Section 15-11-162. (Effective January 1, 2014) Sanctions for failure to obey summons

   (a) In the event a parent, guardian, or legal custodian of a child named in a petition alleging dependency is brought willfully fails to appear personally at a hearing after being ordered to so appear or willfully fails to bring such child to a hearing after being so directed, the court may issue an order against the person directing the person to appear before the court to show cause why he or she should not be held in contempt of court.

(b) If a parent, guardian, or legal custodian of a child named in a petition alleging dependency is brought fails to appear in response to an order to show cause, the court may issue a bench warrant directing that such parent, guardian, or legal custodian be brought before the court without delay to show cause why he or she should not be held in contempt and the court may enter any order authorized by and in accordance with the provisions of Code Section 15-11-31.

Code 1981, § 15-11-162, enacted by Ga. L. 2013, p. 294, § 1-1/HB 242.