The Senate Committee on Children and Families offered the following
substitute to HB 253:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Article 1 of Chapter 9 of Title 19 of the Official Code Georgia Annotated, relating
to general provisions relative to child custody proceedings, so as to prohibit the court from
ordering family reunification treatments or services in cases in which the custody of a child
is at issue; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to provide for a short
title; 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, is amended by revising paragraph
(7) of subsection (a) of Code Section 19-9-3, relating to the establishment and review of child
custody and visitation, as follows:
"(7) The judge is authorized to order a psychological custody evaluation of the family
or an independent medical evaluation.; <ins>provided, however, that the judge shall not order
</ins>
<ins>family reunification treatments or services.</ins> In addition to the privilege afforded a
witness, neither a court appointed custody evaluator nor a court appointed guardian ad
litem shall be subject to civil liability resulting from any act or failure to act in the
performance of his or her duties unless such act or failure to act was in bad faith."
SECTION 3.
Said article is further amended in Code Section 19-9-6, relating to definitions relative to child
custody proceedings, by adding a new paragraph, to read as follows:
<ins>"(3.1) 'Family reunification treatments or services' means any therapeutic intervention
which requires:
(A) Court ordered restrictions on contact between a child and a parent or legal
guardian;
(B) Overnight stays for a child in an out-of-state facility, hotel, motel, or camp;
(C) The use of private youth transporters or private transportation agents engaged in
the use of force, threat of force, physical obstruction, or coercion against a child; and
(D) The attendance of, or participation in, educational or experimental workshops."
</ins> 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All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.