House Resolution 75
By: Representative Scott of the 153rd
A RESOLUTION
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution so as to provide for state-wide grand juries; to provide for the jurisdiction, powers, and duties of state-wide grand juries; to authorize the General Assembly to provide by law for procedures for the summoning and empaneling of state-wide grand juries; to provide for a presiding judge; to provide that the Attorney General or his or her designee shall act as the legal adviser and prosecutor for such state-wide grand juries; to provide for the submission of this amendment for ratification or rejection; and for other purposes.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.Article VI of the Constitution is amended by adding at the end thereof a new Section XI to read as follows:
"SECTION XI.
STATE-WIDE GRAND JURIES
Paragraph I. State-wide grand juries. (a) State-wide grand juries shall be summoned and empaneled upon petition of the Attorney General to the Supreme Court under procedures provided by law.(b) A state-wide grand jury shall consist of not fewer than 13 nor more than 23 persons. The jurisdiction of a state-wide grand jury shall extend throughout the state, and it may investigate and return indictments for crimes committed anywhere within the state. The term of any such state-wide grand jury shall not exceed 12 months.(c) The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall designate a superior court judge to act as presiding judge for each state-wide grand jury. Upon designation by the Chief Justice, the presiding judge shall summon and empanel a state-wide grand jury in accordance with procedures provided by law.(d) The Attorney General or his or her designee shall act as legal adviser to any state-wide grand jury. The Attorney General, in his or her discretion, may designate any member of his or her staff or any district attorney to provide legal advice, counsel, or assistance to a state-wide grand jury.(e) The subject matter jurisdiction of state-wide grand juries shall extend to the investigation and indictment of persons and other legal entities for any crime involving corruption in the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of the state, any political subdivision or municipality of the state, or any authority or instrumentality of the state, a political subdivision, or municipality; fraud by a vendor or recipient of goods or services for which funding has been provided by the Department of Medical Assistance; any violation of the election laws of this state; violation of the oath of a public officer; bribery; false statements, representations, or writings concerning matters within the jurisdiction of state and local governments; conspiracy to defraud the state or any political subdivision or municipality thereof; and any other criminal activity for which the Governor has directed the Attorney General to petition the Supreme Court for the empaneling of a state-wide grand jury.(f) It shall not be necessary for a proposed bill of indictment to be presented to a state-wide grand jury prior to its engaging in investigative activities. The attendance of witnesses and the production of documents at such investigations may be compelled by subpoena, signed by any official authorized by the state-wide grand jury to issue such process."
SECTION 2.The above proposed amendment to the Constitution shall be published and submitted as provided in Article X, Section I, Paragraph II of the Constitution. The ballot submitting the above proposed amendment shall have written or printed thereon the following:
"( ) YES
( ) NO
Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to provide for state-wide grand juries which shall have the authority to investigate and indict for crimes committed anywhere in the state, including those committed by public officials; to provide for the types of offenses which may be investigated and acted upon by such state-wide grand juries; to provide for a presiding judge; to provide authority for the Attorney General or his or her designee to act as legal adviser and to prosecute any indictments rendered by such state-wide grand juries; and to further authorize the General Assembly to establish by law procedures for the summoning and empaneling of such state-wide grand jurors?"
All persons desiring to vote in favor of ratifying the proposed amendment shall vote "Yes." All persons desiring to vote against ratifying the proposed amendment shall vote "No." If such amendment shall be ratified as provided in said Paragraph of the Constitution, it shall become a part of the Constitution of this state.
SEE THE SAME AT THIS LINK:
REGISTER TO VOTE, YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
BY VOTING YES ON THIS AMENDMENT IN 2010,YOU WILL BE VOTING TO STOP NON-ACCOUNTABILTY OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE FEDERAL,STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
TAKE BACK YOUR VOICE ON DECISION MAKING AND PUT A STOP TO THE BACK ROOM POLITICAL CORRUPTION
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4 comments:
smells of big government and less control of local affairs
I don't believe it is that at all. The point in this document is that officials of the local and state level of government will be held accountable for their actions. If they are not ethical or have graft in mind then it is very logical to proceed this way. Many of the counties in Georgia and Henry being one of them has no ethics laws governing the actions of its officials. This will protect the people and the taxpayers from those who would seek to be dishonest. Something long needed in this area.
I do not think it is a matter of big Government, so much as a NEED to hold local governments accountable.
Here in Henry County, our officials think they own the county they were ELECTED to manage for the citizens.
Henry County desperately needs this judicial accountability, once we VOTE it in, then perhaps these officials will think twice before performing back door antics with the citizens tax monies!
Corruption in Henry County has been allowed to go on all these years unchecked. It continues to be allowed to go on each and every day. If the citizens vote yes to hold their local government accountable for their actions,is that not a good thing? what,I ask is wrong with that? unless of course they already have something in question that may be unethical in nature to be concerned about.
With a yes vote on this issue State wide perhaps,finally we can hold elected officials in check!
I am all for it.
LOCK'EM UP!
Remember when Al Capone got out of hand they put together what we would call today a taskforce to catch him and get him off the streets. That is what we need here in Henry County because the BOC is out of control and needs to be rained in for the betterment of the taxpayers. When you lie about why you spend $8+ Million for land and lie all over the place about it you have no ethics and need you hand slapped and put into jail.
Asa Brown
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