---
title: SB 451. Peace Officers; training in the evacuation of persons with disabilities during an emergency; provide
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/sb451
cite_as: SB 451, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb451
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb451.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb451/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72740
date: 2026-02-03
status: introduced
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.
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omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 95
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb451.md?full=1
bill_number: SB 451
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: Senate
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-02-02
last_action: Senate Read and Referred
sponsors:
- Gail Davenport
- Emanuel Jones
- Harold Jones
- Kenya Wicks
- Tonya Anderson
- Elena Parent
- Kim Jackson
- Randal Mangham
- Sally Harrell
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SB451/2025
upstream_id: 2104389
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- disability rights
- emergency management
- peace officer training
- emergency shelters
- public safety
---
# SB 451. Peace Officers; training in the evacuation of persons with disabilities during an emergency; provide
## Text
Senate Bill 451
By: Senators Davenport of the 17th, Jones of the 10th, Jones II of the 22nd, Wicks of the
34th, Anderson of the 43rd and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 8 of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
employment and training of peace officers, so as to provide for training in the evacuation of
persons with disabilities during an emergency; to amend Chapter 3 of Title 38 of the Official
Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to emergency management, so as to provide for
emergency evacuation procedures for persons with disabilities, subject to appropriations; to
provide for a voluntary and confidential registry of persons with disabilities; to provide for
accessible emergency shelters; to provide guidelines for emergency transportation providers;
to provide for emergency evacuation coordination between state agencies; to provide for
immunity; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for definitions; to provide for
legislative findings and declarations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting
laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
The General Assembly finds and declares that:
(1) Individuals with disabilities often face unique challenges during emergency
evacuations, including, but not limited to, accessibility barriers, communication difficulties,
and reliance on specialized equipment and assistance;
(2) Existing emergency preparedness plans may not adequately address the specific needs
of this vulnerable population, leading to disproportionate risks and potential harm; and
(3) It is the intent of the General Assembly to establish a comprehensive framework that
ensures the safety and well-being of individuals with disabilities during emergencies and
balances proactive measures with efficient resource allocation and individual liberty.
SECTION 2.
Chapter 8 of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to employment and
training of peace officers, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:
"35-8-28.
(a) On and after January 1, 2027, all peace officers shall be required to successfully
complete training in emergency evacuations of persons with disabilities as set forth in
Article 13 of Chapter 3 of Title 38.
(b) Such training shall include:
(1) Instruction on the different types of disabilities and the impact of such disabilities
during an emergency;
(2) Techniques for effective communication with persons with disabilities;
(3) Safe evacuation methods for persons with disabilities;
(4) Equipment needs during evacuations of persons with disabilities;
(5) Rights and protections of service animals; and
(6) Cultural competency in assisting persons with disabilities.
(c) The council shall develop and implement or approve a training program under this
Code section in collaboration with the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland
Security Agency and nonprofit organizations with proven expertise in disabilities."
SECTION 3.
Chapter 3 of Title 38 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to emergency
management, is amended by creating a new article to read as follows:
"ARTICLE 13
38-3-200.
As used in this article, the term:
(1) 'Accessible shelter' means an emergency shelter that complies with the accessibility
guidelines set forth in the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended
by the federal ADA Amendments Act of 2008, 42 U.S.C. Section 12102, and is equipped
to meet the functional needs of persons with disabilities.
(2) 'Disability' shall have the same meaning as provided for in the federal Americans
with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended by the federal ADA Amendments Act of 2008,
42 U.S.C. Section 12102.
(3) 'Emergency' means an event or condition that is deemed a state of emergency or
disaster under Code Section 38-3-51, a public health emergency under Code Section
31-12-1.1, a local emergency under Code Section 36-69-2, or an emergency declared by
a state entity or official or by a federal entity or official, if such emergency includes this
state, under any other provision of state or federal law.
(4) 'Emergency transportation provider' means a transportation service or vehicle used
to transport a person with disabilities during an emergency.
(5) 'First responder' means a firefighter as defined in Code Section 25-4-2, a peace
officer as defined in Code Section 35-8-2, or an emergency medical technician as defined
in Code Section 16-10-24.2.
(6) 'Registry' means the emergency disability registry established under this article.
(7) 'Service animal' means an animal that is specially trained to assist a person with
disabilities in performing daily tasks. Such term shall include guide dogs.
38-3-201.
(a) An emergency disability registry shall be created and maintained by the Georgia
Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency to provide for a state-wide
registry of persons with disabilities who may require assistance during an emergency.
(b) At the request of a person with a disability, the Georgia Emergency Management and
Homeland Security Agency shall add such person to the registry and coordinate with such
person's local first responder entities to establish an individualized emergency evacuation
and transportation plan.
(c) Participation in the registry is voluntary, and a person with a disability may request to
be added to the registry or removed from the registry at any time.
(d) The registry shall include the following information regarding the person with a
disability:
(1) Such person's name, address, and phone number;
(2) Name, address, and phone number of such person's emergency contact;
(3) Nature of such person's disability and specific functional needs, including, but not
limited to, any medical needs that are relevant to an emergency response;
(4) A notation as to whether such person has a service animal; and
(5) Such person's individualized evacuation and transportation plan under subsection (b)
of this Code section.
(e) All information contained in the registry shall be confidential and accessible only to
first responders.
(f) The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency is authorized
to promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement and carry out the provisions
of this article.
(g) The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency shall implement
a public awareness campaign about the registry.
(h) The implementation of this article is subject to appropriations from the General
Assembly.
38-3-202.
(a) The Department of Human Services shall coordinate with the Georgia Emergency
Management and Homeland Security Agency to identify and designate accessible shelters
throughout the state that are appropriate for housing persons with disabilities during an
emergency.
(b) Accessible shelters designated under subsection (a) of this Code section shall include:
(1) Restrooms and bathing facilities that are accessible to persons with disabilities;
(2) Power outlets for essential medical devices;
(3) Communication aids and interpreters as practicable;
(4) Personnel trained to assist with evacuated persons with disabilities;
(5) Transportation that is accessible to persons with disabilities; and
(6) Animal-friendly accommodations for service animals, which shall remain with their
handlers at all times.
(c) No person who is blind or visually impaired shall be separated from his or her service
animal during transport to and from an accessible shelter or during the time spent in any
such shelter.
38-3-203.
Emergency transportation providers shall establish procedures to:
(1) Safely transport persons with disabilities from their residences or other designated
pickup locations to an appropriate accessible shelter;
(2) Ensure the use of vehicles that are accessible to persons with disabilities and
personnel who are trained to operate such vehicles and to assist persons with disabilities
during an emergency; and
(3) Maintain records to ensure that persons with disabilities who are evacuated to an
accessible shelter are returned to their residence or other designated location once the
emergency ends.
38-3-204.
(a) The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency shall lead all
coordination efforts related to emergency evacuations of persons with disabilities.
(b) A task force shall be created by the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland
Security Agency to assist with such coordination of efforts. Such task force shall include
a representative from the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security
Agency, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Transportation, the
Department of Public Health, and a local first responder entity.
(c) The task force shall consult with disability nonprofit organizations with proven
expertise in disabilities for guidance in evacuation planning.
38-3-205.
No person or entity shall be liable for any actions taken in good faith under this article."
SECTION 4.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
## Summaries written by Georgia Commons
The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary.
A Georgia Senate bill would require peace officer training on evacuating people with disabilities, create a voluntary state registry of people with disabilities, and set standards for accessible emergency shelters and transportation.
### Plain-language summary
Georgia currently has no statewide system specifically addressing how emergency responders assist people with disabilities during evacuations. This bill would require all peace officers to complete training, starting January 1, 2027, on communicating with, evacuating, and equipping for people with disabilities, including service animal rights and cultural competency.
The bill also creates a new article in Georgia's emergency management law establishing a voluntary, confidential emergency disability registry run by the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA), where people can list their needs and get an individualized evacuation plan. It requires the Department of Human Services and GEMA to designate accessible shelters with features like accessible restrooms, power for medical devices, and service animal accommodations. It sets rules for emergency transportation providers, creates a coordination task force among state agencies, and grants good-faith immunity to those acting under the law. Implementation of the registry provisions depends on future state funding.
### What it does
- Requires all Georgia peace officers to complete training in evacuating people with disabilities starting January 1, 2027, covering communication, safe evacuation methods, equipment, and service animal rights.
- Creates a voluntary, confidential statewide emergency disability registry maintained by GEMA that people with disabilities can join or leave at any time.
- Requires the Department of Human Services and GEMA to designate accessible emergency shelters with features like accessible restrooms, medical device power outlets, and trained personnel.
- Sets requirements for emergency transportation providers to safely transport people with disabilities and use accessible, staffed vehicles.
- Creates a multi-agency task force led by GEMA to coordinate emergency evacuation efforts for people with disabilities.
- Grants legal immunity to people and entities acting in good faith under the new law, and makes the registry provisions dependent on state funding.
### Who it affects
Peace officers statewide, who must complete new training; people with disabilities and their emergency contacts, who may join the voluntary registry; GEMA, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Public Health; and emergency transportation providers and shelter operators.
### Why it matters
People with disabilities often face extra barriers during emergencies, such as communication difficulties or reliance on equipment or service animals. This bill aims to give first responders specific training and create a registry and shelter standards so evacuation planning accounts for those needs, though the registry depends on future state funding.
### Key provisions
- Section 2 adds O.C.G.A. § 35-8-28, requiring all peace officers to complete disability evacuation training by January 1, 2027, developed by the training council with GEMA and disability nonprofits.
- Section 3 creates new O.C.G.A. § 38-3-200 defining terms like 'accessible shelter,' 'disability,' 'emergency,' and 'service animal' for the new article.
- O.C.G.A. § 38-3-201 establishes a voluntary, confidential emergency disability registry accessible only to first responders, including personalized evacuation plans.
- O.C.G.A. § 38-3-202 requires designation of accessible shelters with specific features and bars separating blind or visually impaired people from their service animals during transport or sheltering.
- O.C.G.A. § 38-3-203 requires emergency transportation providers to use accessible vehicles, trained personnel, and maintain records to return evacuees home.
- O.C.G.A. § 38-3-204 creates a state task force led by GEMA, including representatives from human services, transportation, and public health agencies, to coordinate evacuation efforts.
- O.C.G.A. § 38-3-205 grants immunity from liability for good-faith actions taken under the new article.
- Registry implementation under § 38-3-201(h) is explicitly made subject to future appropriations from the General Assembly.
## Status
- Status: Introduced (2026-02-02)
- Last action: Senate Read and Referred (2026-02-03)
- Sponsors: Gail Davenport, Emanuel Jones, Harold Jones, Kenya Wicks, Tonya Anderson, Elena Parent, Kim Jackson, Randal Mangham, Sally Harrell
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72740
> The history, votes, and amendments (95 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb451.md?full=1