--- title: SR 568. Children's Healthcare of Atlanta's facility dogs and their Canines For Kids Program; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr568 cite_as: SR 568, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr568 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr568.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr568/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72193 date: 2026-01-14 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/sr567.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr569.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr568.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 568 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-01-14 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Kay Kirkpatrick - Chuck Payne - Ben Watson - Chuck Hufstetler - Jason T. Dickerson - Mike Hodges - Billy Hickman - Marty Harbin - Frank Ginn - Ricky Williams - Drew Echols - Timothy Bearden - Sam Watson - Russ Goodman - Jaha Howard - Bill Cowsert text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR568/2025 upstream_id: 2074017 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - pediatric healthcare - therapy dogs - Children's Healthcare of Atlanta - Georgia Senate resolutions --- # SR 568. Children's Healthcare of Atlanta's facility dogs and their Canines For Kids Program; recognize ## Text Senate Resolution 568 By: Senators Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Payne of the 54th, Watson of the 1st, Hufstetler of the 52nd, Dickerson of the 21st and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing Children's Healthcare of Atlanta's facility dogs and their Canines For Kids Program; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta is Georgia's leading pediatric healthcare provider and cares for kids from all 159 counties in the state; and WHEREAS, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta's Canines For Kids Program was established in 2009, the first program of its kind in the country; and WHEREAS, facility dogs undergo a comprehensive and intensive training process for a duration of 18 months; and WHEREAS, each hospital-based facility dog has a Children's employee handler who is responsible for caring and managing the dog; and WHEREAS, the facility dogs and trained handlers work as a team to provide comfort, support, and distraction for young patients during procedures and hospitalizations; and WHEREAS, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta employs 16 full-time facility dogs at the Arthur M. Blank, Scottish Rite, Hughes Spalding Hospitals and the Zalik Behavioral and Mental Health Center; and WHEREAS, Children's facility dogs bring joy, companionship, and love to our patients, families, and staff; and WHEREAS, Canines For Kids is a goal-directed program that helps patients cope, heal and achieve treatment goals to ensure Children's Healthcare of Atlanta is doing everything possible to make anything possible for kids. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize Children's Healthcare of Atlanta's Canines For Kids Program. 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 Children's Healthcare of Atlanta's Canines For Kids Program. ## 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 Senate resolution honors Children's Healthcare of Atlanta's Canines For Kids Program, which places trained facility dogs with young patients across the hospital system. ### Plain-language summary This resolution is a ceremonial statement from the Georgia Senate. It does not change any law. Instead, it recognizes Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, described as the state's leading pediatric healthcare provider, and its Canines For Kids Program, which began in 2009 as the first program of its kind in the country. The resolution describes how facility dogs go through an 18 month training process and are paired with a Children's Healthcare of Atlanta employee handler. The dogs and handlers work together to comfort and support young patients during procedures and hospital stays. The resolution notes that 16 full-time facility dogs currently serve at the Arthur M. Blank, Scottish Rite, and Hughes Spalding Hospitals and the Zalik Behavioral and Mental Health Center. The Senate directs its Secretary to send a copy of the resolution to the program. ### What it does - Formally recognizes Children's Healthcare of Atlanta's Canines For Kids Program on behalf of the Georgia Senate. - States facts about the program, including its 2009 founding, 18 month dog training process, and use of employee handlers. - Notes that 16 full-time facility dogs currently work across four Children's Healthcare of Atlanta facilities. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to the program. - Creates no new law, funding, or regulatory requirement. ### Who it affects This resolution primarily affects Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and its Canines For Kids Program, including staff handlers and the facility dogs themselves. It also symbolically touches young patients and families served at the Arthur M. Blank, Scottish Rite, and Hughes Spalding Hospitals and the Zalik Behavioral and Mental Health Center. ### Why it matters Because this is a ceremonial resolution, it does not alter anyone's legal rights, funding, or obligations. Its practical effect is limited to formal recognition and a distributed copy honoring the hospital program, rather than any change to how the program or hospital operates. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses describe Children's Healthcare of Atlanta as Georgia's leading pediatric provider serving all 159 counties. - The resolution states the Canines For Kids Program started in 2009 as the first of its kind nationally. - It notes facility dogs train for 18 months and are paired with a Children's employee handler responsible for their care. - It states 16 full-time facility dogs currently serve at four named facilities. - The resolved clause formally recognizes the program on behalf of the Senate. - The final clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to send a copy of the resolution to the program. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-01-14) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2026-01-14) - Sponsors: Kay Kirkpatrick, Chuck Payne, Ben Watson, Chuck Hufstetler, Jason T. Dickerson, Mike Hodges, Billy Hickman, Marty Harbin, Frank Ginn, Ricky Williams, Drew Echols, Timothy Bearden, Sam Watson, Russ Goodman, Jaha Howard, Bill Cowsert - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72193 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr568.md?full=1