2013 Legislative Review

• Jurisdiction: Georgia,United States
• Citation: Vol. 18 No. 7 Pg. 0030
• Publication year: 2013
• Pages: 0030
• topic: Family Law,Real Estate

2013 Legislative Review Vol. 18 No. 7 Pg. 30 Georgia Bar Journal June, 2013

by Russell N. "Rusty" Sewell

The 2013 session of the Georgia General Assembly adjourned sine die on March 28. During this year's session, a number of bills supported by the State Bar passed through the House and Senate and now await signature from the governor.

Perhaps most notably, this year saw reform of the Georgia Juvenile Code. Spearheaded by the efforts of the Young Lawyers Division, the Juvenile Justice bill, HB 242, completely rewrites the Juvenile Code. Among numerous other changes, the new code separates violent and non-violent juvenile crimes, offering community-based, social service programs instead of lock-up for the lesser offenses. This reform, sponsored by House Judiciary Committee Chair Wendell Willard (R-Sandy Springs), could save taxpayers approximately $90 million over five years and was a product of the Special Council on Criminal Justice Reform. The State Bar's Board of Governors voted to support the recommendations of the Council. It was the work of the Council which led to revisions in last year's criminal justice reform providing for more judicial discretion in sentencing. HB 349, which dealt with the additional changes to the adult system, was also part of the Council's report.

In addition to the Juvenile Code Reform, the General Assembly passed HB 160, which prohibits most transfer fee covenants on property. These transfer fees usually require a percentage of the sale price...