---
title: O.C.G.A. § 35-1-18. Prohibition on minimum waiting periods for initiating missing person report.
collection: code
id: 35-1-18
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 35-1-18 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/35-1-18
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/35-1-18.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/35-1-18/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t35-t36-ch1-59-(v27)-2025-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=66569db4_0#page=37
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.
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version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Session of the General Assembly of Georgia
heading_path: LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND AGENCIES / GENERAL PROVISIONS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 35-1-18. Prohibition on minimum waiting periods for initiating missing person report.

No law enforcement agency shall implement a policy or practice which mandates a minimum waiting period before initiating a missing person report with such agency; provided, however, that it shall remain within the discretion of the law enforcement agency to determine what action, if any, is required in response to such a report.

## History

Code 1981, § 35-1-18, enacted by Ga. L. 2014, p. 704, § 2/SB 23.

## Cross References

Kidnapping, § 16-5-40.

Immediate investigation for missing person with Alzheimer’s disease, § 35-1-8.

## Code Commission Notes

Pursuant to Code Section 28-9-5, in 2014, Code Section 35-1-18, as enacted by Ga. L. 2014, p. 742, § 1/HB 845, was redesignated as Code Section 35-1-19.

## Editor's Notes

Ga. L. 2014, p. 704, § 1/SB 23, not codified by the General Assembly, provides: “This Act shall be known and may be cited as the ‘Stacey Nicole English Act.’”

Ga. L. 2014, p. 704, § 5/SB 23, approved by the Governor on April 24, 2014, provided that the effective date of this Code section is July 1, 2013. See Op. Att’y Gen. No. 76-76 for construction of effective date provisions that precede the date of approval by the Governor.