Sen. Randy Robertson Applauds Unanimous Passage of Legislation to Establish Family Justice Centers and Preserve Sexual Assault Evidence

ATLANTA (April 8, 2026) - State Representatives Esther Panitch (D-Sandy Springs) and Karen Lupton (D-Chamblee) applaud the final passage of House Bill 1283 to allow for the creation of Family Justice Centers, which are multiagency centers that provide coordinated services to victims of family violence, sexual assault, child abuse, elder abuse, human trafficking and associated crimes. HB 1283 would also require law enforcement to retain sexual assault evidence for up to 10 years if a victim does not immediately report the abuse.

"My first job out of law school was working for the brand-new model Domestic Violence Court in Miami-Dade, Florida," said Rep. Panitch. "Over 30 years later, I watched a bill I authored in Georgia pass both chambers without a single opposing vote. Survivors should not have to navigate a fragmented system during the most difficult time of their lives. Family Justice Centers bring those services together so the system works for victims, not the other way around. When Rep. Karen Lupton's rape kit preservation bill needed a vehicle, both parties in both chambers came together to make it happen. That is what this work looks like. I am grateful to the survivor community for entrusting me with it."

Under the bill, Family Justice Centers could be operated by a nonprofit corporation designated by a county or municipality or by a nonprofit certified as a victim services agency by the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council. Nonprofit and community-based organizations could also serve as participating agencies within a center, delivering victim, social, medical or legal services alongside government partners. When a center is operated by a county, municipality or district attorney's office, at least two seats on the oversight board would be reserved for representatives elected by the nonprofit, community-based organizations serving as participating agencies. The legislation seeks to ensure that nonprofit partners retain control of their own records and are not subject to public records requirements solely because they are co-located with a government agency or prosecutor's office.

"Passing this bill helps protect sexual assault survivors and their evidence," said Rep. Lupton. "I can't be more grateful or proud that we've accomplished this for the survivors of Georgia."

HB 1283 includes an amendment that extends the mandatory preservation period for unreported sexual assault evidence from 12 months to 10 years. The provision, authored by Rep. Lupton, would ensure that when a victim chooses not to report a sexual assault to law enforcement at the time of evidence collection, any physical evidence containing biological material, including stains, fluids and hair samples relating to the identity of the perpetrator, would be preserved for 10 years from the date that the evidence is collected.

Rep. Lupton's standalone legislation on rape kit preservation did not advance out of the House prior to Crossover Day. She notes that in a bipartisan effort, Rep. Lupton, Senator Randy Robertson (R-Cataula), who carried HB 1283 in the Senate, and legislative leadership collaborated to draft and file the amendment incorporating the evidence preservation provision into HB 1283 shortly before the Senate vote. The Senate passed the amended bill 48-0, and because of the amendment, the bill returned to the House for a final vote, which the House approved on Sine Die.

"Victims of family violence have been marginalized and left to fend for themselves in the past," said Sen. Robertson. "This legislation brings forth the necessary tools to provide them with the care and compassion needed to get them on the road of recovery. It was a true honor to carry this in the Georgia State Senate."

Additionally, under HB 1283,information shared by a victim within a Family Justice Center could not be disclosed without the victim's informed, written consent, except where required by law or court order. Employees, contractors and volunteers of participating agencies operating within a government or DA-operated Family Justice Center would be entitled to the same governmental immunity from civil liability as officers or employees of the establishing authority, provided that they act in good faith, within the scope of assigned duties and without willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith.

Furthermore, the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council would be authorized to administer and distribute funds appropriated by the General Assembly or received from federal sources, and centers could also accept independent funding from private, foundation, federal or local sources. Each center would be required to submit performance reports to the council, which would compile an annual statewide report for the governor, lieutenant governor and speaker of the House. The bill now awaits action by Governor Brian Kemp, who has 40 days from adjournment of the legislative session to sign or veto legislation.

Cosponsors of HB 1283 include State Representatives Stan Gunter (R-Blairsville), Leesa Hagan (R-Lyons), Scott Holcomb (D-Atlanta) and Shea Roberts (D-Sandy Springs).

To read the full text of HB 1283, please click here.

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Sen. Randy Robertson serves as Senate Majority Whip. He represents the 29^th Senate District, which includes Harris, Meriwether and Troup counties, as well as a portion of Muscogee County. He may be reached by phone at (404) 656-0045 or by email at [email protected].

Representative Esther Panitch represents the citizens of District 51, which includes a portion of Fulton County. She was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2022 and currently serves on the Judiciary Juvenile, Judiciary Non-Civil and Public Safety and Homeland Security committees.

Representative Karen Lupton represents the citizens of District 83, which includes a portion of DeKalb County. She was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2022 and currently serves on the Education, Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications and Human Relations & Aging committees.

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