SR 533: Senate Study Committee on Enhancing Public Safety and Civic Health; create

Senate Resolution 533

By: Senator James of the 28th

ADOPTED SENATE

A RESOLUTION

Creating the Senate Study Committee on Enhancing Public Safety and Civic Health; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, individuals diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face unique challenges during emergencies, which can lead to communication barriers, heightened anxiety, and difficulties in following emergency responders' instructions; and

WHEREAS, medical chain bracelets have helped countless individuals with heart issues, epilepsy, and seizures; and

WHEREAS, introducing officially recognized safety devices, similar to existing medical bracelets, to help first responders identify individuals experiencing a PTSD episode or autism-related distress, would help ensure better outcomes from such encounters; and

WHEREAS, the Georgia Department of Public Health may develop such bracelets in collaboration with the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency and with support from state and local law enforcement, fire departments, EMS, and ASD advocacy groups; and

WHEREAS, such a program would enhance public safety while promoting a more inclusive and compassionate emergency response system; and

WHEREAS, a study is needed to evaluate the impact of implementing an official emergency alert bracelet program in Georgia.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE:

(1) Creation of Senate study committee. There is created the Senate Study Committee on Enhancing Public Safety and Civic Health.

(2) Members and officers. The President of the Senate shall appoint five members of the Senate and shall designate two such members as cochairpersons of the committee. One such cochairperson shall be a member of the majority party and one such cochairperson shall be a member of the minority party.

(3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs, issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.

(4) Meetings. The cochairpersons shall call all meetings of the committee. The committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.

(5) Allowances and funding.

(A) The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.

(B) The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member of the committee for more than four days unless additional days are authorized. Funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds appropriated to the Senate.

(6) Report.

(A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that include suggestions for proposed legislation, the cochairpersons shall file a report of the same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution, subject to subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.

(B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not include suggestions for proposed legislation, the cochairpersons shall file the report, subject to subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.

(C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee. A report so approved shall be signed by the cochairpersons of the committee and filed with the Secretary of the Senate.

(D) In the absence of an approved report, the cochairpersons may file with the Secretary of the Senate a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu thereof.

(7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2026.