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

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Discussed in meetings (14)

The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.

1. Senate Children and Families Committee, January 27, 2026

   From 0:03:29 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said SB 402 would expand a foster-care autism pilot from Region 12 to three additional regions, subject to funding, with eventual statewide expansion. The sponsor estimated a cost of $451,000 per region and said the original pilot found autism six times more common among foster children. A pediatrician involved in the pilot said diagnosis and treatment could reduce behaviors that disrupt placements, improve stability and reduce costs. An Autism Speaks advocate supported expansion, citing an original study population of 609 children, a 51.6% positive screening rate and a later diagnosis figure of 17.4%. A witness representing Apollo Behavior Services and Autism Providers of Georgia supported the bill, citing improved access and avoided costs. Asked how regions would be selected, the sponsor said the department would work with providers and consider service availability. A member questioned whether mandatory expansion language could jeopardize existing services without additional funding. The sponsor said funding conditions controlled expansion. Members also questioned waiting until 2031 for a report. The committee adopted annual reporting beginning July 1, 2027. After initially approving the bill, members rescinded approval to clarify that repeal would follow the final report, not an annual report, and readopted the reporting amendment. The committee then approved the amended bill; no vote count was stated.

2. Senate Rules Committee, February 5, 2026

   From 0:08:42 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The chair explained that SB 402 would expand an autism pilot program for foster youth from one district to three. The chair said the existing program was believed to be in District 12 and had found autism to be about six times more prevalent among foster children than among children outside foster care. The chair said expanding the program would allow comparison with two more districts. The chair suggested the findings might eventually guide support for families to prevent foster care placements and resources for foster homes, while emphasizing that those future steps were assumptions, not part of this bill. No substantive questions followed. The committee unanimously approved placing the bill on the next day's calendar with three other measures.

3. Senate floor session, February 6, 2026 (legislative day 14)

   From 1:19:32 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (Senate Third Read)

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said SB 402 would expand an autism screening, evaluation and services pilot for foster children into three additional regions. The sponsor said a $451,000 pilot in Region 12 found autism among foster children at six times the rate in the general population and helped identify, diagnose and connect children with resources. The sponsor proposed a $1.5 million expansion to test whether that pattern held elsewhere before considering a $7 million statewide effort across all 14 regions. A committee member asked about rising autism rates and possible causes. The sponsor said federal officials were studying possible explanations, expressed uncertainty about those ideas, and argued that earlier identification could help prevent some children from entering foster care. The member expressed support. The Senate adopted the committee substitute without objection, though its changes were not separately explained, and passed the bill 48-0.

4. House Judiciary Juvenile Committee, March 11, 2026

   From 0:11:32 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said SB 402 would expand an autism pilot from one foster-care region to three more, testing whether the original findings hold elsewhere before further state spending. The sponsor said the original pilot found children in foster care were six or seven times more likely to have autism, and suggested families seeking resources contributed to children entering care. Asked how regions were selected, the sponsor said the original pilot used Region 12 because the expert was nearby, reducing travel costs. The three additional regions had not been chosen; the sponsor hoped they would be geographically dispersed. A committee member proposed changing reporting deadlines and adding report recipients. The sponsor supported reporting by July 1 so findings could inform the governor’s budget recommendations. The committee adopted an amendment requiring a report after one year of operation and annually thereafter, no later than July 1, for the pilot’s duration. A second adopted amendment added the House Judiciary Juvenile Committee and Senate Children and Families Committee as report recipients. Both amendments and the bill as amended passed by voice vote, with no opposition heard.

5. House Rules Committee, March 20, 2026

   From 0:55:01 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor described SB 402 as an autism pilot program intended to examine why children in foster care are more likely to have autism. The sponsor cited a seven-to-one ratio, also describing foster children as seven times more likely to have autism. There were no questions or recorded vote.

6. House Rules Committee, March 31, 2026

   From 1:32:11 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee placed SB 402 on the day's floor calendar, with no opposition stated. There was no substantive presentation or debate.

7. House floor session, March 31, 2026 (legislative day 39, part 1)

   From 1:31:18 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 3856

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The presenter said SB 402 would establish a five-year autism pilot program, with the goal of screening every child in Georgia's foster care system during that period. The presenter said a Georgia Southern University researcher would work with Department of Community Health employees to train them to screen for autism. The presenter described the measure as identical to a bill the House had passed in February. No members asked questions. The House adopted the committee substitute without objection and passed the bill 171 to 0.

8. Senate floor session, April 2, 2026 (legislative day 40, part 1)

   From 6:07:54 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub)

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said SB 402 would establish autism-screening and evaluation pilots in three regions for children in foster care, expanding by one region annually afterward. The sponsor said a study had found children in foster care were six to seven times more likely to have autism, and argued that autism-related needs were contributing to foster-care placement rather than foster care causing autism. The sponsor described prioritizing children also diagnosed with hyperactivity or reactive attachment disorders, with the aim of improving services and helping children remain at home. No questions or opposition followed. The Senate agreed to the House substitute 52 to 0.

• Read aloud: Senate floor session, January 16, 2026 (legislative day 5), 0:18:16
• Read aloud: Senate floor session, January 28, 2026 (legislative day 8), 0:28:20
• Read aloud: Senate floor session, January 29, 2026 (legislative day 9), 0:46:04
• Read aloud: House floor session, February 9, 2026 (legislative day 15), 0:29:10
• Read aloud: House floor session, February 10, 2026 (legislative day 16), 0:46:13
• Read aloud: House floor session, March 12, 2026 (legislative day 31), 0:49:36

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