---
title: HB 1025. Children in Need of Services (CHINS) Funding Act; enact
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hb1025
cite_as: HB 1025, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1025
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1025.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1025/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72355
date: 2026-01-29
status: introduced
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 129
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1025.md?full=1
bill_number: HB 1025
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-01-27
last_action: House Second Readers
sponsors:
- Viola Davis
- Kim Schofield
- Sandra Scott
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB1025/2025
upstream_id: 2095240
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- juvenile justice
- child welfare
- status offenses
- state funding for youth services
- education agency oversight
---
# HB 1025. Children in Need of Services (CHINS) Funding Act; enact
## Text
House Bill 1025
By: Representatives Davis of the 87th, Schofield of the 63rd, and Scott of the 76th
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Article 5 of Chapter 11 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
relating to child in need of services, so as to provide for funding for the child in need of
services (CHINS) program, subject to appropriations; to provide for legislative findings and
intent; to provide for definitions; to designate the Department of Education as the oversight
agency for the fund; to establish a CHINS Support Fund and regional coordination system;
to provide for the allocation of resources for services and supports; to provide for rules,
regulations, and procedures; to provide for implementation; to provide for a short title; to
provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Children in Need of Services (CHINS)
Funding Act."
SECTION 2.
Article 5 of Chapter 11 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
child in need of services, is amended by adding a new part to read as follows:
"Part 8
15-11-455.
(a) The General Assembly finds that:
(1) The child in need of services (CHINS) program is essential to address the needs of
youth at risk without resorting to juvenile court or involving the Department of Juvenile
Justice; and
(2) Adequate funding and infrastructure for the CHINS program will prevent status
offenses and behavioral issues from escalating, provide community based interventions,
and reduce recidivism while improving public safety and family stability.
(b) The purpose of this part is to establish dedicated funding, management, and
accountability for the CHINS program to ensure uniform implementation and effectiveness
across this state.
15-11-456.
As used in this part, the term:
(1) 'CHINS' means a child in need of services as such term is defined in Code Section
15-11-2.
(2) 'DOE' means the Department of Education.
(3) 'Fund' means the CHINS Support Fund established by this part.
(4) 'RESA' means a regional educational service agency as provided for in Code Section
20-2-270.
(5) 'Status offense' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 15-11-381.
15-11-457.
(a) There is established the Children in Need of Services Support Fund to provide
comprehensive support for any youth who commits a status offense to receive appropriate
interventions without involvement from DJJ.
(b) The DOE shall be authorized to coordinate with the Council of Juvenile Court Judges
to ensure state-wide implementation and training for CHINS fund staff in collaboration
with RESAs.
(c) The DOE is authorized to prescribe rules, regulations, and procedures no later than
January 1, 2027, as may be reasonable and necessary to carry out the purposes of this part
and shall administer the fund in accordance with the provisions of this part.
(d) Subject to appropriations made specifically for the purposes of this part, the fund shall
provide grants for:
(1) School based and community based service providers to deliver wraparound
supports, including crisis intervention, mental health and substance use treatment, family
strengthening programs, and academic enrichment;
(2) Residential placement providers to expand services for youth under DJJ supervision
and those no longer under DJJ supervision; and
(3) Housing providers to support emerging adults ages 18 through 24 who are at risk of
homelessness or require specialized care after leaving DJJ supervision.
(e) Nothing contained in this Code section shall prevent the state from receiving grants,
gifts, or bequests for the purposes of the fund as provided for in this Code section and
appropriating such moneys for purposes of the fund.
15-11-458.
Subject to appropriations made specifically for the purposes of this part:
(1) A CHINS state-wide coordinator position shall be established within the Council of
Juvenile Court Judges; and
(2) One RESA based CHINS coordinator shall be designated in each of the 16 RESA
regions.
15-11-459.
All moneys accrued by the fund shall be used to provide resources to counties whose
poverty rates exceed the state's overall poverty rate, and allocations from the fund shall be
based on complaint data pursuant to Code Section 15-11-390, child poverty rates,
population, and service needs.
15-11-460.
(a) The DOE shall prepare an annual report detailing:
(1) All revenues and expenditures of the fund for the previous year;
(2) The status of projects and initiatives supported by the fund; and
(3) Recommendations for improvements.
(b) The report provided for in subsection (a) of this Code section shall be submitted to the
Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the President of the Senate by
December 31 of each year and made available on the DOE's website."
SECTION 3.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
## Summaries written by Georgia Commons
The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary.
A Georgia House bill would create a state fund and coordinator network to support the Children in Need of Services (CHINS) program, helping at-risk youth get help outside the juvenile court system, if lawmakers choose to fund it.
### Plain-language summary
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.
### What it does
- 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.
### Who it affects
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.
### Why it matters
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.
### Key provisions
- 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.
## Status
- Status: Introduced (2026-01-27)
- Last action: House Second Readers (2026-01-29)
- Sponsors: Viola Davis, Kim Schofield, Sandra Scott
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72355
> The history, votes, and amendments (129 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1025.md?full=1