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Criminal Law

WATERS OF THE STATE, PORTS, AND WATERCRAFT Registration, Operation, and Sale of Watercraft: Redefine "Vessel"; Create the Felony Crimes of Homicide by Vessel, Feticide by Vessel, and Serious Injury by Vessel

The Act amends the Georgia Boat Safety Act by providing a new definition of the term “vessel. Additionally, the Act designates homicide by vessel in the first and second degree, feticide by vessel in the first and second degree, and serious injury by vessel as new crimes. Download

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CRIMES AND OFFENSES Offenses Against Public Order and Safety: Prohibit Discharge of a Firearm While Intoxicated; Provide for Instant Background Checks When Purchasing a Handgun; Preempt Local Regulation of Firearms

The Act makes unlawful the discharge of a firearm while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. The Act also provides for a statewide system of instant background checks of potential handgun purchaser and preempts, with some exceptions, local regulation of firearms. Download PDF

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CRIMES AND OFFENSES Offenses Involving Theft: Provide for Presumption of Intent to Convert Rented or Leased Personal Property After a Certain Term; Change Venue Requirements

The Act creates a presumption of intent to convert rented or leased personal property if the renter or lessee, upon formal request by the owner, does not return the property within a specified period of time. Additionally, the Act changes the venue requirements by providing for venue in the county

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CRIMES AND OFFENSES Offenses Against Health and Morals: Provide Felony Penalties for Soliciting, Engaging in, Contracting with, Conspiring with, Encouraging, Abetting, or Directing a Minor to Commit a Violent Felony

The Act prohibits a person from knowingly and willfully soliciting, engaging in, contracting with, conspiring with, encouraging, abetting, or directing a minor to commit a crime which is a felony and is violent in nature. Additionally, the Act prohibits a person from knowingly or willfully providing a weapon to a

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CRIMES AND OFFENSES Crimes Against the Person: Provide for the Criminal Offense of Offering to Assist in the Commission of Suicide and Committing an Act in Furtherance Thereof

The Act provides criminal penalties for those who offer or hold themselves out to assist another person in the commission of suicide and commit an act in furtherance thereof. The Act also provides criminal penalties for anyone who overcomes the will of another person and thereby causes that person to

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CRIMES AND OFFENSES Crimes Against the Person: Prohibit Stalking of an Intended Victim

The Act provides for the crimes of stalking and aggravated assault by defining important terms and providing penalties. Victims are entitled to notice of the offender's release if the victim provides specified information to officials to facilitate that notice. Constitutionally protected behavior and legitimate business activities are excluded.

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CRIMES AND OFFENSES Offenses Against Public Order and Safety: Provide for Consent to Intercept, Record, or Divulge Message Sent by Telephone, Telegraph, Letter, or Other Means Such as Cellular Phones When Involving a Minor

HB 47 provides guidelines for courts and law enforcement agencies in the use of wiretapping, eavesdropping and surveillance when a child under the age of eighteen years is a party to the recording. HB 139 provides that it shall be unlawful for any person to maliciously and intentionally intercept communications

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CRIMES AND OFFENSES Offenses Against Minors: Prohibit the Electronic Furnishing of Obscene Material to Minors

The Act prohibits anyone from furnishing obscene materials through electronic means which would be harmful to minors. The Act provides that such obscene materials may include information stored in a computer, on a bulletin board, on floppy disks and other magnetic storage devices, or CD-ROM. A person convicted of violating

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