HB 1445: Juvenile proceedings; authorize sharing of GPS monitoring with law enforcement and school districts

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.

• 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.

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.

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.

• 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.

1. 2026-03-04House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
2. 2026-03-03House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
3. 2026-02-26House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
4. 2026-02-25House Second Readers (House)
5. 2026-02-24House First Readers (House)
6. 2026-02-24House Hopper (House)

• Rick Townsend (R, HD-179)Primary sponsor
• Chuck Efstration (R, HD-104)
• Long Tran (D, HD-080)
• Leesa Hagan (R, HD-156)
• Lehman Franklin (R, HD-160)
• Jan Jones (R, HD-047)

• juvenile justice
• electronic monitoring
• school safety
• law enforcement information sharing