Senator Burt Jones (R-Jackson) filed a bill last week that would, if enacted into law, allow Georgia residents to contribute money to increase law enforcement officers’ pay.
Georgia residents would subsidize this Back the Blue fund through motor vehicle insurance policies. According to the language of the bill, SB 532, state residents would pay into this fund voluntarily.
Jones, in the bill, said Georgia law enforcement officers have “a hiring and retention crisis” and that increasing their pay and enhancing their benefits helps to retain them and to increase public safety.
“On and after July 1, 2023, all policies of motor vehicle insurance issued, delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in this state shall contain a provision allowing the policyholder to elect to contribute an additional 0.5 percent of the premium price to the Back the Blue Fund in a manner approved by the Commissioner [of Insurance] or as otherwise prescribed by regulation promulgated by the Commissioner,” the language of the bill states.
“Insurers, or their agent, limited subagent, or any other representative, shall hold amounts dedicated for the Back the Blue Fund in a fiduciary capacity. The amount received shall be promptly accounted for, separated from the premium received, and reasonably ascertainable from the book of accounts and records.”
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp last year signed House Bill 286, which prohibits local governments in Georgia from defunding the police.
Georgia State Representative Houston Gaines (R-Athens) sponsored the legislation. According to an emailed press release, Kemp signed the legislation just outside of Athens.
Athens city officials, along with those in Atlanta, recently considered proposals to slash local police budgets.
Members of the Georgia Municipal Association and the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia said they disagreed with Gaines’ bill when he introduced it in February.
Jones declared his candidacy for lieutenant governor at Indian Springs State Park in Flovilla last August. There, he promised to provide more resources to recruit, retain, and promote the state’s law enforcement agencies and to no longer “allow cops to be punching bags by the media.”
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Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star and The Georgia Star News. Follow Chris on Facebook, Twitter, Parler, and GETTR. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Burt Jones” by Burt Jones. Background Photo “Sherman Police Department” by Back the Blue 2020.
