HB41.html

Article 2 of Chapter 12 of Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the powers and duties of the Governor, is amended by inserting after Code Section 45-12-37 a new Code Section 45-12-37.1 to read as follows:
“45-12-37.1.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) 'Conviction' means a final judgment of conviction entered upon a verdict of guilty or upon a plea of guilty. Such judgment shall be deemed to be a final judgment when the remittitur from the appellate court of this state affirming the conviction is filed in the court below or, if the proceeding is before a federal court, when the United States Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed the conviction.
(2) 'Election fraud' means the commission of any act punishable as a felony that is prohibited by Article 15 of Chapter 2 of Title 21. In addition, election fraud shall also include any act which is a violation of Code Section 21-2-567, 21-2-568, 21-2-573, 21-2-576, 21-2-578, 21-2-579, 21-2-589, 21-2-590, or 21-2-591.
(b) Any person, other than a law enforcement officer, who furnishes information leading to the arrest and conviction of a person or persons for election fraud, as defined by this Code section, shall receive a reward of $25,000.00.
(c) The Governor shall pay the reward authorized by this Code section after conviction.
(d) The Governor shall pay such reward to any such person from funds appropriated or otherwise available to the executive branch of the state government.
(e) Counties and municipalities wherein election fraud is committed are authorized, but not required, to supplement or make rewards to persons entitled to receive a reward, as provided for in subsection (b) of this Code section, in an amount not to exceed $10,000.00 paid from county funds or $10,000.00 paid from municipal funds for each such person. Any reward paid pursuant to this subsection shall be paid at the time the conviction becomes final, as provided in paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of this Code section, from the funds of the county or municipality, as the case may be. It is declared that any funds expended pursuant to this subsection are expended for a public purpose.
(f) When more than one person furnishes information which would entitle them to receive the rewards pursuant to subsections (b) through (e) of this Code section, such rewards shall be paid to the first person furnishing such information; and, if more than one person furnishes such information at the same time, such rewards shall be prorated among all persons furnishing such information.
(g) In any case in which a reward is paid pursuant to this Code section, the person or persons who were convicted as a result of the information provided shall be required as a part of the sentence imposed to make restitution to the state and the county or municipality, if applicable, for the full amount of the reward paid.”