ATLANTA — There are now two competing versions of hate crime legislation before the general assembly, putting passage of either one in jeopardy as the session winds down.
Some lawmakers said the new bill, proposed by the lieutenant governor, could mean neither will become law.
Channel 2′s Richard Elliot was at the state capitol, where Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan’s new bill drew intense criticism.
The House version of the bill, HB 426, gives a judge and jury the power to tack on more jail time to anyone convicted of committing a crime motivated by hate.
That bill has been stuck in a Senate committee for more than a year.
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Now, with nine legislative days left in the session, Duncan has introduced a brand new bill that creates a separate hate crime statute and a stand-alone charge of a hate crime, instead of only potentially tacking on a few years at the end of a sentence. It creates a way for victims to file a lawsuit if they feel they’ve been the victim of a hate crime. The bill protects based on race, color, sexual orientation, military service, religion and social groups.
“Passing this legislation will allow Georgia to take a huge step in that direction,” Duncan said Wednesday. “This legislation sends a very clear message to the world that Georgia will be one of the worst places to commit a hate crime in this country.”
Duncan said it's time Georgia had a separate statute, but the House Minority Caucus swiftly criticized the new bill, saying the competing bills will only ensure neither will get passed.
They say HB 425 is vetted and has bi-partisan support, and worry that the second bill will just get in the law.
”As we stand here today, it’s an insult to our intelligence for this man to say today that he had a change of conscience, for if he had a change of conscience, let 426 go through,” Rep. James Beverly said.
Rep. William Boddie agreed.
“We want this bill passed because the LBTQ+ community wants this bill,” Boddie said. “The black caucus wants this bill. The House Democratic Caucus wants this bill and even the speaker of the house wants this bill.”
Many people across Georgia have demanded that the state adopt hate crime legislation after the death of Ahmaud Arbery, a black man killed by a with father and son in south Georgia who have since been arrested for his murder.
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