Georgia Commons

Official Code of Georgia Annotated

Title 20. EDUCATION · Chapter 2. ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION · Article 27. LOITERING AT OR DISRUPTING SCHOOLS

20-2-1181.1. Terroristic threat or acts against a school; penalty.

Active

Current through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly.

  1. (a)

    As used in this Code section, the term:#

    1. (1)

      “Hazardous substance” shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 12-8-92.#

    2. (2)

      “Weapon” shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 16-5-44.1. Such term shall include, but shall not be limited to, each item included in paragraph (4) of subsection (a) of Code Section 16-11-127.1.#

  2. (b)

    A person commits the offense of a terroristic threat of a school when he or she threatens to commit any crime of violence, release any hazardous substance, or burn or damage property and such threat is made:#

    1. (1)

      With the purpose of terrorizing another who at the time of such threat is physically present:#

      1. (A)

        On public or private school operated property, including, but not limited to, school buildings and school grounds;#

      2. (B)

        On a school bus or other vehicle furnished by a public or private school for the transportation of students; or#

      3. (C)

        At a public or private school sponsored activity;#

    2. (2)

      With the purpose of causing the evacuation of:#

      1. (A)

        Public or private school operated property, including, but not limited to, school buildings and school grounds; or#

      2. (B)

        A school bus or other vehicle furnished by a public or private school for the transportation of students; or#

    3. (3)

      In reckless disregard of the risk of causing the terror or evacuation described in paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection;#

    4. provided, however, that no person shall be convicted under this subsection based on the uncorroborated testimony of the party to whom the threat is communicated.

  3. (c)

    A person commits the offense of a terroristic act upon a school when he or she commits an act of using a weapon or flaming symbol or flambeau, releasing any hazardous substance or any simulated hazardous substance under the guise of a hazardous substance, or, while not in the commission of a lawful act, shooting at a conveyance which is being operated or which is occupied by passengers and such act is committed:#

    1. (1)

      With the purpose of terrorizing another who at the time of such act is physically present:#

      1. (A)

        On public or private school operated property, including, but not limited to, school buildings and school grounds;#

      2. (B)

        On a school bus or other vehicle furnished by a public or private school for the transportation of students; or#

      3. (C)

        At a public or private school sponsored activity; or#

    2. (2)

      With the purpose of causing the evacuation of:#

      1. (A)

        Public or private school operated property, including, but not limited to, school buildings and school grounds; or#

      2. (B)

        A school bus or other vehicle furnished by a public or private school for the transportation of students.#

  4. (d)
    1. (1)

      A person convicted of the offense of a terroristic threat of a school shall be punished as for a misdemeanor; provided, however, that, if the threat suggested the death of any person, the person shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not more than $1,000.00, imprisonment for not less than one nor more than five years, or both; and provided, further, that, if any person suffers a serious physical injury as a direct result of a threat giving rise to a conviction under subsection (b) of this Code section, the person shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not more than $250,000.00, imprisonment for not less than five nor more than 40 years, or both.#

    2. (2)

      A person convicted of the offense of a terroristic act upon a school shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not more than $5,000.00, imprisonment for not less than one nor more than ten years, or both; provided, however, that, if any person suffers a serious physical injury as a direct result of an act giving rise to a conviction under subsection (c) of this Code section, the person shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not more than $250,000.00, imprisonment for not less than five nor more than 40 years, or both.#

The notes below are printed with the section but are not enacted law (O.C.G.A. § 1-1-1(c)). They are shown apart from the text.

History

Code 1981, § 20-2-1181.1, enacted by Ga. L. 2025, p. 99, § 3-5/HB 268, effective April 28, 2025.

Effective date

This Code section became effective April 28, 2025.

Cross references

Other terroristic threats or acts and penalties, § 16-11-37.

Read the official page (the state's PDF, opened at the page this text was read from).

Current through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly.

Text read from t20-ch1-2b-(v17)-pdf.pdf, Volume V17, 2022 edition, 2025 supplement, pages 273 to 275; merge action: added; file SHA-256 46f1cc71579d.

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