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JULY 1,2016
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Law named for slain South Forsyth grad
By Kelly Whitmire
kwhitmire@forsythnews.com
Michael Gatto’s time at
Georgia Southern
University was brief and
muddled with tragedy, but it
will have a lasting impact on
college campuses and
throughout the state.
Michael’s Law went into
effect today to define what a
bar is and who is allowed
inside. It was named in
memory of the South Forsyth
High School graduate who
was beaten to death at a bar
during his freshman year in
Statesboro.
<.
Events leading up to law prohibiting underage bargoers. bouncers
May 2014
Michael Gatto
graduates from South
Forsyth High School
A * U
Aug. 2014
Gatto moves to
Statesboro to
attend Georgia
Southern
University
Legislation affects Forsyth County
By Kayla Robins
krobins@forsythnews.com
Though many bills passed in the
Georgia General Assembly became law as
soon as the governor signed them, there
are some going into effect today that
impact Forsyth County.
Starting today, Board of Education
members no longer have to go mum on
topics after a vote is made if they do not
agree with it.
Before Senate Bill 275 was passed,
board members had to follow a code of
ethics that prevented them from “discuss
P .
Volume 107, Number 78
© 2016, Forsyth County News
Cumming, Georgia
(1T
Man initiates foot chase with police | 2A
said state Rep. Geoff
Duncan, who sponsored the
bill.
Duncan, whose District 26
covers east and north
Forsyth, said the law was the
first in the state to legal-ly
define what is and is not a
bar.
According to the statute,
such an establishment is
“any premises at which a
retailer licensed pursuant to
this title to sell alcoholic
beverages derives 75 percent
or more total annual gross
revenue from the sale of
See MICHAEL | 3A
One of the
law’s key
components
is prohibit
ing anyone
under 21
from work
ing as a
bouncer. The
man charged
with Gatto’s murder was 20
at the time of the incident.
“I have yet to hear a sound
reason as to why that would
make sense to have someone
under 21 years old being
solely responsible for look
ing at an ID and letting a
patron in to verify their age,”
Aug. 28, 2014
Gatto is found
unresponsive with
head injuries at a
Rude Rudy’s bar in
Statesboro after
midnight and dies
from his injuries
hours later
Aug. 29, 2014
Grant James
Spencer, a
bouncer at the !
bar, is arrested in
connection with
Gatto’s death
and charged with
aggravated battery
ing freely the policies and actions of such
board outside of a board meeting.”
The bill’s author, state Sen. Michael
Williams, whose District 27 represents the
majority of Forsyth County, said the origi
nal law was enacted in 2010 when a num
ber of counties had board members who
were “stirring up issues” to the point that
the systems were risking losing accredita
tion — 50 the bill was passed to help pres
ent a united front.
“We need to let them speak their mind,”
Williams said.
This new law does not apply to anything
discussed in executive session.
Abby 3B
Classifieds 6B
Deaths 2A
Food 5A
Opinion 5A
Sports 1B
Abandonéd'boats, docks eyesore on lake |44 .
)
Sept. 2014
Spencer is
charged with
murder
Jan 2015
At a pre-legislative breakfast, District 26
state Rep. Geoff Duncan announces
plans to introduce legislation to
prevent underage deaths in bars
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Late Sept. 2014 ¥ »
Rude Rudy’s is '\w ;#"‘
closed, and the
- owner P L
agreesto a Aé* :
lifetime ban on L
licenses to a K =
serve alcohol in EBETS
Statesboro
Williams also sponsored a bill that
allows counties and municipalities to
charge pet owners for the cost of housing
animals seized due to animal cruelty
charges.
He said this takes the burden off of tax
payers.
A bill that has a direct impact on this
weekend but that has been in effect since
March is the state’s fireworks law.
House Bill 727 prohibits residents from
exploding fireworks after 9 p.m. The
exceptions are that they can be used until 1
See AFFECTS | 2A
3\ Holiday
- weekend
brings
traffic, thefts.
S e e /
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Fiie photo
Michael Gatto’s parents were presented with a flag at a ceremo
ny before a South Forsyth High School football game in 2014.
- - 9
What is Michael’s Law?
House Bill 152, or Michael’s Law, goes into effect
today. Its goal is to prevent another family from
having to go through what Michael Gatto’s family
did by preventing underage deaths in bars.
¢ According to the law, a bar is defined as any
establishment that “derives 75 percent or more total
annual gross revenue from the sale of alcoholic
beverages” on premises
e Starting today, anyone under 21 is prohibited from
working as a bouncer at or attending a bar in Georgia
*The only exception for allowing anyone underage
into a bar is when they are paying admission to
attend musical concerts or other \ive performances
® People under 21 can still work as servers in bars
3\ Yarbrough:
Senators give
politics a
good name.
July 1, 2016
Michael’s Law
goes into effect
; ¥
. C\
P, /(‘\)
April 2015
House Bill 152, or
Michael’s Law, passes
the Georgia General
Assembly and is sent
to the governor’s desk
‘lt's for those
people who have
nothing else,
instead of
exhausting every
single resource.
Sheri Gilligan
State representative
District 24
33 /69
Forecast|2A