Georgia Passes New Trauma Clean-Up Law

ISSA thanks the members of the Georgia General Assembly for passing and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp for signing into law a trauma clean-up bill (HB 417). This new law will regulate trauma scene clean-up services by requiring companies performing such services in the State of Georgia to be registered with the Secretary of State, carry proper insurance, as well as employ technicians that are background checked and fingerprinted.

The law, which makes Georgia the first state to regulate crime scene clean-up, came about four years after a WGCL-TV investigation into the industry revealed that the absence of regulations resulted in unprofessional and damaging behavior by some companies. Governor Kemp vetoed a similar bill last year because that legislation had not received an adequate review and fiscal analysis, according to the governor’s veto message.

The Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC), a division of ISSA, strongly supported the legislation. GBAC Executive Director Patricia (Patty) Olinger was on hand for Governor Kemp signing the trauma clean-up bill into law. “This is a big deal for the crime and trauma industry,” said Olinger. “The new law strengthens the professionalism of the trauma and crime scene clean-up industry.”