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GA HB896

Bill

Status

Introduced

2/3/2016

Primary Sponsor

Emory Dunahoo

Click for details

Origin

House of Representatives

2015-2016 Regular Session

AI Summary

  • Persons who exercise control over property, a vehicle, or a vessel face criminal liability for furnishing or permitting the furnishing of alcoholic beverages to anyone under 21 years of age through criminal negligence, regardless of the alcohol's source
  • Provides affirmative defenses for accused social hosts who either took reasonable action to prevent underage drinking (e.g., controlling access, monitoring consumption) or took immediate action to stop violations and/or contacted law enforcement
  • Expands civil liability so that custodial parents may sue any person who sells, furnishes, serves, or permits the furnishing of alcohol to their underage child, including through negligence, not just direct provision
  • Removes the requirement that a provider must know an intoxicated person "will soon be driving a motor vehicle" for civil liability to attach; liability now extends to anyone who knowingly or through negligence provides alcohol to an underage person or a noticeably intoxicated person
  • Eliminates the existing liability shield for property owners, lessees, or lawful occupants of non-licensed premises when underage persons consume alcohol on their property

Legislative Description

Alcoholic beverages; social host's criminal responsibility and civil liability; provisions

Last Action

House Second Readers

2/8/2016

Full Bill Text

No bill text available