Thanking All GA Representatives!

EmpowerMEnt's JUSTGeorgia Crew would like to thank all Georgia representatives that voted for the HB 641-the Children's Code Rewrite on February 29th! It passed the House of Representatives unanimously last month with 172 votes for the bill, and 0 votes against it. The Children's Code Rewrite currently making its way to be voted on in the Senate.

Here are some photos of EmpowerMEnt at work, making sure that Youth Voice is heard at the Georgia state capitol this legislative session and promoting the Children's Code Rewrite every step of the way!

Youth Voice Needed for Children's Code Rewrite!

Please take the poll on the right & comment below! 

We need to know your vote/voice on the following --- do you want to see a judge have to approve if your attorney can also be a GAL for you?   _____Yes            ____No

      

If your answer was yes, why?    If your answer was no, why?

·       The new Children’s Code Rewrite makes it possible for one person to represent you as your attorney and guardian ad litem.  If you may not be clear on this distinction, what this means is that your attorney represents YOUR interests directly.  A Guardian Ad Litem, sometimes you will hear this as “GAL” – can be an attorney or other individual in place to represent what they feel is in your best interest, even if it’s not what you think is best for you.  The code permits one person serving in both the role of your attorney and GAL only until there presents any conflict, for example, if you feel your attorney is favoring what they think is your best interest over representing what you are wanting to see represented as your interest – and you no longer feel the working relationship with this person is working, as a result of this conflict in professional roles as it relates to your life and your case.

  

·         Now, there is an opinion by a leader in Fulton County that the law language should be strengthened so that it states that an attorney shall (which means they have to comply) NOT serve also as your GAL, and that they only be allowed to do so if the judge orders that it is appropriate after review.  Fulton County operates off of a client-directed model, which means all of their youth have only attorneys, not people who can do both (meaning, represent you and represent what they think is in your best interest at the same time).

·         The other option is to leave the language as-is, where the law would permit your attorney to serve also as your GAL without requiring permission from the judge to do so, again, only until there is any conflict and then their role in representing you would have to be renegotiated/reassigned.

A Bill (but not on Capitol Hill!)

The Children's Code Rewrite is just a bill, BUT it's not sitting on capitol hill. That's because it is a Georgia bill, so it's sitting under the gold dome. Just like in this video, the Children's Code Rewrite wants to become a law! To learn more, read this press release by the JUSTGeorgia Coalition.

Action Update: Children's Code Rewrite

Work continues to get the Children's Code Rewrite ready for next year's legislative session! Hearings will be held on August 23rd and 25th at 2pm. On August 23rd, the first hearing will be an overview of HB 641 "The Child Protection and Public Safety Act" (aka the Children's Code Rewrite.) The second hearing on August 25th will have time set to hear tesimony from stakeholders and we would love for all EmpowerMEnt's JUSTGeorgia Team Members to attend!!!
Please email us at justgacrew@gmail.com if you have any questions or suggestions!