Title 31 — Title 31
0 chapters · 651 sections in this title.
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-87 Retaliation prohibited
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No person or facility shall discriminate or retaliate in any manner against any person for making a report or providing information pursuant to this article or against any resident who is the subject of a report. Nothing in this Code section shall be construed to prohibit the ter…
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-88 Notice of requirements of article
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The department shall prepare a written notice describing the reporting requirements set forth in this article. Such notice shall be distributed to all long-term care facilities and hospitals in the state and copies thereof shall be posted in conspicuous locations within facilitie…
O.C.G.A. § 31-8-9 Use of gifts and donations
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The department is authorized and empowered to accept and expend any and all gifts and donations that may be available to it for the purposes of this article. History. — Ga. L. 1957, p. 470, § 11; Code 1933, § 88-2311, enacted by Ga. L. 1964, p. 499, § 1. 31-8-9.1. Eligibility to …
O.C.G.A. § 31-9-1 Short title
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This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the ‘‘Georgia Medical Consent Law.’’ History. — Code 1933, § 88-2901, enacted by Ga. L. 1971, p. 438, § 1. 31-9-2. Persons authorized to consent to surgical or medical treatment. (a) In addition to such other persons as may be autho…
O.C.G.A. § 31-9-3 Emergencies
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(a) As used in this Code section, the term ‘‘emergency’’ means a situation wherein (1) according to competent medical judgment, the proposed surgical or medical treatment or procedures are reasonably necessary and (2) a person authorized to consent under Code Section 31-9-2 is no…
O.C.G.A. § 31-9-4 Applicability of chapter to care and treatment of mentally ill
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This chapter shall be applicable to the care and treatment of patients in facilities for the mentally ill as defined in paragraph (7) of Code Section 37-3-1. History. — Code 1933, § 88-2903, enacted by Ga. L. 1971, p. 438, § 1; Ga. L. 1975, p. 704, § 1.
O.C.G.A. § 31-9-6 Construction of chapter; requirements of valid consent
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(a) This chapter shall be liberally construed, and all relationships set forth in this chapter shall include the adoptive, foster, and step relations as well as blood relations and the relationship by common-law marriage as well as ceremonial marriage. (b) A consent by one person…
O.C.G.A. § 31-9A-1 Short title
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This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the ‘‘Woman’s Right to Know Act.’’ History. — Code 1981, § 31-9A-1, enacted by Ga. L. 2005, p. 1450, § 6/HB 197.
O.C.G.A. § 31-9A-2 Definitions
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As used in this chapter, the term: (1) ‘‘Abortion’’ means the use or prescription of any instrument, medicine, drug, or any other substance or device with the intent to terminate the pregnancy of a female known to be pregnant. The term ‘‘abortion’’ shall not include the use or pr…
O.C.G.A. § 31-9A-4 Short title
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Definitions. (For effective date, see note.) Voluntary and informed consent to abortion; availability of ultrasound. (For effective date, see note.) Information to be made available by the Department of Public Health; format requirements; availability; requirements for website.
O.C.G.A. § 31-9A-5 Requirements in case of medical emergency
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(a) When a medical emergency compels the performance of an abortion, the physician shall inform the female prior to the abortion, if medically reasonable and prudent, of the medical indications supporting the physician’s judgment that an abortion is medically necessary to avert h…
O.C.G.A. § 31-9A-6 Reporting requirements
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(a) The Department of Public Health shall prepare a reporting form for physicians performing abortions in a health facility licensed as an abortion facility by the Department of Community Health containing a reprint of this chapter and listing: (1) The number of females to whom t…
O.C.G.A. § 31-9A-7 Preservation of patient anonymity in civil proceedings
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In any civil proceeding or action relating to this chapter or a breach of duty under this chapter, the court shall rule whether the anonymity of any female upon whom an abortion has been performed shall be preserved from public disclosure if she does not give her consent to such …
O.C.G.A. § 31-9A-8 Severability
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If any one or more provisions, Code sections, subsections, sentences, clauses, phrases, or words of this chapter or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is found to be unconstitutional, the same is declared to be severable, and the balance of this chapter shall r…
O.C.G.A. § 31-9B-1 Definitions
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As used in this chapter, the term: (1) ‘‘Abortion’’ has the meaning provided by Code Section 31-9A-2. (2) ‘‘Medical emergency’’ has the meaning provided by Code Section 31-9A-2. (3) ‘‘Medically futile’’ means that, in reasonable medical judgment, the unborn child has a profound a…
O.C.G.A. § 31-9B-2 Definitions
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(For effective date, see note.) Requirement to determine presence of detectable human heartbeat of unborn child. Editor’s notes. — Ga. L. 2012, p. 575, § 1/HB 954, not codified by the General Assembly, provides that: ‘‘The General Assembly makes the following findings: ‘‘(1) At l…
O.C.G.A. § 31-10-1 Definitions
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As used in this chapter, the term: (1) ‘‘Commissioner’’ means the commissioner of public health. (2) ‘‘Dead body’’ means a human body or such parts of such human body from the condition of which it reasonably may be concluded that death recently occurred. (3) ‘‘Department’’ means…
O.C.G.A. § 31-10-10 Registration of live born infants of unknown parentage
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(a) Whoever assumes the custody of a live born infant of unknown parentage shall report on a form and in a manner prescribed by the state registrar within ten days to the State Office of Vital Records the following information: (1) The date and place of finding; (2) Sex, color or…
O.C.G.A. § 31-10-11 Registration of delayed certificate of birth
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(a) When a certificate of birth of a person born in this state has not been filed before that person’s first birthday, a delayed certificate of birth may be filed in accordance with regulations of the department. The certificate shall be registered subject to such evidentiary req…
O.C.G.A. § 31-10-12 Judicial procedure to establish facts of birth
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(a) If a delayed certificate of birth is rejected under the provisions of Code Section 31-10-11, a petition signed and sworn to by the petitioner may be filed in either the superior court or the probate court in the county of residence of the person for whom a delayed certificate…
O.C.G.A. § 31-10-13 Certificates of adoption
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(a) For each adoption decreed by a court of competent jurisdiction in this state, the court shall require the preparation of a report of adoption on a form prescribed and furnished by the state registrar. The report shall include such facts as are necessary to locate and identify…
O.C.G.A. § 31-10-16 Criteria for pronouncing death; immunity from liability
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(a) A person may be pronounced dead by a qualified physician, by a registered professional nurse or nurse practitioner authorized to make a pronouncement of death under Code Section 31-7-16 or 31-7-176.1, by an advanced practice registered nurse authorized to make a pronouncement…
O.C.G.A. § 31-10-18 Registration of spontaneous fetal deaths
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(a) A report of spontaneous fetal death for each spontaneous fetal death which occurs in this state shall be filed with the local registrar of the county in which the delivery occurred within 72 hours after such delivery in accordance with this Code section unless the place of fe…
O.C.G.A. § 31-10-19 Reporting of induced termination of pregnancy
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Each induced termination of pregnancy which occurs in this state, regardless of the length of gestation or weight, shall be reported directly to the department within ten days by the person in charge of the institution or clinic, or designated representative, in which the induced…
O.C.G.A. § 31-10-2 Maintenance and operation of vital records registration system
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There is hereby established within the department the State Office of Vital Records which shall maintain and operate the state’s official vital records registration system. The system shall be in effect in all areas of the state, and the State Office of Vital Records shall provid…
O.C.G.A. § 31-10-20 Welch v
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Welch, 269 Ga. 742, 505 S.E.2d 470 (1998). Cited in Blanchard v. Westview Cem., 133 Ga. App. 262, 211 S.E.2d 135 (1974); Welch v. Welch, 244 Ga. App. 685, 536 S.E.2d 583 (2000).
O.C.G.A. § 31-10-21 Record of marriage licenses
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(a) A record of each marriage performed in this state shall be filed with the department and shall be registered if it has been completed and filed in accordance with this Code section. (b) The official who issues the marriage license shall cause to be prepared the record on the …
O.C.G.A. § 31-10-22 Record of divorces, dissolutions, and annulments
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(a) A record of each divorce, dissolution of marriage, or annulment granted by any court of competent jurisdiction in this state shall be filed by the clerk of the court with the department and shall be registered if it has been completed and filed in accordance with this Code se…
O.C.G.A. § 31-10-23 Amendment of certificates or reports
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(a) Unless otherwise specified by law, a certificate or report registered under this chapter may be amended in accordance with this chapter and regulations adopted by the department to protect the integrity and accuracy of vital records. Such regulations shall specify the minimum…
O.C.G.A. § 31-10-27 Fees for copies or services
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(a) The department shall prescribe uniform fees to be paid to the State Office of Vital Records, local registrars, and local custodians for certified copies of certificates or records, for a search of the files or records, for copies or information provided for research, statisti…
O.C.G.A. § 31-10-28 Institutions to keep vital records
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(a) Every person in charge of an institution shall keep a record of personal data concerning each person admitted or confined to such institution. This record shall include such information as required for the certificates of birth and death and the reports of spontaneous fetal d…
O.C.G.A. § 31-10-3 Rules and regulations
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31-10-4. Appointment of state registrar of vital records. 31-10-5. Duties and powers of state registrar; delegation of functions and duties. 31-10-6. Local registrars, local custodians, special abstracting agents, and deputies; appointment; duties. 31-10-7. Form of certificates a…
O.C.G.A. § 31-10-30 Posting facts of death to birth certificates
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(a) To protect the integrity of vital records and to prevent the fraudulent use of birth certificates of deceased persons, the state registrar is authorized to match birth and death certificates, in accordance with written standards promulgated by the state registrar to prove bey…
O.C.G.A. § 31-10-31 Penalties
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(a) A fine of not more than $10,000.00 or imprisonment of not more than five years, or both, shall be imposed on: (1) Any person who willfully and knowingly makes any false statement in a certificate, record, or report required by this chapter, or in an application for an amendme…
O.C.G.A. § 31-10-32 Extension of periods for filing of certificates or reports
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The department may, by regulation and upon such conditions as it may prescribe to assure compliance with the purposes of this chapter, provide for the extension of the periods for the filing of certificates or reports. History. — Code 1933, § 88-1718, enacted by Ga. L. 1964, p. 4…
O.C.G.A. § 31-10-33 Procedure for stillbirth
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(a) For any stillborn child in this state, the State Office of Vital Records shall, within 60 days of a request by a parent named on a fetal death certificate or other eligible person as provided for in subsection (h) of this Code section, issue a certificate of birth resulting i…
O.C.G.A. § 31-10-4 Appointment of state registrar of vital records
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The commissioner shall appoint the state registrar of vital records, hereinafter referred to as ‘‘state registrar,’’ subject to the rules and regulations of the State Personnel Board, classified service. History. — Code 1933, § 88-1704, enacted by Ga. L. 1982, p. 723, § 1; Code 1…
O.C.G.A. § 31-10-9 Registration of births
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(a) A certificate of birth for each live birth which occurs in this state shall be filed with the State Office of Vital Records within five days after such birth and filed in accordance with this Code section and regulations of the department. (b) When a birth occurs in an instit…
O.C.G.A. § 31-10-9.1 Social security account information of parents
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(a) Social security account information of the mother and father, if paternity is acknowledged by the father, of a child born within this state shall be entered in the medical and health statistics section of the certificate of live birth at the time of filing the certificate of …
O.C.G.A. § 31-11-1 Findings; declaration of policy
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(a) The General Assembly finds and determines: (1) That the furnishing of emergency medical services is a matter of substantial importance to the people of this state; (2) That the cost and quality of emergency medical services are matters within the public interest; (3) That it …
O.C.G.A. § 31-11-10 Establishment of fees and regulations by municipalities
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Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as prohibiting or preventing a municipality from fixing, charging, or assessing any license fee or registration fee on any business or profession covered by this chapter or upon any related profession or any person engaged in any profess…
O.C.G.A. § 31-11-100 Definitions
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As used in this article, the term: 661 31-11-100 (1) ‘‘Burn trauma center’’ means a facility that has been designated by the Department of Public Health as a burn center and that admits at least 300 patients annually with the burn specific principal diagnosis codes as published b…
O.C.G.A. § 31-11-102 Duties and responsibilities
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The Georgia Trauma Care Network Commission shall have the following duties and responsibilities: (1) To apply for, receive, and administer state funds appropriated to the commission and federal funds and grants, private grants and donations, and other funds and donations. The com…
O.C.G.A. § 31-11-103 Georgia Trauma Trust Fund
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(a) There is established the Georgia Trauma Trust Fund. The executive director of the Georgia Trauma Care Network Commission shall serve as the trustee of the Georgia Trauma Trust Fund. The moneys deposited into such fund pursuant to this article may be expended by the executive …
O.C.G.A. § 31-11-11 Applicability of chapter
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This chapter shall not apply to the following: (1) An ambulance or ambulance service operated by an agency of the United States government; (2) A vehicle or aircraft that is operated by a person who is not licensed to furnish ambulance service which is rendering assistance tempor…
O.C.G.A. § 31-11-110 Legislative findings
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The General Assembly finds and declares that: (1) The rapid identification, diagnosis, and treatment of stroke can save the lives of stroke patients and in some cases can reverse neurological damage such as paralysis and speech and language impairments, leaving stroke patients wi…
O.C.G.A. § 31-11-112 Identification of stroke centers
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(a) The department shall identify hospitals that meet the criteria set forth in this article as comprehensive, primary, or remote treatment stroke centers. In addition, the department shall be authorized to establish one or more additional levels of stroke centers, in consultatio…
O.C.G.A. § 31-11-113 Certification; application process; inspections
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(a) A hospital identified as a comprehensive or primary stroke center shall be certified as such by a national health care accreditation body recognized by the department. Any hospital wishing to receive official identification under this subsection shall submit a written applica…
O.C.G.A. § 31-11-114 Grants; report
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(a) In order to encourage and ensure the establishment of stroke centers throughout the state, the department shall award grants, subject to appropriations from the General Assembly, to hospitals that seek identification as remote treatment stroke centers and demonstrate a need f…
O.C.G.A. § 31-11-116 Annual reports
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(a) In order to assure that the patients are receiving the appropriate level of care and treatment at each level of stroke center in the state, each hospital identified as a stroke center shall annually report information, as specified by the department in its rules and regulatio…