Georgia CommonsSB 451: Peace Officers; training in the evacuation of persons with disabilities during an emergency; provide
Introduced version, the latest LegiScan holds · Last action February 3, 2026 · Introduced
The text as LegiScan holds it, read from the PDF the legislature publishes with its margin line numbers, running heads, and page footers removed. Line breaks are joined into paragraphs here; no word is changed.
Underlined words are what the bill adds to current law and struck-through words are what it removes, as the printed bill shows them.
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.