‘Gurley’ bill given final passage by Senate
Next time, don’t even think about it: Anyone who tries to pay a Georgia running back for his autograph could face jail time and a $25,000 fine under a bill given final passage Tuesday by the Senate.
House Bill 3 now heads to Gov. Nathan Deal for his signature.
The attempted crackdown comes after NCAA officials suspended University of Georgia running back Todd Gurley four games for accepting money from memorabilia dealers — a debacle that cost the Bulldogs’ star running back most of his season last year.
The bill would stiffen penalties for anyone who enters into a contract with a student-athlete if that person or company knew the transaction would jeopardize that athlete’s scholarship, eligibility or amateur standing. That includes jail time or a fine.
The state currently only makes it a misdemeanor if someone pays an athlete to attend a specific school or if an athlete is rewarded financially for performing well.
— Kristina Torres
Senate votes for deer as official state mammal
The white-tailed deer has likely won by a nose, after the Senate voted Tuesday to make it Georgia’s official state mammal.
House Bill 70 originally chose the honor for the gray fox, but the Department of Natural Resources requested it be changed.
The bill grew out of a Boy Scout project after first-graders at a Columbus school realized Georgia was one of three states with no state mammal.
According to the DNR, some 85 percent of Georgians “feel that it is important that deer exist in Georgia.” Also, deer hunting has an economic impact in excess of $890 million in Georgia, producing $58 million-plus in state and local taxes, and “supporting more than 11,500 jobs.”
The DNR says that, by comparison, gray foxes are responsible for nuisance complaints, including concerns about children and pets being attacked, and they are associated with diseases such as rabies and distemper. Bobcats and coyotes — the other choices considered by the students — raised similar fears.
Because the Senate made minor changes to the bill, it now goes back to the House for review.
— Kristina Torres
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