--- title: HR 1027. Wakefield, Ronald "Ron" F.; outstanding public service with the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities; commend collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr1027 cite_as: HR 1027, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1027 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1027.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1027/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72268 date: 2026-01-15 status: passed 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. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1026.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1028.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1027.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 1027 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-01-15 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Mike Cheokas - Sharon Cooper - Katie Dempsey text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR1027/2025 upstream_id: 2083545 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - legislative commendation - developmental disabilities services - state employees - Georgia DBHDD --- # HR 1027. Wakefield, Ronald "Ron" F.; outstanding public service with the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities; commend ## Text House Resolution 1027 By: Representatives Cheokas of the 151st, Cooper of the 45th, and Dempsey of the 13th A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending Ronald “Ron” F. Wakefield for his outstanding public service with the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, Ronald “Ron” F. Wakefield has long been recognized by the citizens of Georgia for his dedicated service and steadfast commitment to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities; and WHEREAS, he began his career in 1982 with a program administered by Temple University in Pennsylvania, advancing from a direct care worker to supervisory and leadership roles, consistently demonstrating excellence, compassion, and integrity in the delivery of services; and WHEREAS, after relocating to Georgia in 2005, Mr. Wakefield served the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) in multiple leadership capacities, including Case Expeditor in Region 3, Regional Service Administrator in Region 1, and Director of Field Operations, earning the respect and admiration of colleagues, stakeholders, and the community alike; and WHEREAS, Mr. Wakefield's leadership has been characterized by vision, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to collaboration with individuals served, families, providers, and public officials, fostering innovation, quality, and excellence across the State of Georgia's developmental disability services; and WHEREAS, his educational background, including a Bachelor of Business Administration from Temple University and numerous professional certifications in developmental disability services, coupled with his experience and tireless work ethic, exemplify the highest standards of public service; and WHEREAS, Ronald Wakefield embodies the values and mission of DBHDD, which, together with its network of community providers, offers supports and services that help individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities attain independence and lead meaningful, fulfilling lives; and WHEREAS, his career reflects a profound dedication to improving the lives of countless Georgians and is a reflection of the commitment, professionalism, and excellence that DBHDD employees strive to uphold; and WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that Mr. Wakefield's outstanding achievements, leadership, and commitment to public service be recognized and commended. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body recognize and commend Ronald “Ron” F. Wakefield for his outstanding public service with the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, congratulate him upon the grand occasion of his retirement, and extend the most sincere best wishes for continued health and happiness. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to Ronald “Ron” F. Wakefield. ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary. A Georgia House resolution commends Ronald "Ron" F. Wakefield for his career of public service with the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and congratulates him on his retirement. ### Plain-language summary This resolution is a ceremonial honor from the Georgia House of Representatives. It does not change any law. Instead, it recognizes Ronald "Ron" F. Wakefield, who worked for decades in services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including leadership roles at the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) after moving to Georgia in 2005. The resolution recounts his career history, from starting as a direct care worker in Pennsylvania in 1982 to serving as Case Expeditor, Regional Service Administrator, and Director of Field Operations at DBHDD. It formally commends his service, congratulates him on his retirement, and directs the Clerk of the House to give him a copy of the resolution. ### What it does - Formally recognizes and commends Ronald "Ron" F. Wakefield for his career of public service with DBHDD. - Congratulates Wakefield on his retirement and extends wishes for his continued health and happiness. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to Wakefield. - Makes no changes to Georgia law, as it is a commendatory resolution rather than a legislative act. ### Who it affects This resolution directly names and honors Ronald "Ron" F. Wakefield. It also references the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and the individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities the agency serves, though it creates no new obligations for them. ### Why it matters The resolution has no legal or regulatory effect on Georgians generally. Its significance is symbolic, marking the retirement and career of a long-serving state employee and putting the House's formal recognition of his work on the public record. ### Key provisions - The resolved clause commends Wakefield for his outstanding public service with DBHDD and congratulates him on his retirement. - A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House to make a copy of the resolution available for distribution to Wakefield. - The whereas clauses detail his career, including roles as Case Expeditor in Region 3, Regional Service Administrator in Region 1, and Director of Field Operations. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-01-15) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2026-01-15) - Sponsors: Mike Cheokas, Sharon Cooper, Katie Dempsey - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72268 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1027.md?full=1