The Georgia legislature has been busy during this session, and the House has recently passed two bills related to the City of Cleveland.
The two bills look to authorize the municipal court to charge a technology fee and to provide a new charter for the city.
The technology fee will be a surcharge to every criminal fine paid, and will be set by the judge of the court but cannot exceed $10.
The funds will be maintained by the chief financial officer of the city and clerk of court separate from other funds of the city, and may be used to reimburse the city’s technology department for services or the police department.
As for the new charter, the city council of Cleveland passed it in January but needed the General Assembly to approve it before it takes effect.
Cleveland has not updated its charter since 2013.
The city retained all the corporate powers it had in that charter, with many of the changes being wording-based like changing city administrator to city manager.
Both bills, House Bill 591 and 592, were sponsored by state representatives Stan Gunter (R-8) and Will Wade (R-9) and passed the house on Feb. 27. The Senate has read and referred both bills.
