Texting ban for drivers, other laws in effect July 1

By Ariel Hart and Aaron Gould Sheinin

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Starting Thursday, Georgians’ lives will change in large and small ways, thanks to the state Legislature. Although bills can become law at other times, July 1 is the big day for new laws to take effect.

It's more than just the restrictions on cell phone use behind the wheel (SB 360, HB 23). Schools will be banned from using state tax dollars for school administrator raises if teachers are furloughed (HB 977). Citizens should have easier Internet access to budgets and audits from local governments that have budgets over $1 million, through the Carl Vinson Institute (HB 122). And the state patrol may phase out its remaining trooper cars with distinctive two-tone paint, in favor of monotone (HB 981).

The troopers may or may not be less noticeable -- they'll still be marked and have their lights up top -- but the point is it's cheaper, says the patrol.

And of course, texting behind the wheel will be illegal for everybody and cell phone use will be banned for under-18 drivers with provisional licenses. Those teenagers, however, can make a call if it's to report an emergency.

As of Thursday, here are some notable new laws:

• HB 323: Increases the time the Supreme Court has to grant or deny review of pretrial proceedings in death penalty cases from 20 days to 45 days.

• HB 540: Allows the governor to seek pre-clearance from the Justice Department for a change in voting rights laws or file a lawsuit in those cases without first asking the attorney general to do so. Also allows county and municipality employees who are not residents of that county or municipality to be poll officers.

• HB 977: Says if a local school board furloughs teachers and other non-administrative workers, then no state funds can be used to increase the school superintendent's or administrators' salary during that school year.

• HB 1015: Adds new crimes relating to criminal street gang activity. Makes it illegal to make, directly or indirectly, any threat of injury to another person, that person’s property, or to any associate or relative of that person with the intent to punish the person for gang-related activity.

• HB 1170: Eliminates sales tax exemption from health maintenance organizations (HMOs).

• SB 84: Tightens ethics and training requirements for local school board members and gives the state power to step in when a school system risks losing accreditation.

• SB 136: Requires Department of Corrections to implement the federal immigration program Rapid Removal of Eligible Parolees Accepted for Transfer and to coordinate it with federal, state and local agencies. Seeks to ensure illegal immigrants in local jails are deported and not released into the community.

• SB 389: Expand the public information Web site open.georgia.gov to include all three branches of government, any regional education agency, all local boards of education, federal pass-through dollars and contracts and expenditures made by the General Assembly.

• SB 419: Allows members of the armed services and veterans who have been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder to request to have a notation of such diagnosis placed on his or her driver's license.