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House Bill 911
By: Representative Cummings of the 39
th
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 5 of Title 51 of the Official Code of Georgia, relating to libel and slander,
1
so as to prohibit individuals from bringing defamation actions against another individual who2
makes a communication regarding an incident of sexual assault, sexual harassment, or sex3
discrimination when that individual believed such incident to have occurred; to provide for4
attorney's fees and costs for a prevailing defendant; to provide for related matters; to repeal5
conflicting laws; and for other purposes.6
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:7
SECTION 1.8
Chapter 5 of Title 51 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to libel and slander,9
is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:10
"51-5-13.
11
(a) An individual shall not bring an action pursuant to this chapter against another12
individual who makes a communication without malice regarding an incident of sexual13
assault, sexual harassment, or sex discrimination if, at the time of making the14
communication, the communicating individual has a reasonable belief that sexual assault,15
sexual harassment, or sex discrimination occurred.16
H. B. 911
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(b) A prevailing defendant in an action brought in violation of subsection (a) of this Code17
section is entitled to recover reasonable attorney's fees, expenses of litigation, and costs."18
SECTION 2.19
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.20
H. B. 911
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