♪♪ >>> IT'S TOUGH FOR ANY MOTHER WHO'S LOST A SON, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LOSE A SON IN THE EYE OF THE WORLD.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, SHE'S ABLE OR THE FAMILY'S ABLE TO DEAL WITH IN PRIVATE.

HER SON WAS TAKEN ON VIDEO.

>> REFLECTIONS ON A MOTHER'S PUBLIC GRIEF FROM THE ATTORNEY FOR AHMAUD ARBERY'S MOM AS TOMORROW MARKS THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF HIS DEATH.

GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "LAWMAKERS" ON THIS LEGISLATIVE DAY 20.

I'M DONNA LOWRY IN ATLANTA.

I HAVE A FULL INTERVIEW WITH L. CHRIS STEWART WHO REPRESENTS AHMAUD'S MOTHER.

HE DISCUSSES THE DELAY IN EVENTS BECAUSE OF THE COVID-19 RELATED COURT SHUTDOWN.

HE TALKS ABOUT HOW MINNESOTA IS HANDLING THE GEORGE FLOYD TRIAL WITH SAFETY PRECAUTIONS IN THE COURTROOM.

AND WE'LL HAVE THAT INTERVIEW FOR YOU IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.

>>> ALSO JOINING US, THE LAWMAKER WHO IS THE LEAD SPONSOR OF THE BIPARTISAN BILL TO END THE CITIZENS ARREST LAW THAT WAS INITIALLY USED AS A DEFENSE IN ARBERY'S KILLING.

WE'LL ALSO TALK TO TWO LAWMAKERS ABOUT OTHER CRIMINAL JUSTICE ISSUES.

BUT FIRST, WE HEAD TO THE CAPITAL AND OUR CAPITAL CORRESPONDENT, BRENDA WATERS WITH TODAY'S TOP NEWS.

BRENDA, THE FIGHT OVER ELECTION REFORM CONTINUES.

>> Reporter: IN A BIG WAY.

THE HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ELECTION INTEGRITY MET THIS AFTERNOON.

NOW, YOU MAY REMEMBER LAST WEEK COMMITTEE CHAIR BARRY FLEMING INTRODUCED HOUSE BILL 531 A COMPREHENSIVE ELECTION PACKAGE THAT WOULD MAKE CHANGES TO EARLY VOTING, ABSENTEE VOTING AND HOW ELECTIONS ARE RUN.

TODAY SEVERAL PEOPLE SPOKE UP ABOUT THE BILL DURING OPEN TESTIMONY.

SOME WERE ON ZOOM, OTHERS WERE IN PERSON INCLUDING DEKALB COUNTY VOTER LIZ TROOP.

>> THIS BODY HAS THE POWER TO MAKE OUR VOTING SYSTEM PRIVATE, BUT THIS IS NOT THE WAY.

PLEASE DO NOT PASS THIS BILL OUT OF COMMITTEE.

>> Reporter: THE PRESIDENT OF THE STATE NAACP REVEREND JAMES WOODALL ALSO HAD HIS TURN AT THE MICROPHONE.

>> WE STAND THIS DIRECT OPPOSITION TO THIS LEGISLATION.

WE BELIEVE THAT THE RIGHT TO VOTE IS THE MOST SACRED RIGHT OF IT ALL.

AND THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION, THOUGH VERY, VERY DETAILS, WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT THIS IS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF OUR STATE.

>> Reporter: THE COMMITTEE JUST WRAPPED UP ABOUT AN HOUR AGO.

THEY PLAN TO HEAR MORE TESTIMONY TOMORROW.

>>> THE HOUSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM COMMITTEE MET THIS AFTERNOON TO TALK ABOUT ONLINE SPORTS BETTING.

REPRESENTATIVE RON STEVENS WHO SPONSORED HOUSE BILL 86 SAYS THE STATE WOULD BENEFIT FINANCIALLY.

>> THE BIGGEST PIECE THAT IT DOES FROM THE PREVIOUS BILL IS IT CHANGES THE TAX RATE FROM 14 TO 20%, WHICH SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASES THE REVENUE.

>> BUT SEVERAL LAWMAKERS ARE WORRIED ABOUT HOW MINORITIES WOULD FIT INTO THE EQUATION.

WHAT WOULD BE THE MINORITY COMMUNITY'S PIECE OF THE PIE?

>> WE NEED TO KNOW THAT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE GOING TO BENEFIT FROM, I BELIEVE YOU SAID $4.8 BILLION?

>> NO, I'M SORRY, THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE IN GEORGIA ARE CURRENTLY SPENDING TODAY PER YEAR.

>> RIGHT, I UNDERSTAND.

>> WE WOULD BENEFIT INTO THE LOTTERY -- THROUGH THE LOTTERY TO THE STUDENT FINANCE WOULD BE BETWEEN -- NOW THAT WE GOT A DIFFERENT RATE -- MORE THAN 30 MILLION A YEAR, WHICH IS KIND OF A DROP IN THE BUCKET WHEN YOU CONSIDER IT.

>> RIGHT.

SO I JUST -- I DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN'T REITERATE THAT POINT ENOUGH, THAT IN ORDER FOR US TO SUPPORT SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND SEE THE BENEFIT IN IT AND NOT JUST THE SUBTRACTION FROM OUR COMMUNITY.

>> THE BILL PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE AND NOW HEADS TO HOUSE RULES.

>> HOUSE BILL 150 GARNERED A LOT OF CHATTER ON THE FLOOR THIS MORNING.

ONE PARTICULAR REPRESENTATIVE WAS IN STRONG OPPOSITION.

THE BILL WAS SPONSORED BY REPRESENTATIVE BRUCE WILLIAMSON, AND HE SAYS IT'S ALL ABOUT ENERGY CHOICE.

>> THIS BILL QUITE SIMPLY WOULD PROTECT CITIZENS' RIGHTS TO CHOOSE THE ENERGY BILL CHOICE THAT BEST FITS THEIR BUDGETS.

IT PROHIBITS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FROM DENYING FUEL SERVICE BASED SOLELY ON THE TYPE OR SOURCE OR THE ENERGY BEING PROVIDED BY THE UTILITY COMPANY.

I WANT TO STRESS THAT THIS IS NOT HAPPENING IN GEORGIA, AND THAT BOTH THE GEORGIA MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION AS WELL AS THE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS REMAIN NEUTRAL ON THE MEASURE.

>> REPRESENTATIVE WILLIAMSON SAYS IT WILL PROTECT FARMERS, AND HELP RESTAURANTS.

REPRESENTATIVE DAVID DRIER GAVE THE BILL A THUMBS DOWN.

>> I RISE IN OPPOSITION TO HOUSE BILL 150.

WHAT WE'RE COMING UP WITH IS THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO.

THEY'RE GOING TO BAN RESTAURANTS FROM USING NATURAL GAS.

THEY'RE GOING TO STOP SOMEBODY FROM RECONNECTING.

THOSE THINGS CAN EASILY BE SOLVED BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS BILL DOES.

I DON'T KNOW WHY WE'RE PREJUDICING CITIES AND COUNTIES 15, 20 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD WITH SOMETHING TODAY THAT MAY HAPPEN.

>> HOUSE BILL 150 PASSED 103-62.

>>> NOW, MANY OF US PROBABLY HAVEN'T SEEN OUR DOCTOR FACE-TO-FACE SINCE THE PANDEMIC.

WE HAVE BEEN MEETING VIA ZOOM, BETTER KNOWN AS TELEMEDICINE.

REPRESENTATIVE SHARON COOPER WOULD LIKE THAT TO CONTINUE THROUGH HER BILL, HB-307.

>> SO WHAT THIS DOES IS PUTS MOST OF THOSE PRIVILEGES THAT WE HAVE HAD AND THE NEW INNOVATIONS INTO OUR LAW SO THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE AFTER THE PANDEMIC.

TELEMEDICINE IS SO CONVENIENT FOR PATIENTS, AND THERE'S ONE PLACE THAT'S ESPECIALLY GOOD, AND THAT IS DEALING WITH PATIENTS WITH MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS.

TELEMEDICINE IS ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE CAN EXPAND THOSE SERVICES ESPECIALLY INTO OUR RURAL AREAS.

>> HOUSE BILL 307 PASSED 158-0.

AND THAT IS MY CAPITOL REPORT, DONNA, BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, BRENDA.

>>> NOW TO A SOBERING ANNIVERSARY.

TOMORROW MARKS ONE YEAR SINCE THE SHOOTING DEATH OF AHMAUD ARBERY IN GLEN COUNTY.

ON FEBRUARY 23rd, 2020, ARBERY WAS JOGGING NOT FAR FROM HIS GLEN COUNTY HOME WHERE HE WAS SHOT AND KILLED.

INITIALLY, PROSECUTORS CITED THE CITIZENS ARREST LAW AS TO WHY THEY DID NOT CHARGE A FORMER GLEN COUNTY POLICE OFFICER AND HIS SON IN THE DEATH.

MONTHS LATER, A VIRAL VIDEO LED TO THE ARRESTS OF THOSE MEN AND A THIRD SUSPECT.

THEY ARE AWAITING TRIAL ON SEVERAL OTHER CHARGES INCLUDING MALICE MURDER.

ARBERY'S FAMILY WILL MARK TOMORROW'S ANNIVERSARY WITH A CANDLELIGHT VIGIL AT HIS GRAVE SITE.

EARLIER, I TALKED TO THE ATTORNEY FOR ARBERY'S MOTHER, WANDA COOPER JONES.

L. CHRIS STEWART DISCUSSED THE LATEST WITH THE CASE AND THE GEORGIA COURT SYSTEM POSSIBLY OPENING SOON THE WAY COURTS HAVE IN MINNESOTA WHERE HE'S INVOLVED IN THE GEORGE FLOYD CASE, BUT WE STARTED WITH HOW AHMAUD'S MOTHER IS DOING.

>>.

>> IT'S TOUGH FOR ANY MOTHER THAT'S LOST A SON, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LOSE A SON IN THE EYE OF THE WORLD.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, SHE'S ABLE OR THE FAMILY'S ABLE TO DEAL WITH IN PRIVATE.

HER SON WAS TAKEN ON VIDEO, AND YOU KNOW, IT WON'T STOP UNTIL THERE'S JUSTICE.

>> WHAT LESSONS COME OUT OF ALL OF THIS IS THIS.

>> WELL, IT'S ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF -- WELL, TWO THINGS, A MOTHER'S DETERMINATION TO GET JUSTICE AND TO GET RID OF D.A.

'S THAT WERE PURPOSEFULLY HOLDING THE CASE BACK, AND YOU WILL NOT STOP A MOTHER WHO IS DETERMINED TO GET JUSTICE FOR HER CHILD, AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, SADLY, YOU KNOW, JUSTICE BY VIDEO BECAUSE IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THE VIDEO, WE WOULDN'T HAVE SEEN THE HORRIFIC TRUTH OF WHAT HAPPENED.

AND TOO OFTEN, AFRICANS ONLY GET JUSTICE BY VIDEO.

EVERY MAJOR CASE THAT I'VE HAD OF VIDEO PLAYED A BIG ROLE, WALTER SCOTT, ALTON STERLING, THIS CASE, GEORGE FLOYD, DEANDRE PHILLIPS, THE NAMES GO ON AND ON.

WE HAVE TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE A VIDEO ISN'T REQUIRED FOR AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN TO GET JUSTICE.

>> THE GOVERNOR AND A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF LAWMAKERS, THEY'RE ALL SUPPORTING A REPEAL OF CITIZENS ARREST.

YOUR FEELINGS ON THAT?

>> I REVIEWED THE BILL, COMMENTED ON IT.

WE'VE BEEN CALLING FOR CHANGE TO THE CITIZENS ARREST LAWS THAT WERE IN THE BOOKS RIGHT AFTER AHMAUD'S DEATH, AND IT'S A GREAT MOVE FOR GEORGIA.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WAS NEEDED FOR YEARS, AND THE BILL IS A GOOD BILL.

>> TELL ME WHAT YOU LIKE ABOUT IT, THE FACT THAT IT IS A REPEAL, BUT THERE ARE SOME ASPECTS TO IT THAT THEY'RE PUTTING IN THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN DETAIN A LAWBREAKER OR SOMEONE PERCEIVED TO BE A LAWBREAKER.

>> YEAH, WHAT IT REALLY DOES IS IT SPECIFIES THE LAW BETTER.

IT ALLOWS SHOP OWNERS, BUSINESS OWNERS, POLICE OFFICERS IN DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS TO EFFECTUATE AN ARREST, BUT IT DOES NOT ALLOW YOUR AVERAGE CITIZEN JUST TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE UP IN THEIR OWN MIND THAT THEY FEEL SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED AND TO TRY AND ARREST OR DETAIN SOMEONE.

IT ALSO SPECIFICALLY FORBIDS DEADLY FORCE BEING USED.

>> IF WE GET THROUGH CITIZENS ARREST, YOU'LL BE HAPPY AT LEAST FOR NOW.

>> WE WON'T BE HAPPY UNTIL ALL THREE OF THE DEFENDANTS ARE PUT IN JAIL FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

>> AND LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.

WHAT'S THE LATEST ON THAT CASE?

>> YOU KNOW, SADLY, WITH GEORGIA OUR COURTS AREN'T OPEN YET, AND SO EVERYONE IS WAITING NOT JUST IN THIS CASE, BUT IN EVERY CASE, FOR TRIAL DATES, FOR THE COURTS TO OPEN BACK UP, AND SO EVERYONE IS JUST WAITING FOR THAT TO HAPPEN, AND THEN THE TRIAL WILL GET SET.

>> SO RIGHT NOW I RECENTLY INTERVIEWED JUSTICE MELTON, AND HE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO OPEN UP IN MARCH, BUT EVEN ONCE THAT STARTS, WHAT DO YOU PREDICT?

SO IF WE OPEN, FOR INSTANCE, IN MARCH, HOW LONG DO YOU THINK IT WILL TAKE FOR A TRIAL TO MAYBE BEGIN?

IS THERE ANY WAY OF KNOWING?

>> NO WAY.

I MEAN, I HAVE SO MANY CASES WAITING FOR TRIAL.

THERE'S JUST NO WAY, BUT IF WE OPEN IN MARCH, THAT WILL BE CHRISTMAS IN MARCH BECAUSE AS LAWYERS, WE HAVE BEEN PRAYING FOR THAT DAY TO HAPPEN BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, JUSTICE CAN'T HAPPEN IN ANY CASE I HAVE WHETHER IT'S A SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIM OR WRONGFUL DEATH.

JUSTICE CAN'T HAPPEN UNTIL THE COURTS OPEN.

>> I'M CURIOUS, WHAT DO YOU SAY TO JURORS WHO MAY BE APPREHENSIVE ABOUT GOING INTO ANY COURTROOM, EVEN IN MARCH?

>> IT'S THE SAME APPREHENSION WE'LL HAVE GOING TO STARBUCKS OR GOING TO WORK.

YOU KNOW, THE SCHOOLS ARE OPENING.

YOU KNOW, IT'S -- YOU KNOW, GET THE VACCINE, AND LET'S START TRYING TO GET BACK TO OUR REGULAR SOCIETY, ESPECIALLY WITH THE COURTS BEING OPEN BECAUSE WITHOUT THE ARM OF JUSTICE, WITHOUT THE COURTS BEING OPENED FULLY, IT SLOWS DOWN SOCIETY.

>> YEAH, I THINK PEOPLE WILL UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN THEY THINK OF A CASE LIKE WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE AHMAUD ARBERY CASE THAT IT HAS NOT GONE ANYWHERE, AND IT WON'T UNTIL THERE ARE -- THERE'S A JURY IN PLACE, AND THE JUSTICE SYSTEM IS ABLE TO RAMP UP AGAIN.

>> YEAH, AND THEY'RE BEING CREATIVE, YOU KNOW, WITH THE GEORGE FLOYD CASE.

WHEN WE HAVE TO FLY UP THERE, WE'RE IN COURT IN MINNESOTA, AND WHEN WE GO TO COURT, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE PLEXIGLASS BETWEEN THE JUDGE AND US.

YOU HAVE TO WEAR A MASK THE ENTIRE TIME.

YOU'RE SEATED, YOU KNOW, SOCIALLY DISTANCED APART.

SO YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT STATES ARE TRYING DIFFERENT METHODS TO GET THEIR COURTS BACK OPEN, SO I KNOW GEORGIA, AND I KNOW, YOU KNOW, JUSTICE MELTON WHO'S ONE OF THE BEST, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GOING TO FIGURE IT OUT.

>> YEAH, I DIDN'T REALIZE YOU WERE INVOLVED IN THE GEORGE FLOYD CASE.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN THAT.

>> I'M CO-LEAD COUNSEL WITH BEN CRUMP, SO PROBABLY IN MINNESOTA EVERY OTHER MONTH.

SO WITH THAT, THE CRIMINAL TRIAL STARTS NEXT MONTH, AND SO LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING JUSTICE IN THAT ONE.

>> I WANT TO THANK L. CHRIS STEWART FOR TALKING WITH ME.

>>> NOW, WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS THE CITIZENS ARREST LAW WITH REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE BURT REEVES OF MARIETTA, WHO IS US WITH REMOTELY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US ON "LAWMAKERS," REPRESENTATIVE.

>> THANK YOU, DONNA.

YOU HEARD ATTORNEY STEWART SAY HE SUPPORTS THE BILL, HB-479.

YOU'RE THE LEAD SPONSOR.

EXPLAIN HOW THE BILL REPEALS THE CITIZENS ARREST LAW, A LAW THAT HAS SEEMED OPEN TO WIDE INTERPRETATION OVER THE YEARS.

>> SURE, AND BEFORE I SAY THAT, I JUST WANT TO SAY YOU SAID IT BEST A MINUTE AGO.

IT IS QUITE SOBERING REALIZING THAT TOMORROW IS THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THIS, AND WHAT'S SHOCKING ON A TOTALLY DIFFERENT LEVEL, ESPECIALLY AS WE LOOK IN HINDSIGHT IS THE MONTHS THAT IT TOOK FOR THE REST OF THE STATE AND THE REST OF THE WORLD TO FIND OUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED THERE AND THAT THIS CITIZENS ARREST LAW FROM 1863 IS WHAT WAS USED TO JUSTIFY THE CONDUCT OF THESE MURDERERS.

AND IT'S JUST -- IT'S VERY SOBERING REALIZING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF TOMORROW'S DATE, AND THANK GOD FOR MS. COOPER JONES AND THE TENACITY THAT SHE HAS HAD AND DEMONSTRATED THIS THAT WHAT SHE'S CARRIED THROUGH THIS TRAGEDY, AND REALLY, AS MR. STEWART SAID, JUSTICE FOR AHMAUD IS GOING TO BE WHEN THESE THREE MEN ARE CONVICTED OF MURDER AND PUT AWAY.

BUT I THINK THERE'S MULTIPLE LAYERS, LEVELS OF JUSTICE FOR AHMAUD, AND PART OF THAT ALSO INCLUDES THE REPEAL, AND I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE LEGACY THAT WE OWE AHMAUD IS TO REPEAL THIS LAW.

AND SO THE BILL, HOUSE BILL 479 IS ACTUALLY A RELATIVELY SIMPLE PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

IT REPEALS AN OLD CODE SECTION, THERE'S ACTUALLY THREE CODE SECTIONS THAT WERE BROUGHT TO GEORGIA LAW IN 1863, ALMOST 160 YEARS AGO, AND THE HISTORY OF THESE LAWS IS -- THE TIMING AND INTENT, WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT AND THE FACT THAT IT WAS USED FOR DECADES AND DECADES TO JUSTIFY LYNCHINGS, IT'S TIME FOR OUR COUNTRY, FOR OUR STATE TO MOVE ON, AND HOPEFULLY GEORGIA CAN BE A LEADER IN THIS AND THE COUNTRY WILL FOLLOW.

THE BILL IS SIMPLE.

IT SIMPLY REPEALS THESE CODE SECTIONS.

AND THEN IT CREATES A NEW CODE SECTION THAT ESTABLISHES AS WAS DISCUSSED BEFORE, IT'S A VERY SIMPLE DETENTION RIGHTS FOR FOLKS LIKE SHOPKEEPERS IF THEY BELIEVE THAT THEY OBSERVE SHOPLIFTING, THEN THEY WOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO REASONABLY DETAIN SOMEBODY, AND THEN THEY WOULD ALSO HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO NOTIFY THE POLICE.

AND SO THAT'S REALLY WHAT THE BILL DOES.

IT HAS A FEW OTHER TECHNICAL CHANGES, BUT THAT'S MORE OR LESS IT.

>> SOME PEOPLE HAVE ASKED IF THE BILL DEALS AT ALL WITH HOMEOWNERS DETAINING PEOPLE.

>> SURE.

AND SO YOU KNOW, THIS IS -- THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THIS DISCUSSION.

YOU KNOW, THERE IS -- WE HAVE TO KIND OF CREATE SILOS OF DIFFERENT THINGS, AND THERE'S THIS CONCEPT OF CITIZENS ARREST AND THE LAW THAT'S IN OUR BOOKS, AND THERE IS A DOCTOR IN -- DOCTRINE THAT HAS BEEN DERIVED FROM THAT CONCEPT OF CITIZENS ARREST.

IN THE OTHER SILO, THERE ARE OUR SELF-DEFENSE STATUTES FOUND IN TITLE 16 AS THE OFFICIAL CODE OF GEORGIA.

AND THOSE STATUTES ALLOW GEORGIANS TO BE ABLE TO DEFEND THEMSELVES, OTHER PEOPLE, THEIR HOME, AND THEIR PROPERTY, AND THOSE ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT LAWS, AND THIS LAW -- THESE ARE NOT THE SAME THING, AND WHILE THERE VERY WELL MAY BESLAR SIMILARITIES, THEY'RE VERY DIFFERENT THINGS.

WE ARE NOT INTERFERING OR INFRINGING ON THOSE RIGHTS TO DEFEND YOURSELF, OTHERS OR PROPERTY.

IF YOU READ THOSE CODE SECTIONS OF THE LAW, YOU WILL SEE THAT THEY ALL VERY, VERY CLEARLY LAY OUT THE TYPE OF FORCE THAT YOU ARE ALLOWED TO USE IN DEFENDING YOURSELF AND WHEN AND IF IT'S APPROPRIATE THAT THE CONTINUUM OF FORCE BE RAISED FROM A REASONABLE FORCE AT THE THRESHOLD LEVEL TO EITHER DEADLY FORCE, AND IT'S ALL IN OUR LAW RIGHT NOW.

THERE'S NOTHING NEW HERE, AND I'VE BEEN HAVING THIS CONVERSATION WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE, AND I'M STARTING TO SOUND LIKE A BROKEN RECORD.

I SAY GO READ THE TITLE 16 CODE SECTIONS, AND THEY ACTUALLY MAKE A LOT OF SENSE.

BUT THOSE WILL BE INTACT.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO INTERFERE WITH THOSE.

WHAT WE ARE DOING BY REPEALING CITIZENS ARREST LAW IS WE ARE TAKING WHAT IS UNDOUBTEDLY INHERENTLY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WHERE CITIZENS MAY BE EMPOWERED TO CHASE DOWN SOMEBODY AND PLAYING POLICE OFFICER WHEN THEY'RE NOT TRAINED TO DO THAT, AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, AND THEY DON'T KNOW ALL THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

AND BY REPEALING THIS LAW, YOU WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO IN MOST CIRCUMSTANCES TO CHASE DOWN SOMEBODY THAT HAS TAKEN PROPERTY THAT WAS NOT YOURS OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT.

>> SURE.

WELL, I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR EXPLAINING ALL OF THAT TO US, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US REMOTELY.

>> GREAT, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH, DONNA, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING ON THIS BILL AND GETTING IT DONE.

>> I'M SURE WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT IT, THANK YOU.

>> LOOKING FORWARD TO IT, THANK YOU, BYE BYE.

>>> COMING UP, WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THE CITIZENS ARREST LAW WITH THE CHAIR OF THE GEORGIA LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS, AND WE'LL DISCUSS WHAT ONE LAWMAKERS CALLS THE MOST IMPORTANT LEGISLATION OF THIS SESSION.

YOU'RE WATCHING "LAWMAKERS" ON GPB.

>>> "LAWMAKERS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY GEORGIA FARM BUREAU.

UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE IN OUR STATE.

AFTER ALL, AG IS GEORGIA'S NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY.

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

THE GEORGIA FARM BUREAU LEGISLATIVE TEAM WORKS TO REPRESENT PRODUCERS ACROSS GEORGIA AT THE STATE CAPITOL, DURING THE SESSION AND YEAR ROUND.

GEORGIA FARM BUREAU, THE VOICE OF GEORGIA FARMERS.

>>> WE'RE ALL IN THIS FIGHT ALL THE WAY FROM THE 7,000 CIGNA CLINICIANS SUPPORTING FRONT LINE DOCTORS AND NURSES, TO EVERYONE STAYING HOME TO PROTECT OTHERS.

FIND ANSWERS TO YOUR MOST PRESSING QUESTIONS AT CIGNA.COM/COVID-19.

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

FIND OUT MORE AT WWW.GEORGIAHUMANITIES.ORG.

>>> JOIN GPB AS WE CELEBRATE AMERICAN PORTRAIT.

>> I HAVE A GREAT TRADITION IN MY FAMILY.

WE GO TO STAR WARS MOVIES EVERY YEAR WHEN THEY COME OUT.

>>> AS A HALF AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND HALF SOUTH ASIAN EDUCATED INDIVIDUAL, I'VE SPENT QUITE A BIT OF TIME RETHINKING MY CHOICE TO CELEBRATE THIS HOLIDAY.

>> WHEN THIS IS ALL OVER, I HOPE TO GO BACK TO SOME SENSE OF NORMALCY.

>> SHARE YOUR STORY AT GPB.ORG/AMERICANPORTRAIT.

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "LAWMAKERS," I'M DONNA LOWRY.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT A WIDE RANGE OF LEGISLATION INCLUDING CITIZENS ARRESTS AND RIGHT TO VISIT, ARE DEMOCRATIC STATE SENATOR TANYA ANDERSON OF LITHONIA AND REPUBLICAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE JESSE PETRIE OF SAVANNAH, WELCOME TO BOTH OF YOU.

SENATOR ANDERSON, WE WANT TO CONTINUE OUR DISCUSSION ON CITIZENS ARREST.

THAT LEGISLATION HAS GAINED BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

WHY DO YOU THINK IT'S DOING SO WELL?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AND ALLOWING ME TO TALK ABOUT A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE.

THAT CONCERNS THE GEORGIA LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS AND CITIZENS THAT WE REPRESENT THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

I BELIEVE THAT IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE BECAUSE SOMETIMES PEOPLE HAVE TO SEE IT WITH THEIR EYES IN ORDER TO BELIEVE IT, AND I THINK HAVING SEEN THE VIDEO OF UNFORTUNATELY AHMAUD ARBERY'S DEATH BROUGHT THINGS TO LIGHT.

THE FACT THAT WE, YOU KNOW, ARE STILL -- WE'RE STILL WORKING ON AN ANTIQUATED BILL.

THERE ARE A LOT OF LAWS -- I'M SORRY, A LOT OF LAWS THAT ARE ANTIQUATED AND SEEING IT IN PERSON, SEEING IT LIVE WAS HEARTBREAKING AND HEART WRENCHING, AND SO I BELIEVE THAT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY WANTED TO COME TOGETHER AND CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL AS LAWMAKERS TO SAY, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT GEORGIA.

>> AS SOON AS THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED IT, HE HAD ALL THE SUPPORT BEHIND HIM, PEOPLE WERE TWEETING ABOUT THE FACT THAT THEY SUPPORTED IT, THE NAACP, OTHER GROUPS, AND THAT'S UNUSUAL.

THERE'S NOT A LOT OF WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES ON THIS BILL.

THEY GOT IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME AS FAR AS YOU'RE CONCERNED?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND I KNOW THAT IT TAKES ALL OF US.

IT TAKES ALL OF US HAVING A CONVERSATION BECAUSE SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE MAJORITY HAVE TO LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE MINORITY SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SOMETHING WORK FOR THE ENTIRE STATE.

>> YEAH, ANY SIMILAR LEGISLATION THE GEORGIA LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS LOOKING AT -- ARE YOU LOOKING AT ANYTHING WITH CRIMINAL JUSTICE THAT WASN'T A PART OF THIS BILL?

>> SO WE ARE LOOKING AT A FEW BILLS A FEW MEMBERS HAVE INTRODUCED BILLS CENTERED AROUND CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM.

ONE IS TO END RACIAL PROFILING.

ONE IS TO -- >> HOW ABOUT STAND YOUR GROUND?

>> STAND YOUR GROUND IS DEFINITELY ONE, AND I'M WORKING WITH AN ORGANIZATION AS WELL.

THERE'S BEEN A HOUSE VERSION OF THE BILL PRESENTED, BUT I'M WORKING ON A VERSION WITH EVERY TOWN USA AND MOMS DEMAND ACTION ON STAND YOUR GROUND.

>> OKAY.

WE'RE GOING TO GET BACK WITH YOU IN A MOMENT ON A FEW THINGS.

WE WANT TO GET TO YOU REPRESENTATIVE PETRIE.

I WANTED TO REPLACE SOMETHING YOU SAID LAST WEEK AT A HEARING AT A COMMITTEE YOU CHAIR.

>> MY FRIENDS, THIS MAY WELL BE THE MOST IMPORTANT BILL WE PASS THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

IT'S IMPORTANT, AND SO THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TAKE TIME BECAUSE IF WE RUSH, WE MAKE MISTAKES, AND THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN ON MY WATCH, AND WE'RE GOING TO DO IT RIGHT.

>> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HOUSE BILL 290, THE RIGHT TO VISIT LEGISLATION.

IT TOUCHES JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY.

TELL US MORE ABOUT IT AND WHERE IT IS RIGHT NOW.

>> YEAH, WELL, SADLY IT DOES TOUCH SO MANY OF US GEORGIANS ACROSS THE STATE, AND AS A LONG-TERM CARE PROVIDER FOR MY ENTIRE CAREER, I'VE SEEN IT UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL NOT ONLY PERSONALLY BUT MORE BROADLY IN SO MANY THAT WE SERVE.

THIS ISSUE IS RESONATING SO POWERFULLY WITH PEOPLE ALL OVER THE STATE.

THEY'VE SEEN THEIR LOVED ONES PASS AWAY.

THEY'VE SEEN THEIR LOVED ONES LANGUISH IN LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES WITH AND NO ONE -- BY THE WAY, THERE'S NO BAD GUY IN THIS DISCUSSION.

EVERYBODY IS DOING THE BEST THEY CAN, ALL OF OUR HOSPITALS, SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES, ASSISTED NURSING FACILITIES, WE'RE FOLLOWING THE GUIDELINES, BUT THE PROBLEM IS THIS, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KEPT AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS.

AND WHAT THIS BILL REALLY -- WHICH IS -- I CHAIR THE COMMITTEE.

IT'S ED SETZLER'S BILL.

WHAT THIS BILL ATTEMPTS TO DO IS SAY, YOU KNOW, THAT REPRESENTATIVE OF A PATIENT IS AS FUNDAMENTAL TO THEIR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING AND THEIR RECOVERY AS ARE THOSE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS.

YOU CANNOT SEPARATE THE TWO, AND SO WHAT THIS BILL WOULD DO IS MAKE IT CLEAR THAT REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS GOING FORWARD, A PATIENT HAS A RIGHT TO HAVE THEIR FAMILY WITH THEM, AND WHAT WE'VE HEARD IN THAT COMMITTEE IS JUST HORRIBLE TESTIMONY, MOST OF US INCLUDING MYSELF HAVE LIVED WITH THESE EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS WITHOUT EVER HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THEM, SPEAK TO THEM ONE LAST TIME.

WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE EMAILING ME EVERY DAY AND SAY I HAVEN'T SEEN MY MOTHER IN 11 MONTHS IN AN ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY OR SKILLED NURSING FACILITY, AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE DETERIORATING, AND THEY'RE SUFFERING MORE FROM THAT THAN FROM THEIR MEDICAL CONDITIONS.

THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT RESONATES WITH OUR PEOPLE.

IT IS AN ISSUE THAT WE MUST FIX, AND WHAT I'VE SAID IN THAT COMMITTEE IS WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO COME TOGETHER WITH OUR HOSPITALS AND ALL OF OUR FACILITIES WHO HAVE BEEN HEROES IN THIS PANDEMIC.

THEY HAVE BEEN HEROES PROTECTING OUR PEOPLE.

WE'VE GOT TO FIND A WAY TO TAKE CARE OF OUR PEOPLE WHILE ALLOWING OUR FAMILIES TO BE WITH OUR PEOPLE.

>> LET'S TALK SPECIFICS RIGHT NOW.

GUESS WHERE IT IS WHEN IT COMES TO HOSPITALS, ONE HOURS ONCE A DAY, ONE PERSON, RIGHT?

>> A MINIMUM OF A REPRESENTATIVE ONE HOUR A DAY MUST BE ALLOWED TO BE WITH THAT PATIENT.

THAT IS CORRECT.

>> ALL RIGHT, BUT DIFFERENT FOR ASSISTED LIVING HOMES.

>> ASSISTED LIVING AND SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES, THE CURRENT SUBSTITUTE OF THE BILL WOULD ALLOW THAT ONE REPRESENTATIVE TWO HOURS A DAY AND ONLY -- A TOTAL OF TWO HOURS A DAY, BUT ONE WOULD BE AN ESSENTIAL CAREGIVER, WHAT IS DESCRIBED IN THE BILL.

AND SO IT BROADENS IT MORE WITH LONG-TERM CARE BECAUSE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT LONG-TERM INDIVIDUALS IN A LONG-TERM SETTING RATHER THAN AN ACUTE SETTING.

BUT NOW I WANT TO EMPHASIZE SOMETHING, THAT REPRESENTATIVE PIECE IN HOSPITALS WOULD -- YOU COULDN'T ALTER THAT EVEN WITH A GOVERNMENTAL EMERGENCY ORDER.

SO THE POINT IS TO SAY WE'VE LEARNED A LOT DURING THIS PANDEMIC, AND WHAT WE'VE LEARNED IS THAT AS GEORGIANS HAVE SUFFERED AND AMERICANS HAVE SUFFERED AND PATIENTS HAVE SUFFERED BY DYING ALONE AND FAMILIES HAVE SUFFERED BY SEEING THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS DIE ALONE, AND WE DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN AGAIN.

REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS GOING FORWARD, IF YOU HAVE THE SAFE FORWARDS THAT WE ALLOW FOR ALL THE STAFF WORKING THIS THOSE SETTINGS, AND YOU PROVIDE THOSE SAME SAFEGUARDS ON FAMILIES OR REPRESENTATIVES IN THIS CASE AS THEY ARE DESCRIBED IN THE BILL, SHOULDN'T THEY BE ALLOWED TO BE THERE TOO.

>> I'M SURE WE'RE GOING TO TALK A LOT MORE ABOUT THAT BILL.

I SAW YOU SHAKING YOUR HEAD.

YOU AGREE WITH THAT.

I WANT TO GET TO SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THE GEORGIA LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN.

TELL US ABOUT THIS EM.

>> SO ONE IS TO FULLY EXPAND MEDICAID.

THERE'S BEEN A CRY FROM THE GEORGIA LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS BECAUSE OF HEALTH CARE INEQUITIES, AND THE FACT THAT THE PANDEMIC HAS HAPPENED, THERE ARE -- THEY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED AND, YOU KNOW, A LACK OF CLINICS AND HEALTH CARE AND ACCESS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR.

>> ALL RIGHT, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME, BUT I WANTED TO GET TO A BILL THAT YOU INTRODUCED LAST WEEK, AND IT DEALS WITH ACCESS TO INMATE RECORDS.

TALK ABOUT THAT OR PROSECUTORS.

>> YEAH, VERY IMPORTANT BILL TO MY COMMUNITY IN SAVANNAH WHERE WE'VE HAD A GREAT DEAL OF CRIME.

WHAT YOU DISCOVER VERY BRIEFLY, DONNA, IS THIS, VIOLENT CRIME TYPICALLY IS -- IT'S A SMALL E SUBSET OF THE POPULATION THAT COMMIT VIOLENT CRIMES, AND THEY COMMIT THEM OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

WE HAVE PAROLE IN THIS STATE, WHICH IS NOT A RIGHT, IT IS A PRIVILEGE.

AND SO A DISTRICT ATTORNEY HAS THE RIGHT TO OFFER AN OBJECTION TO A PAROLE.

PAROLE BOARD DOESN'T HAVE TO MAKE ANY DECISION BASED ON THAT, BUT THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO DO SO AS WITH THE VICTIM'S FAMILY OR THE VICTIM.

WHAT THIS BILL DOES IS REMOVE THE STATE SECRET STATUS FROM THE CRIMINAL RECORD -- FROM THE RECORD OF THAT INDIVIDUAL WHILE INCARCERATED IN THE CORRECTIONAL RECORD IS WHAT I MEANT TO SAY SO THAT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY REPRESENTING THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH THE CRIME OCCURRED CAN KNOW HOW THAT INMATE HAS BEHAVED IN PRISON BECAUSE COMMON SENSICALLY, HOW YOU BEHAVE TODAY IS A PRETTY GOOD INDICATOR OF HOW YOU'RE GOING TO BEHAVE TOMORROW.

I GAVE AN EXAMPLE OF A HORRIBLE CASE -- >> UNFORTUNATELY WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

>> A LOT OF VIOLENT FELONS ON PAROLE COMMIT VIOLENT CRIMES IN OUR SOCIETY.

WE NEED TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE.

>> I WANT YOU TO COME BACK AND TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT BECAUSE WE ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DEFENSE ATTORNEYS WHO HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT THIS BILL.

>> LOVE TO HAVE THAT DEBATE.

>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT FOR "LAWMAKERS."

BE SURE TO TUNE IN TOMORROW FOR LEGISLATIVE DAY 21, GOOD NIGHT.