HB 943: Social services; establish a pilot program for autism spectrum disorder to children in foster care; provide

Georgia currently has no dedicated statewide program to screen foster children for autism spectrum disorder. House Bill 943 would add a new section to Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 49-5-26) directing the Division of Family and Children Services within the Department of Human Services to set up a five-year pilot program, subject to available state funding. The program would provide screenings, clinical evaluations, and training and resources on autism spectrum disorder to division staff, healthcare providers, and caregivers of children in foster care. The pilot would start in three regional service areas and expand to more areas each year until it covers the whole state. It would prioritize children already diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or reactive attachment disorder, or who are on psychotropic medication. The division must report yearly on the program's progress starting after one year of operation, and the law repeals itself on July 1 of the year after the final report, expected around 2031. The law would take effect as soon as the Governor signs it.

• Creates a new pilot program requiring the Division of Family and Children Services to provide autism spectrum disorder screenings and clinical evaluations to children in foster care, subject to state funding.
• Requires the division to provide training, services, and resources on autism spectrum disorder to caseworkers, supervisors, healthcare providers, and caregivers of foster children.
• Directs the pilot to start in three regional service areas and expand to additional areas each year until statewide.
• Instructs the program to prioritize foster children already diagnosed with ADHD or reactive attachment disorder, or prescribed psychotropic medications.
• Requires annual written reports to the Governor, legislative leaders, and specific committees on the program's implementation and effectiveness.
• Sets the pilot program to automatically repeal on July 1 of the year following the final required report.

Children in Georgia's foster care system, their caregivers (parents, guardians, foster parents, and kinship caregivers), Division of Family and Children Services staff at the regional and county level, healthcare providers who evaluate children, and legislative committees that will receive annual progress reports.

Foster children with undiagnosed autism spectrum disorder may not get needed evaluations or services under current practice. This program would create a structured path to screening, diagnosis, and training for caregivers and staff, though its rollout depends on the state actually funding it and only reaches part of the state at first.

• Adds new Code section 49-5-26 to Chapter 5 of Title 49, defining autism spectrum disorder, caregiver, clinical evaluation, division, and screening.
• Subsection (b) makes the pilot program 'subject to appropriations,' meaning it only proceeds if the state provides funding, and requires phased expansion from three regional areas to statewide over five years.
• Subsection (b) directs the program to prioritize children already diagnosed with ADHD or reactive attachment disorder or prescribed psychotropic medications.
• Subsection (c) requires the division to plan for incremental expansion, develop communication strategies for caregivers, and ensure enough medical consultants and staff are available.
• Subsection (d) requires annual written reports starting after one year of operation, continuing until July 1, 2031, to the Governor, legislative leaders, and named House and Senate committees.
• Subsection (f) automatically repeals the new Code section on July 1 of the year following the final report.
• Section 2 makes the Act effective immediately upon the Governor's signature or upon becoming law without signature.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-07-11
2. 2026-05-11Act 477
3. 2026-05-11House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-07House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-03-31Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-03-31Senate Third Read (Senate)
7. 2026-03-25Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
8. 2026-03-25Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)

• Deborah Silcox (R, HD-053)Primary sponsor
• Lee Hawkins (R, HD-027)
• Sharon Cooper (R, HD-045)
• Lehman Franklin (R, HD-160)
• Kim Schofield (D, HD-063)
• Blake Tillery (R, SD-019)

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 18, 2026

   163 yea, 2 nay (1 not voting, 9 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #528

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 31, 2026

   46 yea, 0 nay (1 not voting, 7 absent)

   Passage: Senate Vote #896

• foster care
• autism spectrum disorder
• child welfare
• Department of Human Services
• developmental disabilities