---
title: HB 1141. Courts; availability of medical records to a parent or legal guardian when a child is taken into medical custody; provide
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hb1141
cite_as: HB 1141, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1141
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1141.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1141/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72700
date: 2026-02-04
status: introduced
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 129
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1141.md?full=1
bill_number: HB 1141
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-02-02
last_action: House Second Readers
sponsors:
- Beth Camp
- David Jenkins
- Carmen Rice
- Esther Panitch
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB1141/2025
upstream_id: 2104378
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- child protective custody
- medical records
- parental rights
- DFCS
- juvenile court
---
# HB 1141. Courts; availability of medical records to a parent or legal guardian when a child is taken into medical custody; provide
## Text
House Bill 1141
By: Representatives Camp of the 135th, Jenkins of the 136th, Rice of the 139th, and Panitch
of the 51st
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Code Section 15-11-131.1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
right to obtain an independent medical evaluation or pediatric specialty consultation, so as
to provide for the availability of medical records to a parent or legal guardian when a child
is taken into medical custody; to provide for a penalty; to provide for related matters; to
repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Code Section 15-11-131.1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to right to
obtain an independent medical evaluation or pediatric specialty consultation, is amended by
revising subsection (b) as follows:
"(b)(1) Any parent or legal guardian of a child who is taken into temporary protective
custody pursuant to Code Section 15-11-131 shall have the right to obtain an independent
medical evaluation or pediatric specialty consultation of such child at his or her own
expense unless prohibited by court order. Physicians and medical professionals, law
enforcement officers, and DFCS shall cooperate as may reasonably be necessary to
facilitate such an independent medical evaluation or pediatric specialty consultation for
such child.
(2) Any medical records resulting from the treatment the child received while in
temporary protective custody pursuant to Code Section 15-11-131 shall be made
available to the child's parent or legal guardian within five business days of the child's
intake. Proof of notification of the availability of such records shall be sent to the parent
or legal guardian by email, postal service, or other delivery service that provides
confirmation of such proof of notification, and failure to provide availability shall result
in a fine assessed at $500.00 per day for each day exceeding five business days until such
records are made available."
SECTION 2.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
## Summaries written by Georgia Commons
The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary.
A Georgia House bill would require hospitals and DFCS to give parents or guardians the medical records of a child taken into protective custody within five business days, with daily fines for delay.
### Plain-language summary
Under current Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 15-11-131.1), when a child is taken into temporary protective custody, the parent or legal guardian already has the right to get an independent medical evaluation for that child at their own expense, unless a court order blocks it. This bill adds a new requirement on top of that right.
The bill says that any medical records created while the child was being treated in protective custody must be given to the parent or legal guardian within five business days of the child entering custody. Whoever is responsible for the records must send proof that the records are available, using email, mail, or a delivery service that confirms it was sent. If the records are not made available within that five day window, the bill imposes a fine of $500 per day for every day the delay continues.
### What it does
- Adds a new rule requiring medical records from a child's treatment in temporary protective custody to be given to the parent or guardian within five business days of intake.
- Requires proof of notification about the records' availability to be sent by email, postal mail, or a delivery service that confirms delivery.
- Creates a penalty of $500 per day for each day past the five business day deadline that the records are not made available.
- Keeps the existing right of a parent or guardian to obtain an independent medical evaluation or pediatric specialty consultation for the child, unless a court order prohibits it.
### Who it affects
Parents and legal guardians of children taken into temporary protective custody, the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS), hospitals and medical professionals who treat these children, and law enforcement officers who are required to cooperate with evaluations.
### Why it matters
Parents whose children are removed into protective custody would get faster, guaranteed access to the child's medical records, with a financial penalty pushing DFCS or medical providers to comply on time. This could speed up parents' ability to seek second medical opinions or respond in court.
### Key provisions
- Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 15-11-131.1(b) by adding a new paragraph (2) requiring medical records from custody-related treatment to reach the parent or guardian within five business days of intake.
- The amendment requires proof of notification of record availability sent by email, postal service, or a delivery method with confirmation.
- Sets a $500 per day fine for each day beyond the five business day deadline that records are not made available.
- Retains the existing right in paragraph (1) for a parent or guardian to obtain an independent medical evaluation or pediatric specialty consultation at their own expense unless a court order prohibits it.
- Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.
## Status
- Status: Introduced (2026-02-02)
- Last action: House Second Readers (2026-02-04)
- Sponsors: Beth Camp, David Jenkins, Carmen Rice, Esther Panitch
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72700
> The history, votes, and amendments (129 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1141.md?full=1