Bill > HB1283

This bill, titled the "Family Justice Center Act," aims to improve support for victims of family violence, sexual assault, child abuse, elder abuse, and human trafficking by authorizing the creation of Family Justice Centers, which are co-located, multi-agency service centers. These centers will bring together public and private agencies, including law enforcement, victim service providers, and social services, in a single, accessible location to offer coordinated support. The bill outlines how these centers can be established and operated, either by county or municipal governments, district attorneys, or designated nonprofit organizations, and specifies the composition of oversight boards. It also grants law enforcement officers assigned to these centers the authority to respond to emergencies within the center's service area, even outside their usual jurisdiction, while maintaining their existing immunities. The bill allows these centers to accept various forms of funding, including federal grants like the Victims of Crime Act and the Violence Against Women Act, and requires them to submit performance reports to the state's Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, which will then compile a statewide report. Crucially, the bill establishes strict confidentiality rules for information shared by victims within the centers, requiring written consent for disclosure unless legally mandated, while still ensuring that personnel comply with mandatory reporting laws for abuse or neglect. Furthermore, it provides governmental immunity to employees, contractors, and volunteers of participating agencies within the centers, similar to that of public officials, for good-faith actions within their scope of duties, and clarifies that records generated by non-governmental agencies within the center will generally remain confidential, not becoming public records solely due to their co-location. Finally, the bill amends discovery rules in felony and misdemeanor cases to clarify that records held by partner or participating agencies within a Family Justice Center are not automatically considered in the possession of the state or law enforcement simply because they are co-located.

Justice

https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73132