--- title: SR 200. HOPE AACR (Animal-Assisted Crisis Response); recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr200 cite_as: SR 200, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr200 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr200.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr200/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70433 date: 2025-02-19 status: passed 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. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr199.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr201.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr200.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 200 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-02-19 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Kay Kirkpatrick - Chuck Payne - Elena Parent - John Albers - Nan Orrock text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR200/2025 upstream_id: 1974309 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - disaster relief - animal-assisted crisis response - legislative honors - emergency response --- # SR 200. HOPE AACR (Animal-Assisted Crisis Response); recognize ## Text Senate Resolution 200 By: Senators Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Payne of the 54th, Parent of the 44th, Albers of the 56th and Orrock of the 36th A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending HOPE AACR (Animal-Assisted Crisis Response); and for other purposes. WHEREAS, HOPE AACR (Animal-Assisted Crisis Response) was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) in 2001 with the mission of providing comfort and encouragement to individuals affected by crises and disasters through animal-assisted support; and WHEREAS, consisting of highly trained handlers and crisis-response canines, HOPE AACR teams are prepared to support mental health professionals on location and adapt to unpredictable situations, often deploying on short notice; and WHEREAS, HOPE AACR response teams are extensively trained in the Incident Command System, First Aid/CPR for both humans and canines, emotional first aid techniques, and trauma recognition, enabling them to respond effectively to emotionally and environmentally intense situations; and WHEREAS, the organization's teams work alongside local and national response agencies such as Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster, FEMA, the National Organization for Victim Advocacy, the Salvation Army, and the American Red Cross as well as with fire departments, law enforcement agencies, schools, and the United States Secret Service, Coast Guard, Navy, and National Guard; and WHEREAS, in the aftermath of hurricanes Debbie, Helene, and Milton, HOPE AACR response teams deployed to the Florida State Operations Center in Tallahassee, supported staff working at the FEMA Region IV Regional Response Coordination Center in Atlanta, and assisted impacted communities in South Georgia; and WHEREAS, in 2024 alone, HOPE AACR's Southeast Region logged close to 150 volunteer hours and engaged in 1,200 meaningful interactions with Georgia disaster victims; and WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that this outstanding organization be appropriately honored. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize and commend the volunteers and canines of HOPE AACR (Animal-Assisted Crisis Response) for their dedicated, effective, and selfless service on behalf of those in need as well as extend best wishes for continued success. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to HOPE AACR (Animal-Assisted Crisis Response). ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary. A Georgia Senate resolution formally recognizes and commends HOPE AACR, an animal-assisted crisis response organization, for its disaster relief work involving trained canine teams. ### Plain-language summary This resolution from the Georgia Senate honors HOPE AACR (Animal-Assisted Crisis Response), a nonprofit that has provided comfort to people affected by crises and disasters through trained handlers and canines since it was incorporated in 2001. The resolution describes the group's training, its partnerships with agencies like FEMA and the American Red Cross, and its work responding to hurricanes Debbie, Helene, and Milton, including support in South Georgia and at coordination centers in Atlanta and Tallahassee. The resolution does not change any Georgia law. It simply states the Senate's recognition of the organization's volunteers and canines and directs the Secretary of the Senate to send a copy of the resolution to HOPE AACR as a formal token of appreciation. ### What it does - Formally recognizes and commends the volunteers and canines of HOPE AACR for their disaster response work. - States the Senate's appreciation without creating any new law, funding, or regulatory requirement. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and send a copy of the resolution to HOPE AACR. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names HOPE AACR, its volunteer handlers and crisis-response canines. It has no binding effect on the general public, state agencies, or Georgia residents beyond the symbolic recognition. ### Why it matters This is a ceremonial statement rather than a change to Georgia law or policy. Its practical effect is limited to a formal expression of appreciation from the Senate and delivery of a commemorative copy to the organization. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses describe HOPE AACR's history, training, and partnerships with agencies such as FEMA, the American Red Cross, and the Salvation Army. - The resolved clause formally commends HOPE AACR's volunteers and canines for their service. - A further resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to provide a copy of the resolution to HOPE AACR. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-02-19) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2025-02-19) - Sponsors: Kay Kirkpatrick, Chuck Payne, Elena Parent, John Albers, Nan Orrock - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70433 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr200.md?full=1