A DFCS employee, a law enforcement officer, or any person who has actual knowledge of the abuse, neglect, or abandonment of a child or is informed of the abuse, neglect, or abandonment of a child that he or she believes to be truthful may make a petition alleging dependency. Such petition shall not be accepted for filing unless the court or a person authorized by the court has determined and endorsed on the petition that the filing of the petition is in the best interests of the public and such child.
History. Code 1981, § 15-11-150 , enacted by Ga. L. 2013, p. 294, § 1-1/HB 242; Ga. L. 2014, p. 780, § 1-10/SB 364.
Cross references.
Definition of grandparent and securing of rights, § 19-7-3 .
Law reviews.
For note criticizing jurisdiction of juvenile justice system over runaways and advocating alternative legal approaches, see 24 Emory L. J. 1075 (1975).
For comment on grandparents’ visitation rights in Georgia, see 29 Emory L. J. 1083 (1980).
For article, “See No Evil, Speak No Evil: Georgia Supreme Court Narrows Requirements for Mandatory Reporters in May v. State,” see 66 Mercer L. Rev. 837 (2015).
Structure Georgia Code