Crimes and offenses; offense of selling a child for financial gain; provide
Summary
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 12 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to offenses against public health and morals, so as to provide for the offense of selling a child for financial gain; to provide for a definition; to provide for a penalty; to provide for limitations; to provide for a cause of action; to amend Article 1 of Chapter 8 of Title 19 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to adoption, so as to provide for conforming cross references; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Bill status
died
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 12, 2025
Last action Apr 4, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
LC 48 1434/a
→
LC 48 1487S/hs
·
3 edits
MINOR
The bill was amended to move adoption advertising and inducement rules from the adoption chapter to the offenses chapter, making them criminal offenses rather than just civil violations. This change strengthens enforcement by allowing criminal penalties for selling children or offering improper financial inducements to biological parents.
Scope change
The bill's scope shifted from primarily civil enforcement of adoption advertising rules to criminal enforcement, expanding the legal consequences for violations.
SCOPE
Adoption advertising restrictions and inducement rules were moved from Title 19 (Adoption) to Title 16 (Offenses against public health and morals), changing them from civil to criminal matters.
ENFORCEMENT
Added criminal penalties for selling children or offering financial inducements to biological parents, with provisions for district attorneys to investigate violations during adoption hearings.
REQUIREMENT
Updated financial disclosure requirements in adoption petitions to reference the new criminal code section governing inducements.
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
5
Key actions
1
Committee
2
Apr 4, 2025
Committee
House Withdrawn, Recommitted
lower
Feb 27, 2025
Lower · Passed
House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
lower
Feb 12, 2025
Introduced
House Hopper
lower
6 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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