HB1445: HB1445 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 share information about which children are on electronic monitoring, such as GPS ankle devices, with police or schools. This bill adds a new section to the juvenile code addressing that gap. Under the bill, if a state or local law enforcement agency, a local school system, or a public school asks, DJJ must share the names of children who are on electronic monitoring, as defined elsewhere in Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 42-3-111). DJJ must also notify that agency or school of any violations of the monitoring conditions or if the monitoring device is deactivated. This sharing only applies once DJJ verifies the child is physically located within that agency's or school's jurisdiction. The bill also repeals any conflicting laws.

• Adds a new Code section (O.C.G.A. § 15-11-605.1) requiring DJJ to share the names of children on electronic monitoring with requesting law enforcement agencies or schools.
• Requires DJJ to notify law enforcement agencies or schools of any violations of a child's electronic monitoring conditions.
• Requires DJJ to notify those same agencies or schools if a child's monitoring device is deactivated.
• Limits the sharing requirement to cases where DJJ has verified the child is physically located within the requesting agency's or school's jurisdiction.
• Repeals any existing laws that conflict with this new information-sharing requirement.

The bill affects the Department of Juvenile Justice, which must respond to information requests; state and local law enforcement agencies and local school systems or public schools, which can request the data; and juveniles on electronic monitoring as part of a delinquency disposition, whose monitoring status becomes shareable information.

Schools and police could learn in real time when a monitored juvenile is nearby, is violating monitoring terms, or has a deactivated device, which could affect how schools handle safety planning and how police respond to potential violations involving young people under court-ordered supervision.

• Section 1 amends Part 12 of Article 6 of Chapter 11 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated by adding new Code Section 15-11-605.1.
• The new section requires DJJ to share names of children on electronic monitoring upon request from law enforcement, local school systems, or public schools.
• DJJ must provide notifications of violations and deactivations to the requesting agency or school.
• Sharing is conditioned on verification that the child is physically located within the jurisdiction of the requesting agency, school system, or school.
• Section 2 repeals all laws and parts of laws in conflict with the Act.

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