Georgia HB 268: Criminal Justice Coordinating Council; establish grant program for motor vehicle related crime prevention initiatives; establish Georgia Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Advisory Board

Bill Text

23LC 39 3692
H. B. 268
- 1 -
House Bill 268
By: Representatives Corbett of the 174
th
, Powell of the 33
rd
, Ridley of the 6
th
, Mathis of the
149
th
, and Barton of the 5
th
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 6A of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
1
criminal  justice  coordinating  council,  so  as  to  provide  for  the  establishment  of  a  grant2
program to support local law enforcement agencies and multi-jurisdiction task forces relative3
to motor vehicle related crime prevention initiatives; to provide for standards and conditions4
for such grant program; to provide for recommendations and reporting; to provide for the5
establishment of the Georgia Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Advisory Board; to provide6
for membership; to provide for clarifying changes relative to current boards and advisory7
boards; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.8
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:9
SECTION 1.10
Chapter 6A of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to criminal justice11
coordinating council, is amended by adding two new Code sections to read as follows:12
"35-6A-16.13
(a)  The council shall:14
(1)  Subject to available funding, establish a grant program for the provision of funds to15
local law enforcement agencies and multi-jurisdiction task forces for the:16

23LC 39 3692
H. B. 268
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(A)  Prevention, reduction, and investigation of motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts
17
theft;18
(B)  Prevention, reduction, and investigation of motor vehicle related crime;19
(C)    Establishment  of  multi-jurisdiction  task  forces  upon  request  of  local  law20
enforcement agencies;21
(D)  Investigation of fraud related to motor vehicle insurance, motor vehicle dealer22
purchases,  and  motor  vehicle  rental  transactions  and  other  forms  of  financial  fraud23
relating to motor vehicles;24
(E)    Hiring  of  personnel  by  local  law  enforcement  agencies  for  the  purpose  of25
preventing, reducing, and investigating motor vehicle related crime;26
(F)  Purchase of equipment and technology for support in motor vehicle related crime27
prevention, reduction, and investigation;28
(G)  Provision of training to local law enforcement agencies and multi-jurisdiction task29
forces relative to motor vehicle related crime prevention, reduction, and investigation;30
and31
(H)  Production of public awareness materials and programs relating to motor vehicle32
related crime prevention;33
(2)  Promote state-wide planning and coordination of the investigation and prosecution34
of crimes relating to motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts theft;35
(3)  Provide support to local prosecutors handling motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts36
theft related prosecutions; and37
(4)  Provide support to multi-jurisdiction task forces established by local law enforcement38
agencies for the purpose of preventing, reducing, and investigating motor vehicle related39
crime.40
(b)(1)  Any grant awarded pursuant to this Code section shall be upon recommendation41
from and after consideration by the Georgia Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Advisory42
Board.  Each grant application shall describe the type of motor vehicle related crime43

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prevention, reduction, investigation, enforcement, prosecution, or offender rehabilitation
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program to be implemented.  Such programs may include, but shall not be limited to:45
(A)  Multi-jurisdiction task forces and programs utilizing the National Insurance Crime46
Bureau  task  force  which  reduce  motor  vehicle  related  crime  and  increase  the47
apprehension of motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts thieves and persons who attempt48
to defraud insurance companies;49
(B)  Motor vehicle related crime prevention efforts, activities, and public awareness50
campaigns intended to reduce victimization by motor vehicle related crime and fraud;51
(C)  The provision of specialized training for motor vehicle related crime investigation52
personnel, including, but not limited to, law enforcement personnel, local motor vehicle53
registration agents and title clerks, and port facility employees, in order to enhance54
knowledge,  skills,  procedures,  and  systems  to  detect,  prevent,  and  combat  motor55
vehicle related crime and fraud;56
(D)  The provision of support and maintenance by one or more dedicated prosecutors57
who have the specific mission and expertise to provide legal guidance and prosecutorial58
continuity to complex criminal cases arising from the activities of a multi-jurisdiction59
task force; and60
(E)  The prevention of future criminal behavior by first time offenders who have been61
charged, convicted, or adjudicated for a motor vehicle related crime.62
(2)  To the extent possible, grants awarded pursuant to this Code section shall be awarded63
to  local  law  enforcement  agencies,  multi-jurisdiction  task  forces,  or  other  qualifi