SB99: SB99 Crimes and Offenses; definition of law enforcement officer; provide

Georgia law did not have a single, broad definition of "law enforcement officer" covering everyone who might act in that role, including officers still completing training or working across state and federal lines. Senate Bill 99, called the "Law Enforcement Partners Act," adds a new definition to the state's crimes and offenses code (O.C.G.A. § 16-1-3). The new definition includes peace officers, out-of-state or federal officers helping during a governor-declared emergency, newly appointed police chiefs or department heads still working through required training, officers certified in another state but not yet trained under Georgia's Peace Officer Standards and Training Act, and federal officers acting at the request of a Georgia officer or to prevent death or injury. The bill also updates the state's arrest and use-of-force law (O.C.G.A. § 17-4-20) to point to this same definition, so the same rules apply consistently across both sections.

• Adds a new legal definition of "law enforcement officer" to Georgia's criminal code (O.C.G.A. § 16-1-3) covering several specific categories of officers.
• Includes newly appointed police chiefs or department heads who have not yet finished required state training within the training completion deadline.
• Includes out-of-state certified officers working in Georgia who have not yet completed Georgia's required training, as long as their home-state certification stays valid.
• Includes federal law enforcement officers acting at a Georgia officer's request or to stop imminent death or bodily harm.
• Cross-references this same definition in Georgia's arrest and use-of-force statute (O.C.G.A. § 17-4-20) so both laws use identical terms.
• Gives the bill an official short title, the "Law Enforcement Partners Act."

The bill affects Georgia peace officers, newly appointed police chiefs and department heads still completing training, out-of-state officers working temporarily in Georgia, federal law enforcement officers assisting Georgia agencies, and any Georgians whose interactions with these officers could be governed by state arrest and use-of-force laws.

By spelling out exactly who counts as a "law enforcement officer" under Georgia's arrest and use-of-force law, the bill clarifies which officers, including trainees, out-of-state officers, and federal agents, are covered when questions arise about their legal authority to arrest someone or use force.

• Section 1 names the bill the "Law Enforcement Partners Act."
• Section 2 adds a new paragraph (8.1) to O.C.G.A. § 16-1-3 defining "law enforcement officer" across five categories: peace officers, emergency-response officers from other states or the federal government, untrained new chiefs or department heads, out-of-state certified officers not yet trained in Georgia, and certain federal officers.
• Section 3 amends O.C.G.A. § 17-4-20 to state that "law enforcement officer" in that statute has the same meaning defined in Section 2.
• Section 4 repeals any existing laws that conflict with the new provisions.

1. 2025-05-13Effective Date 2025-07-01
2. 2025-05-13Act 192
3. 2025-05-13Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
4. 2025-04-10Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
5. 2025-04-04Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub (Senate)
6. 2025-03-31House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
7. 2025-03-31House Third Readers (House)
8. 2025-03-20House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)

• Randy Robertson (R, SD-029)Primary sponsor
• John Albers (R, SD-056)
• Timothy Bearden (R, SD-030)
• Carden Summers (R, SD-013)
• Billy Hickman (R, SD-004)
• Mike Hodges (R, SD-003)
• Drew Echols (R, SD-049)
• Sam Watson (R, SD-011)
• Marty Harbin (R, SD-016)
• Shawn Still (R, SD-048)
• Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)
• Brian Strickland (R, SD-042)
• Steve Gooch (R, SD-051)
• Matt Reeves (R, HD-099)

1. PassedSenate voteFebruary 13, 2025

   49 yea, 1 nay (2 not voting, 4 absent)

   Passage By Substitute: Senate Vote #55

2. PassedHouse voteMarch 31, 2025

   152 yea, 11 nay (5 not voting, 12 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #370

3. PassedSenate voteApril 4, 2025

   50 yea, 3 nay (2 not voting, 1 absent)

   Agree To House Substitute: Senate Vote #475

• law enforcement definitions
• police training
• criminal code
• public safety
• peace officer certification