Georgia Mountain News

State Representative Alan Powell (R-Hartwell) witnessed Governor Brian Kemp signing House Bill 993 into law at the State Capitol in Atlanta. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Powell, aims to safeguard minors in Georgia from predators by criminalizing the act of grooming them for sexual offenses or human trafficking.

Chairman Powell expressed his satisfaction with the new law, stating, “I am proud to see this important legislation get signed into law today by Governor Kemp to protect Georgia’s minors from predators.” He emphasized the necessity of addressing evolving technology and social media use to prevent minors from falling victim to harmful individuals. Chairman Powell added, “Now, we are sending a clear message to these perpetrators that this behavior will not be tolerated in Georgia.”

House Bill 993 establishes a criminal penalty for individuals who groom minors through various means to coerce them into engaging in sexual offenses or acts of human trafficking. The legislation specifies that the crime applies to individuals over 18 years old who are not within four years of age of the victim. Offenders face felony imprisonment ranging from one to five years. The law extends its jurisdiction to actions targeting minors both within and outside the state, with the bill set to take effect on July 1, 2024.