Governor Kemp Allocates State ARPA Funds to Address Court Backlog
Governor Brian P. Kemp has allocated up to $110 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to address backlogs of court cases, particularly cases involving serious violent felonies. This ARPA funding can only be used to hire additional staff and acquire temporary workspace and facilities to address the backlog of cases. Priority will be given to eliminating the backlog of serious violent felony cases in superior courts.
Of the $110 million, The Judicial Council of Georgia Ad Hoc Committee on American Rescue Plan Act Funding (“ARPA Committee”) will oversee the application process for $96 million in ARPA grants to authorized trial courts (excluding municipal courts), appellate courts, prosecutors, and related agencies. The remaining $14 million in ARPA funds is allocated to public defenders and will be administered by the Georgia Public Defender Council.
The ARPA Committee will accept ARPA grant applications from judicial circuits and appellate courts during the following application period: November 10, 2021, to November 30, 2021. To apply, click the here.
House Annexation Study Committee on Annexation and Cityhood Release Final Report
The House of Representatives Study Committee on Annexation and Cityhood released it's final report on Friday, November 19. Click here to review it in its entirety.
Please contact ACCG Deputy Legislative Director Todd Edwards with any questions regarding this issue.
Save the Date: December 13 Webinar on New Timber Harvest Notification Website
Save the date for a webinar hosted by ACCG and the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) on Monday, December 13 from 9:00 am – 10:00 am. This webinar will provide an overview of the newly created Timber Harvest Notification website - a website that will establish state-wide uniformity on the notification process as well as make it easier for counties to be aware of and monitor harvest sites within their jurisdiction. The site will launch statewide early next year and is a result of legislation (HB 897) passed during the 2020 session of the Georgia General Assembly. All counties who have a Timber Harvest Notification Ordinance in place are encouraged to patriciate in this webinar. Webinar registration details will be released soon.
GDOT Announces LAP Certification
The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) recently announced its Local Administered Project (LAP) Certification. As the state and locals look to implement programs funded under the recently passed federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, GDOT is providing information (accessed from the links below) along with GDOT’s Local Administer Project (LAP) resource website.
The LAP certification allows for local communities to effectively partner with GDOT and to have the flexibility to administer and utilize federal transportation funding. LAP certification can allow for transportation projects to be implemented sooner by local communities instead of waiting for GDOT resources to implement a project.
The purpose of a LAP certification is to help establish uniform practices for authorizing qualified Local Public Agencies (LPA) to manage certain core activities for Federal-aid funded projects. GDOT assumes the responsibilities of the Secretary of Transportation for all Federal-aid projects. GDOT stewardship includes the responsibility to assure local projects meet or exceed all applicable Federal and State laws, standards and requirements.
