--- title: HR 252. Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD), community service boards (CSBs), and first responders; commend collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr252 cite_as: HR 252, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr252 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr252.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr252/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70284 date: 2025-02-12 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/hr251.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr253.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr252.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 252 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-02-12 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Sharon Cooper - Derrick McCollum - Scott Hilton - Deborah Silcox - Katie Dempsey text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR252/2025 upstream_id: 1968136 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - mental health crisis response - behavioral health - law enforcement collaboration - Co-Responder programs --- # HR 252. Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD), community service boards (CSBs), and first responders; commend ## Text House Resolution 252 By: Representatives Cooper of the 45th, McCollum of the 30th, Hilton of the 48th, Silcox of the 53rd, and Dempsey of the 13th A RESOLUTION Commending the impact of the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD), community service boards (CSBs), and first responders; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, in 2022, the Georgia General Assembly passed Senate Bill 403, known as the Georgia Behavioral Health and Peace Officer Co-Responder Act, establishing the framework for Co-Responder programs, which bring together law enforcement officers and behavioral health professionals to respond to mental health crises; and WHEREAS, Co-Responder programs have since demonstrated their commitment and passion for assisting individuals in crisis, effectively intervening in behavioral health-related calls for service, diverting individuals from unnecessary incarceration, and improving access to behavioral health services while enhancing public safety; and WHEREAS, the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) has played a key role in supporting the implementation and coordination of Co-Responder teams through collaboration with first responders, community service boards, and behavioral health providers; and WHEREAS, these programs have contributed to better outcomes for individuals in crisis by facilitating appropriate treatment, reducing strain on law enforcement resources, and strengthening collaboration between public safety agencies and mental health professionals to collectively respond to crises within local communities throughout the State of Georgia; and WHEREAS, maintaining and expanding these efforts will further strengthen Georgia's response to behavioral health crises, redirect individuals from undesirable outcomes, promote collaboration at the intersection of criminal justice and behavioral health, recognize that recovery is possible through early intervention and deflection, and improve the efficiency of public safety and emergency services. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that 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 as well as acknowledge the importance of their continued operation throughout the state. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of this body recognize February 19, 2025, as Co-Responder Day at the state capitol to highlight the ongoing efforts of these programs in enhancing crisis response and public safety. 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 Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, law enforcement agencies and community service boards within the State of Georgia, the public, and the press. ## 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 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. ### Plain-language summary 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 it 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. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-02-12) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-02-12) - Sponsors: Sharon Cooper, Derrick McCollum, Scott Hilton, Deborah Silcox, Katie Dempsey - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70284 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr252.md?full=1