Criminal Justice

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 16-6-13 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to penalties for violating Code Sections 16-6-9 through 16-6-12, so as to modify the penalties for the offenses of pimping and pandering; to provide that all such offenses shall be punishable as felony offenses; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date and for applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Titles 15 and 19 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to courts and domestic relations, respectively, so as to require certain agreements for certain offenses to be eligible for a Pretrial Intervention and Diversion Program; provide for the creation of a registry of recidivist domestic violence offenders; to provide for the maintenance of such registry; to provide for clerks of court to provide certain information to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation; to provide for the registration of recidivist domestic violence offenders; to provide for the assessment of fees on recidivist domestic violence offenders; to provide for the removal of recidivist domestic violence offenders after a period of time; to provide for definitions; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 3 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to justification and excuse in defenses to criminal prosecutions, so as to provide for an additional justification for use of force in defense of self or others; to amend Code Section 51-11-9 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to no duty to retreat and immunity in certain instances of threat or use of force, so as to extend immunity from civil liability in justified use of force cases to legal representatives and heirs of the person against whom force was used; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 4 of Article 6 of Chapter 9 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to internet and e-mail fraud, so as to establish the criminal offense of digital identity fraud; to provide for criminal penalties; to require social media platform operators to evaluate claims of digital identify fraud; to provide for civil penalties; to provide for enforcement; to provide for a cause of action and damages; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 11 of Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding the assessment and payment of costs of criminal proceedings, so as to provide for the award of reasonable attorney's fees and costs in a criminal case to the defendant upon such defendant making a successful motion to disqualify the prosecuting attorney for misconduct in connection with the case; to provide for procedures for assessing and paying such fees and costs; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 16 of the O.C.G.A., relating to crimes and offenses, so as to revise threshold amounts of fentanyl and related substances necessary to constitute the offenses of possessing, selling, distributing, and manufacturing of such substances; to revise mandatory minimum departure provisions for defendants convicted of trafficking of substances in violation of Code Section 16-13-31, relating to trafficking in cocaine, illegal drugs, marijuana, or methamphetamine and penalties; to amend various titles of the O.C.G.A., so as to provide for conforming changes; to provide for an effective date; to provide for applicability; to provide for related matters; to provide for a short title; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.