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GA HB725

Bill

Status

Passed

4/26/2016

Primary Sponsor

Wesley Cantrell

Click for details

Origin

House of Representatives

2015-2016 Regular Session

AI Summary

  • Declares all child abuse records held by the department, state/local agencies, or child advocacy centers as confidential, with access prohibited except through specifically enumerated exceptions
  • Establishes a new court subpoena process for accessing child abuse records requiring a contemporaneous motion, service on all parties and the prosecuting attorney, and an in camera inspection finding the records reasonably calculated to lead to admissible evidence
  • Requires courts to issue protective orders when releasing child abuse records, which may restrict reproduction, specify viewing conditions, require sealing, or mandate return of records upon case completion, with violations punishable as contempt
  • Expands the definition of "sexual exploitation" to include trafficking for labor or sexual servitude, obscene depiction of a minor, and nude or sexually explicit electronic transmission, and adds "emotional abuse" to the definition of "child abuse"
  • Grants civil and criminal liability immunity to the department, any agency, child advocacy centers, and their employees for providing access to or disclosure of child abuse records as authorized by law

Legislative Description

"Child Abuse Records Protection Act"; enact

Last Action

Effective Date

7/1/2016

Full Bill Text

No bill text available