SB 402: Children and Youth; pilot program provision for screenings, clinical evaluations, training for autism spectrum disorder to children in foster care; establish

Georgia does not currently have a statewide program specifically designed to identify autism spectrum disorder in children in foster care. This bill creates a new section of Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 49-5-26) directing the Division of Family and Children Services, part of the Department of Human Services, to develop a five-year pilot program offering screenings and clinical evaluations for autism spectrum disorder to foster children, along with training, services, and resources for caseworkers, healthcare providers, and caregivers. The program starts in three regional service areas and expands to more each year until it covers the whole state. It is required only 'subject to appropriations,' meaning it depends on the legislature actually funding it. The division must prioritize children already diagnosed with ADHD or reactive attachment disorder or on psychotropic medications, and must report on the program's progress annually to top state officials. The program automatically ends by law one year after its final report.

• Creates a new Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 49-5-26) requiring a five-year pilot program to screen and clinically evaluate foster children for autism spectrum disorder.
• Requires the Division of Family and Children Services to train regional directors, case managers, healthcare providers, and caregivers on autism spectrum disorder, which can be delivered online.
• Directs the program to start in three regional service areas and expand to additional regions each year until statewide.
• Requires the division to prioritize foster children already diagnosed with ADHD or reactive attachment disorder, or who are on psychotropic medications, for screenings and services.
• Requires annual written reports by July 1 to the Governor, legislative leaders, and relevant House and Senate committees on the program's progress.
• Sets the program to automatically repeal by law one year after the final report is submitted, and ties the whole program to available state funding.

Children in foster care, especially those already diagnosed with ADHD or reactive attachment disorder or taking psychotropic medications, along with their foster parents, legal guardians, and kinship caregivers. Also affects Division of Family and Children Services staff, healthcare providers, and state officials who receive the required reports.

If funded, foster children with undiagnosed autism spectrum disorder could get earlier screening and clinical evaluation, and caseworkers and caregivers would receive new training on recognizing and responding to the condition. Because the program depends on legislative funding and automatically expires after its final report, its long-term reach is uncertain.

• Subsection (a) defines key terms including autism spectrum disorder, caregiver, clinical evaluation, screening, and the division running the program.
• Subsection (b) makes the pilot program 'subject to appropriations,' meaning it only proceeds if the legislature funds it, and requires phased expansion from three regions to statewide coverage over five years.
• Subsection (b) directs the program to prioritize foster children already diagnosed with ADHD or reactive attachment disorder or prescribed psychotropic medications.
• Subsection (c) requires the division to plan for incremental expansion, communication strategies with caregivers, sufficient medical consultants, and dedicated staff.
• Subsection (d) requires annual written reports, starting after one year of operation, to the Governor, legislative leaders, and four specific legislative committees.
• Subsection (e) authorizes the division to create rules and regulations needed to run the pilot program.
• Subsection (f) automatically repeals the law by operation of law one year after the final report is submitted.
• Section 2 sets the effective date as upon the Governor's signature or the bill otherwise becoming law without signature.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-05-11
2. 2026-05-11Act 491
3. 2026-05-11Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
4. 2026-04-10Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
5. 2026-04-02Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub (Senate)
6. 2026-03-31House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
7. 2026-03-31House Third Readers (House)
8. 2026-03-12House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)

• Blake Tillery (R, SD-019)Primary sponsor
• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)
• Clint Dixon (R, SD-045)
• Larry Walker (R, SD-020)
• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)
• Shawn Still (R, SD-048)
• Matt Brass (R, SD-006)
• Billy Hickman (R, SD-004)
• Randy Robertson (R, SD-029)
• Steve Gooch (R, SD-051)
• Ricky Williams (R, SD-025)
• Mike Hodges (R, SD-003)
• Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)
• Drew Echols (R, SD-049)
• Jason T. Dickerson (R, SD-021)
• Max Burns (R, SD-023)
• Brian Strickland (R, SD-042)
• Timothy Bearden (R, SD-030)
• Sam Watson (R, SD-011)
• Russ Goodman (R, SD-008)
• Deborah Silcox (R, HD-053)

1. PassedSenate voteFebruary 6, 2026

   48 yea, 0 nay (0 not voting, 6 absent)

   Passage By Substitute: Senate Vote #524

2. PassedHouse voteMarch 31, 2026

   171 yea, 0 nay (1 not voting, 4 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #795

3. PassedSenate voteApril 2, 2026

   52 yea, 0 nay (0 not voting, 2 absent)

   Agree To House Substitute: Senate Vote #943

• foster care
• autism spectrum disorder
• child welfare
• healthcare screening
• state funding