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GA SB421

Bill

Status

Passed

5/1/2024

Primary Sponsor

Clint Dixon

Click for details

Origin

Senate

2023-2024 Regular Session

AI Summary

  • Creates a new criminal offense of "drive-by shooting" — discharging a firearm from or near a motor vehicle with intent to injure a person or damage property, targeting an occupied dwelling, building, vehicle, or person — punishable by 5 to 20 years imprisonment
  • Expands the definition of aggravated assault to include discharging a firearm from within a motor vehicle or immediately after exiting a vehicle toward a person, occupied motor vehicle, or occupied building
  • Adds a new form of first-degree criminal damage to property for knowingly and without justification causing damage to a building by discharging a firearm from inside or immediately after exiting a vehicle
  • Establishes a tiered penalty structure for transmitting a false public alarm (swatting): first offense is a high and aggravated misdemeanor; second offense is a felony with 5–10 years and a minimum $5,000 fine; third or subsequent offense carries 10–15 years and a minimum $25,000 fine; offenses targeting critical infrastructure carry 5–10 years and up to a $100,000 fine
  • Changes restitution for false public alarm offenses from discretionary ("may") to mandatory ("shall"), expanding eligible recipients to include natural persons and public or private entities for costs including property damage, bodily injury treatment, and lost income

Legislative Description

Obstruction of Public Administration; offense of transmitting a false public alarm; enhance penalties

Last Action

Act 512

5/1/2024

Committee Referrals

Judiciary - Non-Civil2/29/2024
Judiciary1/30/2024

Full Bill Text

No bill text available