25 LC 48 1621S
The House Committee on Judiciary, Non-Civil offers the following substitute to SB 268:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to crimes and1
offenses, so as to include step-grandparent and step-grandchild relationship regarding the2
offense of incest; to provide for the crime of interference with a first responder; to provide3
for penalties; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting4
laws; and for other purposes.5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:6
SECTION 1.7
Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to crimes and offenses, is8
amended in Code Section 16-6-22, relating to incest, by revising paragraph (4) of subsection9
as follows:10
"(4) Grandparent and grandchild of the whole blood or the half blood or by virtue of11
adoption or step-grandparent and step-grandchild;"12
SECTION 2.13
Said title is further amended in Article 2 of Chapter 11, relating to offenses against public14
order, by adding a new Code section to read as follows: 15
S. B. 268 (SUB)
- 1 - 25 LC 48 1621S
"16-11-46.16
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:17
(1) 'First responder' means any person or agency who provides on-site care until the18
arrival of a duly licensed ambulance service. This shall include, but not be limited to,19
persons who routinely respond to calls for assistance through an affiliation with law20
enforcement agencies, fire suppression agencies, rescue agencies, and others.21
(2) 'Harass' means to willfully engage in any conduct directed at a first responder which22
intentionally causes substantial emotional distress in that first responder and serves no23
legitimate purpose.24
(b) A person commits the offense of interference with a first responder when he or she,25
after receiving a verbal warning not to approach from a person he or she knows or26
reasonably should know is a first responder, who is engaged in the lawful performance of27
a legal duty, knowingly and willfully violates such warning and approaches or remains28
within 25 feet of the first responder with the intent to:29
(1) Impede or interfere with the first responder's ability to perform such duty;30
(2) Threaten the first responder with physical harm; or31
(3) Harass the first responder.32
(c) A person convicted pursuant to this Code section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of33
a high and aggravated nature."34
SECTION 3.35
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.36
S. B. 268 (SUB)
- 2 -