Georgia CommonsHouse · Introduced · 2025-2026 Regular Session
HB 1445: Juvenile proceedings; authorize sharing of GPS monitoring with law enforcement and school districts
Last action March 4, 2026 · House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
A House Judiciary substitute would let Georgia's Department of Juvenile Justice share the names of youth on GPS monitoring, plus violation and deactivation alerts, with local police and schools upon request.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the bill and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Comm Sub version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
Currently, Georgia's juvenile code does not specifically address whether the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) can tell police departments or schools which juveniles are on electronic monitoring, such as ankle GPS devices imposed as part of a delinquency case. This bill adds a new section to the juvenile code, O.C.G.A. § 15-11-605.1, requiring DJJ to share that information when asked. Under the new section, any state or local law enforcement agency, local school system, or public school can request the names of children on electronic monitoring and must receive notice of violations or deactivations of the monitoring device. DJJ must verify that the child is actually located within that agency's or school's jurisdiction before sharing the information. The bill repeals any conflicting laws and does not state a separate effective date beyond standard enactment.
What the bill does
- Adds a new Code section, O.C.G.A. § 15-11-605.1, requiring DJJ to disclose names of juveniles on electronic monitoring to requesting law enforcement agencies, local school systems, or public schools.
- Requires DJJ to notify those agencies and schools of any violations or deactivations of a monitored juvenile's device.
- Limits the information sharing to situations where DJJ verifies the child is physically located within the requesting agency's or school's jurisdiction.
- Repeals any existing state laws that conflict with this new sharing requirement.
Who it affects
Juveniles on court-ordered electronic monitoring through DJJ, their families, state and local law enforcement agencies, local school systems, and individual public schools that may request or receive this monitoring information.
Why it matters
Schools and police would gain a direct channel to learn which students or local youth are wearing GPS monitors and to be alerted if a device is removed or violated, which could affect how those institutions respond to a monitored juvenile on campus or in their jurisdiction.
Key provisions
- Section 1 creates O.C.G.A. § 15-11-605.1 within the juvenile code's delinquency disposition provisions (Part 12 of Article 6 of Chapter 11 of Title 15).
- The new section applies to any state or local law enforcement agency, local school system, or public school that makes a request.
- DJJ must share the child's name and provide notifications of violations and deactivations of the electronic monitoring device, referencing the definition in O.C.G.A. § 42-3-111.
- Sharing is conditioned on DJJ verifying the child is physically located within the jurisdiction of the requesting agency or school.
- Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.
From the bill
“the DJJ shall share the names of children on electronic monitoring, as such term is defined in Code Section 42-3-111, and provide notifications of any violations and deactivations”
“upon verification that such child is physically located within the respective jurisdiction of the applicable law enforcement agency, local school system, or public school.”
Discussed in meetings (6)
The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.
House Judiciary Juvenile Committee, February 25, 2026
From 1:01:26 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor presented a substitute addressing communication between the Department of Juvenile Justice and law enforcement. The sponsor said the department was not required to notify partner agencies promptly when a youth removed an ankle monitor or another tracking device. The sponsor described the bill as requiring notification to law enforcement, including sheriff's departments, municipal police and school police, once the information had initially been requested. The sponsor said several sheriffs supported the measure and argued it would improve safety for both youths and the community. The Office of the Child Advocate director also expressed support, saying it filled a gap. No committee questions were raised. The committee approved the substitute by voice vote, with no opposition heard.
House Rules Committee, March 2, 2026
From 0:45:49 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1445 would require the Department of Juvenile Justice to share real-time information with state and local law enforcement and school systems when a juvenile on probation removes a monitoring device. No questions or decision followed.
House Rules Committee, March 3, 2026
From 0:04:10 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The chair requested a motion to send HB 1445 back to the Judiciary Juvenile Committee. The motion was made and seconded, and the chair announced the referral after asking for opposition and hearing none.
House Judiciary Juvenile Committee, March 4, 2026
From 0:03:56 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1445 would require the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), following a request, to notify relevant authorities and schools when a youth’s monitoring device loses communication, including through removal or failure to charge it. The sponsor said conversations with sheriffs and school officials identified communication gaps affecting youth and community safety. Asked about a connection to the Apalachee shooting, the sponsor said that was a different situation and the connection was communication. A committee member supported notification because school security staff may rely on devices without knowing they have failed. The sponsor said the new substitute changes “real-time” monitoring to “near real-time” to match DJJ contracts. A DJJ witness said it also removes monitoring-company references that could create operational and financial effects on contracts. The witness described current practice: after requests, DJJ verifies school attendance and jurisdiction, shares names, and notifies schools and law enforcement when it verifies a youth has absconded and their whereabouts are unknown. Asked about numbers, the witness estimated 800 to 1,000 youths statewide were monitored but did not know how many also had Division of Family and Children Services involvement and offered to check. The committee approved the substitute by voice vote, with no opposition heard.
House Rules Committee, March 5, 2026
From 0:33:19 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1445 had been returned to committee for improvements. Working with the Department of Juvenile Justice, the sponsor said the language was tightened to provide state and local police and school systems with near-real-time notice when a youth on probation loses GPS tracking, including by removing a device or failing to charge it. No questions or action followed.
Status timeline
- House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
- House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
- House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Rick Townsend (R, HD-179)
- Chuck Efstration (R, HD-104)
- Long Tran (D, HD-80)
- Leesa Hagan (R, HD-156)
- Lehman Franklin (R, HD-160)
- Jan Jones (R, HD-47)
Topics
- juvenile justice
- electronic monitoring
- school safety
- law enforcement information sharing