--- title: SR 399. Side by Side Clubhouse Day; recognize March 11, 2025 collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr399 cite_as: SR 399, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr399 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr399.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr399/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71387 date: 2025-03-18 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-08-28 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/sr398.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr400.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr399.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 399 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-03-18 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Elena Parent - Donzella James - Harold Jones - Sally Harrell - Kim Jackson - Chuck Hufstetler - Randal Mangham - Freddie Sims - Russ Goodman - Nabilah Islam Parkes - Sheikh Rahman - Ed Harbison - Kay Kirkpatrick - Michael Rhett - RaShaun Kemp - Chuck Payne - Frank Ginn - Kenya Wicks - Gail Davenport - Tonya Anderson - David Lucas - Jason Esteves - Blake Tillery - Carden Summers - Bill Cowsert - Brian Strickland - John Albers - Josh McLaurin - John Kennedy text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR399/2025 upstream_id: 2006987 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - brain injury support - DeKalb County - Georgia Senate resolution - disability services --- # SR 399. Side by Side Clubhouse Day; recognize March 11, 2025 ## Text 25 LC 112 3148 Senate Resolution 399 By: Senators Parent of the 44th, James of the 28th, Jones II of the 22nd, Harrell of the 40th, Jackson of the 41st and others A RESOLUTION Commending Side by Side Brain Injury Clubhouse Inc. for 25 years of work in transforming1 the lives of Georgians recovering from brain injuries and brain injury-related disabilities and2 recognizing March 11, 2025, as Side by Side Clubhouse Day at th e state capitol; and for3 other purposes.4 WHEREAS, Side by Side Brain Injury Clubhouse Inc. began its ser vice in March 20005 following its founding by Cindi Johnson with the support of the Shepherd Center and Emory6 Healthcare, where she was a program director, to provide ongoin g support and growth7 opportunities to Georgians who have experienced a brain injury; and8 WHEREAS, Side by Side addresses the powerful need for people with brain injuries to have9 a community that provides a place to physically gather, work, s upport one another, and10 belong; and11 WHEREAS, Side by Side follows the Clubhouse model of rehabilitation, where participants12 are considered "members" of a community, following standards set by the International Brain13 Injury Clubhouse Alliance and adapted from Clubhouse International; and14 S. R. 399 - 1 - 25 LC 112 3148 WHEREAS, Side by Side is a community-based, voluntary, member-directed program that15 builds on strengths to optimize the social, financial, and vocational success of members and16 guarantees their right to meaningful work and a place to return; and17 WHEREAS, Side by Side is recognized as Georgia's only brain inj ury clubhouse and the18 only purpose-driven work program for men and women recovering from brain injuries; and19 WHEREAS, since 2000, Side by Side has served more than 800 Geor gians through its20 clubhouse, now located in Stone Mountain Village in DeKalb County; and21 WHEREAS, Side by Side's consistent impact for 25 years makes it an asset to DeKalb22 County and the State of Georg ia, making it f itting and proper f or the organization to be23 honored.24 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body25 commend Side by Side Brain Injury Clubhouse Inc. for its work i n supporting Georgians26 who have experienced a brain injury as they recover and rebuild their lives and recognize27 March 11, 2025, as Side by Side Clubhouse Day at the state capitol.28 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed29 to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to Side by Side Brain30 Injury Clubhouse Inc.31 S. R. 399 - 2 - ## 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 recognizes March 11, 2025 as Side by Side Clubhouse Day at the state capitol, honoring a DeKalb County nonprofit that supports Georgians recovering from brain injuries. ### Plain-language summary This resolution is a ceremonial statement from the Georgia Senate honoring Side by Side Brain Injury Clubhouse Inc., a nonprofit based in Stone Mountain Village in DeKalb County that has helped people recovering from brain injuries since it was founded in March 2000. The resolution describes the organization's history, its founding by Cindi Johnson with support from the Shepherd Center and Emory Healthcare, and its use of the 'Clubhouse model,' which treats participants as members of a community rather than clients or patients. The resolution states that Side by Side has served more than 800 Georgians over 25 years and is Georgia's only brain injury clubhouse. The Senate formally commends the organization and designates March 11, 2025 as Side by Side Clubhouse Day at the state capitol. It also directs the Secretary of the Senate to provide a copy of the resolution to the organization. It does not change any Georgia law or provide funding. ### What it does - Formally commends Side by Side Brain Injury Clubhouse Inc. for 25 years of work supporting Georgians recovering from brain injuries. - Designates March 11, 2025 as Side by Side Clubhouse Day at the state capitol. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to the organization. - Does not create any new law, funding, or regulatory requirement; it is a ceremonial recognition only. ### Who it affects Side by Side Brain Injury Clubhouse Inc., its founder Cindi Johnson, and the roughly 800 Georgians with brain injuries the organization has served since 2000. It also involves the Georgia Senate and the Secretary of the Senate, who handles distribution of the resolution copy. ### Why it matters The resolution carries no legal or funding changes but gives official state recognition to a DeKalb County nonprofit's 25-year record of helping people recover from brain injuries, which can raise public awareness and community visibility for the organization's work. ### Key provisions - Whereas clauses describe Side by Side's founding in March 2000 and its support from the Shepherd Center and Emory Healthcare. - Whereas clauses note that Side by Side follows the 'Clubhouse model,' where participants are called members and guaranteed a right to meaningful work. - The resolved clause commends the organization and recognizes March 11, 2025 as Side by Side Clubhouse Day at the state capitol. - A further resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make a copy available to Side by Side Brain Injury Clubhouse Inc. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-03-18) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2025-03-18) - Sponsors: Elena Parent, Donzella James, Harold Jones, Sally Harrell, Kim Jackson, Chuck Hufstetler, Randal Mangham, Freddie Sims, Russ Goodman, Nabilah Islam Parkes, Sheikh Rahman, Ed Harbison, Kay Kirkpatrick, Michael Rhett, RaShaun Kemp, Chuck Payne, Frank Ginn, Kenya Wicks, Gail Davenport, Tonya Anderson, David Lucas, Jason Esteves, Blake Tillery, Carden Summers, Bill Cowsert, Brian Strickland, John Albers, Josh McLaurin, John Kennedy - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71387 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr399.md?full=1