---
title: HR 1491. Elaine Clark Center; commend
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hr1491
cite_as: HR 1491, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1491
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1491.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1491/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73681
date: 2026-02-25
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.
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index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 131
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1491.md?full=1
bill_number: HR 1491
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2026-02-25
last_action: House Read and Adopted
sponsors:
  - Karen Lupton
  - Long Tran
  - Shea Roberts
  - Marvin Lim
  - Scott Holcomb
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR1491/2025
upstream_id: 2124849
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - disability services
  - DeKalb County
  - commendation resolution
  - education
---

# HR 1491. Elaine Clark Center; commend

## Text

House Resolution 1491
By: Representatives Lupton of the 83rd, Tran of the 80th, Roberts of the 52nd, Lim of the 98th,
and Holcomb of the 101st
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing and commending the Elaine Clark Center; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, for more than five decades, the Elaine Clark Center has provided a safe,
inclusive learning and social environment for children and young adults with disabilities and
has strengthened families and the broader DeKalb County community; and
WHEREAS, The Elaine Clark Center was founded, and officially incorporated in 1969, by
Sister Robert Therese, who tutored children with developmental disabilities at a time when
few services existed; and
WHEREAS, for more than 55 years, the center has continuously served families in DeKalb
County and the surrounding metro Atlanta region; and
WHEREAS, this year, current Executive Director, Beth Schmehling Cook, celebrates 20
years of dedicated service to the center; and
WHEREAS, serving individuals with a wide range of developmental and physical
disabilities, including autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and
developmental delay, the Elaine Clark Center provides inclusive early childhood education,
therapy support, and social programming; and
WHEREAS, the center provides four distinct program areas: early childhood programming,
a fully accredited K-12 school, respite and holiday camps, and young adult programming;
and
WHEREAS, the Elaine Clark Center is one of only a small number of structured social and
day-program opportunities in DeKalb County for young adults with disabilities after they age
out of public school services; and
WHEREAS, by providing specialized care and programming, the center enables parents and
caregivers to remain in the workforce; and
WHEREAS, the center hosts community service events, volunteer programs, and fundraising
initiatives that involve local residents, civic groups, and businesses, including a Day of
Service and the Annual Hustle for Hope 5k/1K fun run; and
WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that this extraordinary organization be
appropriately recognized.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
the members of this body recognize and commend the Elaine Clark Center and extend their
sincere best wishes for its continued success.
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 the
Elaine Clark Center.

## 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 the Elaine Clark Center, a DeKalb County organization serving children and young adults with disabilities for more than 55 years.

### Plain-language summary

This resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives honors the Elaine Clark Center, which was founded in 1969 by Sister Robert Therese to tutor children with developmental disabilities. The resolution describes the center's history, its four program areas (early childhood programming, a K-12 school, respite and holiday camps, and young adult programming), and the range of disabilities it serves, including autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and developmental delay.
The resolution also notes the center's role in the DeKalb County community, including its community service events and fundraising activities. It formally resolves that the House recognizes and commends the center and wishes it continued success, and directs the Clerk of the House to send a copy of the resolution to the center. The measure does not change any Georgia law.

### What it does

- Formally recognizes and commends the Elaine Clark Center on behalf of the Georgia House of Representatives.
- Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to the center.
- Creates no new law, funding, or regulatory requirement; it is a ceremonial statement only.

### Who it affects

The resolution directly names the Elaine Clark Center, its founder Sister Robert Therese, and its Executive Director Beth Schmehling Cook. It also touches the families, children, and young adults with disabilities the center serves in DeKalb County and metro Atlanta.

### Why it matters

The resolution carries no legal or funding effect, but it gives official state recognition to an organization that has provided education, therapy, and social programming for people with disabilities in DeKalb County for over five decades.

### Key provisions

- The whereas clauses recount the center's founding in 1969 and its 55-plus years of continuous service in DeKalb County.
- The resolution identifies the center's four program areas: early childhood programming, a K-12 school, respite and holiday camps, and young adult programming.
- The resolving clause formally commends the center and wishes it continued success.
- A further resolving clause directs the Clerk of the House to distribute a copy of the resolution to the center.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2026-02-25)
- Last action: House Read and Adopted (2026-02-25)
- Sponsors: Karen Lupton, Long Tran, Shea Roberts, Marvin Lim, Scott Holcomb
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73681

> The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1491.md?full=1