State Rep. Yasmin Neal’s Legislation to Protect Victims of Domestic Violence Approved by Senate Committee

ATLANTA – State Representative Yasmin Neal (D-Jonesboro) today announced that the Senate Public Safety Committee passed House Bill 236, legislation which seeks to protect victims who have been granted a temporary protective order. On Thursday, March 18, Rep. Neal’s legislation passed in committee by a unanimous, bipartisan vote and will now head to the Senate Rules Committee for further consideration.

“I would like to thank the Senate Committee and my Senate counterparts who support the bill,” said Rep. Neal. “I am excited about the chance to have the bill heard on the Senate floor. I would love to have that opportunity.”

Under House Bill 236, when a temporary protective order is granted for relief from family violence, the petitioner would have the ability to request periodic safety checks from local law enforcement officers. These safety checks would include observations of the outside of the petitioner’s residence and an officer’s presence nearby the petitioner’s residence. To request these safety checks, a petitioner would be required to provide a copy of the temporary protective order to his or her local law enforcement agency.

If the petitioner elects to receive these safety checks, the safety checks would last a total of 60 days, and the frequency of the safety checks would be at the discretion of the local police agency. Prior to the 60-day period ending, the petitioner can withdraw his or her request, or the local police agency would determine that the petitioner no longer appears to require the safety checks.

First Reader Summary for HB 236: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 13 of Title 19 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to granting of relief by superior courts, so as to provide for additional monitoring of the victim after the granting of a temporary protective order; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

For more information on HB 236, see below and/or click here.

Representative Yasmin Neal represents the citizens of District 74, which includes portions of Clayton County. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2020 and currently serves on the Economic Development & Tourism, Juvenile Justice and Public Safety and Homeland Security committees.