Bill > HB367

This bill establishes the Georgia Equity and Fairness Commission, a state-level body dedicated to examining the historical and ongoing impacts of slavery and racial discrimination in Georgia. The commission will consist of 11 members appointed by state legislative leaders and the Governor, with members selected from organizations focused on civil rights, human rights, and racial justice. The commission's primary responsibilities include investigating how Georgia supported and perpetuated slavery through constitutional and legal provisions, studying discriminatory laws from the Civil War era through Jim Crow and into the present, and analyzing the persistent negative effects of slavery on African American descendants. The commission will be empowered to hold public hearings, accept grants, request information from state agencies, and ultimately produce a comprehensive report with findings and recommendations for potential remedies, including potential forms of restitution. The bill acknowledges the profound historical injustices of slavery, noting that African Americans continue to experience economic, educational, and health disparities as a direct result of systemic discrimination. The commission is scheduled to be automatically dissolved on June 30, 2027, and will provide its final report within three months of its last meeting, with the report to be submitted to state leadership and made publicly available.

Government Affairs

https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70129