---
title: O.C.G.A. § 31-8-81. Definitions.
collection: code
id: 31-8-81
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 31-8-81 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-8-81
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-8-81.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-8-81/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t31-(v23)-2025-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=da7ded69_0#page=523
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-8.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-8-80.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-8-82.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: Effective January 1, 2026.
in_force: true
other_versions:
  - version: Effective until January 1, 2026.
    in_force: false
    md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-8-81.md?version=until+January+1%2C+2026
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Session of the General Assembly of Georgia
heading_path: HEALTH / CARE AND PROTECTION OF INDIGENT AND ELDERLY PATIENTS / REPORTING ABUSE OR EXPLOITATION OF RESIDENTS IN LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES
---

# O.C.G.A. § 31-8-81. Definitions.

As used in this article, the term:

(1) “Abuse” means any intentional or grossly negligent act or series of acts or intentional or grossly negligent omission to act which causes injury to a resident, including, but not limited to, assault or battery, failure to provide treatment or care, or sexual harassment of the resident.

(1.1) “Department” means the Department of Community Health.

(2) “Exploitation” means the illegal or improper use of a resident or the resident’s resources through undue influence, coercion, harassment, duress, deception, false representation, false pretense, or other similar means for one’s own or another’s profit or advantage.

(3) “Long-term care facility” or “facility” means any skilled nursing home, intermediate care home, assisted living community, or personal care home now or hereafter subject to regulation and licensure by the department.

(4) “Resident” means any person receiving treatment or care in a long-term care facility.

## History

Code 1933, § 88-1902c, enacted by Ga. L. 1980, p. 1261, § 1; Ga. L. 2003, p. 558, § 4; Ga. L. 2007, p. 219, § 3/HB 233; Ga. L. 2011, p. 227, § 19/SB 178; Ga. L. 2011, p. 705, § 4-11/HB 214; Ga. L. 2013, p. 524, § 1-11/HB 78; Ga. L. 2025, p. 177, § 2-5/HB 584, effective January 1, 2026.

## Amendments

The 2025 amendment, effective January 1, 2026, substituted “community, or personal care home now or hereafter” for “community, personal care home, or community living arrangement now or hereafter” in paragraph (3).

## Delayed Effective Date

Code Section 31-8-81 is set out twice in this Code. This version is effective January 1, 2026. For version effective until January 1, 2026, see the preceding version.