Georgia: Senate Passes HIV Bill

On March 5, the Georgia Senate voted 42-3 in favor of a bill that "prohibits assault with body fluids or feces by a person who is infected with HIV or hepatitis against a peace officer or correctional officer." Officials with AIDS Survival Project and Georgia Equality had opposed the measure, claiming that it criminalizes HIV and does not add to existing assault laws. Prior to passing the bill, the Senate voted unanimously in favor of an amendment by Sen. Nadine Thomas (D-Ellenwood) that specified that a person must have had "the intent to transmit" HIV in order to be prosecuted under the law, according to Jeff Graham, executive director of ASP. Graham said that ASP recommended and supported the change.

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