Georgia General Assembly · Full text

HR 1109: Mental Health Sentencing and Treatment Alternatives Act; commend advancement by General Assembly; recognize urgent need for sentencing alternatives for Georgians with serious mental illness

Introduced version, the latest LegiScan holds · Last action February 2, 2026 · Introduced

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House Resolution 1109

By: Representatives Scott of the 76th, Schofield of the 63rd, and Davis of the 87th

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing the urgent need for sentencing alternatives and treatment programs for Georgians with serious mental illness; commending the General Assembly for advancing the "Mental Health Sentencing and Treatment Alternatives Act"; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, thousands of Georgians incarcerated in prisons and jails live with serious mental illness, too often without adequate treatment, leading to cycles of crisis, recidivism, homelessness, and harm to families; and

WHEREAS, Georgia has established mental health courts and in-custody treatment requirements, but lacks a uniform statutory framework at the sentencing stage to ensure access to comprehensive mental health alternatives; and

WHEREAS, untreated mental illness behind bars increases costs to taxpayers, strains correctional systems, and undermines public safety; and

WHEREAS, other states, such as Washington, have adopted mental health sentencing alternatives with proven outcomes in reducing recidivism and improving stability, but Georgia can lead the nation with a more comprehensive model; and

WHEREAS, the "Mental Health Sentencing and Treatment Alternatives Act" would ensure continuity of care from sentencing through release, leverage Medicaid and federal funds, and build in transparency and oversight to protect public safety and fiscal responsibility.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body recognize and support the passage of the "Mental Health Sentencing and Treatment Alternatives Act" as a landmark step in justice, public safety, and humane treatment.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the Governor, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, the Department of Community Health, the Administrative Office of the Courts, and other relevant stakeholders.