HB 1025: Children in Need of Services (CHINS) Funding Act; enact

Georgia's CHINS program is meant to help children who commit status offenses, like skipping school or running away, get community help instead of going through juvenile court or the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ). This bill does not fund the program directly but sets up the legal structure so the legislature can fund it later. It creates a CHINS Support Fund managed by the Department of Education, along with a statewide coordinator at the Council of Juvenile Court Judges and one coordinator in each of Georgia's 16 regional educational service agency (RESA) regions. Money from the fund, once appropriated, would pay for school and community services, residential placement support, and housing help for young adults aged 18 to 24 leaving DJJ supervision. Funds would be targeted to counties with poverty rates above the state average. The Department of Education must write implementing rules by January 1, 2027, and issue an annual report to the Governor and legislative leaders by December 31 each year.

• Establishes a CHINS Support Fund to pay for services for youth who commit status offenses, but only once the legislature actually appropriates money to it.
• Designates the Department of Education as the agency that manages the fund and requires it to write operating rules by January 1, 2027.
• Creates a statewide CHINS coordinator position at the Council of Juvenile Court Judges and one coordinator in each of the 16 RESA regions.
• Directs that fund money go to counties with poverty rates higher than the state average, based on complaint data, child poverty rates, population, and service needs.
• Authorizes grants for school and community based service providers, residential placement providers, and housing providers helping young adults aged 18 to 24 leaving DJJ supervision.
• Requires the Department of Education to publish an annual report on the fund's revenues, expenditures, and progress by December 31 each year.

Youth who commit status offenses (like truancy or running away) and their families, the Department of Education, the Council of Juvenile Court Judges, regional educational service agencies (RESAs), school and community service providers, residential placement providers, housing providers, and county governments with higher poverty rates.

If the legislature later appropriates money, this structure would let at-risk youth get mental health care, family support, and housing help without entering the juvenile justice system, potentially reducing court involvement and reshaping how counties with higher poverty access these services.

• Section 1 names the bill the 'Children in Need of Services (CHINS) Funding Act.'
• Section 2 adds a new Part 8 to Article 5 of Chapter 11 of Title 15 of the Georgia Code, covering CHINS funding.
• Code Section 15-11-455 states legislative findings that CHINS funding can prevent escalation of status offenses and reduce recidivism.
• Code Section 15-11-457 creates the CHINS Support Fund and lets the Department of Education issue rules by January 1, 2027, with all grants subject to appropriations.
• Code Section 15-11-458 creates a statewide coordinator role and one coordinator per RESA region, subject to appropriations.
• Code Section 15-11-459 requires fund money to go to counties with above-average poverty rates, using complaint data and population figures.
• Code Section 15-11-460 requires an annual report to the Governor, House Speaker, and Senate President by December 31, posted on the Department of Education's website.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-01-29House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-01-28House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-01-27House Hopper (House)

• Viola Davis (D, HD-087)Primary sponsor
• Kim Schofield (D, HD-063)
• Sandra Scott (D, HD-076)

• juvenile justice
• child welfare
• status offenses
• state funding for youth services
• education agency oversight