Loading chat...
GA HB1253
Bill
Status
Introduced
6/24/2020
Primary Sponsor
Sandra Scott
Click for details
AI Summary
- Adds a new offense to Georgia's unlawful 9-1-1 conduct statute for calling 9-1-1 to make a false report motivated by bias against a person's race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religion, gender, disability, or sexual orientation, or to intimidate someone based on those characteristics
- Existing unlawful 9-1-1 conduct remains a misdemeanor punishable by up to $500 and/or 12 months in jail, while the new bias-motivated offense carries a fine-only penalty of up to $1,000
- Creates a new civil cause of action (Code Section 51-1-56) allowing individuals to sue anyone who knowingly causes a peace officer to arrive at their location based on a false report or with intent to infringe on their constitutional rights, including actions motivated by bias
- Defines "false report" as the knowing fabrication of an incident, crime, or material information relating to an incident or crime at the time the report is made
- Sponsored by Representatives Scott, Thomas, Kendrick, Cannon, and Beasley-Teague; amends Title 16 (criminal code) and Title 51 (tort law) of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated
Legislative Description
Crimes and offenses; unlawful conduct during 9-1-1 call to include bias motivations in calling or otherwise contacting 9-1-1; revise
Last Action
House Second Readers
6/26/2020
Full Bill Text
No bill text available