIR CHILDREN.

SO I THINK THAT WE HAVE SEEN EDUCATION, THIS SESSION BECOMES NOT SO MUCH A, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH MONEY ARE WE SPENDING HERE, WHAT KIND OF PROGRAMS ARE WE DOING HERE?

BUT IT HAS BECOME A, UMM, A, UMM, UMM, A REAL -- TRYING TO REACH OUT AND LET PARENTS KNOW THAT YOU ARE IMPORTANT AND YES, WE DO KNOW THESE ARE YOUR CHILDREN, AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A PLACE AT THE TABLE.

>> CHANGE THE SUBJECT AGAIN AND TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT TRYING TO CLEAN UP THE MEDICAL CANNABIS LAW.

I UNDERSTAND YOU HAD TO STEP IN.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT, WHY YOU FELT THE NEED TO AND WHAT YOU DID?

>> WE'RE THREE OR FOUR YEARS DOWN THE ROAD FROM THE FIRST VOTE TO BRING THE PROGRAM TO GEORGIA.

AND STILL NOTHING HAS HAPPENED.

IT APPEARED TO ME THAT IF WE HAD TO DO SOMETHING OR WE'RE GOING TO BE ANOTHER YEAR, AND NOTHING WILL HAVE HAPPENED.

SO YEAH, I GOT A LITTLE FRUSTRATED AND I JUSTIFIABLY SAID, YOU KNOW, LOOK, WE'RE JUST GOING TO TAKE THE FOCUS OFF THE APPEALS AND THE PROTEST AND THE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY, WHICH I AGREE WITH.

AND WE'RE GOING TO START OVER ALMOST.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING.

BILL.

IT WILL START -- IT WILL REOPEN THE BID PROCESS UP, BUT IT PUTS IT ON A TIMELINE.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT WILL ALSO ALLOW OR DIRECT THAT THE OIL BE BROUGHT INTO THE STATE BY AUGUST.

SO FAMILIES AREN'T GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT ANY LONGER.

>> TEN DAYS LEFT.

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT IN THE LAST TEN DAYS?

>> THE UNEXPECTED.

I REALLY HOPE THAT WE GET THE MENTAL HEALTH BILL WORKED OUT SOON.

T I REALLY HOPE THAT WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT BILL, WITHOUT SOME OF THE -- GOT A LITTLE HYSTERIA KIND OF BOILING UP AROUND IT NOW, AND JUST COMPLETELY FABRICATED THINGS.

MEDICAL CANNABIS, I HOPE WE CAN GET ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

I THINK WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, OUR -- THE BUDGET IS STILL OUT THERE TO BE RESOLVED.

SO WE'VE GOT A GOOD BIT OF WORK YET TO DO.

THOSE ARE THREE OF THE BIGGIES I THINK I WOULD KEEP AN EYE ON.

>> I WANT TO THANK THE HOUSE SPEAKER FOR THAT INTERVIEW.

WE'LL HAVE THE FULL INTERVIEW ON GPB.ORG.

HE TALKS ABOUT WHAT WE CAN EXPECT IN THESE LAST TEN DAYS OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND HE REFLECTS ON THE LAWMAKERS WHO WILL BE LEAVING AFTER THE 2022 SESSION ENDS.

COMING UP NEXT, A CLOSER LOOK AT LEGISLATION DEALING WITH CRIME ISSUES, INCLUDING BILLS TO BETTER TRACK SEX OFFENDERS ON PROBATION AND THOSE INVOLVED IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

YOU'RE WATCHING "LAWMAKERS" ON GPB.

>> CIGNA IS A PROUD PARTNER OF GEORGIA LAWMAKERS.

GO TO CIGNA.COM TO LEARN MORE.

>> "LAWMAKERS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- >>> WELCOME BACK TO "LAWMAKERS."

WE'RE GOING TO TALK NOW ABOUT CRIME LEGISLATION.

JOINING ME ARE REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE STEVEN SANS OF ST. MARYS, AND DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE DEBORAH BAZEMORE.

WELCOME TO "LAWMAKERS" TO BOTH OF YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> BOTH OF YOU HAVE AN INTEREST IN WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE STATE WHEN IT COMES TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING, SO I WANT TO TALK ABOUT A COUPLE BILLS.

YOU SPONSORED HB-663, THE GEORGIA HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND SEX CRIMES DIRECTORY ACT.

SO TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BILL AND WHAT YOU WANTED TO GET OUT OF IT.

>> SO THE BILL WAS -- THE INTENT OF THE BILL WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE IN THE FIGHT SPEAK TO ONE ANOTHER, AND HAVE ONE CENTRAL DIRECTORY.

SO THAT WHAT I FOUND WHEN I HOSTED THE FIRST LADY IN MY DISTRICT, IS THAT THERE WERE INDIVIDUALS THERE, AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THE SAME VICTIM.

AND WE FOUND THAT OUT BY ACCIDENT.

THEY DID NOT KNOW BOTH OF THEM WERE WORKING ON THE SAME CASE WITH THE SAME VICTIM.

SO I SAID, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS CAN TALK AND FIND OUT VERY EASILY IN ONE LOCATION, WHICH IS A DIRECTORY.

>> I'M CURIOUS AS TO HOW THAT HAPPENS, THAT THEY COULD BE IN DIFFERENT -- THAT THE SAME PERSON COULD BE HELPED BY MORE THAN ONE.

>> SO SEX TRAFFICKERS, HUMAN TRAFFICKERS, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO KEEP THOSE VICTIMS IN ONE PLACE.

SO IT COULD TART IN COLLEGE PARK, AND THEN IT COULD END UP IN ALFREDA.

SO YOU HAVE TWO DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS, AND THEY NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED WITH THAT VICTIM.

>> AND THE TOUGH PART, THOUGH, I CAN IMAGINE, HAS TO DEAL WITH THE NAMES OF THE VICTIMS, RIGHT?

HOW DO YOU GET PAST THAT?

YOU KNOW, THEY WANT TO BE ANONYMOUS, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE TRYING TO GET OUT, THAT KIND OF THING.

>> SO WITH THE NAMES, THERE WAS A BILL INTRODUCED, AND I THINK THE FIRST LADY AND WHAT SHE FOUND IS THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR VICTIMS TO CHANGE THEIR NAMES EASILY SO THEY COULD NOT BE FOUND.

BUT WITH THAT LEGISLATION, NOW THEY CAN GO TO COURT AND CHANGE IT EASILY AND THEY CANNOT BE FOUND.

>> YOU TALKED ABOUT THE FIRST LADY COMING INTO YOUR DISTRICT.

SHE'S TALKED IN YOUR DISTRICT SEVERAL TIMES, AND SHE'S GOT THE GRACE COMMISSION.

HOW HELPFUL HAS THAT BEEN FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS?

>> IT'S BEEN VERY HELPFUL, BECAUSE I ALSO INVITED THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, THE SHERIFF, THE MAYORS, EVERYONE THAT IS IN THAT VICINITY.

AND EVEN LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITY, BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE INDIVIDUALS THAT KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

THEY HAVE THE PULSE OF THE STREETS.

SO WHEN SHE CAME, SHE WAS ABLE TO ADD TO THE CONVERSATION AND ALSO TAKE AWAY FROM THE KFRGSZ, WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH IN THAT AREA.

SO I APPRECIATE THE MONEYS THAT ARE CONSTANTLY BEING PUT IN THE BUDGET TO HELP THOSE VICTIMS.

AND ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE OUR CHILDREN ARE SAFE.

AND TO UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE I MAY UNDERSTAND IT ONE WAY, BUT THEN TAKE THE SUPERINTENDENT, HE WASN'T QUITE AWARE THAT THERE ARE STUDENTS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR OTHER STUDENTS AND GET THEM INTO THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

SO WE NEED TO EDUCATE EVERYBODY.

>> YEAH, BECAUSE WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED FROM FIRST LADY KEMP AND OTHERS IS THAT THE STUDENTS ARE STILL GOING TO SCHOOL AND PEOPLE THINK THEY'RE NOT.

BUT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE TRAFFICKING THEM KNOW THAT SCHOOL IS IMPORTANT, SO THEY HAVE THEM DO THAT.

ALL RIGHT.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT YOUR ASPECT OF THAT, REPRESENTATIVE.

YOU HAVE A BILL THAT DEALS WITH HUMAN TRAFFICKING CALLED -- ACTUALLY, YOU'RE FOCUSING MORE ON PROBATION AREAS AND THINGS LIKE THAT WHEN IT COMES TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

>> IT'S CONGRUENT WITH BOTH BILLS.

THE FACT THAT WE NEED TO BE VICTIM CENTERED.

THE GOVERNOR DEALS IN ADMINISTRATION AND WE HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE WE'RE BEING SMART WITH OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

BUT WE HAVE TO REMAIN VICTIM CENTERED.

AND HOUSE BILL 194 ENSURES THAT THOSE WITH THE MOST DANE ROUSE AND HEINOUS SEXUAL OFFENSES, THE STATE BOARD LOOKS AT IF THEY'RE LEVEL THREE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S SOME WAY OF MONITORING THESE INDIVIDUALS FOR THEIR LIFETIME, IF IT'S WARRANTED.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT MONITORING.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT MAKING SURE WHEN THEY ARE ON PROBATION, THEY HAVE SOME DEVICE ON THEM THAT TRACKS THEM, RIGHT?

>> SURE, A GPS MONITORING IS SHOWN TO BE ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS AT DETERRING AN ADDITIONAL CRIME, ESPECIALLY WITH OFFENDERS WHO HAVE ALREADY COMMITTED THAT OFFENSE.

SO WHAT THIS WOULD DO IS GIVE -- WHAT USED TO HAPPEN, WHICH WAS AN INTERESTING CASE IS IF THEY ARE A LEVEL THREE SEX OFFENDER, IT WOULD PUT THEM ON A GPS ANKLE MONITOR.

THE GEORGIA SUPREME COURT COURT NOTED IN 2019 THAT WAS NOT ALLOWED.

SO THIS CREATES A SYSTEM UPON SENTENCING THAT WE PUT THEM ON THAT GPS MONITORING AFTER THEY SERVE THEIR INITIAL OFFENSE.

>> WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

THAT WOULD APPLY TO PEOPLE WHO ARE CONVICTED, WHO HAVE TRAFFICKED PEOPLE.

BUT ALSO SEX OFFENDERS IN GENERAL, RIGHT?

>> AND YOU BROUGHT UP A GREAT POINT.

THE WAY WE DID IT TO NARROW THE SCOPE, BECAUSE FOR GOOD PURPOSE, WE DON'T WANT TO PUT A LIFETIME SENTENCE ON AN INDIVIDUAL WITHOUT A LOT OF INTENT BEHIND IT.

SO WHAT THIS BILL DOES, IF YOU'RE TWICE ADJUDICATED OFFENDER, SO YOU HAVE GONE THROUGH THE SENTENCING ONCE FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING OR ONE OF THE OTHER SEX OFFENSES, AND THEN DURING YOUR SECOND TIME, THAT'S WHEN THAT LIFETIME CONCURRENT PROBATION PERIOD GETS ADDED ON, WHICH WOULD ALLOW FOR THE GPS MONITORING TO TAKE PLACE.

>> WHERE IS THAT BILL RIGHT NOW?

>> THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.

IT PASSED LAST YEAR, AND LIKE MANY THINGS, IT BECAME CHAOTIC, SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING A REHEARING AND HOPEFULLY GO THROUGH THERE.

>> YOURS DIDN'T MAKE IT EITHER, BUT YOU'RE HOPEFUL, BECAUSE SOME OF THE ASPECTS YOU FOUND ELSEWHERE, AND SOME LEGISLATION, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

WORKING CLOSELY WITH MY COLLEAGUES, WE CAN ALL WORK TOGETHER AND PUT IT IN ONE BILL.

IT'S NOT THAT IMPORTANT THAT IT'S MY BILL OR THEIR BILL.

IT'S OUR BILL FOR OUR CHILDREN.

>> I LOVE THAT.

I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT ONE OTHER BILL THAT YOU HAVE.

IT DEALS WITH HEALTHY LIVING FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, HB-1554.

>> THANK YOU.

THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT CAME TO ME LATE IN THE SESSION.

AS LEGISLATORS, CITIZEN LEGISLATORS, WE TAKE THE PROBLEMS THAT WE FIND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND TRY TO TAKE SOME MEANINGFUL ACTION.

I'M PRIVILEGED TO WORK WITH PROFESSIONALS THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND THEY HIGHLIGHTED THAT OUR DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION THROUGHOUT THE COVID PERIOD, WE HAVE A THING CALLED THE GEORGIA STUDENT HEALTH SURVEY.

WE USED TO, THAT MONITORED WHAT TEENAGERS -- HARMFUL BEHAVIORS OF TEACHES IN OUR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS AND THAT ALLOWED US TO GET THE HELP THAT THOSE PARTICULAR SYSTEMS NEEDED, IF THEY HAD A HIGH RATE OF ALCOHOL USE OR MARIJUANA OR E-VAPING, WHICH IS A HUGE CRISIS.

IT'S MOVED TO AN OPTIONAL COUNTY BY COUNTY SURVEY.

THE NEGATIVE IS WE HAVE BLACKOUT AREAS OF WHERE WE ARE MEASURING THE PROBLEM AND WHERE WE ARE NOT.

SO HOPEFULLY MANY THINGS RETURN BACK TO NORMAL AFTER THE COVID PANDEMIC.

>> YOU SAID PART OF THE PROBLEM IS FEDERAL DOLLARS ARE TIED TO THOSE NUMBERS.

>> THOSE CORE MEASURES IS SOMETHING THAT'S USED BY THE CDC FOR OPTIONAL DOLLARS THAT WE COMPETE WITH NORTH CAROLINA AND CALIFORNIA ON, IN ENSURING THAT WE CAN DO THINGS LIKE SOURCES OF STRENGTH PROGRAMS IN OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS, AND GATE KEEPER TRAININGS FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION.

THIS IS PART OF MAKING SURE GEORGIA IS CCOMPETITIVE.

OUR PROBLEMS LIE IN MAKING SURE WE HAVE THE BEST TOOLS.

>> WE HAVE ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT.

AS YOU THINK ABOUT THIS LAST TEN DAYS, I ASKED THE SPEAKER ABOUT THAT, WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING THE LAST TEN DAYS?

>> I EXPECT THAT WE CONTINUE TO COME TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF ALL GEORGIANS.

IT'S ONE GEORGIA.

BUT I DID WANT TO SAY ONE THING, THERE IS A UNIVERSAL HAND GESTURE FOR THOSE VICTIMS, AND IF YOU DON'T MIND -- >> GO AHEAD.

>> IT IS -- AND RECENTLY, WE HAD AN INDIVIDUAL THAT WAS SAVED BECAUSE SHE DID THIS.

AND SOMEONE UNDERSTOOD THAT SHE WAS IN TROUBLE.

>> SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN TRAFFICKED IN >> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> THAT'S INTERESTING.

THANK YOU FOR THAT.

I DON'T HAVE TIME TO ASK YOU, BUT YOU'RE PRETTY GOOD RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF THE LAST TEN DAYS -- >> IT'S GOING TO BE FUN CHAOS.

>> ALWAYS IS.

I WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH FOR COMING ON THE SHOW AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT FOR "LAWMAKERS."

LOOK FOR "LAWMAKERS" CAPITOL REPORT TOMORROW AT THE END OF THE PBS NEWS HOUR.

AND TOMORROW NIGHT AT 7:00, TURN IN FOR "POLITICAL REWIND."

WE'LL SEE YOU ON MONDAY FOR AN HOUR LONG "LAWMAKERS" BUDGET SHOW ONLY LEGISLATIVE DAY 31.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.