GA Code § 15-11-150 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 15 - Courts|Chapter 11 - Juvenile Code|Article 3 - Dependency Proceedings|Part 5 - Dependency Petitions|§ 15-11-150. Authority to File Petition

 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.    (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 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). 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).   JUDICIAL DECISIONS   Editor's notes.   - In light of the similarity of the statutory provisions, decisions under pre-2000 Code Section 15-11-24, which was subsequently repealed but was succeeded by provisions in this Code section, are included in the annotations for this Code section. See the Editor's notes at the beginning of the chapter.   Construction with former provisions.    - Nonprofit advocacy organization was authorized to file a deprivation petition which was separate and distinct from the initial deprivation adjudication since there is no statutory requirement that a petition for modification must be filed under former O.C.G.A. § 15-11-42 (see now O.C.G.A. § 15-11-312), instead of a deprivation petition under former O.C.G.A. § 15-11-24 (see now O.C.G.A. §§ 15-11-150,15-11-390, and15-11-420). In re A.V.B., 222 Ga. App. 241, 474 S.E.2d 114 (1996) (decided under former O.C.G.A. § 15-11-24).   Great aunt and uncle.    - Child's great aunt and uncle had standing to bring a petition to terminate the parental rights of the child's father and mother. In re J.J., 225 Ga. App. 682, 484 S.E.2d 681 (1997) (decided under former O.C.G.A. § 15-11-24).   Non-relative couple lacked standing to seek custody.   - Judgment awarding a couple custody of a minor child was reversed because the couple, as third party non-relatives, did not have standing to initiate the proceedings in superior court seeking custody of the minor child who had been placed by another court, at least temporarily, in their custody. Wallace v. Chandler, Ga. App. , S.E.2d (Apr. 22, 2021).   OPINIONS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL   Editor's notes.   - In light of the similarity of the statutory provisions, opinions under former Code 1933, § 24-2403, which was subsequently repealed but was succeeded by provisions in this Code section, are included in the annotations for this Code section. See the Editor's notes at the beginning of the chapter.   School official not liable for investigative referral of deprivation.   - School official would not be held liable in a legal action founded upon the official's good faith referral of a child neglect, abuse, or abandonment situation to a county department of family and children services for investigation. 1963-65 Op. Att'y Gen. p. 746 (decided under former Code 1933, § 24-2403).   RESEARCH REFERENCES   Am. Jur. 2d.   - 47 Am. Jur. 2d, Juvenile Courts and Delinquent and Dependent Children, § 75 et seq.   C.J.S.   - 43 C.J.S., Infants, §§ 184 et seq., 191 et seq.   U.L.A.   - Uniform Juvenile Court Act (U.L.A.) § 20.