The Solution
Amend OCGA § 16‑6‑5.1 to include clergy acting in pastoral or spiritual authority roles, applying the same abuse‑of‑authority standard already recognized in other professions.
CLERGY REFORM LAW
Clergy Reform Law seeks to amend OCGA § 16‑6‑5.1 to include clergy acting in defined pastoral or spiritual authority roles — closing a gap in Georgia’s existing statute while strengthening protection for adults.
Adult Clergy Sexual Abuse occurs when a clergy member uses spiritual authority, counseling roles, or institutional power to initiate or maintain sexual contact with an adult under pastoral care.
When authority exists, genuine consent can be compromised. Georgia law already recognizes this dynamic in other professions such as teachers and psychotherapists.
Georgia’s abuse-of-authority statute protects adults in certain professional contexts, recognizing that power dynamics can compromise meaningful consent.
Clergy acting in defined pastoral or spiritual authority roles are not explicitly included. This creates a gap in the law where authority exists, but protection does not.
Georgia’s primary abuse-of-authority statute (OCGA § 16-6-5.1) applies to certain authority relationships — but clergy acting in defined pastoral or spiritual authority roles are not explicitly included.
Hayle’s Law seeks to close this gap by applying the same abuse-of-authority standard already recognized in other professions.
Amend OCGA § 16‑6‑5.1 to include clergy acting in pastoral or spiritual authority roles, applying the same abuse‑of‑authority standard already recognized in other professions.
Three clear ways to help move reform forward.
Ask your Representative and Senator to support amending OCGA § 16-6-5.1 to include clergy in defined authority contexts.
Share the issue thoughtfully. Awareness creates accountability — and accountability creates reform.
Join updates so you can show up at key legislative moments as the bill progresses.