Bill > HB636

This bill amends Georgia's sexual offense penalties by replacing previous criminal punishments with monetary fines and redirecting those fine revenues to the Safe Harbor for Sexually Exploited Children Fund Commission. Specifically, the bill reduces penalties for various sexual offense violations from criminal sentences (which previously included misdemeanor or felony charges with potential jail time) to fixed financial penalties: $75 for first offenses under certain code sections (16-6-9, 16-6-10, 16-6-11, and 16-6-12) and $100 for second or subsequent offenses. Instead of potential imprisonment ranging from 24 hours to ten years, offenders will now be required to pay these fines, with the collected money specifically designated to support the Safe Harbor for Sexually Exploited Children Fund Commission, which likely provides services and support for victims of sexual exploitation. The bill represents a significant shift from a primarily punitive approach focused on incarceration to a model that generates funding for victim support services while maintaining a financial consequence for offenders.

Justice

https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70818