Three Impactful Reasons Why Brian Strickland Was Proud to Support Senate Bill 360

Brought before the Georgia General Assembly earlier this year, Senate Bill 360 – also known as Colton’s Law – was passed unanimously by the State Senate and moves on to the House. Written by Brunswick Senator Shelia McNeill (District 3), it was co-sponsored by Senators Kennedy (District 18), Beach (District 21), Hickman (District 4) and Miller (District 49), among others. Named “Colton’s Law” for a disabled child from Senator McNeill’s district who was beaten, and his abuser never served jail time. Currently, those found guilty of first or second-degree child abuse can serve anywhere from one to 20 years in prison, with no required jail time for third-degree. Colton's Law ups increases those penalties if the abused child is disabled. Those found guilty of abusing a child with special needs would serve a minimum of ten years and a maximum of 30. 

As chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Senator Brian Strickland worked with Senator McNeil to perfect Senate Bill 360 and get it passed out of committee in order to get it to the floor of the Senate for a vote. Once there, he was proud to cast his vote in its favor – not just for the story behind it – but for three impactful reasons: 

1. It Protects Those Who Cannot Protect Themselves

‍As the father of two children, Brian Strickland cannot begin to imagine the horrors abused children must endure – particularly disabled children who may be completely unable to defend themselves. The National Center for Biotechnology Information indicates that children with disabilities are 3.4 times more likely to suffer abuse than children without disabilities. Senator Strickland believes the abusers should be convicted to the full extent of the law and is proud to have a hand in expanding those penalties to protect those who cannot protect themselves and discourage future acts of violence.

2. It Further Protects People with Disabilities and Elders

‍As a proposed amendment to Code Section 16-5-102 of the Official Code of Georgia, Colton’s Law also RE-casts the spotlight on the ongoing issue of elder abuse and the exploitation and intimidation of adults with disabilities. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, at least 10% of adults aged 65 and older will experience some form of elder abuse in a given year – most of which at the hand of a caregiver. The same holds true for adults with disabilities – who are two to three times as likely to fall victim to abuse and violence than the general public, making them one of the most harmed groups in the country.

3. Children Who Suffer from Severe Mental Impairments and Critical Emotional Issues May Fall Under the Disabled Umbrella

‍As Co-Chair of the Mental Health Caucus along with Senator Kim Jackson of Dekalb County, Senator Strickland has a particular interest in protecting children with disabilities who also suffer mental health issues. The World Health Organization estimates that up to 20% of children and adolescents worldwide suffer from a disabling mental illness. The caucus is currently working alongside their colleagues in the Senate on House Bill 1013 – which will bring comprehensive reforms to Georgia’s mental health care delivery system.

If you have questions about Colton’s Law or HB 1013, we invite you to call Senator Strickland’s office at 678.583.4865, send an email to brianstricklandforgeorgia@gmail.com  or message his staff on social media: @StricklandforGA on Twitter, @StricklandforGA on Facebook or @StricklandforGA on Instagram.