Bill > SB243

This bill modifies the Back the Blue Fund, a program designed to support law enforcement officers in Georgia. Previously focused on providing bonus payments to sheriffs' deputies, the bill now shifts the fund's purpose to supporting training and retention of certified peace officers. Drivers renewing vehicle registrations can voluntarily contribute $5 to the fund, which will be collected by county tag agents and remitted to the state revenue commissioner. Starting in 2026, the commissioner will distribute the collected funds to the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (replacing the previous recipient, the Georgia Sheriffs' Association), who will then distribute money equally to county sheriffs. The bill stipulates that the funds can only be used for training, retention, and related costs for certified peace officers, and expressly prohibits using the money to supplement sheriff salaries or replace existing county funding. Additionally, the bill includes legislative intent that when sheriffs use these funds for training, counties should correspondingly increase officer salaries. The fund is set to be in effect until July 1, 2029, after which it will be automatically repealed.

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https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70713