---
title: HB 1426. Peace officers; training in evacuation of persons with disabilities during an emergency; provide
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hb1426
cite_as: HB 1426, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1426
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1426.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1426/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73529
date: 2026-02-26
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/hb1426.md?full=1
bill_number: HB 1426
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-02-24
last_action: House Second Readers
sponsors:
- Robert Flournoy
- Dar'shun Kendrick
- Arlene Beckles
- Akbar Ali
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB1426/2025
upstream_id: 2123552
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- disability rights
- emergency management
- police training
- emergency shelters
- public safety
---
# HB 1426. Peace officers; training in evacuation of persons with disabilities during an emergency; provide
## Text
House Bill 1426
By: Representatives Flournoy of the 74th, Kendrick of the 95th, Beckles of the 96th, and Ali
of the 106th
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 8 of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
employment and training of peace officers, so as to provide for training in the evacuation of
persons with disabilities during an emergency; to amend Chapter 3 of Title 38 of the Official
Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to emergency management, so as to provide for
emergency evacuation procedures for persons with disabilities, subject to appropriations; to
provide for a voluntary and confidential registry of persons with disabilities; to provide for
accessible emergency shelters; to provide guidelines for emergency transportation providers;
to provide for emergency evacuation coordination between state agencies; to provide for
immunity; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for definitions; to provide for
legislative findings and declarations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting
laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
The General Assembly finds and declares that:
(1) Individuals with disabilities often face unique challenges during emergency
evacuations, including, but not limited to, accessibility barriers, communication difficulties,
and reliance on specialized equipment and assistance;
(2) Existing emergency preparedness plans may not adequately address the specific needs
of this vulnerable population, leading to disproportionate risks and potential harm; and
(3) It is the intent of the General Assembly to establish a comprehensive framework that
ensures the safety and well-being of individuals with disabilities during emergencies and
balances proactive measures with efficient resource allocation and individual liberty.
SECTION 2.
Chapter 8 of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to employment and
training of peace officers, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:
"35-8-28.
(a) On and after January 1, 2027, all peace officers shall be required to successfully
complete training in emergency evacuations of persons with disabilities as set forth in
Article 13 of Chapter 3 of Title 38.
(b) Such training shall include:
(1) Instruction on the different types of disabilities and the impact of such disabilities
during an emergency;
(2) Techniques for effective communication with persons with disabilities;
(3) Safe evacuation methods for persons with disabilities;
(4) Equipment needs during evacuations of persons with disabilities;
(5) Rights and protections of service animals; and
(6) Cultural competency in assisting persons with disabilities.
(c) The council shall develop and implement or approve a training program under this
Code section in collaboration with the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland
Security Agency and nonprofit organizations with proven expertise in disabilities."
SECTION 3.
Chapter 3 of Title 38 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to emergency
management, is amended by creating a new article to read as follows:
"ARTICLE 13
38-3-200.
As used in this article, the term:
(1) 'Accessible shelter' means an emergency shelter that complies with the accessibility
guidelines set forth in the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended
by the federal ADA Amendments Act of 2008, 42 U.S.C. Section 12102, and is equipped
to meet the functional needs of persons with disabilities.
(2) 'Disability' shall have the same meaning as provided for in the federal Americans
with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended by the federal ADA Amendments Act of 2008,
42 U.S.C. Section 12102.
(3) 'Emergency' means an event or condition that is deemed a state of emergency or
disaster under Code Section 38-3-51, a public health emergency under Code Section
31-12-1.1, a local emergency under Code Section 36-69-2, or an emergency declared by
a state entity or official or by a federal entity or official, if such emergency includes this
state, under any other provision of state or federal law.
(4) 'Emergency transportation provider' means a transportation service or vehicle used
to transport a person with disabilities during an emergency.
(5) 'First responder' means a firefighter as defined in Code Section 25-4-2, a peace
officer as defined in Code Section 35-8-2, or an emergency medical technician as defined
in Code Section 16-10-24.2.
(6) 'Registry' means the emergency disability registry established under this article.
(7) 'Service animal' means an animal that is specially trained to assist a person with
disabilities in performing daily tasks. Such term shall include guide dogs.
38-3-201.
(a) An emergency disability registry shall be created and maintained by the Georgia
Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency to provide for a state-wide
registry of persons with disabilities who may require assistance during an emergency.
(b) At the request of a person with a disability, the Georgia Emergency Management and
Homeland Security Agency shall add such person to the registry and coordinate with such
person's local first responder entities to establish an individualized emergency evacuation
and transportation plan.
(c) Participation in the registry is voluntary, and a person with a disability may request to
be added to the registry or removed from the registry at any time.
(d) The registry shall include the following information regarding the person with a
disability:
(1) Such person's name, address, and phone number;
(2) Name, address, and phone number of such person's emergency contact;
(3) Nature of such person's disability and specific functional needs, including, but not
limited to, any medical needs that are relevant to an emergency response;
(4) A notation as to whether such person has a service animal; and
(5) Such person's individualized evacuation and transportation plan under subsection (b)
of this Code section.
(e) All information contained in the registry shall be confidential and accessible only to
first responders.
(f) The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency is authorized
to promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement and carry out the provisions
of this article.
(g) The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency shall implement
a public awareness campaign about the registry.
(h) The implementation of this article is subject to appropriations from the General
Assembly.
38-3-202.
(a) The Department of Human Services shall coordinate with the Georgia Emergency
Management and Homeland Security Agency to identify and designate accessible shelters
throughout the state that are appropriate for housing persons with disabilities during an
emergency.
(b) Accessible shelters designated under subsection (a) of this Code section shall include:
(1) Restrooms and bathing facilities that are accessible to persons with disabilities;
(2) Power outlets for essential medical devices;
(3) Communication aids and interpreters as practicable;
(4) Personnel trained to assist with evacuated persons with disabilities;
(5) Transportation that is accessible to persons with disabilities; and
(6) Animal-friendly accommodations for service animals, which shall remain with their
handlers at all times.
(c) No person who is blind or visually impaired shall be separated from his or her service
animal during transport to and from an accessible shelter or during the time spent in any
such shelter.
38-3-203.
Emergency transportation providers shall establish procedures to:
(1) Safely transport persons with disabilities from their residences or other designated
pickup locations to an appropriate accessible shelter;
(2) Ensure the use of vehicles that are accessible to persons with disabilities and
personnel who are trained to operate such vehicles and to assist persons with disabilities
during an emergency; and
(3) Maintain records to ensure that persons with disabilities who are evacuated to an
accessible shelter are returned to their residence or other designated location once the
emergency ends.
38-3-204.
(a) The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency shall lead all
coordination efforts related to emergency evacuations of persons with disabilities.
(b) A task force shall be created by the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland
Security Agency to assist with such coordination of efforts. Such task force shall include
a representative from the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security
Agency, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Transportation, the
Department of Public Health, and a local first responder entity.
(c) The task force shall consult with disability nonprofit organizations with proven
expertise in disabilities for guidance in evacuation planning.
38-3-205.
No person or entity shall be liable for any actions taken in good faith under this article."
SECTION 4.
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.
House Bill 1426 would require all Georgia peace officers to complete training on evacuating people with disabilities during emergencies and would create a statewide voluntary registry, accessible shelters and transportation rules to help protect them.
### Plain-language summary
Georgia currently has no statewide system specifically designed to help people with disabilities during emergency evacuations. This bill would change that by requiring every peace officer in the state to complete training, starting January 1, 2027, on communicating with, evacuating, and assisting people with disabilities, including respecting service animals.
The bill also creates a new article in Georgia's emergency management law setting up a voluntary, confidential emergency disability registry run by the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA), which would build individualized evacuation plans for people who sign up. It requires the Department of Human Services and GEMA to designate accessible emergency shelters with features like accessible restrooms, power outlets for medical devices, and space for service animals. It sets rules for emergency transportation providers, creates a coordination task force among several state agencies, grants good-faith immunity to those acting under the law, and notes that the registry and related programs depend on the legislature actually funding them.
### What it does
- Requires all Georgia peace officers to complete training in evacuating people with disabilities starting January 1, 2027, covering communication, evacuation methods, equipment needs and service animal rights.
- Creates a new voluntary, confidential statewide emergency disability registry run by GEMA that people with disabilities can join to get an individualized evacuation and transportation plan.
- Directs the Department of Human Services and GEMA to designate accessible emergency shelters with features like accessible restrooms, medical device power outlets and interpreters.
- Sets procedural requirements for emergency transportation providers to safely move people with disabilities to and from shelters using accessible vehicles and trained personnel.
- Creates a multi-agency task force led by GEMA to coordinate disability evacuation efforts and consult with disability nonprofit organizations.
- Grants legal immunity to people and entities acting in good faith under the new evacuation and registry provisions, and makes the registry's implementation subject to legislative funding.
### Who it affects
People with disabilities and their families, peace officers statewide who must complete the new training, GEMA, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Public Health, local first responders, emergency transportation providers, and operators of emergency shelters.
### Why it matters
If enacted, people with disabilities could register for personalized evacuation help, shelters would need accessibility features, and officers statewide would receive mandatory training, potentially reducing risks during emergencies. Because the registry's rollout depends on the General Assembly appropriating money, the practical scope of some provisions may hinge on future funding decisions.
### Key provisions
- Section 1 states legislative findings that people with disabilities face unique risks during emergency evacuations and that existing plans may not address their needs.
- Section 2 adds Code Section 35-8-28, requiring peace officers to complete disability evacuation training by January 1, 2027, developed by the training council with GEMA and disability nonprofits.
- Section 3 creates new Code Sections 38-3-200 through 38-3-205, defining terms like 'accessible shelter,' 'disability,' and 'service animal,' and establishing the voluntary emergency disability registry (38-3-201).
- Code Section 38-3-201 makes registry participation voluntary and confidential, limits access to first responders, and makes implementation subject to legislative appropriations.
- Code Section 38-3-202 requires designation of accessible shelters with specific accommodations and bars separating blind or visually impaired people from their service animals during transport or sheltering.
- Code Section 38-3-203 sets procedures for emergency transportation providers, including accessible vehicles and returning evacuees home after the emergency ends.
- Code Section 38-3-204 creates a coordination task force led by GEMA including several state departments and a local first responder representative.
- Code Section 38-3-205 grants immunity from liability for good-faith actions taken under the new article.
## Status
- Status: Introduced (2026-02-24)
- Last action: House Second Readers (2026-02-26)
- Sponsors: Robert Flournoy, Dar'shun Kendrick, Arlene Beckles, Akbar Ali
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73529
> The history, votes, and amendments (129 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1426.md?full=1