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HB285 • 2025

Law enforcement agencies; judicial procedure for purging a person's involuntary hospitalization information; provide

Law enforcement agencies; judicial procedure for purging a person's involuntary hospitalization information; provide

Crime Firearms
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Buckner, Debbie
Last action
2026-03-06
Official status
House Committee Favorably Reported
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official status indicates the bill passed both chambers, but no effective date is provided in the source material.

HB285: Court Process to Remove Involuntary Hospitalization Records

This bill creates a court process for people to remove records of their involuntary hospitalizations from the Georgia Crime Information Center under certain circumstances.

What This Bill Does

  • Amends Code Section 35-3-34 regarding criminal record disclosure and information provided to the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).
  • Provides a judicial procedure for purging involuntary hospitalization information held by the Georgia Crime Information Center under certain circumstances.
  • Changes rules about how long the state must keep these specific hospitalization records before they can be removed.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who have been involuntarily hospitalized and whose information is stored in the Georgia Crime Information Center for NICS purposes.
  • The Georgia Crime Information Center, which manages criminal records and background check data.
  • Judges who will review requests to remove these specific hospitalization records.

Terms To Know

Involuntary Hospitalization
A situation where a person is required by law or court order to stay in a mental health facility against their will, resulting in information being sent to the state.
Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC)
The state agency that collects and stores criminal records and other data used for background checks.
National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS)
A federal system where the Georgia Crime Information Center sends certain information to check if a person is allowed to buy or possess firearms.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill summary does not list the specific circumstances under which a judge must approve removing these records.
  • It does not state when this law will officially take effect after passing the legislature.
  • The exact time limits for how long hospitals or agencies can keep these records before they are eligible for removal is not detailed in the provided text.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-06 Georgia General Assembly

    House Committee Favorably Reported

Official Summary Text

Law enforcement agencies; judicial procedure for purging a person's involuntary hospitalization information; provide