SUMMARIES OF PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS Pursuant to requirements of the Georgia Constitution, Attorney General Samuel S. Olens, Secretary of State Brian P. Kemp, and Legislative Counsel Wayne R. Allen hereby provide the summaries of the proposed constitutional amendments that will appear on the November 8, 2016, general election ballot for consideration by the people of Georgia (short captions are those adopted by the Constitutional Amendments Publication Board): - 1 - Provides greater flexibility and state accountability to fix failing schools through increasing community involvement. Senate Resolution No. 287 Resolution Act No. 309 Ga. L. 2015, p. 1498 "( ) YES Shall the Constitution ( ) NO of Georgia be amended to allow the state to intervene in chronically failing public schools in order to improve student performance?" Summary This proposal authorizes the General Assembly to provide for the creation of an Opportunity School District and authorizes the state to assume the supervision, management, and operation of failing public elementary and secondary schools, including the power to receive, control, and expend appropriated funds for such purposes. It amends Article VIII, Section V of the Georgia Constitution by adding a new Paragraph VIII. A copy of this entire proposed constitutional amendment is on file in the office of the judge of the probate court and is available for public inspection. - 2 - Authorizes penalties for sexual exploitation and assessments on adult entertainment to fund child victims' services. Senate Resolution No. 7 Resolution Act No. 306 Ga. L. 2015, p. 1497 "( ) YES Shall the Constitution ( ) NO of Georgia be amended to allow additional penalties for criminal cases in which a person is adjudged guilty of keeping a place of prostitution, pimping, pandering, pandering by compulsion, solicitation of sodomy, masturbation for hire, trafficking of persons for sexual servitude, or sexual exploitation of children and to allow assessments on adult entertainment establishments to fund the Safe Harbor for Sexually Exploited Children Fund to pay for care and rehabilitative and social services for individuals in this state who have been or may be sexually exploited?" Summary This proposal authorizes the General Assembly to provide for additional penalties for various criminal sexual exploitation offenses and assessments on adult entertainment establishments and to dedicate revenue derived therefrom to the Safe Harbor for Sexually Exploited Children Fund for the purpose of providing care and rehabilitative and social services to sexually exploited persons. It amends Article III, Section IX, Paragraph VI of the Georgia Constitution. A copy of this entire proposed constitutional amendment is on file in the office of the judge of the probate court and is available for public inspection. - 3 - Reforms and re-establishes the Judicial Qualifications Commission and provides for its composition, governance, and powers. House Resolution No. 1113 Resolution Act No. 537 Ga. L. 2016, p. 896 "( ) YES Shall the Constitution ( ) NO of Georgia be amended so as to abolish the existing Judicial Qualifications Commission; require the General Assembly to create and provide by general law for the composition, manner of appointment, and governance of a new Judicial Qualifications Commission, with such commission having the power to discipline, remove, and cause involuntary retirement of judges; require the Judicial Qualifications Commission to have procedures that provide for due process of law and review by the Supreme Court of its advisory opinions; and allow the Judicial Qualifications Commission to be open to the public in some manner?" Summary This proposal abolishes the existing Judicial Qualifications Commission and requires the General Assembly to replace it with a new Judicial Qualifications Commission and provide for the composition, manner of appointment, governance, powers and duties, procedures, and open meetings of such reformed commission, with such commission having the power to discipline, remove, and cause involuntary retirement of judges as provided in the Constitution, and for Supreme Court review of the commission's opinions and procedures. It amends Article VI, Section VII, Paragraph VI and Article VI, Section VII, Paragraph VII of the Georgia Constitution. A copy of this entire proposed constitutional amendment is on file in the office of the judge of the probate court and is available for public inspection. - 4 - Dedicates revenue from existing taxes on fireworks to trauma care, fire services, and public safety. Senate Resolution No. 558 Resolution Act No. 530 Ga. L. 2016, p. 895 "( ) YES Shall the Constitution ( ) NO of Georgia be amended so as to provide that the proceeds of excise taxes on the sale of fireworks or consumer fireworks be dedicated to the funding of trauma care, firefighter equipping and training, and local public safety purposes?" Summary This proposal provides that the proceeds of excise taxes on the sale of fireworks or consumer fireworks be dedicated to funding trauma care, fire services, and local public safety purposes. It amends Article III, Section IX, Paragraph VI of the Georgia Constitution. A copy of this entire proposed constitutional amendment is on file in the office of the judge of the probate court and is available for public inspection. 10/19 10/27 11/02
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