Politics
Politics

Georgia House votes to punish lobbyists for sexual harassment

2/15/18 - Atlanta - Rep. Jan Jones (center), R - Milton, the lone woman on the committee, recommends the adoption of the new policy to the Legislative Services Committee. Georgia legislators will be required to get training every other year on sexual harassment, according to a new policy passed by a committee vote Thursday. But harassment complaints would remain confidential, BOB ANDRES /BANDRES@AJC.COM
2/15/18 - Atlanta - Rep. Jan Jones (center), R - Milton, the lone woman on the committee, recommends the adoption of the new policy to the Legislative Services Committee. Georgia legislators will be required to get training every other year on sexual harassment, according to a new policy passed by a committee vote Thursday. But harassment complaints would remain confidential, BOB ANDRES /BANDRES@AJC.COM
By Mark Niesse
Feb 28, 2018

The Georgia House voted unanimously Wednesday to make lobbyists obey a new sexual harassment policy for conduct at the state Capitol.

Lobbyists would be required to sign an annual statement that they'll comply with the sexual harassment policy, according to House Bill 973, which passed on a 171-0 vote.

Lobbyists who violate the harassment policy would face fines of up to $1,000 per violation and have their registration revoked by the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission.

Sexual harassment includes derogatory statements, sexually related comments, unwelcome advances, patting, pinching, intentionally brushing against someone's body, making unwelcome visits to someone's home or hotel room, or making sexually suggestive posts online, according to the policy.

The Legislative Services Committee already approved the policy to cover lawmakers and employees, but legislation was required for it to apply to lobbyists.

The bill now advances to the state Senate.

About the Author

Mark Niesse is an enterprise reporter and covers elections and Georgia government for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and is considered an expert on elections and voting. Before joining the AJC, he worked for The Associated Press in Atlanta, Honolulu and Montgomery, Alabama. He also reported for The Daily Report and The Santiago Times in Chile.

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