Governor Brian Kemp signed legislation carried by first term state representative Lehman Franklin on Tuesday afternoon. Franklin represents the citizens of District 160, which includes portions of Bryan and Bulloch counties.
Among the Franklin-backed measures signed by Kemp is House Bill 302, which will allow Georgia courts to issue either temporary or permanent protective orders to protect against conduct that constitutes stalking.
Under current law, Stalking Protective Order code sections for post-conviction no-contact orders are a grey area and most state court judges interpret the language to mean they can only order no-contact for the term of the sentence — two years at most. The new legislation provides more latitude for permanent solutions so the victims of stalking can secure lifetime protective orders against their stalkers. The measure was approved unanimously by both the Georgia House and the Georgia Senate.
In a press release, Franklin said that HB 302 “seeks to ensure that law enforcement have a legal basis to intervene and prevent further stalking behavior. This bill also aims to give stalking victims the flexibility to pursue either a temporary or permanent protective order to best suit their needs.”
Present at Tuesday’s signing ceremony in Atlanta was Kim Billings of the Statesboro-based advocacy center Safe Haven.
Kemp also signed House Bill 480 by Franklin on Tuesday, which raises the maximum weekly amount of temporary total disability of workers’ compensation in state law to $800. The maximum weekly amount of temporary partial disability of workers’ compensation will also increase to $533, and the maximum total workers’ compensation that can be paid to a surviving spouse after their spouse dies will increase to $320,000.
Additionally, HB 480 establishes requirements for claiming workers’ compensation in cases where there is not a surviving spouse. The person making the claim will be required to prove that they received economic support from the deceased employee, including monetary support, food or housing. The compensation will be terminated if the surviving spouse remarries or is in a relationship similar to a marriage. No consideration will be made for payments of financial support that are less than a period of three months. HB 480 will go into effect on July 1, 2023, and will apply to injuries that occur on or after that date.
“Today, I am proud to announce that Governor Kemp has signed House bills 302 and 480 into law, marking a significant achievement in my first legislative session under the Gold Dome,” said Rep. Franklin in a press release. “HB 302 provides crucial legal protection for stalking victims in Georgia, while HB 480 provides increased financial support for families affected by work-related injuries or fatalities. Through these bills, we have taken important steps to ensure the safety and well-being of our citizens.”
