Bill > HB285

This bill modifies Georgia law regarding the handling of a person's involuntary hospitalization information in the state's criminal record system. The bill establishes a new judicial procedure that allows individuals who have been involuntarily hospitalized to petition the court to have their mental health information purged from the Georgia Crime Information Center's records. To do this, the person must file a petition in the court where their hospitalization proceedings occurred, and a hearing will be held within 60 days. During the hearing, the court will consider factors such as the circumstances of hospitalization, the person's mental health and criminal history, reputation, and changes in their condition. If the court finds by a preponderance of evidence that the petitioner is not likely to be dangerous to themselves or others, they can order the information removed from the records. The bill specifies that a person cannot file such a petition until 12 months after their discharge from involuntary hospitalization, and cannot file another petition within two years of a previous petition's final order. The goal is to provide a mechanism for individuals to potentially clear mental health-related information from their records while protecting public safety.