| 1 | 1 | | 24 LC 48 1135 |
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| 2 | 2 | | House Bill 1209 |
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| 3 | 3 | | By: Representatives Clark of the 100 |
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| 4 | 4 | | th |
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| 5 | 5 | | , Reeves of the 99 |
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| 6 | 6 | | th |
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| 7 | 7 | | , Kelley of the 16 |
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| 8 | 8 | | th |
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| 9 | 9 | | , Jones of the |
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| 10 | 10 | | 25 |
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| 11 | 11 | | th |
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| 12 | 12 | | , Daniel of the 117 |
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| 13 | 13 | | th |
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| 14 | 14 | | , and others |
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| 15 | 15 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 16 | 16 | | AN ACT |
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| 17 | 17 | | To amend Article 3 of Chapter 11 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, |
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| 18 | 18 | | 1 |
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| 19 | 19 | | relating to dependency proceedings, so as to enact "Ethan's Law"; to provide limitations on2 |
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| 20 | 20 | | ordering a child to be sent to a reunification program; to provide for related matters; to repeal3 |
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| 21 | 21 | | conflicting laws; and for other purposes.4 |
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| 22 | 22 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:5 |
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| 23 | 23 | | SECTION 1.6 |
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| 24 | 24 | | This Act shall be known and may be cited as "Ethan's Law."7 |
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| 25 | 25 | | SECTION 2.8 |
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| 26 | 26 | | Article 3 of Chapter 11 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to9 |
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| 27 | 27 | | dependency proceedings, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:10 |
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| 28 | 28 | | "15-11-202.1. |
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| 29 | 29 | | 11 |
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| 30 | 30 | | Except as provided by any other provision in this chapter, a court shall not order family12 |
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| 31 | 31 | | reunification treatments, programs, or services, including, but not limited to, camps,13 |
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| 32 | 32 | | workshops, therapeutic vacations, or educational programs, that, as a condition of14 |
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| 33 | 33 | | enrollment or participation, require or result in any of the following:15 |
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| 34 | 34 | | H. B. 1209 |
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| 35 | 35 | | - 1 - 24 LC 48 1135 |
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| 36 | 36 | | (1) Violation of a court order requiring that a child have no contact with his or her parent16 |
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| 37 | 37 | | or legal guardian;17 |
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| 38 | 38 | | (2) An overnight, out-of-state, or multiday stay;18 |
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| 39 | 39 | | (3) A transfer of physical or legal custody of the child;19 |
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| 40 | 40 | | (4) The use of private youth transporters or private transportation agents engaged in the20 |
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| 41 | 41 | | use of force, the threat of force, physical obstruction, acutely distressing circumstances,21 |
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| 42 | 42 | | or circumstances that place the safety of the child at risk; or22 |
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| 43 | 43 | | (5) The use of threats of physical force; undue coercion; verbal abuse; isolation from the23 |
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| 44 | 44 | | child's family, community, or other sources of support; or other distressing24 |
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| 45 | 45 | | circumstances."25 |
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| 46 | 46 | | SECTION 3.26 |
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| 47 | 47 | | All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.27 |
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| 48 | 48 | | H. B. 1209 |
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| 49 | 49 | | - 2 - |
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