Popular sexual assault evidence bill in danger
Supporters are up in arms now that a popular bill to collect and count neglected sexual assault evidence is in danger in the Georgia Senate.
House Bill 827 passed unanimously in the House earlier this session, but State Sen. Rene Unterman declined to give it a required hearing before the Health and Human Services committee, which she chairs. The Buford Republican says that it isn't necessary.
Without the hearing, the proposal may die. And victim advocates, the Fulton County District Attorney's Office and others are baffled over why a bill that seemed a sure thing just weeks ago is now on life support.
About the Author
Willoughby Mariano is an investigative reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where she focuses on housing and criminal justice issues. She previously worked for the AJC's PolitiFact Georgia, where she fact checked the claims of elected officials, and at the Orlando Sentinel, where she covered crime and breaking news.
