The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office will be holding a Citizens Law Enforcement Academy.
What is Citizens Law Enforcement Academy?
This academy is designed to educate how deputies enforce local and state laws. The goal of the academy is to have the potential to influence public opinion, concerning law enforcement practices and the delivery of services.
Participants will also be given firearms training, which will include live firing at the shooting range.
The course is free and open to Columbia County residents that are 18 years of age or older.
The academy will held, beginning September 14, 2023, for 10 weeks. They will take place each Thursday 6:30pm – 9:00pm.
Find out more at www.coulmbiacountyso.org
New Laws In Georgia – Effective January 2023
According to Fox 5 Atlanta, Governor Brian Kemp signed some legislation this year that won't go into effect until January 1, 2023. Most of the laws were effective in July of this. But the General Assembly delayed effective dates on some. This results in the January 1, 2023, effective date. Below are the new laws in Georgia.
Inform Consumers Act
This legislation will establish financial and contact information requirements for online sellers. The goal is to prevent people from selling items stolen from retail stores. It will require online platforms to have a way for customers to report suspicious activity.
This law will require sellers with an annual revenue of $20,000 or more to share working contact information with their buyers.
Food Truck Permitting
This will allow mobile food service, including food trucks, to do business outside of their county of origin. They will not need additional permits. But the food truck must have an active permit.
Included in this law is the definition of "mobile food service establishments."
LESS Crime Act
Most of this law has been in effect for 6 months. It's the "Law Enforcement Strategic Support Act (LESS Crime Act)." This will give Georgia taxpayers dollar-for-dollar state tax credit to directly contribute to public safety initiatives. The law went into effect in July, but it will be applicable for taxable years starting in 2023.
Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan called this an "innovative approach to public safety."
Increased Tax Credit Limit for Contributions to Rural Hospitals
This law increases the limit to annual tax credits for those who contribute to rural hospitals in Georgia. The aggregate amount of tax credits allowed increased from $60 million to $75 million.
Kemp signed this bill to "further support our rural hospitals."
Public Utilities
This law will establish a one-time right of way permit fee, along with reducing annual right of way use fees that telephone companies pat to municipalities. They do this if they don't have retail space or customers in that area.
With this law, there is a civil penalty for those companies that don't comply with the compensation requirements.
