---
title: SB 542. Sexual Offenses; clergy members to be charged with certain improper sexual contact offenses; permit
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/sb542
cite_as: SB 542, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb542
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb542.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb542/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73480
date: 2026-05-11
status: passed
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: 1309
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb542.md?full=1
bill_number: SB 542
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: Senate
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-05-11
last_action: Effective Date 2026-07-01
sponsors:
- Randy Robertson
- Bo Hatchett
- Brian Strickland
- Kay Kirkpatrick
- Billy Hickman
- John Albers
- Max Burns
- Russ Goodman
- Drew Echols
- Lee Anderson
- Chuck Payne
- Blake Tillery
- Timothy Bearden
- Jason Anavitarte
- Mike Hodges
- Ben Watson
- Steve Gooch
- Chuck Hufstetler
- Matt Brass
- Marty Harbin
- Larry Walker
- Jason T. Dickerson
- Clint Dixon
- Carden Summers
- Chuck Efstration
text_version: Enrolled
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SB542/2025
upstream_id: 2121422
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- sexual offenses
- clergy accountability
- criminal law
- statute of limitations
- religious institutions
---
# SB 542. Sexual Offenses; clergy members to be charged with certain improper sexual contact offenses; permit
## Text
Senate Bill 542
By: Senators Robertson of the 29th, Hatchett of the 50th, Strickland of the 42nd, Kirkpatrick
of the 32nd, Hickman of the 4th and others
AS PASSED
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 6 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to sexual
offenses, so as to establish certain criminal offenses by clergy members for improper sexual
contact with victims who are under their pastoral care or spiritual guidance; to provide for
penalties; to provide for a limitations period; to provide for definitions; to provide for related
matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Chapter 6 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to sexual offenses,
is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:
"16-6-5.2.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) 'Clergy member' means ministers, priests, rabbis, imams, or similar functionaries, by
whatever name, of a bona fide religious organization or a person who holds himself or
herself out as the same.
(2) 'Pastoral counseling or spiritual authority relationship' means a relationship in which
a clergy member provides spiritual guidance, pastoral care, religious instruction,
confession, mentoring, or emotional or spiritual support in circumstances where a
reasonable person would view the clergy member as exercising influence, trust, or
authority over another person's spiritual, emotional, or personal well-being.
(3) 'Sexual contact' means any contact involving the intimate parts of either person for
the purpose of sexual gratification of either person.
(4) 'Sexually explicit conduct' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code
Section 16-12-100.
(b) A person commits the offense of improper sexual contact by a clergy member in the
first degree when such person, while in a pastoral counseling or spiritual authority
relationship with the victim and by means of undue influence, coercion, harassment,
duress, deception, false representation, false pretense, or intimidation, knowingly engages
in sexually explicit conduct with the victim.
(c) A person commits the offense of improper sexual contact by a clergy member in the
second degree when such person, while in a pastoral counseling or spiritual authority
relationship with the victim and by means of undue influence, coercion, harassment,
duress, deception, false representation, false pretense, or intimidation, knowingly engages
in sexual contact, excluding sexually explicit conduct, with the victim.
(d) This Code section shall not apply to sexually explicit conduct or sexual contact
between individuals lawfully married to each other.
(e) A person convicted of improper sexual contact by a clergy member in the first degree
shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one year nor more than 25 years and
by a fine not to exceed $100,000.00.
(f) A person convicted of improper sexual contact by a clergy member in the second
degree shall be:
(1) Upon a first conviction thereof, punished as for a misdemeanor of a high and
aggravated nature and shall not be subject to the sentencing and punishment provisions
of Code Section 17-10-6.2; and
(2) Upon a second or subsequent conviction thereof, guilty of a felony and shall be
punished by imprisonment for not less than one year nor more than five years and shall
be subject to the sentencing and punishment provisions of Code Section 17-10-6.2.
(g)(1) As used in this subsection, the term 'sexual felony' shall have the same meaning
as set forth in paragraph (2) of subsection (j) of Code Section 16-5-21.
(2) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of subsection (f) of this Code section, any person
having been previously convicted of a sexual felony who is convicted of the felony
offense of improper sexual contact by a clergy member in the first or second degree shall
be punished by imprisonment for life or a split sentence that is a term of imprisonment
followed by probation for life. As a condition of probation, the court shall impose the
requirement of electronic monitoring as set forth in paragraph (14) of subsection (a) of
Code Section 42-8-35.
(h) Notwithstanding any other provision of law setting forth a limitations period, a
criminal proceeding brought pursuant to this Code section shall be commenced within 15
years after the commission of the crime."
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 Senate bill would create new criminal charges for clergy members who use their spiritual authority to coerce someone into sexual contact, with penalties ranging from a misdemeanor to life in prison for repeat sex offenders.
### Plain-language summary
Currently Georgia law does not have a specific crime covering sexual contact by clergy members who exploit the trust of a pastoral or spiritual counseling relationship. This bill adds a new law (O.C.G.A. § 16-6-5.2) to close that gap. It defines 'clergy member' broadly to include ministers, priests, rabbis, imams, and similar religious leaders, and defines a 'pastoral counseling or spiritual authority relationship' as one where a clergy member provides spiritual guidance, counseling, confession, mentoring, or emotional support in a way that gives them influence or authority over another person.
The bill creates two new crimes. Improper sexual contact by a clergy member in the first degree covers sexually explicit conduct obtained through coercion, deception, intimidation, or similar means, punishable by 1 to 25 years in prison and up to a $100,000 fine. Second degree covers lesser sexual contact obtained the same way, treated as a high and aggravated misdemeanor on a first offense and a felony on repeat offenses. The law does not apply to married couples, sets a 15 year statute of limitations, and imposes a life sentence option for repeat sexual offenders.
### What it does
- Creates a new Georgia crime, improper sexual contact by a clergy member in the first degree, for coerced sexually explicit conduct within a pastoral relationship, punishable by 1 to 25 years and up to $100,000 in fines.
- Creates a second new crime, improper sexual contact by a clergy member in the second degree, for coerced sexual contact short of sexually explicit conduct, treated as a high and aggravated misdemeanor on a first offense.
- Escalates a second or later conviction of the second degree offense to a felony punishable by 1 to 5 years in prison and mandatory sentencing under O.C.G.A. § 17-10-6.2.
- Imposes a life sentence or life probation with electronic monitoring for a person previously convicted of a sexual felony who is later convicted under this new law.
- Exempts sexual contact between people who are lawfully married to each other from prosecution under this new law.
- Sets a 15 year statute of limitations for bringing charges under the new law, overriding other limitations periods.
### Who it affects
Clergy members of any faith, including ministers, priests, rabbis, and imams, who provide spiritual counseling or pastoral care; people who receive that counseling and could be victims; prosecutors and courts handling these new charges; and repeat sexual offenders, who face life sentences under the bill's enhanced penalty provision.
### Why it matters
Georgians who seek pastoral or spiritual counseling would gain specific legal protection against clergy who use that trust relationship to coerce sexual contact, an act not previously named as its own crime in Georgia law. Clergy members would face new criminal exposure, penalties, and a 15 year window for prosecution.
### Key provisions
- Section 1 adds new Code Section 16-6-5.2, defining 'clergy member,' 'pastoral counseling or spiritual authority relationship,' 'sexual contact,' and 'sexually explicit conduct.'
- Subsection (b) creates first degree improper sexual contact by a clergy member for coerced sexually explicit conduct, punishable by 1 to 25 years in prison and a fine up to $100,000.
- Subsection (c) creates second degree improper sexual contact by a clergy member for coerced sexual contact short of sexually explicit conduct.
- Subsection (f) makes a first second-degree conviction a high and aggravated misdemeanor and a second or subsequent conviction a felony with 1 to 5 years imprisonment.
- Subsection (g) imposes a life sentence or lifetime probation with electronic monitoring for offenders with a prior sexual felony conviction.
- Subsection (d) exempts sexual contact between lawfully married spouses from the new offenses.
- Subsection (h) sets a 15 year statute of limitations for prosecuting these offenses, regardless of other limitations laws.
- Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.
## Status
- Status: Passed (2026-05-11)
- Last action: Effective Date 2026-07-01 (2026-05-11)
- Sponsors: Randy Robertson, Bo Hatchett, Brian Strickland, Kay Kirkpatrick, Billy Hickman, John Albers, Max Burns, Russ Goodman, Drew Echols, Lee Anderson, Chuck Payne, Blake Tillery, Timothy Bearden, Jason Anavitarte, Mike Hodges, Ben Watson, Steve Gooch, Chuck Hufstetler, Matt Brass, Marty Harbin, Larry Walker, Jason T. Dickerson, Clint Dixon, Carden Summers, Chuck Efstration
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73480
> The history, votes, and amendments (1,309 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb542.md?full=1