Athens area local bills move forward as session ends

The 2023 Georgia legislative session concluded Wednesday, sending several bills backed by Athens lawmakers to the desk of Gov. Brian Kemp. Among these are a cold case commission named in part for an unsolved Athens murder and a prosecutorial oversight bill.

Cold case investigation moves forward

The Senate tabled consideration of a bill establishing a cold case commission, HB 88, or the "Coleman-Baker Act," on Monday and before finally passing it Wednesday evening. The bill was introduced by Rep. Houston Gaines, R-Athens, and would create a new cold case commission within the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, track unsolved homicides and provide for timely death certificates even in unsolved cases. It passed the House on Feb. 28 with a vote of 168-1.

The bill is named in part for Tara Baker, who was killed 22 years ago on Jan. 19, 2001, at her rental home in east Athens. The crime remains unsolved.

"“This bill is very straightforward, and this bill is very necessary," said Sen. Randy Robertson, R-Cataula, speaking in favor of the bill. "And if you don’t appreciate the necessity of this legislation, think about somebody who means the world to you…that person is here for one minute and the next minute they’re gone, and you don’t know why and you don’t know who is responsible for who is taking them.”

The amended bill passed the Senate, 51-0. After passage, senators applauded the passage of the bill, turning to the gallery, where the sister in law of Tara Baker was in attendance. The amended version then sailed through the House again 169-0 about two hours later.

More: Bill on prosecutor oversight moves forward at Georgia General Assembly

Prosecutorial oversight moves ahead

Gaines co-sponsored HB 231 on prosecutorial oversight, which has not moved forward. But a similar Senate bill, SB 92, containing similar language. Co-sponsored by Sen. Bill Cowsert, R-Athens, it passed both chambers. SB 92 passed the House in an amended form 97-77 on Monday, and the Senate passed the amended version 32-24.

Both the House and the Senate bills would create a commission overseeing prosecutors with the ability to discipline local prosecutors, including for "willful and persistent failure to carry out duties," according to SB 92.

The language of this law seems to be aimed at part at prosecutors such as Athens area District Attorney Deborah Gonzalez, who has committed to not prosecuting certain kinds of offenses. Supporters of SB 92 have cited Gonzalez and her policy of not prosecuting low-level drug offenses among other local prosecutors in making the case for increased prosecutorial oversight.

More: Proposed cold case law gets support from slain UGA law school student's family

IPSE grants pass House, do not receive Senate vote

The State Senate did not vote on a bill that would would create new grants under the Georgia Student Finance authority for students with intellectual disabilities, HB 185. It passed the House on March 1 with a vote of 165-0.

The inclusive postsecondary education or IPSE grants would be available to students at the University System of Georgia or Technical College System of Georgia schools that offer IPSE programs.

Through 2028, eligible students could receive grants covering the equivalent of standard tuition at a given college, although IPSE programs often have additional fees. The IPSE programs would support students with intellectual disabilities, including services, academic enrichment, extracurriculars, and offering "a meaningful credential" upon completing the IPSE program.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Athens bills in General Assembly wind down as session winds down