HR816: HR816 House Study Committee on an At-Risk Populations Abuse Registry; create

Georgia does not currently keep a registry of people found to have abused, neglected, or exploited at-risk populations such as people with disabilities and older adults. This resolution would create the House Study Committee on an At-Risk Populations Abuse Registry to look into whether Georgia should build one, modeled partly on a similar registry in Tennessee. The eight-member committee, made up of three legislators and five nonlegislative members including a Department of Public Health representative and advocacy group representatives, would review other states' registries, assess costs and due process concerns, and study effects on hiring in caregiving jobs. It would gather public and stakeholder input and, if it approves a report by majority vote, file recommendations with the Clerk of the House before the committee is abolished on December 1, 2025.

• Creates the House Study Committee on an At-Risk Populations Abuse Registry to study creating a registry of substantiated abusers of at-risk populations.
• Sets the committee's membership at eight: three House members appointed by the Speaker and five nonlegislative members including a public health official and advocacy representatives.
• Directs the committee to review Tennessee's registry model and assess the costs, procedures, and due process protections needed for a Georgia version.
• Requires the committee to examine how a registry could affect hiring in health and caregiving professions and to consider appeal and removal procedures.
• Sets legislative member pay under existing state allowance rules (O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8) and limits paid days to five unless more are authorized.
• Abolishes the committee on December 1, 2025, after which it must file any approved findings or recommendations with the Clerk of the House.

The study affects lawmakers and state officials appointed to the committee, the Department of Public Health, disability and elder rights advocacy organizations, the Prosecuting Attorneys' Council, and, if a registry is eventually created, caregivers and health professionals who could be listed on it.

No registry exists yet; this resolution only funds a study. But its recommendations could shape future legislation determining whether Georgia tracks substantiated abusers of vulnerable people, which would affect hiring practices in caregiving jobs and due process protections for accused workers.

• Paragraph (1) creates the House Study Committee on an At-Risk Populations Abuse Registry.
• Paragraph (2) sets membership at three legislators and five nonlegislative members, including a Department of Public Health representative and a person with intellectual or developmental disabilities or in care.
• Paragraph (3) directs the committee to review Tennessee's registry, assess feasibility and costs, examine hiring impacts, consider appeals processes, and solicit stakeholder input.
• Paragraph (5) sets funding and reimbursement rules, capping paid allowances at five days unless additional days are authorized.
• Paragraph (6) requires any approved report to be filed with the Clerk of the House of Representatives before the committee is abolished.
• Paragraph (7) abolishes the committee on December 1, 2025.

1. 2025-04-04House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
2. 2025-04-02House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
3. 2025-03-28House Second Readers (House)
4. 2025-03-27House First Readers (House)
5. 2025-03-27House Hopper (House)

• Scott Hilton (R, HD-048)Primary sponsor
• Jesse Petrea (R, HD-166)
• William Werkheiser (R, HD-157)
• Katie Dempsey (R, HD-013)
• Sharon Cooper (R, HD-045)
• Angie O'Steen (R, HD-169)

• elder abuse
• disability rights
• caregiver background checks
• legislative study committees
• abuse registry