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HB 253GEORGIASession 2025_26State Billpassed both

Passed

Georgia restricts child custody reunification programs and authorizes ambulance services to accept newborn safe surrender

Original title: Ethan's Law; enact

Last action · April 4, 2025: House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub As AmendedSponsors: David Clark and 6 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

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Floor Vote

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What This Bill Would Do

This act prohibits judges from ordering child custody reunification programs that involve no-contact periods, private transporters using force, or out-of-state stays, and expands the Safe Place for Newborns Act to allow licensed ambulance services to accept newborns and install monitored safety devices.

Why it matters

Parents in custody disputes gain protection from court-ordered reunification programs that use private transporters or out-of-state stays, while mothers surrendering a newborn up to 30 days old gain additional safe surrender locations with immunity from prosecution.

Background

The Safe Place for Newborns Act of 2002 initially established provisions allowing mothers to leave unharmed newborns in specific safe locations without facing criminal abandonment prosecution. context

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Parents and Legal Guardians

Judges are restricted from ordering certain types of family reunification programs during custody proceedings.

Directly affected

Ambulance Services

Licensed ambulance services are newly authorized to accept surrendered newborns, install safety devices, and receive cost reimbursements from the state.

Directly affected

Department of Human Services

The department is tasked with investigating reports, reimbursing facility costs, taking physical custody of newborns within six hours of discharge readiness, and developing warning sign standards.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What restrictions does Ethan's Law place on family reunification programs?

Judges cannot order reunification treatments or programs that require violating no-contact orders, using private transporters with force or distressing circumstances, imposing parent-child no-contact periods, or requiring out-of-state stays.

What safety features are required for newborn safety devices?

s must be enclosed, locked, monitored receptacles placed in a conspicuous, 24/7 staffed area with a dual alarm system: one connecting to the facility tested monthly, and an interior monitor checked twice daily that can dispatch an ambulance if staff are unavailable.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

Currently passed both. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Law.

Procedural history

14 actions

Apr 4, 2025HouseFloor
House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub As Amended
Apr 2, 2025Senate
Senate Taken from Table
Apr 2, 2025Senate
Senate Third Read
Apr 2, 2025SenateFloor
Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute
Mar 31, 2025Senate
Senate Tabled
Mar 21, 2025Senate
Senate Read Second Time

Show 8 earlier actions

Mar 20, 2025SenateCommittee
Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
Feb 27, 2025SenateIntroduced
Senate Read and Referred
Feb 26, 2025House
House Third Readers
Feb 26, 2025HouseFloor
House Passed/Adopted By Substitute
Feb 21, 2025HouseCommittee
House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
Feb 6, 2025House
House Second Readers
Feb 5, 2025HouseIntroduced
House First Readers
Feb 4, 2025HouseIntroduced
House Hopper

Version history & redline

5 versions on file

Comparing Sen Ctee sub LC 57 0272S → Floor Amendment AM 56 0027

removed addedOfficial text

25 LC 57 0272S The AM 56 0027 ADOPTED Representative Clark of the 100th offers the following amendment: Amend the Senate Committee on Children and Families offered the following substitute to HB 253: A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT 253 (LC 57 0272S) by deleting lines 1 through the end and inserting in lieu thereof the following: To amend Article 1 of Chapter 9 of Title 19 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to child custody proceedings, domestic relations, so as to prohibit the court from enact "Ethan's Law"; to provide limitations on ordering a child to be sent to a family reunification treatments or program; to revise provisions relating to safe places for newborns; to authorize ambulance services in cases in which the to accept physical custody of a child is at issue; newborn; to authorize the placement of newborn safety devices; to provide for a definition; definitions; to provide for related matters; limited liability; to provide for transport of newborns to nearest medical facility; to provide for specifications for newborn safety devices; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA: SECTION 1. This Act shall be known and may be cited as "Ethan's Law." SECTION 2. Article 1 of Chapter 9 of Title 19 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to child custody proceedings, domestic relations, is amended by revising paragraph (7) (2) of subsection (a) of Code Section 19-9-3, relating to the establishment and review of child custody and visitation, as follows: "(7) "(2) The judge is authorized to order hearing the issue of custody shall make a psychological determination of custody evaluation of a child and such matter shall not be decided by a jury. The judge may take into consideration all the family or an independent medical evaluation.; provided, however, that circumstances of the case, including the improvement of the health of the party seeking a change in custody provisions, in determining to whom custody of the child should be awarded. The duty of the judge in all such cases shall be to exercise discretion to look to and determine solely what is for the best interest of the child and what will best promote the child's welfare and happiness and to make his or her award accordingly. The judge shall not order family reunification treatments or services. In addition to the privilege afforded unification treatments, programs, or services, including, but not limited to, camps, workshops, therapeutic vacations, or educational programs, that, as a witness, neither condition of enrollment or participation, require or result in any of the following: (A) Violation of a court appointed custody evaluator nor order requiring that a court appointed guardian ad litem shall be subject to civil liability resulting from any act child have no contact with his or failure to act her parent or legal guardian; (B) The use of private youth transporters or private transportation agents engaged in the performance use of force, the threat of force, physical obstruction, acutely distressing circumstances, or circumstances that place the safety of the child at risk; (C) A no-contact period between the child and his or her duties unless such act parent or failure to act was in bad faith." legal guardian; or (D) An out-of-state stay." SECTION 3. Said article title is further amended in Code Section 19-9-6, by revising Chapter 10A, relating to definitions relative safe place for newborns, as follows: "CHAPTER 10A 19-10A-1. This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the 'Safe Place for Newborns Act of 2002.' 19-10A-2. As used in this chapter, the term: (1) 'Ambulance service' means an ambulance provider licensed pursuant to child custody proceedings, by adding Chapter 11 of Title 31. (1)(2) 'Fire station' means a new paragraph, facility of any fire department which is authorized to read exercise the general and emergency powers enumerated in Code Sections 25-3-1 and 25-3-2. (2)(3) 'Medical facility' means any licensed general or specialized hospital, institutional infirmary, health center operated by a county board of health, or facility where human births occur on a regular and ongoing basis which is classified by the Department of Community Health as follows: "(3.1) 'Family reunification treatments a birthing center, but shall not mean physicians' or services' dentists' private offices. (4) 'Newborn safety device' means any therapeutic intervention an enclosed, locked, and monitored receptacle that meets the requirements of Code Section 19-10A-8 in which requires: (A) Court ordered restrictions a newborn child can be safely placed. (3)(5) 'Police station' means a facility of any sheriff's office, municipal police department, or county police department. 19-10A-3. It is the express purpose and intent of the General Assembly in enacting this chapter to prevent injuries to and deaths of newborn children that are caused by a mother who abandons the newborn. 19-10A-4. A mother shall not be prosecuted for violating Code Section 16-5-70, 16-12-1, or 19-10-1 because of the act of leaving her newborn child, provided that the newborn child is no more than 30 days old: (1) In in the physical custody of an employee, agent, or member of the staff of a medical facility, fire station, or police station, or ambulance service who is on contact between duty, whether there in a paid or volunteer position, provided that the newborn child is no more than 30 days old and the mother shows proof of her identity, if willing, to the person with whom the newborn is left and provides her name and address, if willing; or (2) In a parent newborn safety device. 19-10A-5. The Department of Human Services shall investigate and report to the General Assembly as to children left with a medical facility, fire station, or legal guardian; (B) Overnight stays police station, or ambulance service or in a newborn safety device pursuant to Code Section 19-10A-4, including in such report the desirability and cost effectiveness of a dedicated toll-free telephone line for providing information to and answering questions from the public and employees and staff members of medical facilities, fire stations, and police stations, and ambulance services concerning the acts and consequences thereof contemplated in Code Section 19-10A-4. 19-10A-6. A medical facility which accepts a newborn child for inpatient admission pursuant to Code Section 19-10A-4 or a fire station, or police station, or ambulance service which accepts a newborn child left or receives a child placed in an out-of-state a newborn safety device pursuant to Code Section 19-10A-4 shall be reimbursed by the Department of Human Services for all reasonable medical and other reasonable costs associated with the child prior to the child being placed in the care of the department. A medical facility, hotel, motel, fire station, or camp; (C) police station, or ambulance service shall immediately arrange for transport of the newborn child to the nearest medical facility and notify the Department of Human Services at such time as the child is left and at the time the child is medically ready for discharge. Upon notification that the child is medically ready for discharge, the Department of Human Services shall take physical custody of the child within six hours. The use Department of private youth transporters Human Services upon taking physical custody shall promptly bring the child before the juvenile court as required by Code Section 15-11-145. 19-10A-7. Medical facilities, fire stations, and police stations, and ambulance services and their employees, agents, and staff members shall not be liable for civil damages or private transportation agents engaged subject to criminal prosecution for failure to discharge the duties provided for in this chapter. The immunity provided in this chapter shall in no way be construed as providing immunity for any acts of negligent treatment of the use child taken into custody. 19-10A-8. The Department of force, threat Human Services shall develop standards for a sign that shall be posted at any medical facility, fire station, or police station to inform the general public that such facility is an authorized location to leave a newborn child as provided in this chapter. The Department of force, physical obstruction, Human Services shall provide by rule and regulation for the size and type of such sign and where such sign should be located within or coercion against outside of such facility. (a) A medical facility, fire station, police station, or ambulance service shall be authorized to install a child; newborn safety device if the device is located in an area that is conspicuous and (D) visible to employees, agents, or staff members of such facility or station and such facility or station is staffed by an emergency medical services provider on a 24 hour, seven days per week basis. (b) A newborn safety device installed pursuant to this Code section shall include a dual alarm system that meets or exceeds the following specifications: (1) One alarm shall connect the newborn safety device to the facility or station and shall be tested at least once per month, and the second alarm shall monitor the device's interior and shall be checked at least twice per day to ensure that the dual alarm system functions properly; and (2) The attendance of, dual alarm system shall include the functionality to dispatch the nearest ambulance service to retrieve a newborn child if all medical facility, fire station, police station, or participation in, educational ambulance service employees, agents, or experimental workshops." staff members have been dispatched to an emergency or are otherwise off site." SECTION 4. This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2025. SECTION 5. All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.

Redline computed from the official version text (record lane).View this version →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift98% confidence

Expansion of Safe Surrender Network

The legislation broadens the 2002 Safe Place for Newborns Act by integrating licensed ambulance services and standardized physical drop-off receptacles into the statutory safe surrender framework.

Department of Human Services

Connected Entities

Department of Human Services, David Clark, Department of Community Health

OrganizationDepartment of Human Services“Investigates safe surrender reports, reimburses costs, and takes physical custod”Map →

PersonDavid Clark“Representative from the 100th district offering the amendment”Map →

OrganizationDepartment of Community Health“Classifies birthing centers under medical facility definitions”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.legis.ga.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance75
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy40
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment10
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz35
Current news / social attention level

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What This Bill Would Do

Who It Would Affect

Key Facts

Frequently Asked Questions

News Coverage

Where This Stands

Procedural history

Version history & redline

Lobbying Activity

Full breakdown

Sponsors

Discoveries

Expansion of Safe Surrender Network

Connected Entities

Sources

Analysis Score

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