Georgia CommonsHR 252: Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD), community service boards (CSBs), and first responders; commend
Last action February 12, 2025 · House Read and Adopted
A Georgia House resolution commends the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and local Co-Responder programs, and designates February 19, 2025 as Co-Responder Day at the state capitol.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the resolution and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Introduced version, the latest LegiScan holds.
In plain language
This resolution does not change any Georgia law. It is a formal statement from the House of Representatives praising the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) and Co-Responder programs, which pair law enforcement officers with behavioral health professionals to respond to mental health crises. The resolution recalls that the 2022 Georgia Behavioral Health and Peace Officer Co-Responder Act (Senate Bill 403) created the framework for these programs. It states that the programs have helped divert people from unnecessary incarceration, connect them to treatment, and ease strain on law enforcement. The House designates February 19, 2025 as Co-Responder Day at the state capitol and directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to DBHDD, law enforcement agencies, community service boards, the public, and the press.
What the bill does
- Formally commends DBHDD and local Co-Responder programs for their role in responding to mental health crises, without creating any new legal requirement.
- Designates February 19, 2025 as Co-Responder Day at the state capitol to highlight crisis response efforts.
- Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to distribute copies of the resolution to DBHDD, law enforcement agencies, community service boards, the public, and the press.
- References the 2022 Georgia Behavioral Health and Peace Officer Co-Responder Act (Senate Bill 403) as the legal basis for the programs being commended.
Who it affects
The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, community service boards, local law enforcement agencies, and behavioral health professionals involved in Co-Responder programs are named and commended, along with the individuals in crisis these programs serve.
Why it matters
While the resolution carries no legal force, it publicly recognizes and highlights Co-Responder programs that pair police officers with mental health professionals, which the resolution says help redirect people in crisis toward treatment instead of jail.
Key provisions
- Recites that Senate Bill 403 (2022), the Georgia Behavioral Health and Peace Officer Co-Responder Act, established the Co-Responder program framework.
- Resolves that the House commends DBHDD and local Co-Responder programs for responding to mental health crises.
- Resolves that February 19, 2025 is recognized as Co-Responder Day at the state capitol.
- Directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to DBHDD, law enforcement agencies, community service boards, the public, and the press.
From the bill
“the members of this body commend the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and local Co-Responder programs for their role in responding to mental health crises”
“the members of this body recognize February 19, 2025, as Co-Responder Day at the state capitol”
Status timeline
- House Read and Adopted (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Sharon Cooper (R, HD-045)
- Derrick McCollum (R, HD-030)
- Scott Hilton (R, HD-048)
- Deborah Silcox (R, HD-053)
- Katie Dempsey (R, HD-013)
Topics
- mental health crisis response
- behavioral health
- law enforcement collaboration
- Co-Responder programs