Georgia CommonsSR 149: Shepherd Center; recognize
Last action February 11, 2025 · Senate Read and Adopted
A Georgia Senate resolution recognizes the Shepherd Center, an Atlanta rehabilitation hospital, on its 50th anniversary and commends its work treating brain and spinal cord injuries.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the resolution and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Enrolled version, the latest LegiScan holds.
In plain language
This resolution is a ceremonial measure from the Georgia Senate honoring the Shepherd Center, a private not-for-profit hospital in Atlanta founded on August 18, 1975. The resolution recounts the hospital's history, including its role leading the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games Organizing Committee, founding the wheelchair division of the AJC Peachtree Road Race, and its work in neuro-rehabilitation research for people with brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, and chronic pain. The Senate formally resolves to recognize and commend the Shepherd Center for its 50th anniversary and wishes it continued success. It also directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare a copy of the resolution for the Shepherd Center. The resolution does not change any Georgia law, create funding, or impose any new requirements.
What the bill does
- Formally recognizes and commends the Shepherd Center on its 50th anniversary of service in Georgia.
- Extends the Senate's best wishes to the Shepherd Center for continued success.
- Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to the Shepherd Center.
- Creates no new law, funding, or regulatory requirement, as a ceremonial resolution.
Who it affects
The resolution directly names the Shepherd Center, its patients, families, and staff. It has no legal effect on other hospitals, patients, or Georgia residents generally beyond this ceremonial recognition.
Why it matters
The resolution carries symbolic weight rather than legal force. It publicly acknowledges the Shepherd Center's decades of rehabilitation care and community leadership, but it does not change funding, regulations, or services for patients or the health care system.
Key provisions
- The resolution's whereas clauses describe the Shepherd Center's founding in 1975 and its mission to help people with disabilities rebuild independence and dignity.
- The resolved clause has the Senate recognize and commend the Shepherd Center on its 50th anniversary and wish it continued success.
- A further resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make a copy available for distribution to the Shepherd Center.
From the bill
“the Shepherd Center's mission is to help individuals with temporary or permanent disabilities caused by injury or disease rebuild their lives with hope, independence, and dignity”
“the members of this body recognize and commend the Shepherd Center upon its 50th anniversary and extend sincere best wishes for continued success.”
Status timeline
- Senate Read and Adopted (Senate)
- Senate Hopper (Senate)
Sponsors
- Sonya Halpern (D, SD-039)
- Kim Jackson (D, SD-041)
- Nikki Merritt (D, SD-009)
- Elena Parent (D, SD-044)
- Nan Orrock (D, SD-036)
- Sheikh Rahman (D, SD-005)
- Billy Hickman (R, SD-004)
- Josh McLaurin (D, SD-014)
- Russ Goodman (R, SD-008)
- Jason Esteves (D, SD-035)
- Sally Harrell (D, SD-040)
- RaShaun Kemp (D, SD-038)
- Lee Anderson (R, SD-024)
- Tonya Anderson (D, SD-043)
- Gail Davenport (D, SD-017)
- Larry Walker (R, SD-020)
- Derek Mallow (D, SD-002)
- Steve Gooch (R, SD-051)
- Marty Harbin (R, SD-016)
- Ed Setzler (R, SD-037)
- Brandon Beach (R, SD-021)
- Max Burns (R, SD-023)
- Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)
- Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)
Topics
- Shepherd Center
- hospital recognition
- disability rehabilitation
- Atlanta health care