SR533: SR533 Senate Study Committee on Enhancing Public Safety and Civic Health; create

This resolution creates the Senate Study Committee on Enhancing Public Safety and Civic Health. The resolution's preamble explains the idea behind it: people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can face communication problems and heightened anxiety during emergencies, making it harder for first responders to help them. The resolution points to existing medical alert bracelets for conditions like epilepsy as a possible model, suggesting the Department of Public Health could develop a similar bracelet, working with the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, law enforcement, fire departments, EMS, and autism advocacy groups. The committee itself will have five senators, including a majority party and a minority party cochair appointed by the President of the Senate. It can hold meetings, study the issue, and recommend legislation. Members get standard legislative allowances for up to four days unless more are approved, paid from Senate funds. The committee must file a report if it approves one, and it will be abolished on December 1, 2026.

• Creates the Senate Study Committee on Enhancing Public Safety and Civic Health to study an emergency alert bracelet program idea.
• Directs the President of the Senate to appoint five senators to the committee, including a majority and a minority party cochair.
• Authorizes the committee to study the issue and recommend legislation or other action it finds necessary.
• Limits paid legislative allowances (O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8) to four meeting days unless additional days are approved, funded from Senate appropriations.
• Requires the cochairs to file an approved report or committee meeting minutes with the Secretary of the Senate before the committee ends.
• Sets the committee's abolishment date as December 1, 2026.

The resolution affects the five senators appointed to the study committee, and indirectly touches the Department of Public Health, the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, local law enforcement, fire departments, EMS providers, and people with PTSD or autism who might be affected by any future bracelet program.

No new bracelet program or law is created yet. The committee's findings could shape future legislation on emergency response for people with PTSD or autism, but for now the resolution only sets up a temporary group to study the idea and report back before it disbands in December 2026.

• Paragraph (1) creates the Senate Study Committee on Enhancing Public Safety and Civic Health.
• Paragraph (2) sets membership at five senators with one majority and one minority party cochair appointed by the President of the Senate.
• Paragraph (3) charges the committee with studying the issues raised in the preamble and recommending action or legislation.
• Paragraph (4) lets the cochairs call meetings at times and places needed to carry out the committee's work.
• Paragraph (5) caps paid allowances at four days unless more are authorized, funded through Senate appropriations.
• Paragraph (6) requires a report to be filed with the Secretary of the Senate if approved by majority vote, or minutes filed if no report is approved.
• Paragraph (7) abolishes the committee on December 1, 2026.

1. 2026-03-31Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
2. 2026-03-31Senate Third Read (Senate)
3. 2026-03-27Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
4. 2026-03-27Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
5. 2025-04-02Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
6. 2025-04-01Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Donzella James (D, SD-028)Primary sponsor

1. PassedSenate voteMarch 31, 2026

   48 yea, 0 nay (3 not voting, 3 absent)

   Consent Calendar For Senate Study Committees: Senate Vote #875

• public safety
• autism
• PTSD
• emergency response
• legislative study committee