GA HB285

Creates a judicial petition process allowing individuals with involuntary hospitalization records in the Georgia Crime Information Center database to request removal of that information from the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS)

Eliminates the existing automatic 5-year purge of involuntary hospitalization records, replacing it with the petition-based system

Courts must hold hearings within 60 days of petition receipt and issue decisions within 30 days; petitioners must demonstrate by preponderance of evidence they are not dangerous to themselves or others

First petition may be filed 12 months after discharge from involuntary hospitalization; subsequent petitions cannot be filed within 2 years of a previous final order

If granted, court clerks must report orders within 10 days and the Georgia Crime Information Center must purge records within 30 days; hearing records are exempt from public disclosure