Support HB 402 – Revising the Expungement Law in Georgia
Do you think people who are arrested in Georgia, but not convicted, should have to carry around the mark of a criminal record for the rest of their lives? Do you think people who are working hard to live productive, crime-free lives should be denied a chance to work based on such an arrest? If your answers are no, then you support the changes to the law proposed in HB 402, available by following this link: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/en-US/display.aspx?Legislation=33231
What Will HB 402 Accomplish?
- Make it easier for people who have charges on their criminal history that did not result in a conviction to move on with their lives and get back to work.
- Automatically restrict access to arrest records for employment and licensing purposes when a case is not indicted, when it is dismissed, nolle prossed, or dead docketed for 12 months, or the individual is found not guilty at trial.
- Ensure that limited law enforcement dollars and resources are used effectively by getting rid of the inefficient, costly expungement process.
What Will HB 402 Cost Georgia?
- Save tax dollars by simplifying the process and freeing up resources for law enforcement.
- Generate revenue by removing barriers to employment for thousands of Georgians.
- As Governor Deal noted in his inaugural address, Georgia can no longer afford to spend over a billion dollars a year incarcerating our citizens, instead we need to remove roadblocks for individuals who want to work and make a positive change in their lives, becoming tax payers rather than tax burdens.
How Can You Help?
- Commit to call at least one member of the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee and tell them you support HB 402 and want to see it considered before the committee (contact info below).
- Contact your representative and let them know you are interested in HB 402 Don’t know your rep? – click here.
- Help spread the word about the proposed changes and positive impact HB 402 will have on citizens of Georgia if passed.
House of Judiciary Committee
- Rich Golick, 404-656-5943 rich.golick@house.ga.gov Chairman
- Mark Hatfield, 404-656-0109 mhatfield@wayxcable.com Sponsor of HB 402
- Charlice Byrd, 404-656-0298 charlice.byrd@house.ga.gov
- Wendell Willard, 404-656-5125 wendell.willard@house.ga.gov
- Roberta Abdul-Salaam 404-656-0325 roberta.abdul-salaam@house.ga.gov
- Stacey Abrams 404-656-0220 staceyabrams@gmail.com
- Alex Atwood 404-656-0152 alex.atwood@house.ga.gov
- Stephanie Stuckey Benfield 404-656-7859 stuckey@mindspring.com Sponsor of HB 402
- Doug Collins 404-656-0188 doug.collins@house.ga.gov
- Christian Coomer 404-656-0109 christian.coomer@house.ga.gov
- Sharon Cooper 404-656-5069 sharon.cooper@house.ga.gov
- Bobby Franklin 404-656-0152 bobby.franklin@house.ga.gov
- Yasmin Neal 404-656-0265 yasmin.neal@house.ga.gov
- BJ Pak 404-656-0254 bj.pak@house.ga.gov
- Matt Ramsey 404-651-7737 matt.ramsey@house.ga.gov
- Nikki Randall 404-656-0109 nikki.randall@house.ga.gov
- Ed Setzler 404-656-0177 ed.setzler@house.ga.gov
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