SHORT ITEM 02/23/98

GEORGIA-- Media organizations could be taxed for reporting crime stories under a bill introduced in early February in the Georgia General Assembly.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Chuck Sims (D-Ambrose), provides that "any individual, partnership, corporation, or other entity which produces for profit a factual account of any crime . . . shall be subject to a tax on the gross revenue derived from such production." Convicted criminals would pay a 100 percent tax on revenues. "All other proceeds derived from factual accounts of any such crime" would be subject to a tax of 10 percent of revenues gained from publication.

The proposal is known as the Victims' Rights Act of 1998.

Several First Amendment organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, have criticized the bill because it is unconstitutional and would reduce public awareness of crime.

Susan Howley, spokeswoman for the National Victim Center, says her organization is in favor of limiting the offenders from profiting at the expense of their victims but expresses concern over the new bill because her organization is "used to working with the media" and says that the "media is often an ally of the victim's movement." (H.B. 1483)