[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6661005,"mediaKeyId","2427407-96c9f88da0c7afa79d0e04c6a1a3537c","parentId",2427407,"title","Committee approves $1.6 million compensation resolution for man exonerated after 23 years","audioSeconds",807,"startMs",2130000,"endMs",2937000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2427407-96c9f88da0c7afa79d0e04c6a1a3537c&start=2130&end=2937","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2427407-96c9f88da0c7afa79d0e04c6a1a3537c/thumbnail_2130000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6661005/Georgia/Committee-approves-16-million-compensation-resolution-for-man-exonerated-after-23-years","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6661005-b67a429a850502affba83b24a310259e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770539348&Signature=PVL5E0urKlZ7jjqx04VqNwOyRXnQPU1dRnYT5fnHVRBDa18rYGYjnj2TDuM-FxoI435WJhzszlWZcm1RVceRcWQZRujVPLRLFuxIY-O5YjrM73bOB-83JTVhaE1bbS98uYKclF6hMF5o-MRpGt0D5rR00mjhuiYy5WEw3HIfpybTSZymEP58Md3oX9T25BgEm7ZklChdcNubHsWnpCHY18zXDEinFLC2D-RKBLw1KuWu~DwGowMba5zRcKOq01HYsl6yJft052YafRgDn7diMK808WDXqDcgFmL-2VJ7gs8UdQD~EfduP4Awdsbfnzl8C57bilyqbjLSVG86Z-3l6w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","State of Georgia ","date","2025-02-27T13:39:29.17Z","article","Representative Crawford presented House Resolution 130 on behalf of Cedric Moore, saying Moore was wrongfully accused and spent about 23 years incarcerated for a crime that later DNA testing showed he did not commit. \"Mr. Moore was wrongfully accused... and he spent 23 years in jail for a crime that he never committed,\" Crawford told the committee.

Crawford described the facts the sponsor said he had reviewed: at the time of the 1993 case, the victim could not identify Moore and one of the actual perpetrators implicated Moore; inconsistent testimony and limited DNA methods used then contributed to the conviction, Crawford said. Advances in DNA testing later produced a non-match and the court vacated the conviction, resulting in Moore’s exoneration, Crawford said.

Members asked questions about prior arrests, the victim’s identification, prior compensation for a co-defendant and how the $1,600,000 figure was calculated. Crawford said the amount on page three of the resolution reflects an approximate calculation of 23 years at about $75,000 per year, with adjustments for fees and costs; committee members noted a previous co-defendant, Mr. Robinson, had received compensation earlier.

Several members said they regretted the committee’s repeated need to consider wrongful-conviction compensation and urged improvements to procedures that could reduce such cases in future. After discussion, a committee member moved to pass HR 130; the committee approved the resolution by voice vote.

The resolution is a committee recommendation for compensation. A subsequent legislative process is required to enact payment authority or statutory compensation; members discussed the broader policy context for wrongful-conviction compensation and mentioned ongoing legislative efforts to create a standard process for such cases.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Appropriations 02.27.25","oneSentenceSummary","The Appropriations Committee voted to pass House Resolution 130, recommending $1,600,000 in compensation for Cedric Moore, who was exonerated by new DNA testing after serving about 23 years for a sexual assault he was later found not to have committed.","taxTitle","Appropriations, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, Georgia","taxId",16937,"location","Georgia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6661008,"Committee backs constitutional amendment to require legislature to appropriate certain settlement and judgment funds",388,1674000,2062000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2427407-96c9f88da0c7afa79d0e04c6a1a3537c&start=1674&end=2062","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2427407-96c9f88da0c7afa79d0e04c6a1a3537c/thumbnail_1674000.jpg","/articles/6661008/Georgia/Committee-backs-constitutional-amendment-to-require-legislature-to-appropriate-certain-settlement-and-judgment-funds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6661008-1a1052dd85cab2ba921cbc153f21a222/orig.mp4?Expires=1770539348&Signature=H6IZlLC7byK~Yh9H6p5c2-TOzYO9lUpPFjI8i3Yc1oVcENHaULcXJ6zHlaSeJpbMhdnZZV5ZmhQpvyGAM-Q3xbiAMbDvOLWNJvXLwmPRDtg7L-BUO7ZecJEs1L36lJCpus263Urq6o1T69jeHLDDpaMwCne~zHkx8gK~6rVh9xjmoO7PCqt6XG5pvzRZmvn1J8dk49xljJ~lFzPtl787Lj6Vl21DyOApfbsDqqMOc4RVVRqJrZrSHyORVhNPO22DmRtjCu1T3PLsHLGjDhOo-9dMr96EVRniNmab5sTQ2RdNKc4WVG0i3FDNnnun1FxSUSXOEfRxeOWEpssHrP30tQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Kemp presented House Resolution 29 to the House Appropriations Committee, describing it as a proposed constitutional amendment that would require the General Assembly to appropriate monies from certain legal judgments and settlements that the state receives. \"This measure clarifies this,\" Kemp said, explaining the amendment’s purpose after an earlier local broadband funding issue prompted the filing.

Kemp said the proposed amendment specifies that the General Assembly shall appropriate monies and funds derived from any legal judgments awarded to the state on or after July 1, 2027, and any legal settlements entered into by or on behalf of the state on or after Jan. 1, 2027. The substitute adopted in committee sets a threshold: amounts in excess of $10,000,000 would be continually appropriated by the General Assembly, he said.

Committee members asked whether the proposal would interfere with emergency and disaster funding flows (for example, federal funds distributed after disasters). Kemp and other members clarified that funds tied to declared emergencies are governed by existing formulas or statutory procedures and are not intended to be delayed by this amendment. Committee members also discussed that the proposal was prompted by local broadband allocations and that members feel the legislature should have the authority to appropriate unexpected state receipts.

After a period of questions and clarification, the committee voted by voice to pass the resolution as presented. A committee member moved the substitute (LC560340S); after members said “aye,” the chair declared the motion carried.

The resolution would place a constitutional amendment before voters or otherwise proceed according to the constitutional amendment process; it does not itself change the constitution without subsequent steps required by law. Committee members noted the proposal is intended to give the General Assembly oversight of unanticipated, significant state receipts from judgments and settlements rather than departmental discretionary distribution.","The committee approved House Resolution 29, a proposed constitutional amendment directing the General Assembly to appropriate certain legal judgments and settlements that come to the state starting in 2027; members clarified that disaster and emergency federal funds are not intended to be affected.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6661014,"Appropriations panel approves bill to streamline professional licensing",592,1050000,1642000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2427407-96c9f88da0c7afa79d0e04c6a1a3537c&start=1050&end=1642","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2427407-96c9f88da0c7afa79d0e04c6a1a3537c/thumbnail_1050000.jpg","/articles/6661014/Georgia/Appropriations-panel-approves-bill-to-streamline-professional-licensing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6661014-75f0bf9e7afcfbd0df5b543244aa84f8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770539348&Signature=fyDQfEIVu27Zml2MC4i1S8EzNuwFe6zOZIAPP8fvI8whPape1pcOfGSUTyOB2h1FpeaJIvToaazMCF6FiXpLkvcVDAAQjSrRefYNSLChVVPz3hWjjdT4IXXSI9oJbdhwrM1KfLM7p4v7s1EdGvW7pQqYu6mk586d-O-hgqyH6JUpPPunv0WdcTmY2wbdH5WSPp7rW60VD~QBiSXxfesK8mmOMcgtKo44Oo58se-6yKK2ihvKb6Xr4ASZi7JUCbAZOs2R9uhYzeVS4dk2QjkgVvJJFG~4ihj2nDtceZXhgnCls1SvfxCuXMOqp6SB3e-HiMLuHc7BJJElbfkJi5xZ5A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Reeves, presenting House Bill 579 to the House Appropriations Committee, said the measure is intended to modernize the state’s professional licensing system and reduce burdens on applicants and license boards. \"The people of Georgia deserve excellent customer service and 21st-century professional licensing,\" Reeves said.

The bill, which the committee approved on a voice vote, is the product of a Blue Ribbon Professional Licensing Committee appointed by legislative leaders. Reeves told the committee the panel held four meetings and heard more than 12 hours of testimony from about 30 members of the public, eight agencies and seven licensing boards.

Key provisions described by Reeves include allowing applicants more flexibility to take exams during or before the application process; adding application approval duties for the division director and the secretary of state’s office; authorizing the division director in some instances to grant licenses, renewals or reinstatements on behalf of boards; allowing the secretary of state to set expiration, renewal and penalty dates; and adding a removal standard for board members for inability, neglect, incompetence or dishonest conduct. Reeves also said the bill implements code changes required by a Georgia Supreme Court decision (Raffensperger v. Jackson).

The bill converts several categories from licensure to registration, including auctioneers, geologists and hearing-aid dealers and dispensers, and includes specific provisions addressing counselors, social workers and marriage-and-family therapists. Reeves said the professional licensing division currently oversees 42 boards and 186 professions and noted there were more than 550,000 active licenses at the start of the year; in 2024 the division had 95 employees, he said.

Committee members praised the work of the Blue Ribbon panel and asked a series of clarifying questions about implementation. Reeves said the bill was drafted as a 36-page substitute to keep the measure streamlined, and he urged the committee to approve it. A committee member moved to pass the substitute (LC 550559S); after a voice vote in which members said “aye,” the motion carried.

The measure sets an effective date of July 1, 2026, to allow time for implementation and any required follow-up in the current and next session. Reeves said staff and agency officials named during the presentation — including the governor’s staff and the secretary of state’s office — had supported or assisted with drafting and implementation planning.

The committee action was procedural approval in the appropriations committee; additional committee and floor steps remain before the bill would become law.","The House Appropriations Committee voted to pass House Bill 579, a 36-page measure from the Blue Ribbon Professional Licensing Committee that aims to simplify licensing processes, codify post‑court changes and change some licenses to registrations; the bill sets a July 1, 2026 effective date.","actionData","errors"]

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Committee approves $1.6 million compensation resolution for man exonerated after 23 years

Committee backs constitutional amendment to require legislature to appropriate certain settlement and judgment funds

Appropriations panel approves bill to streamline professional licensing