Bill > HB435

This bill amends Georgia's existing law on sexual exploitation of children by expanding an exemption to the law's provisions to specifically include Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) staff members performing their official duties. Currently, the law provides exemptions for law enforcement and prosecution agencies investigating criminal offenses, legitimate medical, scientific, or educational activities, and individuals creating or possessing visual media depicting only themselves engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The new provision adds DFCS staff to this list of exemptions, which means that if DFCS employees create or possess visual media related to sexually explicit conduct while carrying out their official responsibilities, they would not be in violation of the sexual exploitation of children statute. This amendment appears designed to provide legal protection for DFCS workers who might encounter such visual materials during the course of investigating child welfare cases or other official duties, ensuring they can do their work without fear of legal repercussions.

Justice

https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70294