--- title: HR 652. Georgia Community Service Boards; Community Service Boards' Day at the state capitol; February 16, 2025; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr652 cite_as: HR 652, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr652 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr652.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr652/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71472 date: 2025-03-18 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-08-28 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/hr651.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr653.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr652.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 652 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-03-18 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Katie Dempsey - Sharon Cooper - Mary Oliver - Rick Jasperse - Houston Gaines text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR652/2025 upstream_id: 2010569 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - mental health services - developmental disabilities - addiction treatment - Community Service Boards - state capitol recognition --- # HR 652. Georgia Community Service Boards; Community Service Boards' Day at the state capitol; February 16, 2025; recognize ## Text 25 LC 129 0352 House Resolution 652 By: Representatives Dempsey of the 13th, Cooper of the 45th, Oliver of the 84th, Jasperse of the 11th, and Gaines of the 120th A RESOLUTION Commending Georgia Community Service Boards and recognizing Feb ruary 16, 2025 as1 Community Service Boards' Day at the state capitol; and for other purposes.2 WHEREAS, Community Service Boards (CSBs) are created in O.C.G.A. § 37-2-6 et seq. as 3 public corporations and instrumentalities of the state to provide services for mental illness,4 intellectual and developmental disabilities, and/or addictive diseases; and5 WHEREAS, there are 22 CSBs across Georgia whose Boards of Directors are appointed by6 the governing authorities of the counties within each CSB's service area; and7 WHEREAS, as a vital part of Georgia's Public Safety Net, CSBs serve eligible persons with8 serious mental illness, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and/or addictive diseases9 who have no insurance or have limited means to pay for treatmen t, while also serving10 individuals with Medicaid and, as capacity allows, those with other insurance; and11 WHEREAS, CSBs have established a sterling reputation throughout Georgia for improving12 the quality of life of many of this state's most vulnerable citizens by providing high-quality13 and cost-effective care; and14 H. R. 652 - 1 - 25 LC 129 0352 WHEREAS, nearly two million Georgians suffered from mental illn esses or addictive15 diseases in the past year, more than 320,000 experienced a serious mental illness in the past16 year, and there are more than 145,000 adults in Georgia with intellectual or developmental17 disabilities; and18 WHEREAS, the Georgia Association of Community Service Boards (GACSB), located in19 Villa Rica, Georgia, serves as a unified voice for all 22 CSBs, providing policy and20 legislative advocacy on both state and national levels; and21 WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that the outstanding work of Georgia's CSBs22 be appropriately recognized for their immeasurable contribution s in delivering essential23 behavioral health and developmental disability services across our state.24 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that25 the members of this body commend Georgia's Community Service Bo ards for their many26 outstanding contributions on behalf of the citizens of Georgia and recognize February 16,27 2025, as Community Service Boards Day at the state capitol.28 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized29 and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution avai lable for distribution to30 Georgia's Community Service Boards and the Georgia Association of Community Service31 Boards.32 H. R. 652 - 2 - ## 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 state's Community Service Boards and recognizes February 16, 2025 as Community Service Boards' Day at the state capitol. ### Plain-language summary This resolution honors Georgia's 22 Community Service Boards (CSBs), which are public corporations created under state law (O.C.G.A. § 37-2-6) to provide mental health, intellectual and developmental disability, and addiction treatment services. The resolution notes that these boards serve as part of Georgia's public safety net, treating people who have no insurance or limited ability to pay, as well as those on Medicaid. The resolution states that nearly two million Georgians experienced mental illness or addictive disease in the past year, and it praises the Georgia Association of Community Service Boards for advocacy work on behalf of the 22 boards. The House resolves to commend the CSBs and designate February 16, 2025 as Community Service Boards' Day at the capitol, and directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to the boards and the association. ### What it does - Formally commends Georgia's 22 Community Service Boards for their work providing mental health, disability, and addiction services. - Designates February 16, 2025 as Community Service Boards' Day at the state capitol. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute copies of the resolution to the CSBs and the Georgia Association of Community Service Boards. - Creates no new funding, legal requirement, or penalty; it is a ceremonial statement by the House of Representatives. ### Who it affects Georgia's 22 Community Service Boards, their boards of directors and staff, the Georgia Association of Community Service Boards, and the individuals those boards serve, including people with serious mental illness, intellectual or developmental disabilities, or addictive diseases. ### Why it matters The resolution does not change any law, funding, or program; its practical effect is public recognition. It highlights the role Community Service Boards play in treating uninsured and low-income Georgians with mental illness, developmental disabilities, or addiction, drawing attention to services many vulnerable residents rely on. ### Key provisions - Recites that Community Service Boards are created under O.C.G.A. § 37-2-6 as public corporations serving people with mental illness, developmental disabilities, and addictive diseases. - Notes there are 22 CSBs statewide, each governed by a board appointed by county governing authorities in its service area. - Cites statistics that nearly two million Georgians had mental illness or addictive disease in the past year and over 145,000 adults have intellectual or developmental disabilities. - Resolves that the House commends the CSBs and designates February 16, 2025 as Community Service Boards' Day at the capitol. - Directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to the CSBs and the Georgia Association of Community Service Boards. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-03-18) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-03-18) - Sponsors: Katie Dempsey, Sharon Cooper, Mary Oliver, Rick Jasperse, Houston Gaines - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71472 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr652.md?full=1