HR 1945: House Study Committee on Examining the Implementation, Funding, and Effectiveness of Georgia's CHINS Framework; create

Georgia's child in need of services (CHINS) program is meant to connect struggling youth with services like family support, behavioral health care, and housing help before they end up in juvenile court or the Department of Juvenile Justice. This resolution says the program has largely been an unfunded or underfunded mandate since it began more than a decade ago, leading to uneven implementation across the state. The resolution creates the House Study Committee on Examining the Implementation, Funding, and Effectiveness of Georgia's CHINS Framework. Seven House members, appointed by the Speaker, would serve on the committee, with one designated as chairperson. The committee would study how CHINS is funded and run, hold meetings as needed, and can recommend legislation. Members get standard legislative allowances for up to five days unless more are approved. The committee must file any report before it is abolished on December 1, 2026.

• Creates the House Study Committee on Examining the Implementation, Funding, and Effectiveness of Georgia's CHINS Framework, made up of seven House members appointed by the Speaker.
• Directs the committee to study how the CHINS program is funded, implemented, and performing across Georgia and to recommend legislation if needed.
• Lets the chairperson call and schedule meetings as needed to carry out the study.
• Sets legislative travel and meeting allowances under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8 for up to five days unless additional days are approved, funded from the House's existing budget.
• Requires any approved findings or recommendations to be filed as a report with the Clerk of the House before the committee ends.
• Abolishes the committee on December 1, 2026.

Seven House members who will be appointed to serve on the committee, the youth and families who rely on the CHINS program, and the courts, schools, and community organizations involved in delivering CHINS services across Georgia.

If the committee's work leads to new legislation, it could change how much funding and structure the CHINS program gets, potentially affecting access to services for at-risk youth statewide. For now, the resolution itself only sets up a study, without changing funding or law directly.

• Paragraph (1) creates the House Study Committee on Examining the Implementation, Funding, and Effectiveness of Georgia's CHINS Framework.
• Paragraph (2) sets the committee at seven House members appointed by the Speaker, who also names the chairperson.
• Paragraph (3) gives the committee authority to study CHINS issues and recommend legislation.
• Paragraph (5) caps paid allowances at five days unless more are authorized and funds the committee from the House of Representatives' existing appropriated funds.
• Paragraph (6) requires any adopted report or recommendations to be filed with the Clerk of the House before the committee's abolishment date.
• Paragraph (7) abolishes the committee on December 1, 2026.

1. 2026-03-31House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-03-27House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-03-25House Hopper (House)

• Viola Davis (D, HD-087)Primary sponsor
• Kim Schofield (D, HD-063)
• Sandra Scott (D, HD-076)

• juvenile justice
• CHINS program
• youth services
• legislative study committee
• child welfare funding