Athens state Rep Houston Gaines is throwing his support behind a House bill that would add to the list of offenses for which cash bail is required in Georgia.
“This legislation will make it clear that Georgia is not going down the path of other states and communities that eliminated cash bail,” says Gaines.
The bill that has passed in the House and Senate awaits the signature of Governor Brian Kemp.
From the Associated Press…
The Georgia House of Representatives approved a longer list of criminal offenses that will now be subject to mandatory cash bail.
On Tuesday, along a straight party line vote, the GOP-led House approved Senate Bill 63, which the state Senate approved last week. State Democratic lawmakers unanimously opposed the bill.
The measure would require cash bail for 30 additional crimes, including 18 that are sometimes misdemeanors. It also limits charitable bail funds or even individuals from bailing multiple people out of jail, reserving that ability only to those who meet legal requirements to be bail bond companies.
Opponents said the bill would roll back changes that were passed almost unanimously in 2018 under then-Gov. Nathan Deal. That law allowed judges to release many people accused of misdemeanors without bail.
This is not the first time Republicans lengthened the list of crimes in Georgia where the accused is required to post cash or property bail. That list, already at 24, would be expanded further. Bail would be required for a second or later misdemeanor offense of reckless driving or criminal trespass, as well as for any misdemeanor battery.
People would also be required to post bail for failing to appear in court for a traffic ticket if it’s their second or later offense. The maximum penalty for failing to appear for a traffic ticket is three days in jail. That’s also how long authorities have to bring someone before a judge after they’re arrested on a warrant for failing to appear.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has said he wants more restrictive bail conditions. With state lawmakers, but not Kemp, facing voters this year, it could be a sign that Republicans intend to bash their Democratic opponents as soft on crime as they did in 2022. Kemp has also backed other anti-crime proposals, including longer sentences for some criminals.
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