November’s Constitutional Amendments

The presidential election is no doubt consuming all the oxygen in politics, but it’s worth noting Georgians will vote on four constitutional amendments next month. Brian Kemp’s office sent a list of the proposed constitutional amendments, which you can read here, or you can read the “too long; didn’t read” version below. If a GeorgiaPol contributor has written on an amendment, you will find a link to the post.

Amendment 1 – Opportunity School District

• Vote Yes for the Opportunity School District Constitutional Amendment–It’s About Accountability by Edward Lindsay
• In Athens, Opposition to the Proposed Opportunity School District by Jon Richards
• Opportunity School District Opponents Are Serving Themselves Not Our Kids by Will Kremer

Question: Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended to allow the state to intervene in chronically failing public schools in order to improve student performance?

The full text of SB 133 can be found here.

The full text of SR 287 can be found here.

Ballot 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.

Amendment 2 – Safe Harbor

• Vote NO on Amendment 2–Against the children, for the $tripper$ by Jessica Szilagyi

Question: Shall the Constitution 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?

The full text of SB 8 can be found here.

The full text of SR 7 can be found here.

Ballot 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.

Amendment 3 – Judicial Qualifications Commission

Question: Shall the Constitution 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?

The full text of HB 808 can be found here.

The full text of HR 1113 can be found here.

Ballot 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.

Amendment 4 – Fireworks

• I’m voting NO on Amendment 4 by Jessica Szilagyi

Question: Shall the Constitution 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?

The full text of SB 350 can be found here.

The full text of SR 558 can be found here.

Ballot 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 amendment is on file in the office of the judge of the probate court and is available for public inspection.